Joe Mesi

"Baby" Joe Mesi (born November 27, 1973) is an American retired boxer and Democratic Party politician from Tonawanda, New York.

Joe Mesi
Statistics
Real nameJoe Mesi
Nickname(s)Baby Joe
Weight(s)Heavyweight
NationalityAmerican
Born (1973-11-27) November 27, 1973
Tonawanda, New York, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights36
Wins36
Wins by KO29
Losses0
Draws0
No contests0

Early life

Joe grew up in Tonawanda, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. He attended Sweet Home High School in Amherst, New York. He did not start his boxing career until he was about 19 years of age.

Boxing career

He was a New York State Golden Gloves champion, and as an amateur boxer he defeated future two-time Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. Mesi made it all the way to the finals in the 1996 Olympic Trials, but lost to eventual US heavyweight representative Lawrence Clay-Bey. In Buffalo, for a brief period, Joe was once considered by some to be the city's "third professional franchise", with the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills being the other two. Joe is still often seen at Bills and Sabres games and also supports many local charities.

Philanthropy

In 2002, Mesi started a non-profit to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation upon finding out his cousin was in need of a kidney transplant, and to help others in the Upstate New York area who needed such surgeries. His cousin, Ganelle Shanor, died in an accident before she was able to receive the operation.[1] In January 2004, Mesi donated $7,500 to the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, New York as a way of giving back to the Rochester community and to promote an upcoming fight at the Blue Cross Arena, with kidney transplant recipient Dillon Gonzalez and his family in attendance. The foundation was funded in part by admission fees to victory parties.[2]

Injury and suspension

Mesi's promising boxing career was set back greatly when an MRI indicated he had suffered at least one, perhaps two subdural hematomas [3]

The injuries came from a 2004 bout with former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov. In round 9,[4][5] Mesi was knocked down from a right hook and in the tenth round he was knocked down two more times. Mesi managed to finish the fight on his feet and the bout was scored 94-93 for Mesi by all three judges.

In June 2005, Mesi, along with his attorneys and three doctors supporting his reinstatement, went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to argue Mesi's hematomas had healed, and, he was, "in no more danger than any other boxer." Mesi's appeal was denied by a 5-0 vote. In response to Dr. Julian E. Bailes, chairman of the department of neurosurgery at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, opinion that: "Football players and other athletes who had even more severe head injuries than Mesi were allowed to continue their careers without further harmful effects." Dr. Tony Alamo, one of the board's commissioners, replied, "You play football, you don't play boxing."[6]

The suspension effectively blacklisted him from boxing anywhere in the United States under the premise of the full faith and credit clause. He launched several ineffective lawsuits against parties they claimed had leaked news of his health, while also appealing to Nevada representatives that he should be allowed to box. The suspension was officially lifted when Mesi's Nevada boxing license expired at the end of 2005. However, he was unable to renew the license due to the concerns of Nevada boxing officials. In 2006, Mesi was again licensed by boxing commissions in Puerto Rico, Louisiana, Arkansas and Michigan, with a handful of other states to follow suit in 2007. Over that time, Mesi won all of his handful of fights, though effectively retired from boxing in 2007.

Joe Mesi had one of the longest active undefeated professional boxing records in the world for a heavyweight. Ranked #1 heavyweight contender by the WBC prior to his two-year layoff, Mesi was #16 in the December 2007 rankings.[7] In 2018, Mesi was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame[8] and the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.[9]

Politics and life after boxing

On February 14, 2008, Mesi publicly expressed his interest to run for the New York State Senate. He attempted to fill the 61st District seat vacated by Mary Lou Rath.[10] He won the Democratic primary for the seat on September 9, 2008.[11] Mesi lost the general election to Republican Michael Ranzenhofer.[12]

Most recently, Joe has taken a position with the Democratic Senate Majority heading up a local Buffalo liaison office. Mesi's name was circulated as a potential Democratic candidate to replace the retiring Jim Hayes in the New York State Assembly. The assembly seat was won by Raymond Walter.

Professionally, Mesi is a medical supply salesman with Abbott Medical. Mesi and his wife, Michele, have three children.[13]

Professional boxing record [14]
Professional record summary
36 fights 36 wins 0 losses
By knockout 29 0
By decision 7 0
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 36–0 Shannon Miller TKO 1 (10) 12/10/2007 Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island Won vacant WBC USNBC Heavyweight title.
Win 35–0 Ron Johnson KO 1 (10) 14/04/2007 The Hughes Center, Russellville, Arkansas
Win 34–0 George Linberger TKO 1 (10) 22/02/2007 Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, Chester, West Virginia
Win 33–0 Jason Weiss UD 4 15/09/2006 Little River Casino, Manistee, Michigan
Win 32–0 Dennis Matthews TKO 2 (4) 12/08/2006 Pope County Fairgrounds, Russellville, Arkansas
Win 31–0 Stephane Tessier UD 6 23/06/2006 Uniprix Stadium, Montreal, Canada
Win 30–0 Ron Bellamy UD 8 01/04/2006 Coliseo Mario 'Quijote' Morales, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Win 29–0 Vassiliy Jirov UD 10 13/03/2004 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
Win 28–0 Monte Barrett MD 10 06/12/2003 Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 27–0 DaVarryl Williamson KO 1 (10) 27/09/2003 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, New York
Win 26–0 Robert Davis TKO 1 (12) 24/06/2003 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, New York Won vacant NABF heavyweight title.
Win 25–0 Jason Curry KO 2 (10) 28/03/2003 Creek Nation Gaming Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Win 24–0 David Izon KO 9 (10) 18/10/2002 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, New York
Win 23–0 Talmadge Griffis TKO 5 (10) 07/06/2002 Rawhide Arena, Scottsdale, Arizona
Win 22–0 Keith McKnight TKO 6 (10) 05/04/2002 Alumni Arena, Buffalo, New York
Win 21–0 Derrick Banks TKO 1 (10) 02/11/2001 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win 20–0 Bert Cooper TKO 7 (10) 27/07/2001 Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York
Win 19–0 Jorge Luis Gonzalez TKO 4 (10) 27/04/2001 Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York
Win 18–0 Joey Guy TKO 3 (10) 11/11/2000 Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Win 17–0 Matthew Green KO 2 (6) 23/06/2000 Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi
Win 16–0 John Rainwater TKO 3 (?) 25/02/2000 Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island
Win 15–0 Gary Winmon TKO 1 (10) 17/12/1999 Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
Win 14–0 Anthony Green TKO 8 (10) 17/09/1999 Flickenger Athletic Center, Buffalo, New York Won USA New York State Heavyweight title.
Win 13–0 Rowyan Wallace KO 2 (6) 04/06/1999 Blue Horizon, Philadelphia
Win 12–0 Brian Sargent KO 1 (6) 24/04/1999 Arts Museum, Portland, Oregon
Win 11–0 Dwayne Hall TKO 1 (4) 19/02/1999 Turning Stone Casino, Verona, New York
Win 10–0 Rodney McSwain TKO 3 (6) 03/12/1998 Sheraton Hotel, Houston
Win 9–0 Jihad Abdulaziz UD 4 09/10/1998 Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York
Win 8–0 Martin Lopez KO 3 (6) 27/08/1998 Arena Theatre, Houston
Win 7–0 Kevin Rosier TKO 2 (4) 26/07/1998 Turning Stone Casino, Verona, New York
Win 6–0 Art Bayliss KO 1 (4) 25/06/1998 Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win 5–0 Mike McGrady TKO 2 (4) 02/04/1998 Erie County College, Buffalo, New York
Win 4–0 Darryl Spratt KO 1 (4) 20/02/1998 Argosy Festival Atrium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Win 3–0 Calvin Smith UD 4 04/12/1997 Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York
Win 2–0 Jim Brackney KO 2 (4) 25/11/1997 El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Win 1–0 Dwane Cason Allen KO 1 (4) 01/11/1997 Apollo Theater, New York

Accomplishments
gollark: You're just asserting that.
gollark: And, in any case, this EE teacher *did not cause the things they're measuring/predicting*.
gollark: An omnipotent god can simply predict it anyway.
gollark: They can in fact be wrong in various ways.
gollark: They don't have perfect knowledge of the student though.

See also
  • Boxingscene.com article, 'Joe Mesi Return A Complex Proposition [15]
  • Above article highlights a subsequent change in the rules applying to professional boxers in the State of Nevada which would allow Mesi to apply to fight in Nevada again (previously not so)

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-05-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Boxer 'Baby' Joe Mesi Visits Golisano Children's Hospital". www.urmc.rochester.edu.
  3. "Boxer Joe Mesi embroiled in the fight of his life". Houston Chronicle. August 7, 2005.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-06-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Vassily Jirov". World News.
  6. "Suspension Upheld But Boxer Is Fighting It". The New York Times. 15 July 2019.
  7. "WBC Heavyweight Ratings". World Boxing Council. October 13, 2007. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007.
  8. "Profile of Baby Joe Mesi". Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. 6 April 2020.
  9. "Meet the New York State Boxing HOF Inductees". 15 Rounds. 6 April 2020.
  10. Robert J. McCarthy (February 14, 2008). "Heavyweight contender Joe Mesi considers run for state Senate". The Buffalo News.
  11. "Boxer Joe Mesi One Step Closer To Senate Seat". CBC Sports. 15 July 2019.
  12. Phil Fairbanks (November 5, 2008). "State Senate: Ranzenhofer, Stachowski, Volker win". The Buffalo News.
  13. "Days of Glory and Baby Joe Mesi Long Gone for the Falls". Niagara Falls Reporter. 29 May 2019.
  14. http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=016554&cat=boxer
  15. "Joe Mesi's Return a Complex Proposition". BoxingScene.com.
Preceded by
Eliecer Castillo
Vacant		 NABF Heavyweight champion
June 24, 2003 – October 30, 2003
Vacates		 Succeeded by
Eliecer Castillo
Preceded by
Vacant		 WBC USNBC Heavyweight Champion
October 12, 2007–present
Vacates		 Incumbent
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