Tony Chiaverini: A Boxing Warrior from a Golden Era in the Sport

By Jim Amato

One of best middleweights of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s was Kansas City, Missouri’s Tony Chiaverini. Over a fifty bout career this 5’8 southpaw battled some of the best boxers of the era.

Tony was born in 1953 and turned professional in 1975. He won seven of his first nine bouts. The two losses were to highly touted prospect Doug Demmings. After winning four in a row, Tony would drop a verdict to Cleveland’s James Parks. Chiaverini then put together a ten bout win streak that included victories over Sammy NeSmith, Vincente Medina,Tony Gardner, Willie Warren and the crafty Vinnie Curto. This led to a 1978 showdown with “Bad” Bennie Briscoe. The dangerous Briscoe halted Tony in the eighth round.

Chiaverini then launched a nine bout winning streak beating rugged Renato Garcia, former world junior middleweight titleholder Elisha Obed and Edgar “Mad Dog” Ross. Then in 1979 he faced the unbeaten Olympic hero Sugar Ray Leonard. The 1976 Gold Medal winner was 22-0 and streaking toward a world title shot. Leonard proved to be too much for Tony as he won in four rounds.

Undaunted, Tony came back to defeat former junior welterweight champion Alfonso “Peppermint” Frazier and middleweight contender Tony Licata.

In 1980 Tony met former welterweight champion Wilfred Benitez. The gifted Benitez halted Tony in the eighth round. Two fights later Chiaverini was stopped by O’Dell Leonard. In 1981 Tony continued to slip out of the ratings with a decision loss to Mike Baker. Finally in 1983 Tony lost in five rounds to the vastly underrated Robbie Sims. That would be Chiaverini’s last fight.

In all Tony won 39 of 50. He lost nine and drew twice. He won 26 inside the distance and was stopped five times. He met four world champions and four others who attempted to win a championship.