Tony Galento was a heavyweight boxer who fought in the 1930s and was known for his rough and dirty style, his colorful personality, and his knockdown of Joe Louis in a title bout. He was one of the most popular and controversial fighters of his era, but his life ended tragically at the age of 69. What was Tony Galento’s cause of death and how did he spend his final years?
The Rise and Fall of Two-Ton Tony
Tony Galento was born in Orange, New Jersey, in 1910, to Italian immigrant parents. He started boxing as a teenager and turned professional in 1928. He quickly gained a reputation as a hard-hitting, fearless, and unorthodox fighter who would use any means necessary to win, including head-butting, gouging, low-blowing, and elbowing his opponents. He was also a heavy drinker, smoker, and eater, who often trained on beer, hamburgers, and spaghetti. He owned a bar in Orange, where he would entertain his fans and challenge anyone to a fight.
Galento’s nickname, “Two-Ton”, came from his work as an iceman, delivering ice blocks on his way to the arena. He was also known as the “Jersey Nightstick”, the “TNT Kid”, the “One-Man Riot”, the “Orange Orangutan”, and the “beer barrel that walks like a man”. He was a press agent’s dream and a crowd pleaser, who would taunt and insult his opponents, make outrageous claims, and perform antics in and out of the ring.
Galento’s career peaked in 1939, when he fought Joe Louis for the heavyweight title. Louis was the undisputed champion and one of the greatest boxers of all time, but Galento was not intimidated. He called Louis a “bum” and predicted he would “moider da bum” in four rounds. He also said he would celebrate his victory by drinking a keg of beer and eating a whole turkey.
The fight took place on June 28, 1939, at Yankee Stadium, in front of 34,000 spectators. Galento stunned the world by knocking down Louis in the third round with a powerful left hook. However, Louis recovered and battered Galento for the rest of the round, opening a cut over his eye. In the fourth round, Louis unleashed a barrage of punches that knocked out Galento and retained his title.
Galento never fought for the title again, but he continued to box until 1943, losing to Max Baer, Lou Nova, and Buddy Baer, among others. He finished his career with a record of 79 wins, 26 losses, and 6 draws, with 57 wins by knockout.
The Final Years of the Brawling Boxer
After retiring from boxing, Galento tried his hand at acting, appearing in a few movies and TV shows, such as On the Waterfront, Guys and Dolls, and The Phil Silvers Show. He also ran a restaurant and a liquor store in Orange, and became involved in local politics. He married and had four children, but his marriage was troubled by his infidelity and alcoholism.
Galento’s health deteriorated in his later years, as he suffered from diabetes, arthritis, and heart problems. He also lost his bar and his home due to financial troubles and legal disputes. He spent his last days in a nursing home, where he died of a heart attack on July 22, 1979, at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, New Jersey. He was buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Orange.
Tony Galento’s cause of death was a heart attack, but his life was a roller coaster of highs and lows, of fame and fortune, of glory and tragedy. He was a fighter who never gave up, who entertained millions, and who left a lasting mark on boxing history.
