Born in Rionero in Vulture (Basilicata) to Vito Giordano and Gelsomina Capobianco, he moved with his family to the United States when he was still a small child His name upon entering the United States was Raffaele Capabianca Giordano. The family lived in Pittsburgh and later relocated to Fresno, California. He began boxing in 1919 as
"Ralph Giordano" (later changed to
"Young Corbett III" ) while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."
A tough southpaw, Corbett fought many great fighters of his era. For example, he engaged in a four-fight series with future welterweight champion
Young Jack Thompson , winning three and drawing once. He also scored wins over
Jack Zivic , Sgt. Sammy Baker, and welterweight champion
Jackie Fields and future middleweight king
Ceferino Garcia.
On February 22, 1933, Corbett captured the welterweight championship of the world by decisioning Jackie Fields over 10 rounds. Three months later, he was dethroned by Hall of Famer
Jimmy McLarnin via a one round knockout.
Corbett then moved up to the middleweight division. He scored wins over future light heavy champ
Gus Lesnevich (TKO 5), as well as Hall of Famers Mickey Walker and
Billy Conn. On February 22, 1938 he bested
Fred Apostoli , winning the middleweight championship. On November 18 of that year, he challenged Apostoli again, but was stopped in 8 rounds. Corbett boxed until 1940, when he retired with a 123-11-17 (33KOs) record. He died in Auberry, California.
Beside the boxing career, he was a physical education teacher for the California Highway Patrol and a grape grower. A statue of him, posed in a fighting stance and boxing gloves, was erected in Fresno at Selland Arena. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2004.
He is the great-grandfather of Oakland Raiders safety Matt Giordano.
"Ralph Giordano" (later changed to
"Young Corbett III" ) while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."
A tough southpaw, Corbett fought many great fighters of his era. For example, he engaged in a four-fight series with future welterweight champion
Young Jack Thompson , winning three and drawing once. He also scored wins over
Jack Zivic , Sgt. Sammy Baker, and welterweight champion
Jackie Fields and future middleweight king
Ceferino Garcia.
On February 22, 1933, Corbett captured the welterweight championship of the world by decisioning Jackie Fields over 10 rounds. Three months later, he was dethroned by Hall of Famer
Jimmy McLarnin via a one round knockout.
Corbett then moved up to the middleweight division. He scored wins over future light heavy champ
Gus Lesnevich (TKO 5), as well as Hall of Famers Mickey Walker and
Billy Conn. On February 22, 1938 he bested
Fred Apostoli , winning the middleweight championship. On November 18 of that year, he challenged Apostoli again, but was stopped in 8 rounds. Corbett boxed until 1940, when he retired with a 123-11-17 (33KOs) record. He died in Auberry, California.
Beside the boxing career, he was a physical education teacher for the California Highway Patrol and a grape grower. A statue of him, posed in a fighting stance and boxing gloves, was erected in Fresno at Selland Arena. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2004.
He is the great-grandfather of Oakland Raiders safety Matt Giordano.
Born in Rionero in Vulture (Basilicata) to Vito Giordano and Gelsomina Capobianco, he moved with his family to the United States when he was still a small child His name upon entering the United States was Raffaele Capabianca Giordano. The family lived in Pittsburgh and later relocated to Fresno, California. He began boxing in 1919 as
"Ralph Giordano" (later changed to
"Young Corbett III" ) while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."
A tough southpaw, Corbett fought many great fighters of his era. For example, he engaged in a four-fight series with future welterweight champion
Young Jack Thompson , winning three and drawing once. He also scored wins over
Jack Zivic , Sgt. Sammy Baker, and welterweight champion
Jackie Fields and future middleweight king
Ceferino Garcia.
On February 22, 1933, Corbett captured the welterweight championship of the world by decisioning Jackie Fields over 10 rounds. Three months later, he was dethroned by Hall of Famer
Jimmy McLarnin via a one round knockout.
Corbett then moved up to the middleweight division. He scored wins over future light heavy champ
Gus Lesnevich (TKO 5), as well as Hall of Famers Mickey Walker and
Billy Conn. On February 22, 1938 he bested
Fred Apostoli , winning the middleweight championship. On November 18 of that year, he challenged Apostoli again, but was stopped in 8 rounds. Corbett boxed until 1940, when he retired with a 123-11-17 (33KOs) record. He died in Auberry, California.
Beside the boxing career, he was a physical education teacher for the California Highway Patrol and a grape grower. A statue of him, posed in a fighting stance and boxing gloves, was erected in Fresno at Selland Arena. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2004.
He is the great-grandfather of Oakland Raiders safety Matt Giordano.
"Ralph Giordano" (later changed to
"Young Corbett III" ) while still a 14-year-old "newsboy."
A tough southpaw, Corbett fought many great fighters of his era. For example, he engaged in a four-fight series with future welterweight champion
Young Jack Thompson , winning three and drawing once. He also scored wins over
Jack Zivic , Sgt. Sammy Baker, and welterweight champion
Jackie Fields and future middleweight king
Ceferino Garcia.
On February 22, 1933, Corbett captured the welterweight championship of the world by decisioning Jackie Fields over 10 rounds. Three months later, he was dethroned by Hall of Famer
Jimmy McLarnin via a one round knockout.
Corbett then moved up to the middleweight division. He scored wins over future light heavy champ
Gus Lesnevich (TKO 5), as well as Hall of Famers Mickey Walker and
Billy Conn. On February 22, 1938 he bested
Fred Apostoli , winning the middleweight championship. On November 18 of that year, he challenged Apostoli again, but was stopped in 8 rounds. Corbett boxed until 1940, when he retired with a 123-11-17 (33KOs) record. He died in Auberry, California.
Beside the boxing career, he was a physical education teacher for the California Highway Patrol and a grape grower. A statue of him, posed in a fighting stance and boxing gloves, was erected in Fresno at Selland Arena. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2004.
He is the great-grandfather of Oakland Raiders safety Matt Giordano.
Gravesite Details
listed as Ralph Giordano at St. Peter's
Family Members
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