Tommy Tedesco
Lightweight 1934 - 1939

Tommy Tedesco, also known as the "Fighting Altar Boy", will always be regarded as one of Niagara Falls' most outstanding boxers. Born in Niagara Falls, N.Y. July 29, 1916, he was the youngest of ten children. Tommy attended St. Joseph's School and was an altar boy at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Pine Avenue. He was sixteen years old at the height of the depression in 1932. Tommy started boxing in 1934 at the urging of a priest who taught at his school.

He was also encouraged to pursue boxing by Harry Fuller who owned a gym in Niagara Falls. After knocking down his first sparring partner, Harry suggested to Tommy that it would be a good way for him to make a couple of bucks. It was Fuller who arranged his first amateur fight. Tommy has no idea how many fights he had as an amateur. He said, "My best year, I had over 90 fights and only lost three. Some weeks, I fought three or four times". He defeated Don Eddy for the Niagara Falls City Championship and began to build a reputation as a standout amateur. Tommy was the only amateur fighter to ever-beat Canadian champion, Sammy Luftspring. He also beat Art Fletcher, who had an 18 fight-winning streak. As an amateur, Tommy beat the best in the nation, names like, Pete Lello, Sammy Divine, George and Tommy Bland, Billy Beauhold, and Mike Martyk.

Tommy was rated one of the best lightweights. He fought Andy Scrivani of Chicago before a sellout crowd of 16,000 at Chicago Stadium for the lightweight spot on the 1936 U.S. Olympic boxing team. Scrivani was awarded a split decision in a controversial fight. Despite the defeat, Tommy was selected to the boxing team as an alternate, which permitted him to sail with the team from New York City to Berlin. Tommy left for the Olympics without telling his mother that he had taken up boxing. On the seven-day boat trip to Germany, Tommy met and became friends with track star, Jesse Owens. He did roadwork every day with Jesse and remembers him as a great guy. Scrivani lost his match in the Olympics against a German opponent. Tommy later fought the German in an exhibition match and knocked him out.

Tedesco turned pro in 1937 with one goal in mind, "My ambition was to be the champion of the world". He was managed by Al Weil, who would later guide the unbeaten Marciano's career. One night, while Tedesco was fighting in Madison Square Garden, his brother Sammy heard the fight on the radio. That is how the family discovered that Tommy was boxing. One of Tedesco's most memorable pro fights was his first bout in New York City at Madison Square Garden where he won a six round decision against Johnny Fernandez. Tommy was a stablemate of Lou Ambers, the lightweight champion of the world and Fred Apostoli, the middleweight champion of the world. They were good friends. When Tommy sparred with Lou Ambers, Tommy knocked him down, and when he tried to help him up, Ambers pushed him away and said, "You gotta be a boxer, a killer". Tommy said, "I wasn't a killer".

Although Tommy didn't achieve his goal of becoming champion of the world, he got to rub shoulders with many who did, among them: Jack Dempsey, Jimmy Braddock, Max Schmeling, and Rocky Marciano.

Tommy retired from boxing in 1939. He has been married for 59 years to his beautiful wife, Josephine; they have one son, Tom and a grandson, Tommy. Tommy is a true gentleman, who led a good clean life and is devoted to his family and church. That is really what fits the description of a champion.

Tonight, we are extremely proud to honor and induct Tommy Tedesco, "The Fighting Altar Boy", into Ring #44's Boxing Hall of Fame.