Description
Joey Barnum
Birth Name: Giuseppe Mariano Roselli
Alias: Gentleman Joey/Lockheed Bomber
Record: 35-29-8
8 KOs 5 KOs
Division: welter
Bouts: 72
Career: 1940-1952
Debut: 1940-07-22
Nationality: USA
Residence: Culver City, California, USA
Birth place: Chicago, Illinois, USAAlias: Gentleman Joey/Lockheed Bomber
Hometown: Culver City, California, USA
Managers: Augie DeMille (until 1944), Tony Palazolla, Frankie Carbo, Roger Leighton
Joe Barnum was the son of a gangster in the Al Capone era in 1920s Chicago. As an amateur, he was discovered by Augie DeMille after Barnum knocked out one of DeMille’s fighters. He reportedly had 112 wins out of 115 fights as an amateur, winning the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship as a lightweight. His pro record is reportedly 35-24-7 (9).
He became a manager following his boxing career, but made a comeback against his former protege Mario Trigo, after an argument between the two resulted in Trigo punching Barnum. The two met in a ring and Barnum won the decision. The circumstances between Barnum and Trigo were the basis of the movie “Killer Instinct.”
Barnum also acted as himself, body doubling in fight scenes and as “Three Fingered” White in “The Untouchables.” After his managerial career ended, Barnum became a bail bondsmen and a bodyguard for actresses Marilyn Monroe and Loni Anderson.
His induction into the World Boxing Hall of Fame (1999) was highly controversial, and led to the resignation of several members from the Hall’s committee.
