Today in Boxing History: Tony Canzoneri KOs Kid Chocolate

On this day in 1933, Tony Canzoneri knocked out Kid Chocolate in the second round of a non-title bout at Madison Square Garden. It was the first knockout loss of Chocolate’s career.

They had met two years earlier, when Chocolate, both the New York State Athletic Commission World Featherweight and world junior lightweight title champion, challenged Canzoneri for his world lightweight belt. The relentless Canzoneri successfully defended his title with a split decision victory. When they met for the rematch, Chocolate still held both of his belts but Canzoneri had lost his title to Barney Ross earlier that year.

By this time, Chocolate was on the downside of his career and had lost a little bit of his speed. This made him much more susceptible to Canzoneri’s murderous attack. The bout was an action-packed five and half minutes, but towards the end of the second round, Canzoneri knocked out Chocolate with a chopping right. He was counted out at 2:30 in round two.

Chocolate successfully defended his junior lightweight title only ten days later, but lost the belt on Christmas Day of 1933 to Frankie Klick. He vacated the featherweight championship because he was unable to make the weight and never challenged for another title again. Canzoneri regained the lightweight title two years later.