Census

Primo Carnera

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Primo Carnera and his brother, Severino, visited Syracuse together in 1933. Severino’s had lived in New Jersey since 1927. Primo came to the United States on January 1, 1929. The Italian heavyweight champion boxed an exhibition with Harold Mays, a sparring partner, at the Arena. The benefit was for the Columbus Memorial Fund. Martin La Chance, a columnist for the Syracuse Journal, noticed a change in Carnera’s disposition from the first time he came to Syracuse in 1931. Earlier he was surly and had little to say. During his stay in 1933 Primo smiled constantly, posed for photographers, and demonstrated a proficiency in speaking English that he lacked before. He weighed in at 270 pounds and stood 6’7”. Carnera was followed so avidly in Syracuse that police had difficulty making a path for him. A crowd of 2,000 were assembled in the Arena, and around two hundred people were waiting outside the venue. The heavyweight champion’s appearance was formidable while he wore street clothing. It was even more impressive to the predominately Italian born throng after he removed his robe. Primo showed spectators that he was both strong and fast for a man his weight. The right-hand uppercut that won him the world heavyweight crown was not on display during the first minutes of the four round exhibition. Mays looked quite small in comparison to Primo Carnera. He weighed 225 pounds. Near the end of the first round he landed an uppercut. Mays came at Carnera with his head down.

Syracuse Journal writer Bob Kenefick predicted that Carnera would reign as heavyweight champion for quite some time. During a dinner in Room 722 of the Hotel Syracuse, Primo disclosed a number of facts about himself. Among these was his weight at birth, 22 pounds, and that he wore his father’s shoes when he was 14 years old. He said that he liked America and Americans. Carnera showed that he had fine table manners and that he was quite an intelligent man. Among his dislikes were horse...