It is January of 1995 in Buffalo, New York. Cold, snowy and wet outdoors. Perfect weather to stay in indoors. Baby Joe Mesi is 22-years-old. He has been away from amateur boxing for almost a year. For the first time in his life, he isn't playing sports, and he does not like the feeling. He begins college and bartends on the side. Sadly, he watches his weight balloon to 290 pounds, 60 more than when he boxed. When he passes a mirror, he despises the image. He is a competitor who grew up in a boxing family, although he never envisioned himself following that career path.

Being part of a close, large Italian family, Baby Joe and his brother Tom, were all ears when their grandfather, Thomas, and Uncle Russell would talk about their days in the boxing ring. Although Tom began an amateur boxing career early in life, Joe did not walk into a Police Athletic League (PAL) boxing gym until is 20. He begins competing in PAL amateur matches and quickly builds a 12-2 record, by 1994. Encouraged by his dad, Jack, a Buffalo Police Detective, and supported by his brother and his friends in boxing, Baby Joe is enjoying the sport he never thought he would be in.

After his brother hung up his competitive gloves in 1994, Joe suddenly becomes bored with the sport, feels he isn't learning enough and decides to go after his number one goal � to become an elementary school teacher. So he quits boxing and enrolls that September at D'Youville College.However, on that cold, January morning in 1995, Joe reads a story about the upcoming boxing trials for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He rereads the story a couple of times while beginning to feel his competitive juices warm up. Suddenly, he is interested in boxing again. Competing in the heavyweight division for his country now becomes a new goal for him. "When Joe reads about the boxing tryouts for the Olympics, he soul searches and prays before he decides that he wants to represent the United States in the heavyweight division," explained his father who was left with the tough job of convincing his wife that her baby was leaving college to pursue a boxing dream. Joe's mom, Barbara, who died in November 2000 after a long illness, is not receptive to the idea. However, she knows Joe is a perfectionist who puts his heart and soul behind everything he does.

Once he decided to give this 100 percent of his time and energy, we decided we needed to find a trainer who could teach him how to box," his father said.

Enter Juan DeLeon to Team Mesi
DeLeon has remained "Baby Joe" Mesi's only trainer through his road to the Olympic trials and throughout his professional career. "As I work towards my goal of becoming a World Heavyweight Champion, Juan will always be in my corner," the fighter said. "I am not a natural boxer but Juan has taught me everything. He is more than my trainer, he is my best friend." "Team Mesi is a small, close-knit, family-honest, trustworthy people with a lot of love like our biological family," Jack Mesi said. Originally, Team Mesi included Joe, Jack, brother Tom and his late mother, Barbara, who is part of the spiritual team with his grandparents and uncle. "Tom is the reason I became involved with boxing in the first place," Baby Joe says proudly of his older sibling. "He is the true athlete of the family who was an outstanding amateur boxer and former sparring partner of mine. The first time I ever went to a gym to box was because of Tom." "Tom has several duties with Team Mesi: Tom helps my dad; he is our chief of security during my fights; and he has the best seat in the house. He is in the neutral corner and I look for him during my fights. He is the guy I listen to because the trainer in our corner can only speak so much. The referee will stop a fight if the trainer becomes too involved." "Wherever Tom is in the arena, I can hear him," he adds. Mesi, a self-proclaimed gym rat, is well prepared for the hard work DeLeon prescribed for them in preparation for the 1996 Olympics. As they make it to the qualifying fights for the heavyweight team, Baby Joe comes within points of earning a spot on the coveted team. Disappointed that he does not achieve his Olympic goal, Mesi and his team decide to turn professional and begin working towards another goal - Heavyweight Champion of the World. While many of his Olympic opponents turn professional and sign with big-name promoters, Team Mesi enters the pros as independents, which they remain through his first 21 professional fights. Enter Chuck Pelitera, the strength coach at Canisius College, to Team Mesi. "During the past 2� years, my strength has improved tremendously because of Chuck and his experience," Mesi said.

Gene Vukelic
Also in 1999, the most important member of Team Mesi is found. Gene Vukelic, Chairman of Try-It Distributing Co., Inc., and a long-time fan of boxing becomes interested in Baby Joe's career. He soon learns about the financial struggles of an independent professional boxer in pursuit of a dream. Vukelic also identifies another Team Mesi goal matches his own � promote local amateur and professional boxing in Buffalo and Western New York. "Gene is the reason I stayed in Buffalo," Mesi said. "Throughout my career I have been invited many times to leave Buffalo for California, Italy, Las Vegas, Houston. They have offered big dollars but because of Gene, Try-It Distributing and the Ringleaders, I have been able to stay here." "With the financial support from Gene and the Ringleaders we have been able to train successfully for each fight. He has been a true blessing."

Jennifer Catania
Joe's girlfriend, Jennifer Catania, is another key member of the team. Considered another co-manager, Jennifer among other duties, manages the Baby Joe Mesi website. She also is responsible for the new line of Baby Joe Mesi merchandise, which is currently being sold on the website. "Jennifer is constantly on the computer communicating with people in the boxing world," Joe said. "She has been an incredible help and a tremendous inspiration to me."

Jeff Barnes
Jeff Barnes, manager of Delaware Camera Store, Chief Photographer for Sports and Leisure Magazine and owner of Jeffrey T. Barnes Photography also adds the title of Team Mesi Photographer to his resume. Whether joining Joe at a pre-fight weigh in, circling the ring at a Mesi bout or shadowing Joe during an early morning training, Jeff's photos capture the spirit and grit fans expect from Baby Joe Mesi.

Fight Team Members
Among the Team Mesi fight team members are Carlos "Sugar" DeLeon, Assistant Trainer; Angel DeLeon Assistant Trainer; Pat Kelly, cut man and Dr. Donald Miller, primary physician.

Legal Counsel
Joe's cousin, Julie Bargnasi is the Legal Counsel for Team Mesi and Charlie Chiampou, co-chairman of the Ringleaders and partner of Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP, handles all accounting matters. "In the world of professional boxing � maybe in all of professional sports � the existence of such a close knit team is rare," Jack Mesi said with pride. "We are more than a team. We are a family."

Goals
They are what Baby Joe re-writes on that cold January morning eight years ago when he decides to give boxing everything he has. While the road a professional boxer travels is often a lonely one, Mesi travels his with a strong team behind him.

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