# Joey Maxim

Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli (March 28, 1922 – June 2, 2001) was an American professional boxer. He was the World Light Heavyweight Champion from 1950 to 1952. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.

## Early life

Maxim was born and raised in Collinwood, a neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

## Career
### Early career

Maxim learned to box at a very young age. Following a successful amateur career, during which he won the Golden Gloves, he turned professional in 1940. Maxim boxed fairly regularly at exhibitions during the war years while serving as a military police officer at Miami Beach, Florida.

#### Maxim becomes world champion

It is somewhat surprising that Maxim had to wait so long for a world title shot, he was 28 and had already fought 87 times as a professional, considering his undoubted ability. His chance came on January 24, 1950, against British boxer Freddie Mills, who was making his first defense, at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. Maxim, very much the underdog against the popular Englishman, won the fight by knockout in the 10th round. After the fight three of Mills's teeth were found embedded in Maxim's left glove, Mills never fought again.
Maxim's next major fight was on May 30, 1951, when he made a bid for Ezzard Charles's world heavyweight title. Maxim was unsuccessful, losing on points.

#### June 25, 1952: Joey Maxim vs. Sugar Ray Robinson

The most famous fight of Maxim's career was on June 25, 1952, when he made his second defense of his world light heavyweight crown, against Sugar Ray Robinson at Yankee Stadium. The fight had originally been scheduled for June 23, but was postponed due to torrential rain. By the time the fight took place New York City was in the midst of a record heat wave.
During the fight Robinson built up a large points lead over the champion, although Maxim began to come on later in the fight. Robinson gradually succumbed to hyperthermia and Maxim's harder punches. He collapsed to the canvas at the end of the 13th round, but managed to stagger back to his corner. However, Robinson failed to answer the bell at the start of the 14th, even though he only had to remain on his feet to win the fight and Maxim won by a technical knockout. This was the only time that Robinson was stopped in his 200 fight career.
By this time the original referee, Ruby Goldstein, had himself been forced to retire from the fight after collapsing into the ropes complaining that he could no longer continue. This meant that a substitute referee, Ray Miller, had to be called out to finish the fight. Goldstein and Robinson were not the only people who had to be stretchered from the stadium: several dozen spectators also collapsed during the fight. Between them, the two fighters lost over 20 pounds in weight during the fight.

### Late career

Despite winning, the Robinson fight took a heavy toll on Maxim. He lost his world title six months later to the veteran Archie Moore. Following this loss Maxim, formerly one of the division's most active fighters, fought only 14 fights in the remaining 6 years of his career. These fights included two rematches with "The Old Mongoose" Archie Moore, both of which Maxim lost. Maxim retired in 1958 after losing six consecutive fights.
Maxim retired with a record of 82 wins (21 by KO), 29 losses, and 4 draws; in his 115 fight career, he was knocked out only once. During his career he defeated such legendary figures as Jersey Joe Walcott, Jimmy Bivins, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Floyd Patterson.

## Life after boxing

After his retirement Maxim spent time as a stand-up comic, restaurateur, and taxi driver. He also served as a greeter at hotels and casinos located in Las Vegas.
He appeared in Herschell Gordon Lewis's 1963 nudie-cutie Goldilocks and the Three Bares as himself, playing a nightclub owner. The movie was billed as the "first nudist musical." He was prominently featured on the movie poster, with the blurb:
   "It's me...Joey Maxim, the former world's light heavyweight champion! I'm one of the stars! My first screen appearance."
The role did not lead to any more motion picture work, though he did appear as an extra in the 1999 film Play It to the Bone.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.
Maxim's wife Michelina, with whom he had two daughters, died in 1977.
In February 2001, Maxim suffered a stroke. He died in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 2, 2001. In addition to his daughters, he was survived by his mother, Henrietta Berardinelli, who was 97 years old (died at 101 in 2006), and six great-grandchildren.

## Professional boxing record

| 115 fights | 82 wins | 29 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 1 |
| By decision | 61 | 27 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 4 | 4 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 115 | Loss | 83–28–4 | Ulli Ritter | PTS | 10 | May 17, 1958 | Eisstadion am Friedrichspark, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg | |
| 114 | Loss | 83–27–4 | Giacomo Bozzano | PTS | 10 | Apr 27, 1958 | Milan, Lombardy | |
| 113 | Loss | 83–26–4 | Heinz Neuhaus | PTS | 10 | Apr 12, 1958 | Killesbergpark, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg | |
| 112 | Loss | 83–25–4 | Bobo Olson | SD | 10 | Jun 18, 1957 | Portland Auditorium, Portland, Oregon | |
| 111 | Loss | 83–24–4 | Eddie Machen | UD | 10 | May 3, 1957 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky | |
| 110 | Loss | 83–23–4 | Eddie Machen | UD | 10 | Jan 25, 1957 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 109 | Win | 83–22–4 | Edgardo Romero | PTS | 10 | Sep 29, 1956 | Vancouver, British Columbia | |
| 108 | Loss | 82–22–4 | Willie Pastrano | UD | 10 | Jun 28, 1955 | New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| 107 | Loss | 82–21–4 | Bobo Olson | UD | 10 | Apr 13, 1955 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California | |
| 106 | Win | 82–20–4 | Paul Andrews | UD | 10 | Nov 24, 1954 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 105 | Win | 81–20–4 | Floyd Patterson | UD | 8 | Jun 7, 1954 | Boxing From Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York | |
| 104 | Loss | 80–20–4 | Archie Moore | UD | 15 | Jan 27, 1954 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida | For NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 103 | Loss | 80–19–4 | Archie Moore | UD | 15 | Jun 24, 1953 | Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah | For NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 102 | Win | 80–18–4 | Danny Nardico | UD | 10 | Mar 4, 1953 | Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida | |
| 101 | Loss | 79–18–4 | Archie Moore | UD | 15 | Dec 17, 1952 | Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri | Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 100 | Win | 79–17–4 | Sugar Ray Robinson | RTD | 14 | Jun 25, 1952 | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York | Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 99 | Win | 78–17–4 | Ted Lowry | UD | 10 | Mar 6, 1952 | Saint Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota | |
| 98 | Loss | 77–17–4 | Ezzard Charles | UD | 12 | Dec 12, 1951 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California | |
| 97 | Win | 77–16–4 | Irish Bob Murphy | UD | 15 | Aug 22, 1951 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 96 | Loss | 76–16–4 | Ezzard Charles | UD | 15 | May 30, 1951 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | For NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 95 | Win | 76–15–4 | Hubert Hood | KO | 3 | Jan 27, 1951 | Indianapolis Naval Reserve Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana | |
| 94 | Win | 75–15–4 | Dave Whitlock | KO | 4 | Dec 11, 1950 | Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California | |
| 93 | Win | 74–15–4 | Big Boy Brown | UD | 10 | Nov 22, 1950 | Wharton Field House, Moline, Illinois | |
| 92 | Win | 73–15–4 | Bill Petersen | PTS | 10 | Oct 10, 1950 | Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah | |
| 91 | Win | 72–15–4 | Jackie Swanson | KO | 3 | Sep 25, 1950 | Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia | |
| 90 | Win | 71–15–4 | Bill Petersen | KO | 6 | May 12, 1950 | Memphis, Tennessee | |
| 89 | Win | 70–15–4 | Joe Dawson | KO | 2 | Apr 19, 1950 | Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska | |
| 88 | Win | 69–15–4 | Freddie Mills | KO | 10 | Jan 24, 1950 | Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London | Won NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 87 | Win | 68–15–4 | Bill Petersen | PTS | 10 | Dec 9, 1949 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | |
| 86 | Win | 67–15–4 | Pat McCafferty | TKO | 4 | Nov 30, 1949 | Wichita, Kansas | |
| 85 | Win | 66–15–4 | Joe Kahut | TKO | 5 | Oct 25, 1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| 84 | Win | 65–15–4 | Gus Lesnevich | UD | 15 | May 23, 1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio | Won U.S. light heavyweight title |
| 83 | Loss | 64–15–4 | Ezzard Charles | MD | 15 | Feb 28, 1949 | Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| 82 | Win | 64–14–4 | Jimmy Bivins | SD | 10 | Dec 7, 1948 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 81 | Win | 63–14–4 | Bob Satterfield | UD | 10 | Nov 12, 1948 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 80 | Loss | 62–14–4 | Joe Kahut | SD | 15 | Oct 19, 1948 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon | |
| 79 | Win | 62–13–4 | Bill Petersen | UD | 10 | Sep 28, 1948 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon | Won Pacific Northwest heavyweight title |
| 78 | Win | 61–13–4 | Bill Petersen | UD | 10 | Jun 29, 1948 | Seattle Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington | |
| 77 | Win | 60–13–4 | Joe Kahut | UD | 10 | Jun 22, 1948 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon | |
| 76 | Draw | 59–13–4 | Pat Valentino | PTS | 10 | Jun 7, 1948 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
| 75 | Win | 59–13–3 | Roy Hawkins | PTS | 10 | May 27, 1948 | Tacoma Ice Palace, Tacoma, Washington | |
| 74 | Win | 58–13–3 | Francisco de la Cruz | PTS | 10 | May 7, 1948 | El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas | |
| 73 | Win | 57–13–3 | Whitey Berlier | PTS | 10 | Apr 27, 1948 | Houston, Texas | |
| 72 | Draw | 56–13–3 | Pat Valentino | PTS | 10 | Mar 22, 1948 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
| 71 | Win | 56–13–2 | Tony Bosnich | UD | 10 | Feb 13, 1948 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
| 70 | Win | 55–13–2 | Robert Lee Sikes Jr. | PTS | 10 | Feb 2, 1948 | Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, Arkansas | |
| 69 | Win | 54–13–2 | Olle Tandberg | SD | 10 | Jan 9, 1948 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | |
| 68 | Win | 53–13–2 | Billy "Chicken" Thompson | UD | 10 | Dec 8, 1947 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| 67 | Win | 52–13–2 | Bob Foxworth | SD | 10 | Nov 12, 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 66 | Win | 51–13–2 | John Thomas | PTS | 10 | Sep 17, 1947 | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 65 | Win | 50–13–2 | Clarence Jones | KO | 5 | Sep 8, 1947 | Wheeling Island Stadium, Wheeling, West Virginia | |
| 64 | Loss | 49–13–2 | Jersey Joe Walcott | SD | 10 | Jun 23, 1947 | Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California | |
| 63 | Win | 49–12–2 | Charley Roth | KO | 4 | May 12, 1947 | Louisville, Kentucky | |
| 62 | Win | 48–12–2 | Marty Clark | TKO | 7 | Jan 28, 1947 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida | |
| 61 | Loss | 47–12–2 | Jersey Joe Walcott | MD | 10 | Jan 6, 1947 | Philadelphia Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| 60 | Win | 47–11–2 | Jack Marshall | PTS | 10 | Dec 17, 1946 | Houston, Texas | |
| 59 | Win | 46–11–2 | Dolph Quijano | PTS | 10 | Dec 12, 1946 | El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas | |
| 58 | Win | 45–11–2 | Jimmy Webb | TKO | 6 | Dec 3, 1946 | Houston, Texas | |
| 57 | Draw | 44–11–2 | Jimmy Richie | PTS | 10 | Nov 12, 1946 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri | |
| 56 | Win | 44–11–1 | Bearcat Jones | KO | 5 | Oct 16, 1946 | Rollercade, Toledo, Ohio | |
| 55 | Win | 43–11–1 | Clarence Jones | PTS | 10 | Oct 10, 1946 | Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio | |
| 54 | Win | 42–11–1 | Jersey Joe Walcott | PTS | 10 | Aug 28, 1946 | Public Service Ball Park, Camden, New Jersey | |
| 53 | Win | 41–11–1 | Henry Cooper | PTS | 10 | Aug 14, 1946 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 52 | Win | 40–11–1 | Phil Muscato | UD | 10 | Aug 2, 1946 | Red Wing Stadium, Rochester, New York | |
| 51 | Win | 39–11–1 | Phil Muscato | SD | 12 | May 14, 1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York | |
| 50 | Draw | 38–11–1 | Charley Eagle | PTS | 10 | May 7, 1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York | |
| 49 | Loss | 38–11 | Phil Muscato | UD | 10 | Apr 9, 1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York | |
| 48 | Win | 38–10 | Buddy Walker | UD | 10 | Apr 1, 1946 | Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland | |
| 47 | Win | 37–10 | Ralph DeJohn | TKO | 1 | Mar 27, 1946 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York | DeJohn broke his arm during the fight. |
| 46 | Loss | 36–10 | John Thomas | PTS | 10 | Mar 11, 1946 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City | |
| 45 | Win | 36–9 | Panther Williams | UD | 10 | Mar 4, 1946 | Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan | |
| 44 | Win | 35–9 | Cleo Everett | UD | 10 | Nov 26, 1945 | Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan | |
| 43 | Win | 34–9 | Clarence Brown | UD | 10 | Apr 16, 1945 | Arcadia Gardens, Detroit, Michigan | |
| 42 | Win | 33–9 | Johnny Flanagan | PTS | 8 | Feb 2, 1945 | Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 41 | Loss | 32–9 | John Kowalczyk | SD | 10 | Dec 19, 1944 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 40 | Loss | 32–8 | Lloyd Marshall | UD | 10 | Jul 27, 1944 | Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 39 | Win | 31–8 | Frank Androff | PTS | 8 | Jun 26, 1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 38 | Win | 30–8 | Bob Garner | PTS | 10 | May 29, 1944 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 37 | Win | 29–8 | Buddy Walker | UD | 10 | Apr 28, 1944 | Detroit, Michigan | |
| 36 | Win | 28–8 | George Parks | PTS | 10 | Jan 31, 1944 | Turner's Arena, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| 35 | Win | 27–8 | Claudio Villar | TKO | 6 | Dec 1, 1943 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 34 | Win | 26–8 | Buddy Scott | PTS | 10 | Oct 29, 1943 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 33 | Win | 25–8 | Nate Bolden | PTS | 10 | Aug 9, 1943 | Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 32 | Win | 24–8 | Al Jordan | PTS | 10 | Apr 26, 1943 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 31 | Win | 23–8 | Curtis Sheppard | UD | 10 | Mar 31, 1943 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 30 | Loss | 22–8 | Curtis Sheppard | KO | 1 | Mar 10, 1943 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 29 | Win | 22–7 | Clarence Brown | PTS | 10 | Feb 15, 1943 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 28 | Win | 21–7 | Clarence Brown | PTS | 8 | Jan 18, 1943 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 27 | Loss | 20–7 | Ezzard Charles | UD | 10 | Dec 1, 1942 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 26 | Loss | 20–6 | Ezzard Charles | UD | 10 | Oct 27, 1942 | Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| 25 | Win | 20–5 | Larry Lane | PTS | 10 | Oct 13, 1942 | Akron Armory, Akron, Ohio | |
| 24 | Win | 19–5 | Hubert Hood | UD | 10 | Oct 5, 1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 23 | Win | 18–5 | Shelton Bell | PTS | 10 | Sep 22, 1942 | Hickey Park, Millvale, Pennsylvania | |
| 22 | Win | 17–5 | Jack Marshall | KO | 9 | Aug 27, 1942 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 21 | Loss | 16–5 | Altus Allen | MD | 10 | Aug 10, 1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 20 | Win | 16–4 | Curtis Sheppard | PTS | 10 | Jul 27, 1942 | Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| 19 | Win | 15–4 | Lou Brooks | SD | 10 | Jul 10, 1942 | Wilmington Park, Wilmington, Delaware | |
| 18 | Loss | 14–4 | Jimmy Bivins | SD | 10 | Jun 23, 1942 | Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 17 | Win | 14–3 | Charley Roth | KO | 4 | Jun 1, 1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 16 | Loss | 13–3 | Charley Roth | DQ | 2 | May 11, 1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | Maxim disqualified for hitting Roth while he was down. |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Frank Greene | KO | 2 | Apr 20, 1942 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Lou Brooks | SD | 10 | Mar 23, 1942 | Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland | |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Herbie Katz | KO | 6 | Mar 11, 1942 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 12 | Loss | 10–2 | Booker Beckwith | UD | 10 | Jan 16, 1942 | Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Red Burman | PTS | 10 | Dec 1, 1941 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Oliver Shanks | KO | 5 | Oct 27, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Bill Petersen | UD | 10 | Oct 6, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Nate Bolden | UD | 10 | Sep 15, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Lee Oma | PTS | 8 | Aug 11, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Johnny Trotter | PTS | 8 | Jul 28, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Tony Paoli | PTS | 10 | Jul 11, 1941 | Sportsman's Park, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Bobby Berry | PTS | 6 | Apr 29, 1941 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| 3 | Loss | 2–1 | Orlando Trotter | SD | 8 | Feb 17, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Frank McBride | UD | 8 | Jan 27, 1941 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Bobby Berry | PTS | 4 | Jan 13, 1941 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* NYSAC light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* NBA (WBA) light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

### Regional/International titles

* U.S. light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* Pacific Northwest heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed light heavyweight champion