Charlie Basile was born July 1, 1924 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The son of a steelworker, Charlie grew up with his three sisters during the depression. Lack of work in Pennsylvania resulted in Charlie's family moving to Buffalo when he was nine years old. He grew up on Buffalo's East side.

The outbreak of World War II resulted in Charlie being drafted at the age of eighteen. He was classified as 4F due to his inability to pass the required physical. Disappointment, frustration, and his desire to prove himself resulted in Charlie taking up the sport of boxing. He started out at Mickey's Gym on Main St. As an amateur fighter, Charlie compiled a record of 40 wins and 9 losses and won the 1945 AAU Junior Championship in the 135 pound weight class by beating Columbus Lowman. Lowman went on to win the National Championship when Charlie was forced to withdraw due to a medical problem.

At the end of 1945, Charlie was accepted into the paratroopers. During his training at Ft. Benning, Charlie once again got the opportunity to box. On the troop ship to Japan, he won the welterweight championship and drew for the middleweight championship. After the war ended, Charlie turned pro and was, once again, managed by Mickey McInerney. He remembers sparring two rounds with Ike Williams when he was the Lightweight Champion. Charlie prides himself on being the only undefeated professional middleweight in the world. He retired after his second fight to begin his profession as a barber. If you ask Charlie, he'll tell you that he left the ring due to a hand injury. "The referee kept stepping on it".

Charlie also says, "I was never afraid of anyone but I lacked the killer instinct. I only remember the knockouts of the people I didn't like. Boxing starts in the mind and you have to want to knock someone out to do it. It is a mental and physical desire".

His desire to remain involved in the sport of boxing resulted in Charlie returning to boxing as a referee in 1950. At one time, Charlie and Freddie Stanton were the only two referees in Buffalo. Over the years, he has refereed well over 3,000 amateur fights, as well as having the opportunity to referee a George Foreman exhibition match here in Buffalo.

"I enjoy being a referee because I'm helping underprivileged kids. It shows them somebody actually cares. A referee can show boxing is a sport instead of just trying to hurt somebody".

Along with his wife, Sue, he has raised four daughters and a son. He likes to tell others, "I have beautiful children. I always say if I catch the father, I'll kill him".

It is because of his devotion to the sport of boxing that we are here to honor Charlie Basile tonight by inducting him into the Ring #44 Boxing Hall of Fame.