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"Baby" Joe Mesi (born November 27, 1973) is an American retired boxer and Democratic Party politician from Tonawanda, New York. During his career, he defeated former world champion Vassily Jirov as well as former title challengers Bert Cooper, Monte Barrett, DaVarryl Williamson, and Jorge Luis González.

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. 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.

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.

The injuries came from a 2004 bout with former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov. In round 9, 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."

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. In 2018, Mesi was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

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. He won the Democratic primary for the seat on September 9, 2008. Mesi lost the general election to Republican Michael Ranzenhofer.

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.

Professional boxing record

Source:

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	Mar 13, 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	Burt Flickinger 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

• 1993 – Empire State Games Gold Medalist
• 1993 – New York State Golden Gloves Champion – Super Heavyweight Division
• 1995 – New York State Golden Gloves Champion – Super Heavyweight Division
• 1996 – New York State Golden Gloves Champion – Super Heavyweight Division
• 1996 – United States Olympic Alternate – Super Heavyweight Division
• 1999 – New York State Heavyweight Champion
• 2003 – North American Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion
• 2007 – World Boxing Council USNBC Heavyweight Champion
• 2011 – Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame
• 2018 – New York State Boxing Hall of Fame
• 2018 – Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

See also

• Boxingscene.com article, 'Joe Mesi Return A Complex Proposition
• 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. "Baby Joe Mesi's Fight for Organ Donations Foundation - Mesi brings attention to the need for organ donations". Archived from the original on 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
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. "Catching up with Vassiliy Jirov". Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
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. "Joe Mesi - Boxer". Archived from the original on 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
15. "Joe Mesi's Return a Complex Proposition". BoxingScene.com.

External links

• BabyJoeMesi.com – Official website of Joe Mesi (Currently Down)
• Boxing record for Joe Mesi from BoxRec (registration required)

• Living people
• 1973 births
• Heavyweight boxers
• Italian male boxers
• American people of Italian descent
• SUNY Erie alumni
• People from Tonawanda, New York
• Sportspeople from Erie County, New York
• Boxers from New York (state)
• New York (state) Democrats
• American male boxers
• 20th-century American sportsmen