[professordp]

This is another revision of one of David's previously posted ratings. Once more, I sort of moved things around coming up with a 4 where David saw him as a 5. Really not a big deal when you think of it!

I kind of think about Vinnie as the poor man's Rocky Graziano. He fought Rocky in Milwaukee back in 1950 and actually had the former champ on the mat in round two. Unfortunately, Vinnie suffered a severe cut and the contest was halted in the next round. The tendency to cut was perhaps his most serious weakness.

Like Rocky, he was tough, a hard hitter, with very limited boxing skills. An Italian-Amercan from Brooklyn's Red Hook section, Vinnie was one of those guys who came right at you firing bombs. That meant that he frequently used his face to stop punches.

This gave him somewhat of an affinity for the canvas. Still what he lacked in skill, he made up with heart. He was stopped eight times in his forty-seven fight career--but never actually counted out. It seems that if you wanted an early night against Vinnie you either had to cut him or knock him down several times in a round.

Typically on the undercard during his four year career, he did fight a number main events and faced (and lost to) some of the division's top talent. Besides Graziano, he squared off against Joey DeJohn, Paddy Young, and Ernie Durando, all in losing efforts

For the locals, his two bouts with Herbie Kronowitz were a high point. They split decisions in the two ten rounders that briefly revised the ethnic compeition in the ring between Brooklyn Jews and Italians.

Overall, not too bad a record thirty-six wins agaisnt twelve losses. Sadly for Vinnie whenever he was matched against quality talent, he lost the fight. Taking two successive six round decisions from Art Tatta or knocking out Jimmy Snedeker in two didn't count for much back in the day.