Not One, but TWO Scions of Royal Boxing Families Turned Pro on Aug. 14

Nico Ali Walsh, a 21-year-old Las Vegas middleweight, made his pro debut in a 4-round fight on Saturday, Aug. 14, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Walsh’s fight with poor Jordan Weeks, which lasted all of 109 seconds, was an international news story. The hullabaloo owed to the fact that Walsh is the grandson of Muhammad Ali, a man who remains larger-than-life five years after he departed his earthly realm.

On that same night in Erie, Pennsylvania, roughly a thousand miles from Tulsa, another boxer with a rich boxing heritage made his pro debut. Carrying 136 pounds on his skinny frame, Anthony Bizzarro (pictured in the white trunks) pounded out a unanimous decision over Robert Presley, a fellow novice from Norwalk, Ohio.

Granted, no one named Bizzarro ever came close to reaching the heights of Muhammad Ali, but yet one would have thought that Anthony’s debut would have attracted a bit more notice. He is the tenth member of his extended family to box at the pro level. The legacy dates to 1958.

Some of the Bizzarros only dabbled in boxing such as Angelo (8-3), Joseph (4-1) and Paul (3-0), but three members of the Bizzarro family participated in world title fights.

Johnny Bizzarro, who died in 1998 at age 60, was a two-time world title challenger. He fought world super featherweight champion Flash Elorde in 1966 and challenged lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz three-and-half-years later as his career was winding down.

He came up short on both occasions. Johnny lost a 15-round decision to Elorde on Elorde’s turf in Manila. Ortiz stopped him in the 12^th round at Pittsburgh. After Ortiz, he had only two more fights before leaving the sport with a 55-11-2 record.

Johnny Bizzarro, who was born in a small town in Italy near Naples, was handled from the very beginning of his career by Erie’s colorful “Boy Promoter” Don Elbaum who developed him into a regional attraction before letting him loose on the national scene. Bizzarro had 35 pro fights under his belt before Elbaum gave him his first 10-rounder.

Johnny Bizzarro

It’s debatable whether Johnny Bizzarro was a better boxer than his younger brother Lou Bizzarro who fought Roberto Duran and finished his career with a record of 31-2 (9).

Elbaum brought the Duran fight to Erie but Lou needed more than hometown support to topple the great Panamanian who was 55-1 and was making the eighth defense of his world lightweight title. But Lou showed a lot of guts before the referee called it off with one second remaining in the 14^th round.

Lou’s son Johnny “John Boy” Bizzarro, a welterweight, accomplished what his father and uncle could not accomplish, but John Boy’s title-winning performance over Charlie “White Lightning” Brown must take an asterisk as the title he won was sanctioned by a rogue organization, the IBO. John Boy made one successful defense before losing the belt to grizzled veteran Roger Mayweather. He retired with a record of 39-9-3 (12).

The first generation of Bizzarros did well after boxing. Johnny opened a used car dealership in Erie that is still in the Bizzarro family today. Lou opened a popular dining establishment. Inside Bizzarro’s Ringside Restaurant is a regulation-sized boxing ring, but it’s just for show.

We’re not quite sure what branch of the family tree sprouted Ryan A. Bizzarro who was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2012 and continues to serve there. Senator Bizzarro attracted national notice for legislation he authored that provided harsher penalties for individuals found guilty of animal abuse.

The Senator’s wikipedia page notes that his family is prominent in boxing.

Indeed.

The Aug. 14 event at which Anthony Bizzarro made his pro debut was a family affair. The show in a ballroom at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center was promoted by Anthony’s uncle, Ernie Bizzarro. It was a mixed bag of MMA fights and conventional boxing matches with the cage and the boxing ring situated side-by-side. Ernie, who owns an auto recycling business, had one documented professional fight. He knocked out his opponent in the second round.

Nico Ali Walsh paid homage to his grandfather in a precious post-fight interview. Anthony Bizzarro likewise acknowledged his heritage. Talking about his family’s boxing tradition in a conversation with Erie Times-News writer Josh Reilly, Anthony likened it to a priceless timepiece that’s been passed on from generation to generation.

Going forward, we doubt that the newest Bizzarro will keep pace with Nico Ali Walsh who has the advantage of Bob Arum’s Top Rank machinery to navigate him through the  rough patches. But the rust belt city of Erie, whose economy has been bruised by the loss of manufacturing jobs, could use a feel-good story and young Anthony Bizzarro might be just the ticket.

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