Never Mess with Mesi.

On March 3, Baby Joe Mesi fought with Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas. The fight went all Joe’s way until the final round. Joe pounded away taking almost every round in the fight, and in the last round, his head felt a crushing upper cut. Baby Joe took a couple of shots in the head and went down hard. At first, Joe kept coming forward, since he does not believe in stepping backward. Towards the end of the round, Joe hung on and finished the fight out. He showed us how he can take a punch. He graciously accepted the win over Jirov, and told us that he learn a lot from the fight, and would do better next time. Few boxers would rise off the mat to finish the round. Showing ring wise behavior, he finished with a few of his special hooks. He won on points. Later in the week, some rumors floated around that Joe developed a bruise on the brain. After a few months, this problem received confirmation by the Mesi camp.

On December 6, a few months before, Joe won by decision against Monte Barrett in New York. Before these two fights, Joe Mesi knocked out most of the contenders. In 2003, the three fights before Barrett, Mesi won against Williamson, Davis and Curry in the first or second round. At present, Mesi is training and planning to fight again, although his last two fights, wining by decision only, gives Team Mesi some concern over their fighter. Joe Mesi continues to strongly state his belief in his recovery abilities. At six-foot-one and weighing in at two hundred and thirty pounds, “Baby Joe” looks to be the first boxer from New York City in a long time. He slugged his way on course to be the heavyweight champion of the world. His idol remains Rocky Marciano. Like the Rock, Joe keeps swarming and unloads as a slugging warrior, who never steps backward, not from his opponent, not from his goal, not from the price of hard work it takes to arrive there.

Hailing from a suburb of Buffalo, New York “Baby Joe” as his family first called him, first hit the boxing scene as New York State 1994-1996 super heavyweight golden gloves champion. Joe also captured the gold medal in the 1993 empire state games. Joe rounded out his amateur career by becoming a finalist in every national tournament he entered. Joe Mesi won all the way in the Olympics in 1996. On his way to the 1996 Olympics, Joe scored upset victories in all his international competitions. Joe completed his amateur career as the surprising finalist in the 1996 Olympic trials and box offs. Boxing as an unaffiliated and an underdog contestant, Joe overcame every boxing and political opponent on his way to the finals. Since turning professional Joe has won twenty-nine straight bouts including twenty-five KOs, zero loses, and hopes to be fighting for a world title soon.

In a recent interview Mesi said, “I want to fight whoever is the best in the division at the time. Today the best and most notable include Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson; also Kirk Johnson, John Ruiz and Klitschko. They are the best in the world and I want to fight the best. Taking on such opponents, I’ll discover how good I am in the ring.” Joe also said, “My management approaches it strategically, scheduling frequent fights, aligned with the right opposition. Bouts are against big name fighters who can elevate my ranking. He plans to take healing, a slow process, one fight at a time. However, the advantage of such a strategy is gaining experience without getting too deep. First working into the top-ten, then top-five and ultimately a title bout. He says, “I would love to fight Mike Tyson! My goal is to fight Mike Tyson and the likes of Mike. Unquestionably, Tyson is still a draw and the most dangerous fighter in the division. It would be the match of “good vs. evil”. And I think I can beat him.” Now with Tyson’s latest legal charges, perhaps Tyson might step into the ring with Mesi. Mesi might be ready with doctors blessing in several months from now.

In his amateur career as well as into his pro career, he sparred with some big name boxers. Joe Mesi approaches every fight as a learning opportunity. He wants to test and become again ranked in the top ten. He plans to move forward in the course of healing and resting up, and then in a couple of years, he plans to go for a title shot. Today the list of younger contenders includes Kirk Johnson, the Klitschko brothers, Chris Byrd, and John Ruiz. Mesi with a knock out might achieve the heavyweight championship title. He continues to train many hours a day. Baby Joe continues a heavy schedule with local charities and community needs. During the time out of the gym, he keeps very busy with great causes. Most importantly, he enjoys his involvement touching so many lives. In the last few months, he helped in the Bulls football game, Deborah O’Brien Wilde Benefit, Roswell Park in a benefit of Mesi and the Bills, hosting a Benefit Joshua Dimmig-Russell, and the World Boxing Council convention in Thailand. He also helped in the Striving for Excellence after School Program, Charlene D. Page Memorial Bison Fund run, and the Niagara Casino Whirlpool golf tournament.

“Giving back to the community has been a goal of mine since I began boxing professionally,” explained Mesi, who has built a 29-0 record with 25 knockouts. “I have been waiting anxiously to get to the point in my career where I could start my own foundation. The inspiration came from my cousin, Genelle, who was the real fighter in our family for what she had gone through. What better foundation for me than the fight for organ donations. I want to raise the awareness and stress the importance of donating organs. Through my years of working on behalf of Genelle, I have come to learn of the desperate need for donors of all organs and through my new foundation, we hope to increase the public awareness of this need. I also intend to provide financial donations to those who are suffering financial hardship while waiting for an organ donation,” he continued.

This boxer maintains high standards of working hard with unshakable commitment. Joe’s commitment extends beyond the sport of boxing. Those who know Baby Joe know that he continues his heavy involvement in his community, the Western New York area. Giving back to the community comes naturally to Joe. Joe consistently lends his support to local charities such as Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Lupus Foundation, Independent Living Project, and The Eagle Scouts of America. “I have always said I want to use boxing to leave my mark in this world,” says Mesi. “I want to use my talents and eventually, my popularity, to help those in need and to make some positive changes. I believe that if you are in a position like mine and you do not take advantage of the opportunity to help others, you are just wasting your time.”

Other organizations Joe supports include the Western New York United Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse. Joe is their spokesperson and is passionate about teaching children the serious effects of using drugs and alcohol and the reasons why they should stay focused on reaching their goals. Joe is entering his fourth year as a volunteer for the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo where he donates his time and energy to making sick children happy. In addition, he is an active participant for The Variety Club of Buffalo Telethon, helping to raise money for Children’s Hospital. It has been said by members of the local media that Baby Joe’s success in the ring and his strong community involvement has made him possibly the most popular athlete in the area. Mesi feels that “Helping those in need is bigger than boxing and bigger than sports. In the end, it won’t matter how many touchdowns, homeruns or knockouts you had but rather, who you helped along the way.”

Joe Mesi received many awards such “Best Boxer Award” Sundsvall, Sweden, “Nate Holdridge” Sportsmanship Award” 1996 New York State Golden Gloves, and “Paul Konner Outstanding Best Boxer Award” 1996 American Boxing Classic. Joe scored 29 Wins – 25 KOs – 0 Losses and with this record. During recovery from his injury, Joe thanks his brother boxers in every weight. He received kind thoughts from especially Dominick Guinn, Hasim Rahman, Vitali Klitschko and Mike Tyson. Once the Nevada Athletic Commission clears him, and plans to get back to the business of the “sweet science.” His team continues to support him during his healing, and a family matter. With his father Jack, brother Tom, Bob Spagnola, The DeLeon Brothers, Juan, (Carlos) Sugar and Angel, Jennifer, and entire family; tremendous support surrounds Baby Joe Mesi. He shows his heart and soul during the tough times.

Joseph de Beauchamp can be reached at joedebo@wfnn.info