CANZONERI, TONY SIGNED LETTER AGREEMENT (1954)

Tony Canzoneri (November 6, 1908 – December 9, 1959 in Slidell, Louisiana) was an American professional boxer. Canzoneri was a three time world champion and held a total of five world titles. Canzoneri, an Italian American, was one of the members of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions. Canzoneri won his first title, the World Featherweight title, with a 15 round decision over Benny Bass on February 10, 1928. He retained that title one time and then went up in weight and challenged World Lightweight Champion Sammy Mandell, losing by a decision in ten rounds. But in 1930, Mandell was knocked out in the first round by Al Singer and lost his title and Canzoneri, who had already beaten Singer by a ten round decision before, challenged Singer for the title on November 14, 1930, knocking him out in the first round to become a two division world champion. In defeat, Singer made history by becoming the first man, and only man up until now, to both win and lose the title by knockout in the first round. Canzoneri's first defense was a unification of sorts: He faced World Light Welterweight Champion Jack Kid Berg, who was putting his title on the line and trying to take Canzoneri's Lightweight title. Canzoneri became a three division world champion by knocking Berg out in the third round in their fight held on April 24, 1931. Canzoneri, Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong were the only boxing champions in history to be allowed to hold two or more world titles simultaneously (Sugar Ray Leonard became both the vacant World Super Middleweight and the World Light Heavyweight Champion in one night in 1988, but he had to choose only one to keep and he chose to keep the Super Middleweight title). Canzoneri lost his world Light Welterweight Championship to Johnny Jadick and he lost to Jadick again in a rematch. Meanwhile, Canzoneri kept retaining his Lightweight belt, defending it against the likes of Billy Petrolle and his brother Frankie Petrolle. Jadick lost his belt to Battling Shaw and Canzoneri once again challenged for the World Light Welterweight title while keeping his Lightweight title. He beat Shaw by decision and recovered the world Light Welterweight Championship. In his next bout, versus Ross, he lost both belts when Ross beat him by a ten round decision. There was an immediate rematch and Ross won again, this time by decision in 15. Canzoneri kept fighting and winning and on May 10, 1935, he found himself in a ring for a world title again, this time against Lou Ambers, who had earned the World Lightweight title that once had belonged to Canzoneri. Canzoneri once again won the World Lightweight title by outpointing Ambers over 15 rounds. After successfully defending his Lightweight title once, he lost it again in a rematch with Ambers by a 15 round decision. There was a rubber match between the two and Ambers once again won a decision in 15 rounds. Canzoneri went on boxing professionally until 1939, but he never again challenged for a world title. Among other world champions that he beat were Frankie Klick, Baby Arizmendi, Jimmy McLarnin and Kid Chocolate. Canzoneri had a record of 137 wins, 24 losses, 10 draws and 3 no decisions (Newspaper Decisions: 4-0-0). During his era, many states and countries still had no scoring on boxing fights, so each time a fight would go the scheduled distance in any of those areas where scoring was still not being held, the fight would be declared a no-decision. He had 44 knockouts. He had wins by 44 knockout and only one loss by knockout. Tony was managed by Sammy Goldman. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Offered here is an original letter agreement signed by Tony Canzoneri in which he relinguishes his fight film rights.
This is an original, one page, typed letter agreement on thin paper. Boldly signe din ink by Canzoneri. Dated August 24, 1954. Has edge nicks and tears on the border. Clean. Has the original folds. Bold type. 8 1/2" x 11."