Carmen Basilio, Boxing Great and Former Le Moyne Physical Education Instructor, Dies

The Le Moyne community is mourning the loss of Carmen Basilio, one of Le Moyne College’s most recognizable and famous names from its past. Basilio died on Tuesday in Rochester at the age of 85.

The legendary fighter, whose greatest pugilistic claim to fame was a 1957 defeat of Sugar Ray Robinson, served as a physical education instructor at Le Moyne in the 1960s and 70s.

Dozens of stories and tributes to Carmen have run in the past day across the U.S., in major media outlets such as ESPN, the Chicago Sun Times, the New York Daily News, as well as more regional coverage in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, the Syracuse Post-Standard, and the Albany Times Union.

Carmen is survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.