The same week that renowned one-time heavyweight champ 'Smokin' Joe' Frazier died of liver cancer, locally former light heavyweight contender 'Iron Mike' Pusateri, formerly of Dedham, Mass. succumbed after a long battle with non-hodgkins lymphoma with a lot less fanfare. Pusateri graduated from Dedham high with my late father and my uncle Billy. According to the internet Iron Mike was a "Protege' of Rocky Marciano", he fought professionally from "1961 to 1972", and he had a respectable record of "30" victories, "24" defeats, and "4 draws." After retiring from the ring, Mike worked a long time for the MBTA. When I was about 13 years old my younger brother and I briefly took boxing lessons from Mr. Pusateri. He was a class act, and he will be missed by many.
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