27th Street and Summit Avenue
April 17, 2009 Union
City, N. J. will place a
historical marker at the
old residence of the
great Joe Jennette.
City, N. J. will place a
historical marker at the
old residence of the
great Joe Jennette.
1879 1958
"The Real World's Champion"
Hudson Dispatch
Come Celebrate with
one of the greatest
fighters who ever laced
on a pair of gloves.
one of the greatest
fighters who ever laced
on a pair of gloves.
12:00 pm meet the
Mayor Brian P. Stack
Mayor Brian P. Stack
West Hoboken Iron-Man
Before I start, I like to thank Sabrina Jennette, JoAnn Mostaccio, Joe Botti and
the Great Johnny Bos without them I could of never compiled all this
information about Joe Jennette.
My name is Gregory Speciale, I am the creator of JoeJennette.com.
My great-grandfather and his brothers were all trained by Joe Jennette and
they also trained fighters alongside Joe in this very gym. I first heard about
Jennette when I started looking into Hudson County History many years ago.
Last year, on the fiftieth anniversary of Joe Jennette’s death, my brother and I
paid our respect to Mr. Jennette at his grave site in Fairview. I could feel his
presence on that day as we lay flowers at his grave.
Just like that day I can feel his presence today and I know if he were here he
would be humbled with all this attention.
This great man wasn't only a great fighter, but he just might have been the
greatest all-around athlete who ever lived.
In my opinion he was the Jackie Robinson of Boxing. Jennette was a great
fighter, perhaps the greatest fighter in the world. More than that, he was a
fine gentleman and as clean living and decent a fellow as ever stood in shoe
leather.
Joe came to the top of the heap in boxing in the dismal White Hope era which
extended roughly from the time Jack Johnson knocked out Tommy Burns,
until Johnson was himself knocked out by Jess Willard.
During this period four African American men reigned supreme in the ring:
Jack Johnson, Sam Langford, Sam McVey and Joe Jennette. Just which of
these four fighters was the best is a matter that never was settled.
Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Greatest Fight of the Century.
That's right, Joe Jennette vs Sam McVey at the Circle of Paris Arena, April
17th 1909 in the most epic battle in the history of boxing.
In a radio broadcast interview in 1942, fight announcer Sam Taub asked
Jennette to tell him the details of the fight with McVey that went 49 rounds
before Jennette was declared the winner. “This was a finish fight, you know,”
Joe Said. “But had it been scheduled for a 40 round affair, like a lot of fights
were signed for in those days, McVey would have been way out in front on
points scored.”
Those were the exact words of Joe Jennette.
That great fight was Joe’s crowning achievement and one that Joe was most
proud of but he still made a point to praise his opponent, McVey. That’s the
kind of man Joe was.
They are and will always be connected not only by the epic battle that they
fought but also by the friendship that endures between them afterwards.
Sam McVey and Joe Jennette left this earth many years ago but today the
memories of these two great men are alive thanks to Union City Mayor Brian
P. Stack.
It was the great reporter of The Hudson Dispatch another Union City Great,
Ludwig Shahbazian, known to millions as LUD. Who recognized in his lifetime
that Joe Jennette wasn't only the greatest fighter in New Jersey History but he
was the greatest fighter who ever lived. When Joe returned home the
uncrowned champion because of Jack Johnson's refusal to fight for the
heavyweight championship it was Lud who recognized the injustice when they
drew the color line on both sides white and black. He posted on the front page
of the Hudson Dispatch these words, “The Real World's Champion”..
“Welcome Home Joe!”
Last but not least, Joe Jennette was an awesome family man, whether it was
for the love of his father Franklin who was the backbone of the family or his
mother Sabina, who gave him his spiritual nature.
The rock of his life was his beloved Adelaide, who met Joe at a dance in West
Hoboken and without her, there would be no Joe Jennette as we know him
today.
Joe's heart also belonged to his 2 kids, Joe, Jr., and Agnes. He stated that all he
ever wanted was for his children to grow up strong and be able to receive a
college education.
Joe's only other love wasn't just boxing or sports, it was cars, he loved cars
and loved working on them. Just imagine, Joe driving down Summit Ave and
27th Street honking his horn and waving, while he drove by his home and
gym. That's the legacy he's left this world with. This great human being from
Union City, N.J. - There will never be another Joe Jennette.
I like to give a special thanks to Union City's very own, our great Mayor Brian
P. Stack, who without his undying commitment and passion, this day would
have never taken place, Thank You Mayor from the bottom of our hearts.
Also, I like to thank Commissioner Lucio Fernandez, Joe Botti of the Union City
Boxing Club, Citizens of Union City and the family of Joe Jennette.
Together they formed what I call a FIST, formed out of love and pride of one's
city in recognizing those people who made it great.
There is no greater tribute than to bring this great man (Jeremiah Joseph
Jennette) to the forefront in history.
There is no greater deed in this great state of New Jersey, then what is taking
place here today on this historic landmark.
I can only say if Joe was looking down on us right now, he would be filled
with so much pride and joy, that the beam of light that was Joe Jennette will
now shine forever.
Thank You and God Bless America and God Bless Joe Jennette.
the Great Johnny Bos without them I could of never compiled all this
information about Joe Jennette.
My name is Gregory Speciale, I am the creator of JoeJennette.com.
My great-grandfather and his brothers were all trained by Joe Jennette and
they also trained fighters alongside Joe in this very gym. I first heard about
Jennette when I started looking into Hudson County History many years ago.
Last year, on the fiftieth anniversary of Joe Jennette’s death, my brother and I
paid our respect to Mr. Jennette at his grave site in Fairview. I could feel his
presence on that day as we lay flowers at his grave.
Just like that day I can feel his presence today and I know if he were here he
would be humbled with all this attention.
This great man wasn't only a great fighter, but he just might have been the
greatest all-around athlete who ever lived.
In my opinion he was the Jackie Robinson of Boxing. Jennette was a great
fighter, perhaps the greatest fighter in the world. More than that, he was a
fine gentleman and as clean living and decent a fellow as ever stood in shoe
leather.
Joe came to the top of the heap in boxing in the dismal White Hope era which
extended roughly from the time Jack Johnson knocked out Tommy Burns,
until Johnson was himself knocked out by Jess Willard.
During this period four African American men reigned supreme in the ring:
Jack Johnson, Sam Langford, Sam McVey and Joe Jennette. Just which of
these four fighters was the best is a matter that never was settled.
Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Greatest Fight of the Century.
That's right, Joe Jennette vs Sam McVey at the Circle of Paris Arena, April
17th 1909 in the most epic battle in the history of boxing.
In a radio broadcast interview in 1942, fight announcer Sam Taub asked
Jennette to tell him the details of the fight with McVey that went 49 rounds
before Jennette was declared the winner. “This was a finish fight, you know,”
Joe Said. “But had it been scheduled for a 40 round affair, like a lot of fights
were signed for in those days, McVey would have been way out in front on
points scored.”
Those were the exact words of Joe Jennette.
That great fight was Joe’s crowning achievement and one that Joe was most
proud of but he still made a point to praise his opponent, McVey. That’s the
kind of man Joe was.
They are and will always be connected not only by the epic battle that they
fought but also by the friendship that endures between them afterwards.
Sam McVey and Joe Jennette left this earth many years ago but today the
memories of these two great men are alive thanks to Union City Mayor Brian
P. Stack.
It was the great reporter of The Hudson Dispatch another Union City Great,
Ludwig Shahbazian, known to millions as LUD. Who recognized in his lifetime
that Joe Jennette wasn't only the greatest fighter in New Jersey History but he
was the greatest fighter who ever lived. When Joe returned home the
uncrowned champion because of Jack Johnson's refusal to fight for the
heavyweight championship it was Lud who recognized the injustice when they
drew the color line on both sides white and black. He posted on the front page
of the Hudson Dispatch these words, “The Real World's Champion”..
“Welcome Home Joe!”
Last but not least, Joe Jennette was an awesome family man, whether it was
for the love of his father Franklin who was the backbone of the family or his
mother Sabina, who gave him his spiritual nature.
The rock of his life was his beloved Adelaide, who met Joe at a dance in West
Hoboken and without her, there would be no Joe Jennette as we know him
today.
Joe's heart also belonged to his 2 kids, Joe, Jr., and Agnes. He stated that all he
ever wanted was for his children to grow up strong and be able to receive a
college education.
Joe's only other love wasn't just boxing or sports, it was cars, he loved cars
and loved working on them. Just imagine, Joe driving down Summit Ave and
27th Street honking his horn and waving, while he drove by his home and
gym. That's the legacy he's left this world with. This great human being from
Union City, N.J. - There will never be another Joe Jennette.
I like to give a special thanks to Union City's very own, our great Mayor Brian
P. Stack, who without his undying commitment and passion, this day would
have never taken place, Thank You Mayor from the bottom of our hearts.
Also, I like to thank Commissioner Lucio Fernandez, Joe Botti of the Union City
Boxing Club, Citizens of Union City and the family of Joe Jennette.
Together they formed what I call a FIST, formed out of love and pride of one's
city in recognizing those people who made it great.
There is no greater tribute than to bring this great man (Jeremiah Joseph
Jennette) to the forefront in history.
There is no greater deed in this great state of New Jersey, then what is taking
place here today on this historic landmark.
I can only say if Joe was looking down on us right now, he would be filled
with so much pride and joy, that the beam of light that was Joe Jennette will
now shine forever.
Thank You and God Bless America and God Bless Joe Jennette.
