North End legend and famous boxer Tony DeMarco, who will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame next year, is famous for defeating Johnny Saxton in 1955 for the world welterweight championship. On the morning of that fateful fight, one local newspaper predicted the outcome.
Back on April 1, 1955, The Italian News, a weekly publication by Gabriel Piemonte, then City Councilor and North End attorney, ran a cover story that Tony DeMarco won the championship fight. The article, written by Bob Skole and shown below, describes the fight as if it already happened, highlighting DeMarco’s left swings and good sportsmanship after his victory. An editor’s note found at the end of the article tells readers everything they just read is merely a prediction.
The Italian News’ bold forecasting of DeMarco’s victory was talked about at news offices across the country and even into Mexico and Canada. In an article one week later, the paper noted they had predicted DeMarco would be champion over a year ago saying, “People who know boxing [are] confident that Tony DeMarco will walk out of that ring wearing the crown.”
Tony DeMarco will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 6-9, 2019 at the headquarters in Canastota, NY. He is honored here in the North End with a statue on the corner of Cross and Hanover Streets.
