Lou Scozza
Light-Heavyweight
1925 - 1934

Louis Scozzaro was born on April 15, 1905 to Philip and Carmela Scozzaro on Buffalo's West Side. A good athlete as a youth, Lou was intro duced to boxing by his boyhood friend, Bobby Tracey. Tracey told him he could make some money as a fighter. His father was opposed to a ring career and said, "You come home with a black eye and I'll finish the job on your other eye". Scozza went to Bert Finch's gym on Main St. and for the next two extensive conditioning, worked as a sparring partner, and learned the basic skills

from Frankie Schoell, a very successful welterweight.

Scozza fought his first amateur fight at the age of eighteen with a knockout in two rounds. In the summer of 1924, at the age of nineteen, Scozza fought four exhibitions against Jack Dempsey as part of his four-day show at the downtown Loew Theater. Gene Tunney was Scozza's protege and he copied his high moral code and rigorous training style.

In 1925, Scozza fought his first professional bout and went on to have over one hundred professional fights; he was never knocked-out in the "Golden Era of Boxing". Scozza was part of the outstanding Buffalo light-heavyweight threesome (Jimmy Slattery, George Nichols) that were ranked in the top ten in the 1930's. Scozza's most celebrated bouts were the 1930 Light-heavyweight Championship of the World against Jimmy Slattery, the seven matches against several time Light-heavyweight Champion, Maxie Rosenbloom, his four matches against George Nichols and his knock-out of Jimmy Braddock (the only other one to do so was Joe Louis for the Heavyweight Championship of the World).

The February 10, 1930 fight in the Broadway Auditorium was one of the most memorable fights in Buffalo history. Slattery, "the pride of the Irish First Ward" and Scozza. "the joy of the Italian West Side", clashed before 11,000 fans. Over 1500 fans were turned away at the door and thousands more jammed the Main St. office of the Buffalo Evening News to hear the radio broadcast of the fight relayed over loud speakers. The feature of the championship bout came in the 13th round when Scozza pounded Slattery to the ropes- the referee stepped in, the hell rang, and Slattery narrowly escaped a knockout. Slattery was able to recover and win a 15 round decision. To this day, boxing fans still debate the outcome of the fight.

In the 1932 World Championship bout against Maxie Rosenbloom in the old Bison Stadium, Scozza came within one punch of knocking him out for the win. In the 14th round, Scozza dropped Rosenbloom to the canvas; but, Rosenbloom held on and retained the title by decision.

After retiring in 1934, Scozza became a boxing and wrestling referee and worked with youth organizations as a boxing instructor. He refereed many top professional fights in the Aud in the 1950's and 1960's.

Lou Scozza died in Buffalo on November 30, 1967 at the age of 62. His boxing gear is proudly on display at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Museum.