Professional Boxer/Referee
Born Louis Scozzaro on April 15, 1903 in Buffalo, NY, Scozza was a talented fighter who fought as a middle-weight and a light heavyweight during his boxing career. His career spanned from 1925-34 and included over 100 bouts with 80 of those wins.
Scozza fought the #12 all-time greatest light heavyweight champion Maxie Rosenbloom seven times, including one title fight in 1932, and won three of those contests. He also took fellow Buffalonian Jimmy Slattery (GBSHOF ‘92) the distance in a title fight in 1930. The Slattery – Scozza fight is often considered Buffalo’s Greatest Fight of the 20th Century. Before a crowd of 11,000 at the Broadway Auditorium, Slattery won a contested 15-round split decision over Scozza. The 13th round ended with Slattery helpless, while draped over the ropes.
One of only two men in the world to ever knock out James J. “The Cinderella Man” Braddock, Lou Scozza did it in six rounds in San Francisco in 1932. Joe Louis did it in eight rounds in 1937. Scozza also won three of five fights, including a fifth-round knockout, over light heavyweight champion George Nichols.
Once his boxing career ended at 29 years of age, Scozza became a renowned referee for the Boxing Commission of the State of New York, working 105 matches from 1941-62.
Lou Scozza passed away Nov. 30, 1967 at the age of 64.