Introduction
To Meet Chino Here Friday Night
TOMMY RICCO. Tommy Ricco, hard-hitting scrapper, will arrive here today to complete training for his 10-round battle Friday night at Benjamin Field against Tampa’s slugging battler, Chino Alvarez.
THOMAS ENRICO LAURIA, who boxed professionally under the name of Tommy Ricco, was born in Camden on April 19, 1917 to Francesco “Frank” Lauria and his wife, the former Angelina Siria. His father had come to America in 1909 from Italy, and brought his mother, older brother Anthony and sister Rose over in 1911. The family is listed in Camden City directories from 1913 through 1918 at 817 Dauphin Street. By January of 1920 the family had settled in at 307 Line Street in South Camden. Four more children would come in the 1920s, sisters Anne, Irene and Florence and a brother Vincent Lauria. Sadly, Francesco Lauria passed away in 1931, not having reached the age of 50.
Thomas Lauria boxed professionally out of Camden in the 1930s and into 1940 under the name of Tommy Ricco. His professional career got off to a fast start in 1936. “Tommy Ricco” won ten out of his first eleven fights on record, the exception being a draw against Pete Kelly on August 5, 1937 in Camden. He returned to the ring on August 9 in Baltimore, scoring a technical knockout over veteran Benny Kessler. Unfortunately, “Tommy Ricco” broke his hand in this fight, and did not fight again for over a year. He was never the same fighter after that, and although he continued to be active as a boxer, mostly in Baltimore and Washington, he lost twelve of his next eighteen fights. No longer an up-and-coming contender after breaking his hand, perhaps the highlight of his boxing career was a trip to Florida in the summer of 1939 where he fought three veteran boxers, Red Hutchins, Chino Alvarez, and Justo Jimenez, scoring a TKO against Hutchins, then losing a split decision to Alvarez, then losing to Jimenez on points. He fought six times in 1940 in the Baltimore and Washington area, then called it a career. The 1940 Camden City Directory shows him living at 307 Line Street in South Camden with his widowed mother and brother Vincent. The Directory does not state where he was working at the time that it was compiled, nor whether he had married or not. He did wed not long afterward, however.
On January 4, 1943 Thomas Lauria was inducted into the United States Army. After serving his country, he returned to Camden. The 1947 Directory shows him living with his wife at 307 Line Street. By the winter of 1952 he had moved to 1296 Van Hook Street. In the 1950s and 1960s he worked for the city’s Highway Department. In the early 1950s he also supplemented his income as a numbers writer. Working in this capacity got him arrested in February of 1952 and cost him a very short jail sentence.
Thomas Lauria died from a heart attack at the age of 42 in 1960. His younger brother Vincent Lauria passed away from heart-related problems on February 24, 1974 at the age of 53. Noting that their father had also died before he turned 50, this may have been a congenital heart issue. Thomas Lauria was survived by his wife Ida and sons Frank and Thomas.
Younger brother Vince “Duke” Lauria boxed as an amateur and was an AAU Diamond Belt champion before his induction into the United States Army on May 5, 1943 at Camden, New Jersey. He returned to Camden and boxing in 1945, and made his professional debut in May of that year as a bantamweight. Vince Lauria went undefeated in 22 known fights, winning 21 and settling for a draw only once, in June of 1947. His last fight was in September of 1947.
Tampa Tribune — August 27, 1939
Tommy Ricco, Camden featherweight, Tampa Tribune, August 27, 1939.
Professional Boxing Record
Baltimore Sun — March 24, 1936
Baltimore Sun —
Tommy Ricco of Camden Wins TKO Over Benny Kessler
Tommy Ricco, of Camden, 127¾, was returned the winner in an unusual bout with Benny Kessler, 129. Tommy won on a technical knockout, the referee stopping the action in the third round when Kessler’s eye was cut. If Kessler had escaped the injury he would have been the victor before the session had ended, Ricco having broken his hand. The latter, a southpaw, made a favorable impression, and was leading by a wide margin when the match was halted. Kessler took a count of nine in the second round.
Camden Courier-Post — July 13, 1936
Camden Courier-Post —
Joey Allen to Meet Tough Foe in Toomey
Clash Here Tomorrow
Newark Lightweight May End Local’s Streak Here in Semi-final Tomorrow
Walcott vs Ketchell in 10-Round Windup
A keen two-fisted scrap, which should rival the “Jersey Joe” Walcott-Billy Ketchell featured match, has been arranged for the eight-round semi-final of the Atlas Boxing Club’s show tomorrow night at the Pennsauken open-air arena.
The principals in this encounter will be Joey Allen, pride of South Camden, and the clever Johnny Toomey, of Newark, who holds a number of verdicts over outstanding lightweight fighters.
Allen was originally scheduled to face Ernie Ratner, of Jersey City, but according to Promoter Marty Garaguso and Matchmaker Anthony Georgette he failed to pass the state physical examination.
Georgette stated that after having signed Ratner to a contract he had heard rumors of Ratner’s physical condition with the result that the Jersey City youth was forced to pass an examination by physicians of the State Boxing Board, who turned him down.
The local matchmaker immediately burned the wires in order to find a most suitable opponent for Allen and was fortunate in having obtained the services of Toomey, who is considered one of the outstanding lightweights in the East.
In fact from all appearances the present match is looked upon by experts as far better than the original opponent with Allen meeting an opponent who may cause the South Camdenite to lose his first match since appearing in this city.
Toomey Fought Here as Amateur
Toomey is already matched to meet Al Roth, of New York, one of the classiest lightweights in the metropolitan area. These two are slated to come together in Newark on July 17.
Incidentally, Toomey is a former Camden resident, who fought in the amateurs here some years ago. Since then he has had a meteoric rise in the boxing game and has earned decisions over such fighters as Lou Lombardi, Maxie Fisher, Allie Rowan, “Red” Cochrane, Joey Costa and Harry Carlton. In a bout a few months ago Toomey dropped a close decision to Lew Feldman, one of the cleverest, and hardest hitting lightweights in the game today.
Allen is a regular crowd-pleaser, ready to mix it with anyone with whom he is matched and is also rated as a fine boxer. In his last appearance here—last fall—Allen appeared in an eight-round windup against Norman Rahn and gained the verdict.
He is unbeaten in this city, but he will have to step mightily lively in order to keep his record intact when he comes to grips with Toomey tomorrow night.
This tussle should whet the appetite of the fans for the following bout, which finds Walcott, the “Bomber” from Merchantville, tangling with Ketchell, of Millville in 10 rounds. The fur is sure to fly in this scrap, for both are known for packing plenty of T.N.T. behind their punches.
Walcott, Ketchell May Score Kayoe
Walcott and Ketchell are about the best matching heavyweights in this section of the state and it could be classed in some respects as a match to determine the South Jersey heavyweight championship. A knockout is looked for in this battle.
Supporting these two exceptionally fine matched tussles, are three other bouts which should keep the fans on the edge throughout the evening.
In the main-preliminary, Joe Duca, of Paulsboro, is slated to go eight-rounds with Freddy Lewis, of Maple Shade. These two youngsters are expected to set a merry pace for what marks the third and “rubber” match between them.
In the second tussle of the night, Joey Straiges, popular Camden lightweight, mingles with Billy Mariner, of Philadelphia, while in the opening fuss Jimmy Russell, of Beverly, takes on Tommy Ricco, of South Camden, in a featherweight tilt. Both bouts are slated for six rounds.
Millville Slugger Suffers Cut Eye; ‘Jersey Joe’ Loses Round on Foul
Camden Courier-Post —
ALLEN BEATS TOOMEY
By Frank Kopesky
South Jersey fight fans still are at odds over the superiority of their two outstanding heavyweights.
“Jersey Joe” Walcott, the Merchantville “Brown Bomber,” and the veteran Billy Ketchell, of Millville, tangled at the Pennsauken Open Air Arena last night and engaged in a 10-round draw.
A gathering of some 2500 attended the first presentation by the Atlas Boxing Club, and by all indications, professional fighting has regained a foothold in this city.
Walcott and Ketchell, both of whom are regarded as powerhouse hitters, engaged in a bout that was hard-fought from start to finish. In the opinion of the writer, however, the Merchantville Negro merited the decision.
Ketchell, who came in at 181, seven pounds lighter than his opponent, fought an inside fight throughout. He tied Walcott into a knot and then pummeled his ribs and stomach. Granted that the Millville veteran scored considerably by this method, but Walcott’s long-range slugging, his aggressiveness, and his numerous damaging blows clearly, in our opinion, earned him better than a draw.
Walcott Won Six Rounds
The score card showed six rounds for Walcott, two for Ketchell, and two even. The Millville campaigner, whose ring career began as a lightweight years ago, won the sixth round by his telling body punches and the ninth on a foul. The fifth and seventh were even.
The decision by Referee Bill Kutcher, of Atlantic City, appeared to satisfy many of the customers, but a good number was of the opinion that the nod should have gone to Walcott despite the fact that Ketchell made a fight of it.
No knockdowns were scored and three furious exchanges in the first round gave the customers their biggest thrill. After that, the principals settled down and waged a careful fight throughout.
The Merchantville knockout artist employed a left jab effectively in several instances and this helped in gaining him the first round. Neither connected with any damaging blows in the second session and they closed with a rush after hanging and sparring during the first two minutes. Walcott won by a shade.
The stream-lined Negro staggered his adversary twice in the third round with gashouse rights to the jaw, and Ketchell pummeled Walcott’s ribs. The long-range socks gave Walcott the round easily.
Fight at Close Quarters
They fought extremely close in the fourth round with neither landing any telling blows and it was the Merchantville slugger’s round by a shade. The fifth was a repetition of the fourth except that Ketchell fought his opponent on even terms. It was in the sixth that Billy scored with telling body blows and Walcott slowed down somewhat and missed several times to forfeit the round.
It was all infighting in the seventh and their scuffling at close quarters resulted in a nasty cut on Ketchell’s right eye as a result of a “butt.” This round also was even and Walcott won the next by a shade by virtue of his harder and more frequent hitting. In this chapter he returned a few of Ketchell’s body blows.
Walcott hit low in the ninth, but Ketchell took only one minute, 20 seconds rest and appeared none the worse for the blow. Walcott protested that the blow was not a foul, but it nevertheless lost him the round. In the tenth, the suburban scrapper again had the best of it.
Because of threatening weather, the bout was third on the program of five fights.
Allen Beats Toomey
Doing considerable damage with a stinging right, Joey Allen, popular South Camden lightweight, punched out an eight-round decision over Johnny Toomey, of Newark, in the semi-windup.
Toomey, who tipped the beam at 143, is a former Camden boxer, and sported an advantage of seven pounds.
Allen staggered Toomey with powerful rights in the first and sixth heats. Toomey put up a good fight, but Allen was just a little too smart for the upstate scrapper. Joey won all but the second round, which was even.
Freddy Lewis, 156½, of Maple Shade, and Joe Duca, 161, of Paulsboro, brought the rearranged show to a close by treating onlookers with a hard-fought eight-rounder. It was the third and “rubber” fight and Duca made it two victories by gaining the decision.
They engaged in toe to toe slugging bees on several occasions and neither gave an inch throughout. Duca landed the most damaging blows, belaboring the Maple Shade youngster with telling right crosses and straight punches to the head.
Easy for Straiges
Billy Mariner, of Philadelphia, was absolutely no match for Joey Straiges, nimble footed Camden lightweight in the second bout slated for six sessions. Straiges, who fairly oozed class and ability, chopped up both Mariner’s eyes before Referee John Loughrey intervened and halted the slaughter in the third round. The time was two minutes 39 seconds.
Straiges came in at 136 pounds, holding an edge of one pound.
Tommy Ricco, 125½, South Camden scrapper, outpointed Jimmy Russell, 128, of Beverly in the opening number of six rounds. After starting slowly with both doing considerable holding and wrestling, the bout developed into an exciting affair from the second session on.
Russell scored with numerous body blows, but Ricco’s aggressiveness and hard blows to the head throughout easily merited him the decision. Ricco particularly had much the better of it in the third and sixth rounds, staggering the Beverly youngster with a number of head blows.
Bridgewater Courier-News — July 15, 1936
Bridgewater Courier-News —
Ketchell-Walcott Even In Camden Mitt Tilt
Camden—(AP)—Billy Ketchell, 181, Millville, and Jersey Joe Walcott, 180, Merchantville, battled to a 10-round draw in the windup bout of a boxing show here last night. In the semi-final, Joe Allen, 135, Camden, took the decision over Johnny Toomey, 136, Newark, in eight rounds. Joey Straiges, Camden lightweight, scored a three-round technical knockout over Billy Mariner, Philadelphia. Tommy Ricco, 125½, Camden, won a six-round decision over Jimmy Russell, Beverly. Freddy Lewis, 156½, Maple Shade, and Joe Duca, 161, Paulsboro, battled to a six-round draw.
Vineland Daily Journal — August 29, 1936
Vineland Daily Journal —
Ambrose to Fight at Pennsauken Ring
Midget Ambrose, of Vineland, will trade punches with Tommy Ricco, of Camden, in a six-round preliminary at the Pennsauken Open Air Arena next Tuesday night, it was announced today.
Billy Ketchell, of Millville, and Jersey Joe Walcott, of Merchantville, are scheduled to meet in the 10-round feature bout.
Vineland Daily Journal — September 2, 1936
Vineland Daily Journal —
Ketchell Wins Nod Over Wolcott
Midget Ambrose Of Vineland Kayoed In Fourth By Camden Scrapper
Billy Ketchell, 179, of Millville, won the referee’s decision over “Jersey Joe” Wolcott, 187, of Merchantville, in the feature 10-round windup at the Pennsauken Arena last night before 2500 fans.
The verdict did not agree with many of the fans, who believed Wolcott was victorious. Several sports writers were also inclined to this opinion. The colored scrapper scored a four-count knockdown in the first and a no-count knockdown in the tenth. Both scrappers exhibited plenty of intestinal fortitude in the grueling fight. Ketchell was groggy at the finish.
Tommy Ricco, 124, of South Camden, knocked out Midget Ambrose, 116, of Vineland, in 40 seconds of the fourth round in the opening fight. Ambrose outweighed eight pound, was no match for the hard-hitting Camdenite, a left to the stomach ending the bout.
Bridgewater Courier-News — September 2, 1936
Bridgewater Courier-News —
Ketchell Wins Decision Over Walcott
At Pennsauken, Billy Ketchell, 178, Millville, won a decision over Joe Walcott, 185, Merchantville, after being floored by Walcott in the first round of a 10-round match.
Joseph Straiges, 132, Camden, drew with Tony Strazzeri, 134, Philadelphia, in eight rounds.
Paul Hoft, 198, former AAU heavyweight champion, knocked out King Kong, 210, of Akron, O., in the sixth round after King Kong took two nine counts in the fifth.
Al Narciso, 140, Camden, had an edge over Ted Pecana, 144, of Elmer, in a six-rounder. Tommy Ricco, 144, Camden, knocked out Midget Ambrose, 123, Vineland, in the fourth round.
Baltimore Sun — May 25, 1937
Baltimore Sun —
Ricco, Stablemate of Lucas, Tackles Calp in 6-Rounder
Bass Completes Cocoa Fight Program For Monday Night
Tommy Ricco, Camden lightweight, will return to action here Monday night when he squares off against Calvin Calp, pugnacious Hampdenite, in one of the six-round supporting jousts on the Cocoa Kid–Johnny Lucas fight card at Carlin’s.
Ricco has appeared here only once. That was early last year and he plastered a three-round knockout on Benny Kessler. Ricco is a stablemate of Lucas.
Baccala Vs. Wilson
Matchmaker Sylvan Bass today completed his card for next week with the pairing of Sam Baccala and Bobby Wilson in another “six.” Wilson stopped Jake Scherer in his last start.
All told, there will be 36 rounds of action on Monday’s bill, including the special six-round affair between Tom Henry, Philadelphia heavyweight, and Jim Schwemmer, the undefeated Sparrows Point lad. They were ordered by the Boxing Commission to meet again next week, after their scheduled ten-round fray last Monday was declared “no contest.”
Cocoa Due Tomorrow
It is expected that Cocoa Kid will come here tomorrow to put the finishing touches to his training. The Puerto Rican titleholder will work out at the Century Athletic Club gymnasium, 500 block East Baltimore street. Lucas probably will not come here until late Sunday.
Gene Gregory, New Haven lightweight, meets Billy Teemes, Washington, in the eight-round secondary feature.
Photos — Tommy Ricco, Miami Beach, 1939
Tommy Ricco, Miami Beach, 1939.
Miami News — August 8, 1939
Miami News —
Ricco Defeats Justo Jiminez In Fast Scrap
Tommy Ricco, a fair-to-middlin’ New Jersey club fighter from the East, staggered under the Christmas tree a winner at the Miami Beach arena last night—a winner in a photo finish over Justo Jiminez, the busy Mayan Indian from Mexico.
They had a new system of letting the public know what the judges were doing last night. Cap’n Peeples got some colored light bulbs out of his Christmas tree decorations and strung them over the ring. So, at the end of each round the fans were let in on the workings of the judges.
Well, at the end of 10 heats the lights had four for Ricco, two for Jiminez, with the rest even. Justo might have had one round more than that, but he didn’t earn the decision. Ricco knocked him down in the third round, had him groggy as a result of two good left hooks in the fifth, and then despite Justo’s rousing finish in the 10th, had enough lead to win.
’Twas a good fight every minute. Ricco is strictly a club fighter, doing everything by the book. And he’s a straighter hitter than Jiminez. He caused the Mexican much distress with that left hook, and managed to get through with enough—and no more—to withstand Justo’s hustling two-fisted barrage in the last round. Justo weighed 135 to Ricco’s 129 but the pull in the weights meant nothing. They both were in there punching all the time.
Miami Herald — August 8, 1939
Miami Herald —
Ricco Defeats Jiminez In Action-Filled Bout
Camden, N. J., Lightweight’s Savage Left Hook Gives Him Unanimous 10-Round Decision At Beach Arena; Bob Riley Outpoints Tommy Hoover In Semifinal
By Ted Ward, Herald Sports Writer
A blistering left hook, attached to the pale, muscular shoulders of Tommy Ricco, guided the Camden, N. J., lightweight to an unanimous 10-round decision over coffee-colored Justo Jiminez of Mexico Monday night at the Beach arena.
The left hook, one of the most vicious punches displayed at the seaside fistic emporium this season, sent Jiminez sprawling to the canvas for a count of three in the third round. And the weapon nearly tore the plucky Mexican’s black-thatched head from his body in the sixth.
And the remainder of the evening the blow never stopped a-winging to Jiminez’ head and mid-section, punishing, demoralizing, cutting.
Ricco’s soggy left glove gave him the margin he needed to overcome the six-pound weight advantage that Jiminez possessed.
Ricco overshadowed the fourth round flurry that Jiminez uncorked. And it made the officials overlook the bobbing Mexican’s rally in the final round.
Ricco Clever
But the left hook wasn’t the only trick in Ricco’s repertoire.
Tommy—a quiet, genial fellow away from the smell of the resin—also showed the 1,000 seaside fight bugs how to slip a punch, how to block and how to ride the sting out of a mitten.
His only embarrassing moments came in the fourth and tenth rounds. He dropped two other stanzas by close margins, but in the fourth and tenth he wasn’t [illegible — scan torn/creased] in the eyes, and in the tenth he was holding like a python, but the rest of the bout he really made all tamales in Mexico turn over their frying pans when he whipped out with his raking left hook.
Tommy, who weighs but 125, just three pounds over the featherweight limit, is easily one of the most pleasing performers to slip through the ropes at the Beach this season.
Bob Riley, 142, Greensboro, N. C., floored Tommy Hoover, 141, Washington, D. C., for a count of nine in the fourth round, and this flooring gave him the nod in the eight-round semifinal.
In the other bouts Al Williams, 185, Miami Beach, stopped Irish Patrick, 201½, Miami, in the first round of a scheduled eight-rounder, and Jimmy Rick, 148, 158, Jacksonville, outpointed Red Burris, in the four-round opener.
Miami Herald — August 22, 1939
Miami Herald —
Ricco Stops Hutchins
New Jersey Lightweight Scores Seven-Round Technical Knockout
By Ted Ward, Herald Sports Writer
Tommy Ricco, never taking a backward step, pounded Red Hutchins’ temple and eyes with short, methodical punches until the St. Petersburg featherweight’s legs collapsed under him, giving the Camden, N. J., Italian a seven-round technical knockout Monday night at the Beach arena.
The kayo came after 1 minute and 20 seconds had elapsed of the seventh. And it brought to a close a duel which wasn’t pleasing in the eyes of the 1,000 spectators.
But the lack of action wasn’t Ricco’s fault.
The aggressive Italian chased Hutchins from the beginning of the scheduled 10-round encounter. But he couldn’t land the finishing punches until the seventh because Red stayed in a shell during most of the evening.
Series of Punches Effective
The technical knockout, in fact, was the culmination of a barrage of punches that Ricco unleashed. Tommy didn’t connect with a single blow during the entire one-sided bout that carried knockout power. But Tommy let fly with many, many short punches that—added together—probably made Hutchins think the ring was filled with canaries.
There was only one knockdown. And that occurred in the seventh when Hutchins walked wearily to the canvas. As soon as Hutchins sprawled in the resin Referee Jimmy Peerless wisely stopped the fight without starting a count.
Ricco scaled 125¼, Hutchins 121.
Richard Hernandez, 139, Tampa, outpointed Buck Buckalew, 137, Pensacola, in the eight-round semifinal. The match was close, very close, but was marred by continual clinching.
Young Allen, 136, St. Petersburg, won by a foul over Mario Perez, 146½, Key West, in the fourth round of a scheduled six-rounder. Billy Rodriquez, 123½, Tampa, stopped Pete Peterson, 123½, Asheville, N. C., in the first round of a scheduled four-rounder, while Jimmy Buck, 147, Princeton, outpointed Red Burris, 158, Jacksonville.
But the laugh of the program was engineered by a leather-lunged spectator who yelled for someone to get a horse. And a second later another fan chimed in with the remark that Red didn’t need a horse. Instead, he needed a catcher’s glove.
Tampa Times — August 30, 1939
Tampa Times —
To Meet Chino Here Friday Night
Tommy Ricco, hard-hitting scrapper, will arrive here today to complete training for his 10-round battle Friday night at Benjamin Field against Tampa’s slugging battler, Chino Alvarez.
Photos — Boxing Poster, September 1939
Boxing poster, Tommy Ricco vs. Chino Alvarez, September 1, 1939, Benjamin Field Arena, Tampa.
Tampa Tribune — September 2, 1939
Tampa Tribune —
Alvarez Wins Decision Over Tommy Ricco
Vote Is Split in Bout at Field Arena
Chino Alvarez, veteran Tampa battler, won a split 10-round decision over Tommy Ricco, New Jersey featherweight, last night at Benjamin field, but he had to stage a whirlwind rally in the final two rounds to accomplish the feat, and there were plenty of dissenting votes in the house when his hand was held aloft by Referee Eddie Coachman. A crowd of 2000 watched the battle.
The verdict came as a result of two votes in favor of Alvarez, both cast by the judges. Referee Coachman, of Miami, voted the decision to Ricco.
The Tribune scorecard favored Ricco by a margin of six rounds to four, but the judges, “Pop” Jones and Johnny Minardi, based their decision on Alvarez’ cleaner hitting and the fact that Ricco clinched throughout the battle.
The majority of the ringsiders agreed Alvarez landed by far the harder punches, but that Ricco landed two blows to every one thrown by the Tampan.
Row Over Tape Delays Show
A long-winded wrangle over the kind, and amount, of tape wound around Alvarez’ hands delayed the bout for 40 minutes.
Ricco and his manager, Gabe Menendez, insisted Alvarez change the heavy tape on his hands after he had climbed into the ring. At first Alvarez refused, and Ricco then said he wouldn’t go through with the bout.
Finally, Alvarez had the tape cut from his hands, and Ricco and his manager climbed into the ring. Willie Santana, Alvarez’ chief second, then demanded that Ricco’s hands be retaped, and during the argument, Rio Martinez, another Alvarez second, cracked Menendez on the chin.
Cooler heads separated Martinez and Menendez, but a minute later the latter walked across the ring and took a swing at Martinez. They were separated again, this time for good, and the bout got underway.
Ricco Stays In Close
Carefully coached by Menendez and Pete Leto, his other second, Ricco fought the kind of battle Alvarez has always found toughest to handle. He stayed in close, backed Alvarez to the ropes as often as possible, and rarely gave the Tampan a chance to land his famous right-hand punch.
When Alvarez succeeded in hitting Ricco squarely, he invariably hurt the stock Italian battler. But he didn’t do it right, often enough until late in the battle, when a flurry of punches had Ricco groggy in the ninth, and a series of clean rights and lefts gave Alvarez a shade in the bitterly-fought tenth round.
Alvarez looked good when he elected to use his long left jab to keep Ricco away. He boxed like a master through the first round, but then decided to meet Ricco at his own game of infighting.
Through the middle rounds of the bout Ricco, his short arms never stopping the barrage of punches to Alvarez’ body, held the edge.
Alvarez Rallies in End
Alvarez rallied in the final four rounds, winning three of them to sway the judges’ decision his way. He hurt Ricco with a right uppercut in the sixth round, but the New Jersey boy stormed back with a two-fisted barrage that made Alvarez give ground as the round ended.
In the seventh, Alvarez cut Ricco’s right eye with a short left hook, but once more Ricco pounded in with both fists, and almost evened the count with vicious lefts to the head.
Alvarez was tiring badly as the eighth round opened, and he was an easy target for Ricco’s punches. He came back strong in the ninth, however, to buckle Ricco’s knees with smashing rights to the jaw, and to outpunch the easterner in the final session.
Each weighed 128 pounds last night.
Camden Courier-Post — December 18, 1939
Camden Courier-Post —
Ex-Fighters Are Set for Charity Show
Jersey Joe Walcott and Roxie Allen in Feature at Civic Hall Tomorrow
Present and past greats of Camden boxing will do their all for charity tomorrow night, when they appear on a card sponsored by the United Democratic Clubs of Camden, at the Camden Convention Hall.
Fifteen bouts of three rounds each are scheduled to be held, and the entire proceeds will be used to provide Christmas baskets for Camden’s needy. The boxers and referees have generously donated their services free of charge, and are to be complimented for their willingness to aid a worthy cause.
All 15 bouts as are exhibition matches as the principals have been out of training for several years. However, they have done their best to get in pretty fair shape during the past two weeks and a number of interesting bouts should be presented.
Jersey Joe Walcott, still in action in the heavyweight ranks, and Roxie Allen, who 10 years ago was Camden’s leading lightweight, but who retired two years ago, are on the card. Allen and Walcott met here about two years ago and the latter knocked out Roxie in a scheduled eight-rounder.
However, Walcott held a 25-pound pull in the weights, scaling around 165, while Frankie weighed around 160. Walcott eventually knocked out Allen, Roxie had the satisfaction of flooring Jersey Joe in the fire two and a felt hook to the jaw sending the Negro down for a count of two.
Blairs Box Each Other
Allen quit fighting about this bout, but still is in good physical shape as Frankie Blair, one of Camden’s well-known heavyweights showed three fast rounds against Walcott.
Frankie and Mickey Blair, both of South Camden, are two fighters who spent themselves in out-of-town fights, and are slated to box each other. Frankie, a welterweight, fought his greatest bouts in New York City about two years, while Mickey was one of the best featherweights in the East shortly after the World War.
George Chaney, Benny Bass, Kid Williams, Pete Herman were some of the boys Balling met in his prime. He is slated to face Lew Skymer, another Attell.
Hindle Battles Chaney
Jackie Hindle and Eddie Chaney, both local residents, are due to meet. Hindle and Chaney were among the welterweights of local weights who flourished here in 1926, ’27 and ’28. Allen, Hindle, Chaney, Shamus McGuire, Charlie Mack, White, Lew Jackson, and Johnny Attell were included among the men which made boxing a major attraction in this city during those years.
Charley Mack meets Young O’Connor, Jackson in short four-round bouts. Spearing battles Frankie Rapp, downtown southpaw who fought four of the best featherweights in the East in short time. Pee Wee Ross and Attell clashes with Billy Marino.
is dotted with knockouts. He will take on Joey Allen, South Camden featherweight who never fought a slow bout and who never side-stepped a match.
Pee Wee Ross undoubtedly was the best bantamweight ever developed in this city. Ross fought ’em all 10 years ago and finished with a great record. He meets Bobby Zimmerman, another local product who also was a pleasing performer and who was known as the “buzz saw” because of his rapid-fire punching.
Nick Nichols, one of the hardest-hitting welterweights ever to hold forth here, takes on Tommy McCann, East Camdenite who had one of the best left hands in the city.
Lucas Vs. Straiges
Johnny Lucas, South Camden welterweight who still could go to the wars, faces Joey Straiges, also of South Camden, who also could compete in featherweight ranks if it were necessary for him to continue boxing. In the other bout on the card, Young Palmer and Tommy Dundee, former featherweights, clash.
Jim Braddock, former world heavyweight champion, is expected to be on hand to referee at least one bout. Others invited to referee are: Sgt. Ray Smith, Harry Shaw, Tom Walters, Al Ettore, Joey O’Donnell, Mike DeLeece, Young Lawrence, Charley Harris, Bill McFarlane and Walter “West” Kennedy.
The committee in charge of the boxing arrangements consists of Caesar Campana, chairman, Dominic Lombardo, Daniel Gallasso, James McSparrin and Paul Daly.
Camden Courier-Post — December 20, 1939
Camden Courier-Post —
Nearly 4000 Witness Old-Timers in Action
Past and Present South Jersey Boxers Go Through Paces in Charity Show
No Decisions Rendered
They turned back the sporting page, month after month, year after year. And out of the staring type and fading newsprint stepped the shadows of all the names you’ve been reading about these past weeks.
With nearly 4,000 in attendance, the United Democratic Clubs of Camden sponsored a charity boxing show at Convention Hall last night that turned into a sentimental journey through the years for most of the fans.
Braddock Gets Big Hand
The feature attraction and a man who received a thunderous reception from the gallery was popular James J. Braddock, former heavyweight champion of the world, who refereed the final two bouts.
Roxie Allen, of Camden, and Hindie, who 10 years ago was Camden’s leading lightweight, but who retired two years ago, were paired on the card. Allen and Walcott met here about two years ago and the latter knocked out Roxie in a scheduled eight-rounder.
However, Walcott held a 25-pound pull in the weights, scaling around 165, while Frankie weighed around 160. Walcott eventually knocked out Allen, Roxie had the satisfaction of flooring Jersey Joe in the first two and a felt hook to the jaw sending the Negro down for a count of two.
Blairs Box Each Other
Allen quit fighting about this bout, but still is in good physical shape as Frankie Blair, one of Camden’s well-known heavyweights showed three fast rounds against Walcott.
Frankie and Mickey Blair, both of South Camden, are two fighters who spent their greatest days in out-of-town fights, and are slated to box each other. Frankie, a welterweight, fought his greatest bouts in New York City about two years, while Mickey was one of the best featherweights in the East shortly after the World War.
Tommy Ricco and Young O’Connor, another South Camden featherweight, and Johnny Duca, both of Paulsboro, are the other three boys who will be active in the card of events, while Johnny Duca squares off against Al White, also of Paulsboro.
The veteran of the card is Battling Mack, one of the finest characters ever to enter the fight game among South Camden featherweights in the East, shortly after the World War. George Chaney, Benny Bass, Kid Williams, Pete Herman were some of the boys Balling met in his prime. He is slated to face Lew Skymer, another Attell. Mac…
Hindle Battles Chaney
Jackie Hindle and Eddie Chaney, both local residents, are due to meet. Hindle and Chaney were among the welterweights of local weights who flourished here in 1926, ’27 and ’28. Allen, Hindle, Chaney, Shamus Maguire, Charlie Mack, White, Lew Jackson, and Johnny Attell were included among the men which made boxing a major attraction in this city during those years.
Charley Mack meets Young O’Connor, Jackson in short four-round bouts. Spearing battles Frankie Rapp, downtown southpaw who fought four of the best featherweights in the East in short time. Pee Wee Ross and Attell clashes with Billy Marino.
Firpo is a lightweight, packed a great left hook and has, in recent years been known to all South Jersey fight addicts.
Baltimore Sun — July 16, 1940
Baltimore Sun —
Good Preliminaries
The four-rounders were worth the price of admission. Paul Shinn, 123, young Chinese, again made a big hit. He decisioned Tommy Ricco, 126, winning the decision unanimously. It was a fast scrap from bell to bell.
Baltimore Sun — October 15, 1940
Baltimore Sun —
Vince Tuminello, 125½, made a strong finish in his four-round test with Tommy Ricco, 121½, but a knockdown suffered in the second and the loss of the third on a foul was too much to overcome. The officials called it a draw, each fighter receiving a vote.
Camden Courier-Post — February 2, 1952
Camden Courier-Post —
Thomas Lauria, at the time of his arrest at the Camden bridge toll gates, February 1952.
Numbers Suspect With 9800 Plays Caught at Span
On Way From Phila.; $2122 Bets Indicated; Previously Arrested
A suspected runner for a numbers ring was arrested Friday at the Camden bridge toll gates by Camden detectives who said the suspect was carrying 9800 numbers plays.
Held in city jail on a charge of maintaining a lottery in violation of the state crimes act is Thomas Lauria, 34, of 1296 Van Hook street.
District Detective Edward Shapiro and John Moffa, who seized Lauria as his automobile was approaching from Philadelphia, said the slips indicated a total play of $2122.
Shapiro said the slips were in a briefcase alongside Lauria in the front seat of the car. Some of the slips were for plays as high as (Continued on Page 2 — Column 1)
Camden Courier-Post — February 14, 1952
Camden Courier-Post —
First U. S. Stamp Taken Out Here For Gambling
Camden, N. J., Feb. 14 (AP) — A witness against a gambler here has become the first Camden resident to take out a federal gambling stamp since the new law requiring gamblers to register with a federal office, went into effect in November.
Can’t Be Prosecuted
A spokesman for the criminal investigation unit of the Internal Revenue department admitted today that the government is powerless to prosecute Lauria for failure to obtain the stamp at the time of his arrest, because he has applied for the stamp within 30 days.
“The law in regard to federal stamps for taxes,” the spokesman said, “gives a person until the end of the current quarter to start a business, to obtain a tax stamp.”
It would be necessary for the criminal investigation division to prove that Lauria had been in business before the day that he was arrested by Camden police. However, if the Camden authorities are of the opinion that Lauria has failed to include the money he may have made from gambling activities on his income tax returns, he will refer the matter to this department for prosecution.
Good Through June
The spokesman said that on the basis on the federal fiscal year, which extends from July 1 to June 30, the gambler would only had to pay about $21 for his federal gambling stamp. “The stamp is good until the end of June,” the federal spokesman said.
Lauria is the first Camden suspected gambler to obtain a federal gambling stamp, there are also in the names of nine Atlantic City men and women who obtained federal stamps.
“We can take no action against anyone for failure to take out stamps within the 30 day required period,” the federal spokesman said.
Lauria was arrested by Detectives Edward Shapiro and John Moffa when he was seen starting to drive away after paying his toll at the Camden bridge.
Shapiro said that a brief case in the rear of the car, contained slips listing approximately 9800 number combinations and about $50. Municipal Judge Dzick postponed a hearing for Lauria due to be held today, but Dzick has granted a continuance until February 25 at the request of Lauria’s attorney, Anthony Marino, is in Florida.
Hearing Off to Feb. 25
Camden Courier-Post — February 22, 1952
Camden Courier-Post —
Hearing Postponed In Numbers Case
Municipal Judge Dzick today postponed to Feb. 26 a hearing in the case of Thomas Lauria, 34, of 1296 Van Hook street, charged with possession of numbers.
Police arrested Lauria Feb. 1 at Camden bridge plaza. Lauria asked for a continuance until his attorney returned from vacation.
Camden Courier-Post — February 26, 1952
Camden Courier-Post —
Man Fined $1000, Jailed 2 Mo. in Numbers Case
So. Camden Resident Gets Heaviest Penalty For Such Offense
A South Camden man was fined $1000 and jailed for two months after Municipal Judge Dzick found him guilty today on charges of possessing numbers slips.
Court attaches said the penalty was the severest ever meted out to a defendant on such charges in the history of the city court.
The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, but offered no defense, is Thomas Lauria, 35, of 1296 Van Hook street. He was arrested at the Camden bridge plaza Feb. 1, by Detectives Edward Shapiro and John Moffa, who said he was coming to this city from Philadelphia.
The arresting officers testified (Continued on Page 2—Column 7)
Camden Courier-Post — March 28, 1960
Camden Courier-Post —
Thomas Lauria Dies, Municipal Employe
Thomas (Ricco) Lauria, 42, of 1296 Van Hook st., collapsed in his home Sunday and was pronounced dead on arrival at West Jersey Hospital. Coroner Creran said Mr. Lauria died of a heart attack.
Mr. Lauria, a city highway department employe, was a featherweight boxer in the late 30s and found under the name of Tommy Ricco. A lifelong Camden resident, he was an Army veteran of War II.
Surviving are his wife, Ida; two sons, Frank and Thomas, at home; seven sisters, Mrs. Rose Terregino, Mrs. Frances Schocklin, Mrs. Mary Gorda, Mrs. Nancy Cimaglia and Mrs. Anna Zito, of Camden, Mrs. Irene Zippilli, of Runnemede, and Mrs. Florence Terregino, of Pennsauken, and two brothers, Anthony, of Boston, and Vincent, of Pennsauken.
Photos — Grave
Grave of Thomas E. Lauria, Calvary Cemetery, Delaware Township (Cherry Hill).