Amazing Boxing Bizzarro Brothers of Erie Pa.
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
There are many boxing brothers, too numerous to mention, from Max and Buddy Baer, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Robbie Simms, to Jermell and Jermall Charlo. More than two? You could try former World Heavyweight champion Mike Weaver the older brother, and his younger triplet brothers Troy Weaver, Floyd Weaver and Lloyd Weaver.
Whenever Erie, Pennsylvania is mentioned, the names of Italian American boxers Johnny Bizzarro and Lou Bizzarro and Paul Bizzarro come to mind. The late Johnny Bizzarro, who died in 1998 at age 60, will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in May 2016, was the older of the two brothers, and had a truly nice career. Johnny held the North American Junior Lightweight and Lightweight titles, though he never won a world title.
Fighting between November 1958 and September 1968, Johnny, a lightweight, compiled a respectable 56-11-2 pro record, with 25 knockouts. Johnny was only stopped once, in the 12th round of a World Boxing Council World Lightweight title bout against Carlos Ortiz in June 1966. Johnny also lost a 15 round decision to Flash Elorde in Manila for the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council World Super Featherweight titles in February 1963.
Johnny’s younger brother Lou Bizzarro fought between November 1964 and February 1982, compiling a record of 31-2 with nine knockouts. The 22-0 Bizzarro challenged 55-1 Roberto Duran for the WBA World Lightweight title in May 1976 in Erie, Pennsylvania, coming off the canvas four times before Duran knocked him out at 2:59 of round 14. Lou has a boxing gym in Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania.
The third brother, the late Paul Bizzarro, who died in 2013, was a Golden Gloves champion who went 5-0 as a pro.
The amazing three boxing Bizzarro brothers combined for 92 wins, 13 losses and two draws in 102 pro contests. Ernie Bizzarro, a noted Pennsylvania sports promoter, will honor the Bizzarro brothers at a boxing card entitled ‘The Roar at The Shore’ to be held in Pennsylvania in July of 2016. Ernie’s father was the late Paul Bizzarro. Johnny Bizzarro Jr. had a record of 38-9-3 with 12 knockouts between November 1983 and January 2001, winning the IBO World Welterweight title in August 1993 by 12 round decision over Charlie Brown, and defending it against Tommy Hanks by 12 round decision in March 1994, before losing it by 12 round decision to Roger Mayweather in August 1994. Anthony Bizzarro, a 14 year old nephew, is the latest Bizzarro to put on the gloves.
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