{{short description|American boxer (1926–1985)}} right|thumb|Tony Janiro '''Tony Janiro''' (born '''Anthony Gianiro'''; February 2, 1926 – February 21, 1985) was an American middleweight boxer from Youngstown, Ohio. Janiro never won a championship, although he faced many of the top fighters of his era. Despite his reputation as a playboy who avoided training, Janiro compiled a record of 83 wins (26 KOs), 11 losses, and two draws.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85">{{cite news | title = Anthony Janiro; ranked among top 10 middleweights | work = The Youngstown Vindicator | page = 24 | date = February 22, 1985 }}</ref>
== Early life == Janiro was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania. His family relocated to Youngstown, Ohio, when he was four years old.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> He left Youngstown for New York at the age of 16 to pursue a career in boxing.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85b">{{cite news | first = Chuck | last = Perazich | title = Janiro's death saddens area sports community | work = The Youngstown Vindicator | page = 12 | date = February 22, 1985}}</ref>
==Boxing career== Janiro received advice and assistance from fellow Youngstown native Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini (father of Ray Mancini), who introduced Janiro to his manager, Frankie Jacobs, and boxing trainer Ray Arcel.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85b"/> In the 1940s, Janiro was ranked among the top 10 middleweights and fought such Hall of Famers as Rocky Graziano, Jake LaMotta, and Kid Gavilan.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> During one bout at Madison Square Garden, the young boxer was introduced to ringside fan Harry S. Truman, then President of the United States.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85b"/> Janiro had one draw with Graziano, who knocked him out in 1951.<ref name="nyt-09-20-51">{{cite news | title = Graziano Knocks Out Janiro in 10th in Detroit | work = The New York Times | page = 40 | date = September 20, 1951 }}</ref> He fought from 1943 to 1952.
== Post-boxing == After his retirement, he worked as a bartender at the Neutral Corner, a bar located near Stillman's Gym that was frequented by boxing managers and trainers.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> (The bar is often referred to in journalist A.J. Liebling's boxing articles.) Several years before his death, Janiro returned to Youngstown, where he was employed at the Mahoning County Courthouse.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> In 1984, he was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame, and was honored at a testimonial banquet held in Boardman, Ohio.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> Speakers at the event included former boxing champions Willie Pep, Jake LaMotta, Beau Jack, and Carmen Basilio.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85b"/>
Janiro was portrayed by Kevin Mahon in Martin Scorsese's biopic of Jake LaMotta, ''Raging Bull'' (1980). In the film, a comment that Janiro looks handsome by LaMotta's wife, Vicky, provokes a brutal beating in their bout by LaMotta out of jealous rage.
==Personal life== Tony Janiro died of kidney failure after suffering a heart attack in his home in the spring of 1985.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> He was survived by his sister, Mrs. Amelia Marian; a brother, Frank of Youngstown, and granddaughter Tracy Janiro Zingaro.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/> Funeral services for Janiro were held at St. Christine's Roman Catholic Church, in Youngstown.<ref name="vindy-02-22-85"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060619143820/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=5045&more=1 Legends Of Leather Honor The Great Tony Janiro] * [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Tony_Janiro Boxrec Boxing Encyclopedia]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Janiro, Tony}} Category:1926 births Category:1985 deaths Category:People from Springdale, Pennsylvania Category:Sportspeople from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Category:American people of Italian descent Category:Boxers from Youngstown, Ohio Category:Middleweight boxers Category:Deaths from kidney failure Category:American male boxers Category:20th-century American sportsmen