Everybody in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts know him but the youngsters only know him as the state Auditor who worked his way up from local politician in Newton to one of the most important jobs in the state. Us "oldsters" remember him as the tough, world ranked middleweight contender who single-handedly kept pro boxing alive from the late 50's to the early 70's afterf the retirement of undisputed welterweight champion Tony DeMarco and world middleweight king, Paul Pender. Many complimentary things have been written about Joe DeNucci, the state auditor but not enough has been said about Joe's boxing career. Because Joe was willing to take on anyone in boxing, almost from his first year as a pro, the Boston fight fans got to see scores of the greatest fighters in the world right here in Boston who, otherwise, might only get to see on TV.
"He was one of the toughest gym fighters I ever saw," said Al Clemente who had been in boxing since before WWI as a trainer and manager. That's where the REAL toughness shows, in the gym sparring with your peers." Joe was well respected, liked by all and never forget his friends or where he came from. Joe was always bringing kids to the legenday New Garden Gym to watch him work out and introduce them to other fighters. He, and old friend Paul Stivalletta (a tough middleweight from Dedham and close friend of Joe's) would always put on a little show for the kids that always ended with Joe dropping Stivalletta with a right to the chin. The kids loved it. Because of Joe they'd have a memory that would last them a lifetime. More than one of those kids who were there showed up years later at events honoring Joe and told of those fabulous memories.....thanks to Joe.
"Back in those days there were several boxing pictures out there like, "Somebody Up There Likes Me," about Rockie Graziano (played by Paul Newman), "said former Garden timekeeper Jerry Albano. "Then there was "Body and Soul," with John Garfield, who made a few more fight movies with the Dead End Kids. They always showed Garfield's character walking down the street with a gang of kids following after him cheering him on. That's the way it was with Joe DeNucci (and his boyhood idol, Tony DeMarco). Even in those days everybody loved Joe," Albano concluded.
Sandy DeNucci, Joe's father, taught boxing at the Newton YMCA so it was natural that Joe would go to the New England Golden Gloves tournament which he won at the age of 16. At 17, while still in high school, Joe turned Pro. On March 30, 1957, in his first bout, he scored a second round KO over Charlie Smith. From that day on he took on all comers right up to his retirement (from the ring). at the end of 1972 amassing a record of 65-12-5. His last two fights were against the legendary Emil Griffith barely three weeks apart. He came up short on both 10 round decisions, the first of which was a robbery. I remember several sportswriters saying, "Whatever happened to the famous Boston decisions? DeNucci is the only fighter that never gets that break." Boxing authority, Wilf McClusky once wrote of DeNucci, "When the decision went against Joe nobody ever heard him complain. He just smiled and walked away with his head held high."
In 1961 Joe fought Ralph "Tiger" Jones with a promise that he'd get a title fight if he won. In a great fight Joe came up with a DRAW! In Boston! Jones, himself was amazed. "Joe won the fight and I'll gladly give him a rematch right away. A month later they fought again and this time Joe left no doubt as he pounded out a 10 round unanimous decision over Jones who, at that time, had more TV fights than anyone else (Until Muhammed Ali came along) After the fight Jones said that Joe threw more punches and was faster than he had ever seen him before. "He's smarter and had me working harder than I have in some time. I think the kid (Joe was 21) is really ready to move on," said Jones. High praise from a great fighter...but still no title fight.
On December 12, 1961, Joe was again promised a crack at a title fight if he could beat Joey Giardello (who eventually won the world middleweight championship.) Another "war" but the Boston judges, incredulously, ruled it another DRAW causing much controversy with the media and the fans but nothing else.
Joe DeNucci may never have had a title fight but Boston fans were privileged to see, in person, some of the greatest middleweights of our time. Greats we never would have had the opportunity to see here in Boston if not for Joe. Guys like Emile Griffith, Tiger Jones, Joey Giardello, Chico Vejar, Vince Martinez, Joey Giamra, Don Fulmer, Denny Moyer, Blair Richardson and Florentino Fernandez. It was a fight fans dream come true and brought millions of dollars to the Boston economy. The sports pages were filled with boxing news and each fight was an "event" with the "aura" of a world title fight. Boxing sure was king back then thanks to Joe.
To this day Joe is the only fighter to have fought main events in all four of Boston's fight arenas: Boston Garden, Boston Arena, Mechanics Building and Hynes Auditorium. Joe DeNucci was a main event fighter for three decades here in Boston . One of the many accomplishments he can always be proud of. In these days of too few heroes Joe's name ranks right up there with REAL heroes like Tony DeMarco, Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Bob Cousy and Larry Bird.
Not only did Joe go against the best out-of-town fighters in the world but he also took on the best and toughest local guys around. Older fight fans still talk about the wars he had with guys like Larry Carney and the incomparable "Iron MIke" Pusateri who he was very close too right up until Mike's death three years ago. Joe always made good friends in the fight game...and he never forgot them. To quote the well-respected Boston Globe columnist, Jeremiah V. Murphy, "This isn't a "Gee whiz" story. It's about a real man among men. Joe didn't just suddenly become the man he is today. His hard work as a fighter prepared him for his current career in politics and he set a great example for many kids along the way. Murphy also said of Joe, "He is an intelligent, articulate and very approachable guy with that gentleness that many great ex-fighters seem to possess. DeNucci fought hard and he campaigned hard."
Today, as Joe eases into retrirement from one of the most important and prestigious jobs in the state, not one person can say that he didn't truly deserve to be there. And, although he never fought for a world title, there are countless people whose lives he's enriched who will fight you if you ever said Joe DeNucci was not a true champion.
JOE'S FAREWELL CEREMONY.....January 21, 2011
In a story he titled "Joe's Last Round," David Boeri of WBUR described the affair very well..."He walked into the house chambers to thunderous applause. He could very well have been wearing a robe and been entering the boxing ring in Boston Garden for the main event against a top contender for the world middleweight championship. He was elected state auditor for the first time in 1986...times changed but Joe didn't. To quote anybody who knew him...."He never forgot where he came from."
Former state attorney general, Francis X. Belloti said, "We live in an environment that makes it next to impossible for there to ever be another Joe DeNucci. I've been in politics for over 50 years and have never seen anyone more justifiably beloved than Joe. He IS one of the "Last of the Goodguys."
State treasurer, Steve Grossman described Joe's leadership qualities perfectly saying, When he saw something wrong he said...'That's wrong, we can do better than that.'...And we DID because he showed us the way."
Governor Deval Patrick summed it all up when he said, simply, "He gave it his all for 34 years of public service." (And nobody could ask for more).
Joe, with a lump in his throat (like the rest of us) said his "thank you's" and his farewells" then added a brief explanation of who he was and his inherent beliefs: "I believe in loyalty but there doesn't seem to be too much of that anymore. The best part of my business is to help people who need help and I've always tried to do just that."
NOTE: His idol, as a young man was then undisputed world welterweight champion Tony DeMarco. As Tony was preparing to return to Boston from Arizona (after several years away) he told Joe he'd be back in Boston as soon as he got a job lined up. Joe put Tony on hold for a minute, made a phone call then came back and said to Tony, "You can come home now, I just spoke to the Speaker of the House and you've got a job as a court officer in the state house." That was Joe.
I can go on and on about what a great career(s) Joe had and what a great guy he was. Joe has touched the lives of many, many people and they were always the better for it.
I'm reminded of a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called: "That Man is a Success.....
Who has lived well, laughed often and loved much,
Who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children,
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task,
Who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem or a rescued soul,
Who never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it,
Who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.....
That, my friends, describes Joe DeNucci. A true champion to all who knew him.....