Gary Balletto

Last updated

Gary Balletto
Born
Gary Balletto

(1975-05-21) May 21, 1975 (age 50)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesTiger
Statistics
Weight(s) Lightweight
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights36
Wins31
Wins by KO26
Losses3
Draws2
No contests0

Gary Balletto (born May 21, 1975) is an American professional boxer. He has won 3 lightweight titles since 1996 (IBU, EBA and USBF). In his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, Balletto is the New England representative for the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB). [1]

Contents

Balletto turned pro just 10 days before his 21st birthday, amassing a 30–3–2 record in a 10-year career of boxing, 26 by way of knock out. One of his three losses came to Michael Clark (a unanimous decision in 10 rounds at Foxwoods), who would later appear on the ESPN reality show "Contender Season 2" as a team-mate of Balletto, where they both were on the Gold Team. Another loss came to Gregorio Vargas, a former WBC Featherweight champion and IBA Super-Featherweight champion, to whom Balletto lost his IBU title.

On the show, Balletto won his first-round fight, where Aaron Torres chose him as an opponent, by split decision. In his second fight, Norberto Bravo beat him, by unanimous decision.

In 2008, he appeared at IFC Theater in New York City to promote a feature verity documentary "Sweet Dreams", which told the story of his life and efforts to unionize the sport through JAB. [2]

Balletto continued his boxing career, winning by technical knockout on against light welterweight prospect Matthew Strode.

In June 2013, Balletto sustained a spinal cord injury in his backyard playing with his son, spinning around on a pull up bar that gave way. He broke 6 vertebrae in his neck, leaving him with a C5 spinal cord injury. He is now a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chest down, and confined to a power wheelchair. Determined to fight this battle as he has all of his bouts in the ring, he has not let the injury slow him down. In 2017, Balletto founded “The Gary Tiger Balletto Foundation” to bring awareness to and provide resources and assistance to those with paralysis injuries.

His current efforts include the creation of the first affordable adaptive gym in the state of Rhode Island, in conjunction with the Cranston YMCA. He has already raised funds and donated two Functional Electric Stimulation bikes which are booked and used around the clock, by Balletto himself and others with paralysis injuries to maintain muscle health and prevent atrophy.

There is additional equipment being added to complete a full, comprehensive adaptive gym. The gym was set to open to members of the local community with like injuries and other conditions such as stroke, MS, etc. to come and work out alongside their family members by spring 2019.

Balletto resides in Cranston, Rhode Island, with his fiancee and children.

Professional boxing record

36 fights31 wins3 losses
By knockout260
By decision53
Draws2
No contests0
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
36Win31–3–2 Flag of the United States.svg Matthew StrodeTKO9 (10), 0:592006-12-01 Flag of the United States.svg Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
35Loss30–3–2 Flag of the United States.svg Norberto Bravo UD52006-02-06 Flag of the United States.svg Contender Gymnasium, Pasadena, California, USA
34Win30–2–2 Flag of the United States.svg Aaron Torres SD52006-01-21 Flag of the United States.svg Contender Gymnasium, Pasadena, California, USA
33Loss29–2–2 Flag of Mexico.svg Gregorio Vargas MD122003-10-31 Flag of the United States.svg Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USALost IBU Lightweight title.
32Win29–1–2 Flag of Mexico.svg Luis Alfonso LizarragaUD102003-07-25 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USARetained IBU Lightweight title.
31Win28–1–2 Flag of the United States.svg Frank HoughtalingKO4 (10), 1:022003-05-30 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
30Win27–1–2 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny WalkerKO1 (12), 2:492003-03-21 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USAWon vacant IBU Lightweight title.
29Win26–1–2 Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Polo Perez KO1 (10)2003-01-11 Flag of the United States.svg Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
28Loss25–1–2 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Clark UD102002-10-25 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
27Win25–0–2 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Alric JohnsonKO4 (10)2002-07-26 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USARetained EBA Lightweight title.
26Win24–0–2 Flag of the United States.svg Mike DiBenedettoTKO9 (10), 2:372002-03-01 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
25Win23–0–2 Flag of the United States.svg John TriggRTD4 (6), 3:002001-12-07 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
24Win22–0–2 Flag of Colombia.svg Fray Luis SierraTKO1 (10)2001-11-16 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
23Win21–0–2 Flag of the United States.svg Joseph FigueroaUD102001-06-02 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USAWon EBA Lightweight title.
22Win20–0–2 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Freddy CruzUD62001-05-04 Flag of the United States.svg Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
21Win19–0–2 Flag of the United States.svg John ScalziTKO1 (8)2001-03-02 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
20Win18–0–2 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Hector Arroyo UD62001-02-09 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
19Win17–0–2 Flag of the United States.svg Larry O'ShieldsTKO4 (6), 1:202000-12-22 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
18Win16–0–2 Flag of the United States.svg Richard DinkinsTKO3 (4)2000-11-17 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
17Draw15–0–2 Flag of Guyana.svg Glenn FordPTS62000-02-25 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
16Win15–0–1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Teddy WorthTKO2 (?)1999-11-24 Flag of the United States.svg Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
15Win14–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Duron WilsonTKO4 (?), 2:521999-01-29 Flag of the United States.svg Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA
14Win13–0–1 Flag of Guyana.svg Forbes DavidKO1 (?)1998-12-12 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
13Win12–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Alonzo SojourneyTKO1 (?), 2:411998-10-24 Flag of the United States.svg Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, Massachusetts, USA
12Win11–0–1 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Manuel SantiagoTKO6 (?)1998-08-02 Flag of the United States.svg TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
11Win10–0–1 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Felix MartiTKO6 (?)1998-06-19 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
10Win9–0–1 Flag of Italy.svg Dominick MonacoTKO3 (?)1998-06-05 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
9Win8–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Hector QuerioTKO1 (?), 1:401998-03-27 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
8Win7–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Gerry OcampoKO2 (4)1998-02-20 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
7Win6–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Alex OrtizTKO2 (4), 2:321997-12-05 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
6Win5–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Jose LaPorteTKO2 (?), 2:531997-10-23 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
5Win4–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Rafael PinaTKO1 (?)1997-09-25 Flag of the United States.svg Strand Theatre, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
4Win3–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Barton VelezKO1 (?)1997-03-13 Flag of the United States.svg Strand Theatre, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
3Win2–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Miguel VasquezTKO1 (?)1996-10-25 Flag of the United States.svg The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
2Win1–0–1 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Lucas PachecoTKO1 (4)1996-09-27 Flag of the United States.svg Eastside Improvement, Brockton, Massachusetts, USA
1Draw0–0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Hector QuerioTD1 (4)1996-05-11 Flag of the United States.svg Dayville, Connecticut, USAProfessional debut. Technical draw after a headbutt rendered Balletto unable to continue.

References

  1. "AXN East Asia – The Heart of Action + Adventure". Archived from the original on October 28, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2006.
  2. "Stranger then Fiction". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2010.