BATTLING MACK was born Mattheo Fanelli in Pennsylvania on April 7, 1898 to John and Catherine Fanelli. The family appears in various records as Fanelli, Fannelli, Fanello, and Fannelo. Although records for the time that he fought are woefully incomplete, his skill and success in the ring are perhaps best evidenced by the length of his career. He was active in the ring from 1917 through 1926. Late in his career Battling Mack founded a gym near South 3rd and Walnut Streets, where many of Camden's finest boxers of the era trained. It was at this gym in 1930 that Arnold "Jersey Joe Walcott" Cream was first introduced to the fight game. As Battling Mack, Matthew Fanelli turned professional in 1917, and fought five times in Philadelphia, and possibly twice more in Baltimore that year. With the America at war, he found work at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard on Broadway at Morgan Street, where he was employed when he registered for the draft on September 12, 1918. He was then living with his widowed mother Catherine Fanelli at 320 Mount Vernon Street in South Camden. The 1920 Census shows Matthew Fanelli still living with his mother at 320 Mount Vernon Street. Also at that address was older brother Rocco Fanelli, a member of the Camden Fire Department, younger brother Charles, and five younger sisters, Mary, Pauline, Millie, Rosie and Marguerite, as wells as Mary's husband John Mucci and their children Agnes and Rafaella. Matthew Fanelli served as a member of the Camden Police Department in the early 1930s, joining shprtly after the April 1930 Census. Last a resident of Pennsauken, Matthew Fanelli, aka Battling Mack, passed away in August of 1971. Battling Mack's brother, Charles Fanelli, fought as Charley Mack in the 1920s through 1930. |
Battling Mack's Known Boxing Record |
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Philadelphia Inquirer * September 14, 1918 |
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Battling Mack - K.O. Joe O'Donnell |
Trenton Evening Times - May 29, 1920 |
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Eli
"Kid" Conaghy - Battling
Mack - Pete Lawrence Eddie Dewain - Sammy Nable - Jimmy Jackson - Terry Brooks - Sam Katz Joe Dorsey - Phil Lundy - Broadway Athletic Club |
Camden Courier-Post * June 8, 1932 |
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Arthur
"Gyp" Del Duca - Charles
Fanelli aka "Charlie Mack" Austin H. Swackhamer - James Russell Carrow - Gene R. Mariano - Rocco Palese Fairview Street - Penn Street - Clifford A. Baldwin - David Visor Joseph Weska - Broadway - Kaighn Avenue - Battling Mack |
Camden Courier-Post - January 28, 1928 |
CHARITY
BATTLES ATTRACT BIG CROWD Fifteen sizzling amateur boxing bouts, together with nine acts of vaudeville, were presented to a capacity crowd in the St. Joan of Arc Church gym, Fairview. The proceeds derived from the affair will go toward the church building fund. In the feature bout, Bob Zimmerman, of Fairview, unintentionally fouled Eddie O'Tell of South Camden, in the first round and Referee Joe Bonnell immediately stopped the fuss. Zimmerman was in the lead when O'Tell, in attempting to avoid a left hook to the body, leaped into the air with the result that the punch landed low. Zimmerman, in order not to disappoint the crowd went three rounds with Mickey Murtha. Battling Mack and Pee Wee Ross staged a clown act, while Johnny Lucas met Billy De Lue; Tommy Lyons clashed with Jack Stanley; "Peaches" Gray tackled Terrible Pine; Joe Colon faced Billy Osborne, and George Anderson encountered Milton Bamford. All bouts were limited to three rounds. Deputy Boxing Commissioner Edward A. Welsh attended the affair, and when introduced by Announcer Bill Kennedy received an ovation that lasted fully five minutes. Mrs. Mary Walsh Kobus, a member of the city board of censors also was present. Sergeant Ray Smith assisted Bonell in refereeing, while John McGraw was timekeeper. It was one of the most successful affairs ever conducted by the church athletic association. |
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Camden
Courier-Post Locust
Street |
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Camden
Courier-Post December 18, 1939 Joe
Spearing |
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Camden Courier-Post * December 20, 1939 | |
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Frank
Kopesky - James
Braddock - Jersey
Joe Walcott - Roxie
Allen - Frankie
Blair - Mickey
Blair Lew Skymer - Battling Mack - Joe Spearing- Frankie Rapp - Johnny Lucas - Joey Straiges - Joey Allen Sgt. Ray Smith - Tommy Ricco - Al Daley - Jackie Hindle - Eddie Chaney Caesar Campana - Young O'Connors - Charlie Mack - Pee Wee Ross - Bobby Zimmerman Buck Flemming - Joe Shannon -Kayo Palmer - Pat Lawrence- Dave Lambert Young Lawrence - Archie McNew - Lou Jackson - Al White - Young Palmer - Tommy Dundee Joe Mangold - Joey O'Donnell - Young Joe Firpo |
Camden Courier-Post * March 19, 1949 | ||
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Charley Humes Roxie Allen Mickey Blair Shamus Maguire Eddie Chaney Pee Wee Ross Jackie Hindle Watson Finch George Abner Nick Nichols Dixie Allen Mike O'Dowd Benny Leonard Pete Herman Jimmy Wilde Gene Tunney John Smith Lee Smith Lou McFarland Higgins & Kaplam Tommy James Sgt. Ray Smith Pose Robinson Willie Davis Harry Smith Jim Kelly Temple Theatre Newt Blanchard Broadway Theater Convention Hall Plaza Hotel Roy R. Stewart Mike Brennan Tommy Loughran Jack Dempsey K.O. Joey O'Donnell Frankie Conway Willie Spencer Charlie Daggert Jimmy Rafferty Eddie "Kid" Wagner Young Sherlock Eddie Forrest Battling Nelson Willie Fuller Joey O'Connor Chick Hunt Eddie Melson Joe "Kid" FIsher Harry "Dick" Donohue Nick Nichols Eddie Prince Johnny Sapio Weber's Hof Brau Young Joe Grim Edward Garrity George Murphy Eddie Tighe Richie Joehner Jimmy Tighe Jimmy Jordan Eddie Douglas Bobby Graham Steve Jackson Frankie McLaughlin Neil McLaughlin Johnny "Homo" Bryan Duncan Carswell Jimmy Dean Jack Dean Theo Ellick Joe Spearing "Red" Haines Standard Theater Everett Joslin John Taylor Joey Powell Soldier Freeman Victor King Augie Oswald Charlie Mack Battling Mack |
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Camden Courier-Post * January 12, 1965 |
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