The goal is clear, the stage is set: "Baby Joe" is on course to be the Heavyweight Champion of the World, a la his idol, Rocky Marciano. Like the Rock, Joe is a swarming, slugging warrior who never steps backward, not from his opponent, not from his goal, not from the price of hard work it takes to arrive there.

A Dream in Motion

Joe is on his way of making his dream of becoming Heavyweight Champion of the World. Hailing from a suburb of Buffalo, New York "Baby Joe" as his family first called him, first hit the boxing scene as New York State 1994-1996 Super Heavyweight Golden Gloves Champion. Joe also captured the Gold Medal in the 1993 Empire State Games. Joe rounded out his amateur career by becoming a finalist in every national tournament he entered.

On his way to the 1996 Olympics, Joe scored upset victories in all his international competitions. Joe completed his amateur career as the surprising finalist in the 1996 Olympic trials and box offs. Boxing as an unaffiliated and an underdog contestant, Joe overcame every boxing and political opponent on his way to the finals. One heartbreaking loss in the finals of the Olympic box offs made him the 1996 U.S. Olympic Alternate in the Super-Heavyweight Division at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Several of Joe's former amateur victims are now very successful professionals. Since turning professional Joe has won 36 straight bouts including 29 KOs, 0 loses, and hopes to be fighting for a world title soon.

The goal is clear, the stage is set: Baby Joe is on course to be the Heavyweight Champion of the World, a la his idol, Rocky Marciano. Like the Rock, Joe is a swarming, slugging warrior who never steps backward, not from his opponent, not from his goal, not from the price of hard work it takes to arrive there.

And So the Story Begins

It is January of 1995 in Buffalo, New York. Cold, snowy and wet outdoors. Perfect weather to stay in indoors.

Baby Joe Mesi is 22-years-old. He has been away from amateur boxing for almost a year. For the first time in his life, he isn't playing sports, and he does not like the feeling. He begins college and bartends on the side.

Sadly, he watches his weight balloon to 290 pounds, 60 more than when he boxed. When he passes a mirror, he despises the image. He is a competitor who grew up in a boxing family, although he never envisioned himself following that career path.

Being part of a close, large Italian family, Baby Joe and his brother Tom, were all ears when their grandfather, Thomas, and Uncle Russell would talk about their days in the boxing ring. Although Tom began an amateur boxing career early in life, Joe did not walk into a Police Athletic League (PAL) boxing gym until is 20.

He begins competing in PAL amateur matches and quickly builds a 12-2 record, by 1994. Encouraged by his dad, Jack, a Buffalo Police Detective, and supported by his brother and his friends in boxing, Baby Joe is enjoying the sport he never thought he would be in.

After his brother hung up his competitive gloves in 1994, Joe suddenly becomes bored with the sport, feels he isn't learning enough and decides to go after his number one goal — to become an elementary school teacher.

So he quits boxing and enrolls that September at D'Youville College.

A New Goal

However, on that cold, January morning in 1995, Joe reads a story about the upcoming boxing trials for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He rereads the story a couple of times while beginning to feel his competitive juices warm up. Suddenly, he is interested in boxing again. Competing in the heavyweight division for his country now becomes a new goal for him. Continue>>