Inducted on September 22, 1974
Emil J. Calcagni, born November 21,1916, in Union City, New Jersey. With Joe Jeanette as his trainer, Emil started boxing in the amateur ranks in 1933, winning nine, while losing one. Turning pro in 1934, as Cal Cagni, he won 21 bouts in succession, before suffering his first loss. In 1937, boxing in California as Tappy Walsh, Cal won eleven bouts, losing one and boxing a draw. Returning East,
Cal, with his aggressive, hard punching style, soon became a Madison Square Garden favorite, in his many bouts. Called New Jersey’s Blond Tiger, by boxing writers, Cal defeated Milt Aran, the number one welterweight contender, and repeated the win over Aron, again in 1940. In a pro career spanning 8 years, Cal won 43, lost 12 and boxed 3 draws, against opponents as Freddie Cochrane, Frankie Blair, Billy Beauhuld, Vic Dellicurti, Baby Salvy Saban, and Roxy Forgione.
In 1941, Emil joined the Navy, under Commander Gene Tunney’s Physical Ed Program. Honorably discharged in 1945, he entered and graduated Bergen Junior College, now known as Fairleigh Dickinson University. Employed with the State of New Jersey, for 25 years, he now serves as Supervisor Referee, Div. of Workman’s Compensation, hearing workmen’s compensation cases in Paterson. Now residing in Hackensack, New Jersey, Cal has a son practicing law in Florida. Cal is never too busy to help a friend, or a fellow veteran boxer, attends every affair scheduled by the various boxing V.B.A. rings. Cal, the erstwhile ring terror, throughout his ring and business career, has been a credit to the fight game.