Name: JOHHNY BIZZARRO
Born: 19 OCTOBER 1938 MARCIANISE, ITALY
Died: 3 DECEMBER 1998 ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA USA
Career: 1958 TO 1968
Record: 68 FIGHTS, 55 WINS (24 BY KO/TKO), 11 LOSSES (1 BY KO/TKO), 2 DRAWS)
Division: Super featherweight, lightweight
Stance: Orthodox
Titles: North American Junior Lightweight
Major Contests
Scored wins over: Dick DiVeronica, Ike Chestnut, Jackie Kelly, Tommy Tibbs(twice), Harold Gomes**, Sammy McSpadden, Eddie Armstrong, Frankie Narvaez, Gene Toran,
Lost against: Jackie Kelly, Tommy Tibbs, Flash Elorde**, Kenny Lane*, Frankie Narvaez(three times), Carlos Ortiz**,
Drew with:
**Past/ future holder of a version of a world title
* Unsuccessful challenger for a version of a world title
Johnny Bizzarro’s Story
There are many boxing families some of whom have produced three of four boxers. Then there are the Bizzarro’s a family that has produced ten boxers in fact it seems inconceivable that the time will come when there are no Bizzarro involved in boxing in Erie, Pennsylvania. Johnny was the first of the clan to make his mark. He was born in Marcianise, a town in Southern Italy and just after the end of the Second World War moved with his family to Erie in Pennsylvania. There is no trace of any amateur achievements by Johnny and he began his career fighting four and six round bouts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. He lost in only his second fight against former US Golden Gloves champion Carmie Price but kept busy with preliminary action and did not have his first tenth round fight until April 1960 by which time his record was 19-2-1. He was still basically a Pennsylvania fighter with an occasional foray into Ontario. He impressed with a win over 25-2 Dick DiVeronica in March 1961 and in August outpointed useful Ike Chestnut. He had his first fight in Madison Square Garden (MSG) in November 1961 but lost over six rounds against Jackie Kelly before rebounded to beat Kelly over ten rounds in Erie in December. He won and then lost against Tommy Tibbs at the start of 1962. He bounced back again with five wins in the remainder of 1962 including a split decision over former world super featherweight champion Harold Gomes.
Throughout his career Bizzarro was guided and promoter by Don Elbaum ( a legendary character who between 1954 and 2016 promoted 363 events and was also a prolific matchmaker, worked as a referee and a was an entertaining noted raconteur). No matter how many times Bizzarro might find a bananas skin to slip on Elbaum would find a way back and in February 1963 Bizzarro challenged Filipino great Flash Elorde in Manila for the WBA/WBC super featherweight title. Elorde was just too good for Bizzarro and won a comfortable unanimous decision.
Bizzarro had six more fights in 1963 going 5-0-1 winning the North American junior lightweight title by beating Paddy Reid and coming in as a substitute for Frankie Narvaez and winning a unanimous decision over unbeaten Scottish hope 22-0-1 Sammy McSpadden. His next big test was when Elbaum brought perennial challenger Kenny Lane to Erie to face Bizzarro in February 1964 but Lane took a split decision. Bizzarro had two fights in MSG in 1964 losing a majority decision to Narvaez in June but in July flooring Narvaez twice for a unanimous decision. These two clashed again at MSG in 1965 with Narvaez getting a split decision. By the end of 1965, although only 28, Bizzarro had had 64 fights and was really just looking for one more title shot. He had that in June 1966 challenging Carlos Ortiz for the WBA and WBC lightweight titles. Going into the twelfth Bizzarro was down one point on one card and two on the other two but was floored and stopped. Two months later Bizzarro met Narvaez again and Narvaez won on points. Bizzarro then retired, came back for a fight in September 1968, and then retired for good.
He owned several businesses including a car dealership which is still in the hands of his family. Johnny died on 3 December 1998 at the age of 60.
BIZZARRO’S IN BOXING
Anthony Bizzarro= Erie super lightweight 12-0 record and still active
Angelo Bizzarro=Marcianise Italy. Career 1978 to 1986. 25 fights, 18 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws, 1 No decision-all in Italy
Angelo Bizzarro=Erie welterweight. Career 1992 to 1994 13 fights 8 wins 5 losses
Ernie Bizzarro= Erie super featherweight Career 2001 1 fight 1 win. Ernie has been promoting various level fights in Erie for ten years and is still active as a promoter
Joe Bizzarro=Erie light heavy. Career 1984 to 1993. 5 fights 4 wins 1 loss inactive 1985 to 1992
Johnny Bizzarro=Marcianise/Erie super featherweight and lightweight record 68 fights, 55 wins, 11 losses, 2 draws. 2 world title shots
Johnny Bizzarro Jr.=Erie welterweight. Career 1983 to 2001. Record 52 fights 39 wins 9 losses 3 draws 1 ND. Won IBO welterweight and WBF super lightweight titles
Lou (Luigi)Bizzarro=Erie lightweight. Career 34 fights won 32. Lost 2. Won his first 23 fights but was knocked out in 14 rounds by Roberto Duran for the WBA lightweight title in 1976.
Lou Bizzarro=Erie super lightweight. Career 1998 to 2004 27 fights 24 wins 3 losses
Paul Bizzarro=Marcianise/Erie welterweight. Career 1964 to 1965 record 3 fights 3 wins.
DON ELBAUM
Don tried his hand at about everything involved in professional boxing. He is credited with promoting 363 events between 1954 and 2016 , being the matchmaker for 106 events, refereeing 16 bouts and being 0-3-1 traceable bouts in his time as a fighter.
He hated being described as a character so I will settle for loveable rogue and a great raconteur.
Elbaum-isms
Elbaum brought a rated fighter to Erie to fight Johnny Bizzarro and when questioned by the press the imported boxer revealed that he would be paid $10,000 if he won but $12,000 if he lost (not the real figures). The press then descended on Elbaum smelling a fix. Elbaum explained that as a rated fighter the imported guy had a certain value and could expect to earn high purses. However Jonny was going to beat him which would cause a big drop in the fighters purses so Elbaum was just compensating him in advice for his reduced income.
Late in his career Sugar Ray Robinson fought on an Elbaum show in Johnston, Pennsylvania. As the press conference was ending Elbaum said after years spent trying to find them but had finally located the boxing gloves Sugar Ray used in his first professional fight and he presented them to Sugar Ray gratefully clutched the gloves to his chest which sent the press off with a great story. When Robinson tried the gloves on they were both for the left hand!
Don died last month, 27 July, at the age of 94. RIP