Mario "Marty" Severino (November 3, 1919 – February 9, 1969) was a professional boxer who held the undisputed world welterweight championship being the NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles. Servo began boxing in the mid-1930s. He became a professional boxer in 1938 and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.
Amateur career Servo had an impressive amateur career. He captured the Golden Gloves and Diamond Belt Featherweight titles, and ended his career with an impressive record of 91-4.
Professional career He turned professional as a lightweight and, in his first three years as a professional boxer, managed a 42–0–2 record. As a welterweight he lost two close decisions to the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson.
Servo’s boxing career was interrupted by service in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He resumed his career after the War and won the World Welterweight Title by knocking out Freddie "Red" Cochrane in the fourth round on February 1, 1946.
Servo and his manager, Al Weill, then made a bad career decision. He agreed to fight the middleweight contender Rocky Graziano in a non-title match. Graziano was a big favorite in New York City and the bout was seen as a big money fight. The two fought on March 29, 1946. This bout effectively finished Servo as a top-line fighter. The heavier and stronger Graziano knocked Servo out and severely injured his nose. Servo never recovered from the injuries and he was forced to relinquish his title and retire. His final ring record, including a knockout loss suffered in an ill-advised comeback attempt, was 48 wins (15 knockouts), 4 losses and 2 draws.
Illness and Death Servo moved with his family to Pueblo, Colorado after his boxing career. By the early 1960s he was stricken with spinal cancer; the treatment for which confined him to a wheelchair. He died from the disease, 6 years after diagnosis, aged 49.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes53Loss Joe DiMartinoKO1 (10)Aug 5, 1946 52Win47–3–2 Benny SingletonKO2 (10)Jul 21, 1946 51Loss46–3–2 Rocky GrazianoTKO2 (10)Mar 29, 1946 50Win46–2–2 Freddie CochraneKO4 (15)Feb 1, 1946 49Win45–2–2 Stanley SimsUD10Jan 10, 1946 48Win44–2–2 Freddie CamusoKO5 (10)Dec 10, 1945 47Loss43–2–2 Sugar Ray RobinsonSD10May 28, 1942 46Win43–1–2 Lew JenkinsUD10Feb 17, 1942 45Loss42–1–2 Sugar Ray RobinsonUD10Sep 25, 1941 44Win42–0–2 Bobby BrittonPTS10Jul 15, 1941 43Win41–0–2 Wishy JonesPTS10Jun 17, 1941 42Win40–0–2 Billy DavisPTS10May 19, 1941 41Win39–0–2 Billy DuffyPTS8Apr 22, 1941 40Win38–0–2 Danny FalcoPTS8Apr 14, 1941 39Win37–0–2 Billy BullockTKO4 (10)Mar 3, 1941 38Win36–0–2 Freddie ArcherPTS6Feb 28, 1941 37Win35–0–2 Mitsos GrisposPTS10Feb 14, 1941 36Win34–0–2 Billy MaherPTS10Oct 21, 1940 35Win33–0–2 Lou FortunaPTS8Sep 16, 1940 34Win32–0–2 Eddie ZivicTKO6 (10)Jul 25, 1940 33Win31–0–2 Maurice ArnaultPTS6May 10, 1940 32Win30–0–2 Dominic DeCiantisPTS6Apr 26, 1940 31Win29–0–2 Willie AndrewsUD8Apr 15, 1940 30Draw28–0–2 Lenny ManciniPTS6Jan 24, 1940 29Win28–0–1 Joe MarcienteKO3 (8)Jan 16, 1940 28Draw27–0–1 Joe De JesusPTS6Dec 1, 1939 27Win27–0 Jerry ZulloPTS8Oct 10, 1939 26Win26–0 Bobby IvyPTS8Sep 12, 1939 25Win25–0 Martin RileyPTS8Aug 15, 1939 24Win24–0 George SalamonePTS8Aug 8, 1939 23Win23–0 Young ChappiePTS8Jul 25, 1939 22Win22–0 George BrownPTS6Jul 11, 1939 21Win21–0 Larry EspositoPTS6Jul 7, 1939 20Win20–0 Mike AngieriTKO5 (6)May 16, 1939 19Win19–0 Frankie RaoPTS6May 8, 1939 18Win18–0 Al GilletteTKO2 (8)May 2, 1939 17Win17–0 Lloyd LaskyPTS6Apr 25, 1939 16Win16–0 Lloyd LaskyKO1 (6)Apr 20, 1939 15Win15–0 Tony GielloPTS6Mar 24, 1939 14Win14–0 Ray GarveyPTS6Mar 14, 1939 13Win13–0 Frankie ParchiaPTS6Feb 21, 1939 12Win12–0 Tommy FontanaPTS6Feb 14, 1939 11Win11–0 Martin RileyPTS6Feb 6, 1939 10Win10–0 Joey SoleTKO4 (6)Jan 16, 1939 9Win9–0 Eddie BartonPTS6Jan 10, 1939 8Win8–0 Vince DeMarcoKO3 (6)Jan 3, 1939 7Win7–0 Tommy FontanaPTS6Dec 20, 1938 6Win6–0 Eddie VocciaKO1 (6)Dec 13, 1938 5Win5–0 Al RagonePTS6Nov 8, 1938 4Win4–0 Eddie VocciaTKO4 (6)Oct 25, 1938 3Win3–0 Monty PignatorePTS6Oct 17, 1938 2Win2–0 Joe CoskeyTKO2 (6)Sep 15, 1938 1Win1–0 Jerry HallPTS6Aug 29, 1938
Titles in boxing Major world titles NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs) NBA (WBA) welterweight champion (147 lbs)
The Ring magazine titles The Ring welterweight champion (147 lbs)
Undisputed titles Undisputed welterweight champion
See also List of welterweight boxing champions
References
External links