The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
International Boxing Hall of Fame mourns the loss of Dickie Diveronica
CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Canastota’s top ten ranked welterweight contender Dickie Diveronica has passed away, according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Diveronica, 82, passed away Thursday following a brief illness.
“Dickie Diveronica was as tough as they come and, with his crowd-pleasing style, made Canastota proud every time he stepped into the ring,” Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy said in a statement. “He was an integral part of Canastota’s long and storied boxing history, which led the village to establish the International Boxing Hall of Fame to honor the entire sport. The Hall of Fame joins Canastota and the boxing community in mourning the loss of one of our own.”
Born January 26, 1938, Diveronica was a standout athlete, excelling in football and wrestling at Canastota High School. He attended Cornell University and, after his freshman year, left the Ithaca, N.Y. campus to pursue a career in the ring after watching Carmen Basilio prepare for his first bout with Sugar Ray Robinson.
Following a brief but successful amateur career, Diveronica turned pro in 1958. He was drafted in the US Army in 1961 and, after an honorable discharge in 1963, resumed his career in 1964. He engaged in three memorable fights with “Sweet” Herbie Lee (KO 6, L 10, W 10) in 1967.
Ranked in the top ten, but unable to secure a title bout, Diveronica continued to box until 1972 before retiring with a record of 42-13-1 (11 KOS). Diveronica holds wins over Tommy Tibbs, Jay Fullmer and Pete Toro and provided spirited efforts against Emile Griffith (TKO by 8) and “Gypsy” Joe Harris (L 10). Known as a cagey, aggressive fighter, he was managed by Joe Netro and Johnny Dejohn and trained with Hall of Famer Angelo Dundee in Miami, FL.
In 2019, Diveronica became a member of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, which recognized him for his career achievements as one of New York State’s professional boxers.