RI SPORTS CHRONICLE
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Boxing

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Boxing's rich tradition in Providence started way back in 1890 when George "Old Chocolate” Godfrey knocked out Patsy Cardiff in the 16th round.  Providence was a hot spot for the sweet science at places like the Infantry Hall, Marieville Gardens, Elk's Auditorium, Rhode Island Auditorium, Arcadia Ballroom and the Strand Theater.  The first professionally top ranked boxer from Rhode Island was heavyweight Jack Ashton from Providence.  Ashton was a sparring partner of "The Boston Strongboy" John L. Sullivan.  He debuted in 1885 and knocked out 28% of his opponents.  Al "Bearcat" Shubert of Warren was a former New England Bantamweight champion.  The future featherweight debuted in 1912 and had a career record of 86-23-25.  Paris Apice of Newport won the HW National Junior AAU belt in April 25, 1929 at Chicago  and the Rhode Island, New England, and International Championships at Chicago in the flyweight division.  Apice finished with a 66-54-4 career record.  Providence's Romeo "Johnny" Curcio had an undefeated reign as New England welterweight and middleweight champion between 1934 and 1937.  Joey Archibald of Pawtucket attended Providence College before his boxing career took off and once studied for the priesthood.  Setting himself up for a title shot on September 12, 1938 he defeated Tony Dupre, former holder of the 1936 USA New England Bantamweight Title, in a ten-round points decision at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C.  He became NBA World Featherweight Champion in April 1939 and finished with a career 60-42-5 record with 29 KOs.  Ralph "The Ripper" Zanelli of Providence held both the New England welterweight and middleweight titles and held a record of 115 wins with 30 losses in a career that career spanned 20 years.  Beginning at the age of 17  within three years he held the lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight Rhode Island Amateur Titles.  He was a Golden Glove winner in 1936 culminating a 300-bout amateur career.  Tony "Tarzan" Costa of Woonsocket had career record of 61-23-5 as a featherweight and beat Joey Archibald on May 10, 1943 at the R.I. Auditorium in a majority decision.  Larry "Dynamite" Bolvin was a featherweight from Providence from 1939 to 1946.  "Dynamite" had a record of 44-17-2.  Lightweight George Araujo, born in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, was the world’s number-one ranked lightweight fighter when there was only one world ranking.  Araujo made his professional debut in July 1948 and immediately began fighting twice a month.  A powerful puncher, Araujo won his first 14 professional fights all by knockout.  He finished with a 58-9-1 record with 33 KOs.  The great heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano was 28-0 in Providence at the Rhode Island Auditorium.

 Rhode Island Boxers (1885-1949) 
*Rookie year
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Bobby Zollo 
Welterweight 1944
PROVIDENCE
Ernie Guisti 

​Lightweight 1944
WEST WARWICK

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​Jack Ashton 
Heavyweight 1885 
PROVIDENCE
Al Shubert 
Featherweight 1912
WARREN
Young Montreal 
Bantamweight 1916
PROVIDENCE
Spencer Gardner 
Bantamweight 1921
NEWPORT
Johnny Curcio 
Middleweight 1925
PROVIDENCE
​Paris Apice 
Featherweight 1929
PROVIDENCE
Joey Archibald 
Featherweight 1932

PAWTUCKET
Johnny Deciantis  Middleweight 1934
PROVIDENCE
Tony Costa 
Featherweight 1936
WOONSOCKET
Ralph Zanelli 
Welterweight 1936
PROVIDENCE
Dominic DeCiantis  Welterweight 1939
PROVIDENCE
Larry Bolvin 
Featherweight 1939
PROVIDENCE
Ernie Forte 
Middleweight 1940
PROVIDENCE



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Jimmy Ruzzo 
Light Heavyweight 1944
WEST WARWICK 
George Araujo 
Lightweight 1948

​PROVIDENCE
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  • Home
  • The Story Of ....
    • The Three Musketeers
    • The Dixie Kid
    • The Perfect Season
    • High School to the Pros
    • The Cranston Cooneys
    • Poosha Madonna
    • The Pride of Ashton
    • The Other Steam Roller
    • Sunday Baseball at the Parks
    • The Queen of Baseball
    • Hank Soar
    • Like Father Like Son
    • The Viking Named Curly
    • The Ace of Harts
    • A Man Called Smiley
    • The Rangers on the Pitch
    • Brown Iron Men
    • It's All in the Name
    • The Bear's First Quarterback
    • Cinderella on the Gridiron
    • Howie Crins
    • Semi-Tough
    • The Wordsmith
    • Friar Football
    • Rhody on the Roller
    • The Giants
    • Coach McGee
    • Football Heroes
    • Down-the-River Eleven
    • "Speed" Braney
    • Motor-Paced
    • Cycledrome
    • Young Montreal
  • Football
    • Football History
    • High School Football
    • Amateur Football
    • Pro Football
    • NFL
  • Basketball
    • Basketball History
    • High School Basketball
  • Ice Hockey
    • Ice Hockey History
    • High School Hockey
  • Baseball
    • Baseball History
    • High School Baseball
    • Amateur Baseball
    • Baseball Cards
  • Track & Field
    • Track & Field History
    • High School Indoor Track
    • High School Outdoor Track
    • High School Cross county
  • Wrestling
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Roller Polo
  • Ice Polo
  • Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Golf
  • Boxing
  • Fencing
  • Cricket
  • Legends
  • Venues
  • Contact