Marketing Services · New York
Once nicknamed Buffalo’s “Third Franchise” after the Buffalo Bills & Sabres, Joe Mesi capitalized quickly on a successful career in the boxing ring to become a household name among New York sports enthusiasts. “Baby Joe” as he is affectionately known, elevated Buffalo boxing into the national spotlight. Born in Buffalo NY, Joe was a three sport athlete playing football, baseball & wrestling but it would ultimately be the sport of boxing at the “late” age of 19 that would define Joe’s rapid national ascent where he eventually became a 1996 US Olympic Team member. Later during his unbeaten professional boxing career he signed a promotional contract with legendary champion, then promoter, Sugar Ray Leonard where Mesi was featured numerous times on ESPN Friday Nights Fights. His cult like following then attracted the attention of HBO, signing a multi-fight deal which then included winning the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Heavyweight Championship and also the WBC US Heavyweight Championship. After selling out Buffalo’s HSBC arena three times, Madison Square Garden & Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Joe was eventually “forced” to retire with an undefeated record of 36-0 (29 KO’s) due to a controversial head injury. At the time he was the #1 ranked heavyweight contender in the world & next in line for a shot at the title.