'Eddie' Giosa, 82, pro boxer

Armando "Eddie" Giosa, 82, a quick-hitting lightweight boxer from South Philadelphia who faced world champions Bob Montgomery, Ike Williams, Willie Pep, Wesley Mouzon, Lew Jenkins and Beau Jack, died of kidney failure Sunday at Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Cherry Hill. He had moved to Sicklerville two years ago.

Mr. Giosa's 11-year career in professional boxing began with 18 straight wins in 1943. Although he never won a championship, he retired in 1954 with a 67-30-9 record with 11 knockouts.

Known as the "fistic comebacker," Mr. Giosa was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame in 1979.

Mr. Giosa, one of 10 children born to Italian immigrants, started boxing at 14. As an amateur, he was undefeated, winning 113 bouts. In 1940, he won the Philadelphia Golden Gloves tournament as a featherweight and in 1942 as a lightweight before going pro. He graduated from Bok Vocational High School in 1942 and worked at RCA in Camden. His job as a metal plater was considered part of the war effort. Mr. Giosa's three older brothers were fighting in World War II while he supported his sickly parents and six younger siblings.

"RCA set up a boxing bag for him to practice during his breaks," said son Frank. After working a nine-hour shift, Mr. Giosa headed for the gym to train or to a fight.

Mr. Giosa married his sweetheart from the neighborhood, Sue Gentile, in 1946. They raised four children in a South Philly rowhouse. Known for his crashing left hook, puzzling crouch and flaming courage, the 5-foot, 4-inch fighter was a crowd-pleaser with his tricky style. Mr. Giosa, who fought several times in Madison Square Garden, beat Lulu Constantino in 1946 in one of the first televised fights.

Mr. Giosa won his last four fights in 1953 and 1954, before he retired from the ring.

After RCA shut down in the early 1970s, Mr. Giosa went to work in The Inquirer's mailroom. He retired in 1996.

In addition to his son and wife, Mr. Giosa is survived by another son, Ed; daughters Geri Seitchik and Rita Taylor; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers; and a sister.

Friends may visit at 7 tonight and 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at Vincent Gangemi Funeral Home, Broad and Wolf Streets. A Funeral Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Church of the Epiphany, 11th and Jackson Streets. Burial will be in New St. Mary Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Donations may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Robert Morris Building, 100 N. 17th St., Second Floor, Philadelphia 19103.