Career
A tough southpaw, he did not have strong punching power but was known for his great speed. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Corbett as the #5 ranked welterweight of all-time and the #17 best pound for pound fighter of all-time, being the #1 ranked southpaw in both categories. He was inducted into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.
Born in Rionero in Vulture, in the Italian region of Basilicata, from Vito Giordano and Gelsomina Capobianco, he moved with his family to the United States when he was still an infant and was erroneously registered as Raffaele Capabianca Giordano.
After four years of living in Pittsburgh, he moved to Fresno, California, and began boxing in 1919 while still a 14-year-old "newsboy." Initially known as Ralph Giordano, he got his stage name when a ring announcer told him he would not present him as Ralph Giordano and dubbed him "Young Corbett III" because his fighting style reminded him of William J. Rothwell, known as Young Corbett World War II Boxing career
Corbett fought many great fighters of his era. On February 22, 1933, Corbett captured the welterweight championship of the world by decisioning Jackie Fields over 10 rounds.
He hurt his left thumb in the fifth round but continued to fight undaunted. The referee Jack Kennedy remembered Corbett as "vicious in those first five rounds.
He ripped him like a tiger.
Fields could not protect himself". Three months later, he was dethroned by Hall of Famer Jimmy McLarnin via a one round knockout. Corbett then moved up to the middleweight division.
He scored wins over future light heavy champ Gus Lesnevich (TKO 5), as well as Hall of Famers Mickey Walker, Billy Connecticut
On February 22, 1938 he beat Fred Apostoli, winning the middleweight championship. On November 18 of that year, he challenged Apostoli again, but was stopped in 8 rounds.
Retirement and death
Corbett boxed until August 20, 1940, winning his last fight against Richard "Sheik" Rangel. He retired with a 121-12-22 (32 KOs) record.
He later operated a bar in Fresno.
On October 2, 1945 Corbett survived a serious car accident, suffering a fractured skull and other injuries. He died after a long illness in Auberry, California at the age of 88. A statue of him, posed in a fighting stance and boxing gloves, was erected in Fresno.
The sculpture was realized by Clement Renzi.
Beside the boxing career, Corbett was a physical education instructor for the California Highway Patrol and a grape grower. Corbett is the great-grandfather of American football player Matt Giordano.
