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RGJJT5I · 11-07-2005, 09:39 AM

Hi Chris,
Thanks for responding. Sorry, I thought this was a boxing chat site.
But I love talking about dad's career with anyone who is interested.
Dad was born in Italy and settled in New Haven. There he hung around the Boys Club and was a multi-talented athlete, swimming, football and later boxing. Dad used to shine shoes at the boxing arenas that he would later box in. Dad won the Connecticut State Amateur bantamweight and featherweight championships. He was 42-2. He turned pro at 18 at the urging of his older brother who lay dying from burns suffered in a New Haven box factory fire. Dad worked out at the Elm St Gym under the Miele brothers. Dad was spotted by Jimmy DeAngelo and plucked out because he felt Joey had the most potential to become a future champion. He took him to New York to the big boxing venue. There dad worked out at Gleasons Gym. The buzz at Gleason's was "Iannotti has all the tools to be a champion(NY Times)". On the night dad boxed Pep, the story goes(told to me by my uncles who attended, plus I have the newspaper article) that dad threw his hands to the rafters and shouted at Pep to stand still and fight. Dad was a slick boxer but coud hit hard with both hands. Dad and Johnny Compo lit up New Haven in their 4 legendary fights. I have all the articles and several scrap books which I have restored.
If ur grandpas is still alive, ask him and/or your uncles and some oldtimers from the area if they remember dad. They will. It was fun growing up, dad was famous and recognized wherever we went and he always signed autographs. We had a specail seat at Sally's Pizzeria, dad was childhood friends with the Consiglio family. Dad's photos hang in Sally's. People still today recognize my name and ask me my relation to Joey Iannotti. When I tell them he is my dad they start to tell me about fights they saw 60yrs ago. Last year I visited the Italian club on Wooster St and met with dad old pals and some old fighters, including Ed Tata, Don Cosgrove, Mickey Williams and Gaspar Ortega. Great stories were passed around. I have lots of stories about dad.
If you can tell me "How To" upload photos I will do so. I would like to see dad's photos on ur site's photo gallery..
Thanks Chris

Ralph Iannotti

11-07-2005, 09:39 AM	#2246
RGJJT5I Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8	Hi Chris, Thanks for responding. Sorry, I thought this was a boxing chat site. But I love talking about dad's career with anyone who is interested. Dad was born in Italy and settled in New Haven. There he hung around the Boys Club and was a multi-talented athlete, swimming, football and later boxing. Dad used to shine shoes at the boxing arenas that he would later box in. Dad won the Connecticut State Amateur bantamweight and featherweight championships. He was 42-2. He turned pro at 18 at the urging of his older brother who lay dying from burns suffered in a New Haven box factory fire. Dad worked out at the Elm St Gym under the Miele brothers. Dad was spotted by Jimmy DeAngelo and plucked out because he felt Joey had the most potential to become a future champion. He took him to New York to the big boxing venue. There dad worked out at Gleasons Gym. The buzz at Gleason's was "Iannotti has all the tools to be a champion(NY Times)". On the night dad boxed Pep, the story goes(told to me by my uncles who attended, plus I have the newspaper article) that dad threw his hands to the rafters and shouted at Pep to stand still and fight. Dad was a slick boxer but coud hit hard with both hands. Dad and Johnny Compo lit up New Haven in their 4 legendary fights. I have all the articles and several scrap books which I have restored. If ur grandpas is still alive, ask him and/or your uncles and some oldtimers from the area if they remember dad. They will. It was fun growing up, dad was famous and recognized wherever we went and he always signed autographs. We had a specail seat at Sally's Pizzeria, dad was childhood friends with the Consiglio family. Dad's photos hang in Sally's. People still today recognize my name and ask me my relation to Joey Iannotti. When I tell them he is my dad they start to tell me about fights they saw 60yrs ago. Last year I visited the Italian club on Wooster St and met with dad old pals and some old fighters, including Ed Tata, Don Cosgrove, Mickey Williams and Gaspar Ortega. Great stories were passed around. I have lots of stories about dad. If you can tell me "How To" upload photos I will do so. I would like to see dad's photos on ur site's photo gallery.. Thanks Chris Ralph Iannotti