Photo Info

Frank Costello sitting ringside at Madison Square Garden, to watch Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler battle for the featherweight championship. On Costello’s right is Sugar Ray Robinson, on his left, mob heavyweight, Mike Miranda. Astute mob history buffs may spot a few other gangsters in the crowd. September 26, 1951, photographer unknown.

On May 2, 1957, Frank Costello considered himself a lucky man. The night before, the mob boss who had become known as, “the Prime Minister of the Underworld,” and who would serve as one of the inspirations for, The Godfather’s, Vito Corleone, had wagered boxing legend, Sugar Ray Robinson, would defeat rival Gene Fullmer. Costello believed Robinson to be one of the best pound for pound fighters, and he respected Robinson’s class. A three to one underdog, most considered Robinson past his prime, but Costello disagreed, betting $50,000 with a midwest bookie, and another $25,000 in New York, on Robinson. Robinson defeated Fullmer, leaving the mafia viceroy $225,000 richer, and he explained, “it wasn’t just another fight to Robinson, his pride was on the line.”