Dan Cuoco is a boxing historian and executive director of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). IBRO was organized in May, 1982 for the express purpose of: establishing an accurate history of boxing; compiling complete and accurate boxing records; and facilitating the dissemination of boxing research. Dan took over as IBRO’s executive director from International Boxing Hall-of-Fame Inductee Ralph Citro in June 2000.
He has been a lifelong friend of boxing, from the time he was a youngster until the present day. During his early youth, he was an enthusiastic fan. Then, as he got older, he engaged in amateur boxing until an injury forced an exit from it. His interest persisted, however, and he immersed himself into the history of boxing and started collecting boxing magazines, record books and 8 mm films. He also attended as many professional and amateur boxing shows as possible, including the Muhammad Ali-Karl Mildenberger heavyweight championship while stationed in Germany as a member of the Third Infantry Division.
In 1967, Dan began keeping track of current fighter records and looking back at the records of fighters from the past, especially those fighters whose records never appeared in any of the established record books. This curiosity eventually led him to start up a friendship with boxing historian Tracy G. Callis, Director of Historical Research at the Cyber Boxing Zone and a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). After years of corresponding back and forth, Tracy convinced Dan to join the IBRO, which he did in January 2000. As a member of the IBRO, Dan struck up deep friendships with the IBRO director Ralph Citro, and boxing historians, Don Cogswell, Chuck Hasson, Luckett Davis, J.J. Johnston and co-founder Herb Goldman.
Citro, Davis and Goldman asked Dan to research numerous Massachusetts fight cards from the 1920s-1930s which he found very rewarding. When health issues forced Ralph Citro to cut back on his activities as director of the IBRO and cutman for Emanuel Steward’s stable of fighters, he asked Dan to take over the reins of the IBRO at the June 2000 IBHOF induction weekend. In the June 2000 issue of the IBRO Journal Ralph said, “…… I have obtained an outstanding individual to replace me. He is Daniel Cuoco. Once he begins you will without a doubt agree with me. Issue #66 will be his first issue and from there-on.”
With Dan’s very first issue, the format of the IBRO Journal began a dramatic transformation. First, he changed the format from an informal publication held together by a single staple to a formal magazine style publication, eventually adding a plastic spiral binder to replace the single staple.
In March 2002, he changed the IBRO logo to make it more contemporary. In June 2004, Dan launched the IBRO website to attract new members and strengthen it’s already solid base; and, to provide information to the general boxing public.
Dan was inducted into the Ring 4 Boxing Hall of Fame at the Ring 4 annual induction banquet in Dorchester, Massachusetts on Sunday, April 7, 2013. Ring 4 was incorporated in 1947 and is the only veteran boxing organization in Massachusetts. Over the decades, Ring 4 has kept the flame alive while fulfilling its mission to assist former boxers who have fallen on hard times. Members of the Ring 4 Boxing Hall of Fame include Tony DeMarco, Jack Sharkey, Joe DeNucci, Tom McNeeley, Sal Bartolo, Al “Red” Priest, Dick (Honeyboy) Finnegan, Tommy Rawson, Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure, Jerry Forte, Jimmy Connors, and many others.
Tracy Callis
Boxing Historian,
IBRO