Galento the Great

Galento the Great is the gripping biography of Tony “Two-Ton” Galento, the boxer who once fought Joe Louis—considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time—for the heavyweight title. It was written by Joseph G. Donovan in 1939, the same year Galento challenged Louis for the title.

Domenico Antonio Galento (1910-1979) was an American heavyweight boxer, nicknamed “Two-Ton” for his reasoning to his manager for being nearly late to one of his fights: “I had two tons of ice to deliver on my way here.” Galento was one of the most colorful fighters in the history of the sport. He wrestled an octopus, and boxed a kangaroo as publicity stunts for his fights. He also boxed a 550 lb. (250 kg) bear, as a stage attraction.

“THIS is an authorized, authentic and unvarnished story of my life and battles. The author has known me for 13 years and he, if anyone, knows the facts and figures, better than myself. While he has scratched my back a bit with his facile pen, both as Sports Editor and columnist of the Newark, N. J. Morning Ledger and as the author of my fighting career, I like it from page to page. Joe Donovan has as much punch in this story as I have in my left hook in the ring. And that is something.”—Tony Galento