Former welterweight and middleweight champion Carmen Basilio, who scored wins in classic fights against Tony DeMarco and Sugar Ray Robinson, has passed away early this morning at Rochester General Hospital in New York.
According to International Boxing Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy, Basilio died from pneumonia
Known by the nickname of “The Onion Farmer” due to his family’s agricultural background, Basilio fought from 1948-1961. His best run was 1955-1958, starting with a TKO over Tony DeMarco to capture the welterweight title. Basilio would receive the RING Magazine Fight of the Year with another thrilling knockout over DeMarco in a rematch that same year. He would lose the title to Johnny Saxton by unanimous decision in 1956 only to avenge the loss by a ninth round knockout in a rematch that same year.
Basilio would get Fight of the Year in 1957 and 1958 for his two epic middleweight battles with Sugar Ray Robinson. Basilio would outfight Robinson down the stretch of the first bout to score a 15 round split decision. In the rematch, a Robinson right uppercut caused Basilio’s left eye to swell to grotesque level by the middle rounds. However, Basilio would not quit and narrowly lost, this time on the wrong end of a split decision. An anticipated rubbermatch would not happen due to a dispute over money.
Basilio would finish his career with a record of 56-16-7, with 27 KOs. In retirement, Basilio worked as a physical education teacher at Le Moyne College in Syracuse and eventually settled in Irondequoit, New York. His hometown of Canastota, where the International Boxing Hall of Fame is located, will fly their flag at half-mast in tribute.
vs. ROBINSON I
vs. DEMARCO I
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
was shame to hear this… what a legend, another piece of boxing history gone, not many left now!!! rip starrr
is kirkland laing dead to??? heard some people say he passed