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Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, (March 28 1922
– June 2 2001), was an USA|American
Boxing|boxer. He was a one-time Light Heavyweight
champion of the world, famed for his outstanding
skill he was considered a weak puncher.  He took
the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the
world's first self-acting machine gun, based on
his ability to rapidly throw a large number of
left jabs.

==Early career==

Maxim was born in Cleveland, Ohio, he learned to
box at a very young age.  Following a successful
amateur career, during which he won the Golden
Gloves, he turned professional in 1940.  He boxed
fairly regularly at exhibitions during the World
War II|war years whilst serving as a Military
police|military policeman at Miami Beach, Florida.

==Maxim becomes world champion==

It is somewhat surprising that Maxim had to wait
so long for a world title shot, he was 28 and had
already fought 87 times as a professional,
considering his undoubted ability.  His chance
came on January 24 1950 against UK|British boxer
Freddie Mills, who was making his first defence,
at London's Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. 
Maxim, very much the underdog against the popular
England|Englishman, won the fight by knockout in
the 10th round.  After the fight three of Mills's
teeth were found embedded in Maxim's left glove,
Mills never fought again.

Maxim's next major fight was on May 30 1951 when
he made a bid for Ezzard Charles's world
Heavyweight title, unsurprisingly he was
unsuccessful, losing on points.

==June 25 1952: Joey Maxim vs. Sugar Ray
Robinson==

The most famous fight of Maxim's career was on
June 25 1952, when he made his second defence of
his light heavyweight crown, against Sugar Ray
Robinson at Yankee Stadium.  The fight had
originally been scheduled for June 23, but was
postponed due to torrential rain.  By the time the
fight took place New York was in the midst of a
record heat wave.

During the fight Robinson built up a large points
lead over the champion, but throughout the fight
he gradually succumbed to hyperthermia.  He
collapsed to the canvas at the end of the 13th
round, but managed to stagger back to his corner. 
However, Robinson failed to answer the bell at the
start of the 14th, even though he only had to
remain on his feet to win the fight, and the fight
was given to Maxim.  This was the only time that
Robinson was ever stopped in his 201-fight career.

By this time the original referee, Ruby Goldstein,
had himself been forced to retire from the fight
after collapsing into the ropes complaining that
he could no longer continue.  This meant that a
substitute referee, Ray Miller (boxing)|Ray
Miller, had to be called out to finish to fight. 
Goldstein and Robinson were not the only people
who had to be stretchered from the stadium:
several dozen spectators also collapsed during the
fight.  Between them, the two fighters lost over
20 pounds in weight during the fight.

==Late career==

Despite winning, the Robinson fight took a heavy
toll on Maxim.  He lost his world title six months
later to the veteran Archie Moore.  Following this
loss Maxim, formerly one of the division's most
active fighters, fought only 14 fights in the
remaining 6 years of his career.  These fights
included two rematches with "The Old Mongoose",
both of which Maxim lost.  Maxim retired in 1958
after losing six consecutive fights.

Maxim retired with a record of 82 wins (21 by KO),
29 losses, and 4 draws in his 115 fight career, he
was knocked out only once.  During his career he
defeated such legendry figures as Jersey Joe
Walcott, Jimmy Bivins, and Floyd Patterson.

==Life after boxing==

After his retirement Maxim spent time as a
stand-up comic, restaurant|restauranteur,
taxicab|taxi driver and a film extra.  He was
inducted into the International Boxing Hall of
Fame in 1988.