Thomas E.
"Tommy Ricco"
Lauria

THOMAS ENRICO LAURIA, who boxed professionally under the name of Tony Ricco, was born in Camden on April 19, 1917 to Francesco "Frank" Lauria and his wife, the former and Angelina Siria. His father had come to America in 1909 from Italy, and brought his mother, older brother Anthony and sister Rose over in 1911. The family is listed in Camden City directories from 1913 through 1918 at 817 Dauphin Street. By January of 1920 the family had settled in at 307 Line Street in South Camden. Four more children would come in the 1920s, sisters Anne, Irene and Florence and a brother Vincent Lauria. Sadly, Francesco Lauria passed away in 1931, not having reached the age of 50. 

Thomas Lauria boxed professionally out of Camden in the 1930s and into 1940 under the name of Tommy Ricco. His professional career got of to a fast start in 1936. "Tommy Ricco" won ten out his first eleven fights on record, the exception being a draw against Pete Kelly on August 5, 1937 in Camden. He returned to the ring on August 9 in Baltimore, scoring a technical knockout over veteran Benny Kessler. Unfortunately, "Tommy Ricco" broke his hand in this fight, and did not fight again for over a year. He was never the same fighter after that, and although he continued to be active as a boxer, mostly in Baltimore and Washington, he lost twelve of his next eighteen fights. No longer an up-and-coming contender after breaking his hand, perhaps the highlight of his boxing career was a trip to Florida in the summer of 1939 where he fought three veteran boxers, Red Hutchins, Chino Alvarez, and Justo Jimenez, scoring a TKO against Hutchins, then losing a split decision to Alvarez, then losing to Jimenez on points. He fought six times in 1940 in the Baltimore and Washington area, then called it a career. The 1940 Camden City Directory shows him living at 307 Line Street in South Camden with his widowed mother and brother Vincent. The Directory does not state where he was working at the time that ot was compiled, nor that whether he had married or not. He did wed not long afterward, however.

On January 4, 1943 Thomas Lauria was inducted into the United States Army. After serving his country, he returned to Camden. The 1947 Directory shows him living with his wife at 307 Line Street. By the winter of 1952 he had moved to 1296 Van Hook Street. In the 1950s and 1960s he worked for the city's Highway Department. In the early 1950s he also supplemented his income as a numbers writer. Working in this capacity got him arrested in February of 1952 and cost him a very short jail sentence. 

Thomas Lauria died from a heart attack at the age of 42 in 1960. His younger brother Vincent Lauria passed away from heart-related problems on February 24, 1974 at the age of 53. Noting that their father had also died before he turned 50, this may have been a congenital heart issue. Thomas Lauria was survived by his wife Ida and sons Frank and Thomas.

Younger brother Vince "Duke" Lauria boxed as an amateur and was an AAU Diamond Belt champion before his induction into the United States Army on May 5, 1943 at Camden, New Jersey. He returned to Camden and boxing in 1945, and made his professional debut in May of that year as a bantamweight. Vince Lauria went undefeated in 22 known fights, wining 21 and settling for a draw only once, in June of 1947. His last fight was in September of 1947. 

Camden Courier-Post * July 13, 1936

Camden Courier-Post * July 15, 1936

Joey Straiges - Billy Mariner - Johnny Toomey - Joey Allen - Freddy Lewis - Joe Duca
Billy Ketchell - Jersey Joe Walcott - Jimmy Russell -  Tommy Ricco

Joey Straiges - Billy Mariner
Johnny Toomey - Joe Allen
Freddy Lewis - Joe Duca
Billy Ketchell - Jersey Joe Walcott
 Tommy Ricco - Jimmy Russell

Tommy Ricco
Billy Ketchell
Midget Ambrose
Jersey Joe Walcott

Vineland Daily Journal - September 2, 1936

Joey Straiges - Tony Strazzeri
Billy Ketchell - Midget Ambrose
Paul Hoft - King Kong
Al Narciso - Ted Pecana
 Tommy Ricco - Jersey Joe Walcott

Tommy Ricco
Calvin Calp
Johnny Lucas
Cocoa Kid

Miami Beach - 1939

Miami News - August 8, 1939

 Miami Herald - August 8, 1939

Joe Spearing
Jersey Joe Walcott - Roxie Allen
Frankie Blair - Mickey Blair
Tommy Ricco - Battling Mack
Lew Skymer - Jackie Hindle
Charlie Mack - Eddie Chaney
Young O'Connor - Frankie Rapp
Pee Wee Ross - Bobby Zimmerman
Nick Nichols - Joey Allen
Johnny Lucas - Joey Straiges
Jim Braddock - Sgt. Ray Smith
Walter "Walter West" Kennedy
Caesar Campana
Johnny Duca - Mickey Duca - Al White
George Chaney - Benny Bass - Kid Williams
Johnny Buff - Danny Kramer - Pete Williams
Shamus Maguire - Lew Jackson - Paddy Lyons
Johnny Attell - Billy Marino - Young Firpo
Young Palmer - Tommy Dundee
Tommy McCann
Harry Shaw - Tom Walters
All Ettore - Joey O'Donnell
Mike DeLeece - Young Lawrence
Charlie Harris - Bill McFarland
Dominick Lombardo
Daniel Gallasso
James McSparrin
Paul Daly

Paul Shinn

Vince Tuminello

Thomas Lauria
Edward Shapiro
Gustav A. Koerner
Van Hook Street

Camden Courier-Post * February 2, 1952

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Thomas Lauria - Edward Shapiro - John Moffa - Gustav A. Koerner - Thomas Murphy - Van Hook Street

Camden Courier-Post * February 14, 1952

...continued...

Thomas Lauria - Edward Shapiro - John Moffa - Anthony Marino - Benjamin Dzick

Camden Courier-Post
February 22, 1952

Thomas Lauria
Benjamin Dzick
Van Hook Street

Camden Courier-Post * February 26, 1952

...continued...

Thomas Lauria - Edward Shapiro - John Moffa - Anthony Marino - Benjamin Dzick

Camden Courier-Post * March 28, 1960