Genaro, Frankie [Frank Di Gennara]
Boxing
b. Aug. 26, 1901, New York, NY
d. Dec. 2, 1966
As a youngster, Genaro worked as a stable boy and hoped to become a jockey. At eighteen, he became interested in boxing. Less than a year after taking up the sport, he won a gold medal in the flyweight class at the 1920 Olympics.
The 5-foot-2 1/2, 112-pounder turned professional shortly after the Olympics and went 17 fights without a loss until Abe Goldstein beat him on a 4-round decision in 1922.
Genaro won the American flyweight championship with a 15-round decision over Pancho Villa on March 1, 1923. He lost that title when Fidel LaBarba took a 10-round decision on August 22, 1925.
The NBA flyweight championship became vacant in 1927 and Genaro fought Frenchy Belanger for that title on November 28, but Belanger won a decision. However, Genaro won the decision in a rematch on February 6, 1928.
Spider Pladner of France knocked Genaro out in the 1st round on March 2, 1929, but Genaro regained the title on April 18, when Pladner was disqualified for a foul in the 5th round.
Genaro got his only chance at the world title against Midget Wolgast on December 26, 1930. Wolgast held the New York championship and the world championship was vacant. Ironically, the fight ended in a draw; each man kept his title, while the world championship remained undecided.
On October 27, 1931, Young Perez knocked Genaro out in the 2nd round to win the NBA version of the title. Genaro had just eight more fights. He retired after being knocked out by Speedy Dado in the 3rd round on February 13, 1934.
In 129 professional bouts, Genaro had 83 victories, 19 by knockout, and he lost 22, 4 by knockout. He also fought 9 draws and 15 no-decisions.