30 Seconds With Tony Canzoneri

**marbleheadmaui** · 07-26-2011 09:26 AM

For those of you unfamiliar with ATG Tony Canzoneri, the easiest way to think about him is as the first Roy Jones. Like Jones, Canzoneri fought in a not only unorthodox style, but a fundamentally unsound one. Canzoneri basically led with his chin with his hands at his waist and dared you to hit him. Then when you missed? Look out because punches of blinding speed were coming your way. Canzoneri's reflexes and timing were otherworldly. And like Jones, when those reflexes went? That was it. By the time he was 29 Canzoneri was fading and by the time he was 31 he was finished.

But as a pro he won over 130 fights, was the undisputed champion in three divisions and fought a draw for a fourth undisputed title. He is one of a handful of teenage champions in history, he defeated HOFers on a dozen occasions and ranked fighters over thirty times and was KO'd only in his last fight. Think this guy was some kind of athlete?

The fight we are going to focus on is with ATG Jack Kid Berg "The Whitechapel Whirlwind." Berg had beaten Canzoneri by a split decision a year before and is the reigning 140 pound champion. Canzoneri is the reigning 135 champion. These two do something pretty cool. They agree to meet under 135 and put BOTH championships on the line. Two ATG's dead in their primes.

Go to 1:30 of this video. Berg has the Star of David on his trunks

At 1:30 Canzoneri lands a right uppercut and left hook. Remember that.

For 30 seconds watch Canzoneri's impossible quickness, reflexes, head movement and how he jars the great Berg every time he hits him. Then at 1:55 watch Canzoneri land a left uppercut and a right cross to end the fight. Then watch it in slow motion because it is almost too fast for regular film.