Vincent “Duke” Lauria
Vince Lauria — Sensational Bantamweight Contender. Mgr. Anthony Georgetta & Giulio Perez, 2715 Camden Ave., Camden N.J.
VINCENT “DUKE” LAURIA was born in Camden on February 16, 1921 to Francesco “Frank” Lauria and his wife, the former Angelina Serra. 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, which by then had added sisters Frances, Mary, and Nancy and brother Thomas, had settled in at 307 Line Street in South Camden. Four more children would come in the 1920s: brother Vincent and sisters Anne, Irene and Florence. Sadly, Francesco Lauria passed away in 1931, not having reached the age of 50.
Older brother Thomas Lauria boxed professionally out of Camden in the 1930s and into 1940 under the name of Tommy Ricco. Vince 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.
Before going into the Army, Vincent Lauria worked at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards. He took a job with the RCA-Victor company in Camden in 1946, and concentrated on that for the rest of his working days. Vincent Lauria was married to Rose Arcaini. He and his family were still living at 307 Line Street as late as 1955. By October of 1959 he had moved to 2271 Hollinshead Avenue in Pennsauken, New Jersey, later settling at 409 Valley Run Drive in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Vincent Lauria passed away from heart-related problems on February 24, 1974 at the age of 53, survived by his wife Rose, daughter Angeline, and son Vincent J. Lauria.
Photos
Vince and Rose Lauria.
Professional Boxing Record
21 Wins — 0 Defeats — 1 Draw
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947-09-25 | Frank DiPiano (14-3-1) | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia | W PTS |
| 1947-09-11 | Gurney Van Hook (0-1-0) | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia | W PTS |
| 1947-07-24 | Harry Griffiths (1-1-0) | Bader Field, Atlantic City | W PTS |
| 1947-07-10 | Gurney Van Hook (debut) | Public Service Ball Park, Camden | W PTS |
| 1947-06-12 | Tommy Trout (6-18-1) | Public Service Ball Park, Camden | D PTS |
| 1946-06-25 | Spider Hatcher (3-0-1) | Hamid’s Pier, Atlantic City | W PTS |
| 1946-06-17 | Edgar Bennett (1-3-1) | Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown | W PTS |
| 1946-05-13 | Tomas Beato (3-5-0) | St. Nicholas Arena, New York | W PTS |
| 1946-04-10 | Jack Cunningham (17-3-5) | Convention Hall, Camden | W PTS |
| 1946-03-06 | Pat Lennon (debut) | Convention Hall, Camden | W TKO |
| 1946-02-28 | Reds Hall (5-16-2) | Convention Hall, Atlantic City | W KO |
| 1946-02-18 | Jimmy Jeanette (3-12-0) | St. Nicholas Arena, New York | W TKO |
| 1946-02-07 | Ray Morris (10-4-0) | Convention Hall, Atlantic City | W PTS |
| 1946-01-14 | Archie Devino (12-4-1) | St. Nicholas Arena, New York | W PTS |
| 1945-12-17 | Reds Hall (5-15-2) | Arena, Philadelphia | W PTS |
| 1945-11-16 | Jimmy “Jay” Parlin (8-5-1) | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia | W KO |
| 1945-11-02 | Willie Alexander (5-13-1) | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia | W TKO |
| 1945-10-26 | Ralph McNeil (10-4-2) | Boston Garden, Boston | W PTS |
| 1945-10-01 | Sal Clementi (7-3-0) | Arena, Philadelphia | W PTS |
| 1945-08-20 | Lucky Johnson (4-5-0) | Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown | W KO |
| 1945-07-12 | Tommy Cooke (debut) | Public Service Ball Park, Camden | W PTS |
| 1945-05-18 | Clinton Davidson (2-0-0) | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia | W PTS |
Inquirer Scene Shifts to Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
15 Bouts Comprise Program Tonight at Bonsall School
By Stan Baumgartner — Following the policy announced in Sunday’s Inquirer of giving every section of Philadelphia and Camden an opportunity to see the stars of The Philadelphia Inquirer A.A. Diamond Belt tourney in action, the scene shifts to Bonsall School in Camden tonight.
Headed by such stars as Fred Sammons, of West End of Wilmington, the spectacular conqueror of Champion Joe Amico; Vince Lauria of the Polish-American Club, Bob Hardy of the Camden Y.M.C.A., and Charles Kiss, of Lambs Club, 30 boys are scheduled to go into action.
Seven open bouts and eight sub-novice scraps are on the log for decision with matches due in the 135 and 147 sub-novice and the 118, 135, 160, 175 and heavyweight open. Bonsall School is directly out Haddon ave., easy to reach from Philadelphia or Camden, by machine or by number 34 or 21 bus on Federal st. It is an ideal hall for boxing, clean, airy and comfortable, one of the up-to-date school buildings of South Jersey.
The bouts are being held under the sponsorship of Albert Rosenheck, South Jersey amateur boxing commissioner and member of the registration committee of the A.A.U. In the 118-Pound Open: Quenzell McCall, Crispus-Attucks vs. Vince Lauria, Polish-American.
Lauria Triumphs in Inquirer Test
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Outboxes McCall in Camden Tilt; Thomas and Canty Advance
By Stan Baumgartner — While Joe Louis was punching his way to an easy triumph in New York, ten prospective Philadelphia Inquirer A.A. Diamond Belt champions slugged their way to ten equally thrilling victories — if not as quick — at the Bonsall School in Camden last night.
Giving South Jerseyites a preview of the fiery action that will come when the youngsters move into the Philadelphia championships at the Cambria and Broadwood Clubs, 20 hard-punching kids kept a banner crowd on their toes from the start. Out of the resin dust of four knockouts and six decision bouts came a new threat to the 118-pound crown that sits so magnificently on the head of Bill Speary, of Nanticoke — a youngster named Vince Lauria, from the Camden Polish-American Club.
Pitted against Quenzell McCall, one of the cleverest, shiftiest youngsters in this city, Lauria fired away like a machine gun, kept charging in, forcing the fight, and won a well-earned verdict, although he missed more often than he landed. Ranking next to Lauria in effectiveness were John Thomas, of Benezet, and Nelson Canty, of Wharton. Thomas, an Inquirer subnovice champion in 1937-38, won a socking duel with Thomas Bergen, of the West End Boys’ Club of Chester. It was a close decision, but a just one.
Ambrosana Beats Lauria in 118-Pound Open
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In an 118-pound open scrap Angelo Ambrosana, a little windmill with whirling fists, gained a close victory over Vince Lauria, Polish-American Club. Ambrosana came out of his corner as if he would burn up Lauria in the first minute, but the Camden boy weathered the storm in great fashion and actually carried the fight to his rival in the final two minutes.
Torpey Victor in Shore Bout
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Atlantic City, N.J., May 15 — Lawrence Torpey, Diamond Belt, Middle Atlantic and National A.A.U. 112-pound champion, won over Paul Febbo, junior national champion representing the Pen-Mar Club of Philadelphia, in the National Variety Club’s amateur boxing wind-up tonight at the Convention Hall ballroom. Vince Lauria, Batesville, beat Santa Bucca, Pen-Mar, in the 118-pound class.
M’Allister-Cooper in Bout Tonight
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Jimmy McAllister, Baltimore, and Georgie Cooper, New York, featherweights, are to meet in the 10-round feature bout tonight at the Camden ballpark, Broadway and Everett st. Sixes are Sal Clementi, Southwark, vs. Vince Lauria, Camden; Tommy Merrill, Camden, vs. Lee Black, Newark; and Frankie Williams, Philadelphia, vs. Willie Jackson, Newark.
Huff and Demers Meet in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Earl Huff, Camden crowd pleaser, and Pat Demers, Boston, a leading New England lightweight, will meet in the 10-round windup of Promoter Felix Bocchicchio’s first outdoor fight show tonight at the Camden Ball Park, Broadway and Everett st. Unbeaten during his pre-war pro career, Vince Lauria, Camden bantamweight, will resume his ring activities in a six-rounder when he meets Tommy Trout, Philadelphia Negro. Lauria has a string of 17 victories.
Huff Whips Demers in Camden Feature
Vineland Daily Journal —
Earl Huff, Camden, pounded out a 10-round decision over Pat Demers, Boston, in the boxing feature at Camden Ball Park last night. Charley Williams, Philadelphia, outpointed Reds Hall, Philadelphia; Eddie Thomas, Philadelphia, defeated Matt Parker, Riverside, in six; Vince Lauria, Camden, and Tommy Trout, Philadelphia fought a six-round draw; and Speedy Duval, Philadelphia, bested Frank Lowery in the other bouts.
Thieves Get $4
Camden Courier-Post —
Vincent Lauria, 307 Line street, reported to police today that thieves entered through an unlocked front window during the night and stole a pocketbook, containing $4 from a dining room table. The purse belonged to Lauria’s wife, Rose.
Auto Accident on Kaighn Avenue
Camden Courier-Post —
Vincent Lauria, 33, of 307 Line st., Camden, suffered chest injuries Saturday night when a car he was driving hit the rear of a parked mail truck at Kaighns ave. and 7th st., according to police. He was treated at Cooper Hospital. Police said the truck driver was William McClain, of 2615 Latona st., Philadelphia.
V. Lauria, Ex-Boxer Was 53
Camden Courier-Post —
Mass of the Resurrection for Vincent Lauria, 53, a former boxer, will be Thursday at 10 a.m. in Queen of Haven Church, Rt. 70, Cherry Hill. Friends may gather 8:30 a.m. Thursday and tomorrow night at the Falco Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road, Pennsauken. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.
Mr. Lauria, who lived at 409 Valley Run Drive, Cherry Hill, died Sunday at West Jersey Hospital, Eastern Division, in Voorhees Township. He was a diamond belt champion as a fighter and worked for RCA Corp. in Camden for 28 years. He was also a World War II veteran. Surviving are his wife, Rose, at home; a daughter Mrs. Angeline Pacificio, Medford Lakes; a son, Vincent J., Camden; a brother; seven sisters, and 18 grandchildren.