Coley Wallace
Encyclopedia
Coley Wallace was an American
actor
and heavyweight
boxer
who outpointed by Rocky Marciano
in a three-round amateur fight
.
Although Wallace, a Jacksonville, FL native had a respectable record as a professional (20-7-0), his claim to fame came in 1948 when, as an amateur, he defeated future heavyweight
champion Rocky Marciano
in the finals of the New York
Golden Gloves
Tournament.
Wallace's contact was "owned" under the table by the notorious Frank "Blinky" Palermo
, a member of the Philadelphia crime family
. Palermo was imprisoned in 1961 for conspiracy and extortion for the covert ownership of prizefighters..
After boxing, Wallace acted in four movies, twice portraying the boxer Joe Louis
.
Wallace died on January 30, 2005, of heart failure in New York City
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who outpointed by Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
in a three-round amateur fight
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
.
Although Wallace, a Jacksonville, FL native had a respectable record as a professional (20-7-0), his claim to fame came in 1948 when, as an amateur, he defeated future heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
champion Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
in the finals of the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
Tournament.
Wallace's contact was "owned" under the table by the notorious Frank "Blinky" Palermo
Frank Palermo
Frank "Blinky" Palermo was an organized crime figure who surreptitiously owned prize-fighters and fixed fights best known for fixing the Jake LaMotta-Billy Fox fight in 1947. An associate of the Philadelphia crime family, Palermo also ran the City of Brotherly Love's biggest numbers racket...
, a member of the Philadelphia crime family
Philadelphia crime family
The Philadelphia crime family, also known as the Scarfo crime family, Bruno crime family, Philadelphia Mafia, or Philly Mob, is an Italian American criminal organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most active American Mafia families outside of the Five Families of New York...
. Palermo was imprisoned in 1961 for conspiracy and extortion for the covert ownership of prizefighters..
After boxing, Wallace acted in four movies, twice portraying the boxer Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
.
Wallace died on January 30, 2005, of heart failure in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Filmography
- The Joe Louis StoryThe Joe Louis StoryThe Joe Louis Story is a 1953 American film directed by Robert Gordon.- Cast :*Coley Wallace as Joe Louis*Hilda Simms as Marva Trotter Louis*Paul Stewart as Tad McGeehan*James Edwards as Jack "Chappie" Blackburn*John Marley as Mannie Seamon...
(1953) - Joe Louis - Carib Gold (1957)
- Raging Bull (1980) - Joe Louis (Cerdan Fight)
- RooftopsRooftops (film)Rooftops is a 1989 crime and dance drama film directed by Robert Wise, which follows the misadventures of two homeless teenagers in Manhattan....
(1989) - Lester