2022 Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame inductee trainer Tom Yankello

The historic Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame added 13 new members to its 64th class on July 24th at the Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Among them was trainer Tommy Yankello of Pittsburgh, making the 51-year-old the first trainer from Western Pennsylvania to be inducted.

“It’s an honor to be inducted into the PA Hall of Fame along with so many great boxing people,” said Yankello. 

The path for Yankello has been a lengthy one that saw many great and not-so-great times that unfortunately come with the territory of being a trainer. 

June 10th, 2012!,” Yankello replied when I asked about his former boxer.

With emotion and conviction in his voice, much like the tone heard at his World Class Gym in Ambridge, PA, Yankello discussed a tragic event that hit him hard, the death of his friend Scotty McCracken.  

McCracken was the first boxer Yankello took under his wing from his beginning amateur days up through his professional career that went 17-7 with 12 KOs.

“I was in Las Vegas with Roy Jones for the Pacquiao-Bradley fight when my wife called,” said Yankello.

“I cried like a baby.” 

McCracken was in a fatal car accident that left quite a mark on Yankello and the surrounding Aliquippa, PA community.

Plenty of memories dating back to the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves championship victory over Atlantic City’s Shamone Alvarez in 1998 ran through Yankello’s head as we discussed the tragic incident.  

McCracken was there front and center when Yankello began his start in training boxers. 

Trainers are an integral aspect of a boxer’s success.  The effort and time spent in the gym are rivaled by very few.       

Growing up in the Beaver Valley region of Western Pennsylvania, Yankello, like many young men that first step into a boxing gym, had aspirations to become a professional boxer. 

“My grandfather and Uncle (from different sides of the family) both boxed in the Navy,” said Yankello.

His uncle Mike owned a video store, where Yankello began watching old fight films of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rocky Marciano, and many others.   

Watching them, along with the Rocky movies, inspired him to step into the world of boxing.  

His father Tom Sr., a former school teacher and basketball coach built a basement boxing gym for his young son.

The room was filled with heavy bags, speed bags, double-end bags, as well as a jump rope area.

At 12 years old, he began training and competing in the amateurs.  A career that spanned roughly four years and 20 fights ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury.  

Following a high school basketball career, Yankello took a few more amateur fights and met future professionals such as McCracken, Paul Spadafora, and numerous others.  

“Paul and I used to spar,” said Yankello.

“We have probably sparred around 100 rounds since we met.”

The two joined forces - leading to Spadafora’s (aka “The Pittsburgh Kid”) IBF lightweight championship that lasted nearly four years before he vacated the title and moved up in weight. 

“Tommy was a major influence in my life and when I needed him most he was there,” said Spadafora.

“My trainer P.K. Pecora trusted that I go with him at the end of his lifetime.”

Pecora passed away early in the Pittsburgh Kid’s career, leaving Paul with a big decision on who would be his new trainer.

“Tommy studied with me, and we learned together, and he enhanced my game tremendously,” said Spadafora. 

He ended his career with a 49-1-1- record (19 wins by knockout) and a 2021 Pennsylvania Hall of Fame induction of his own.

Yankello spoke of the many other boxers that contributed to his success.

Calvin Brock fought Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and IBO heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden in 2006 after an undefeated run of 29 fights.  

“Within two weeks, I had Calvin challenge Klitschko for the heavyweight title at the Garden, and Brian Minto defeated Axel Schulz by a sixth-round knockout in Germany,” said Yankello.

“That was one of my most memorable times as a trainer.”

Brian Minto, a former heavyweight, and cruiserweight from Butler, PA sported a 42-11 record (27 wins by KO) in his career.  

An exciting, all-action fighter, Minto has been in a number of thrilling fights aside from the Schulz victory (8-1 underdog).  

Two knockout wins over Vinny Madalone on ESPN and HBO Pay-Per-View, as well as an HBO appearance against Chris Arreola, left fans with all they needed to know about Minto aka “The Beast.”

“Brian had a ton of heart and determination,” said Yankello.

A run with former pound for pound king and recent International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Roy Jones Jr. saw the Ambridge native in corners against Max Alexander, Pawel Glazewski, and recently against Mike Tyson in a popular exhibition bout in Los Angeles.

“I watched those guys box, they were some of my favorite fighters.”

“Now here I am training one to fight the other,” said Yankello.

“If not for covid, and with fans in attendance, that would have been the highlight of my career so far.”

Monty Meza-Clay, a former featherweight contender, is another from the list of Yankello’s boxers who worked with the trainer his entire career.  

Meza-Clay boasted a 37-5 record (22 by KO), with his high point being an IBF eliminator bout against Mexico’s Jorge Solis.

“Monty, he didn’t back down from anyone,” said Yankello.

Some of his best amateur accomplishments date back to the late 90s and early 2000s with Aliquippa’s Verquan Kimbrough (21-5-3, 7 KO’s), who won multiple national titles and earned a world ranking. 2018 National Golden Gloves winner Kiante Irving, from nearby Beaver Falls, is undefeated in 10 professional fights. 

With his non-profit entity, Stay off the Streets, Inc., Yankello sees the importance of amateur boxing programs to build these boxers into professionals one day.  

Yankello spoke of various trainers, Emanuel Steward, Eddie Futch, Jackie Blackburn, and many others, as leaders of the industry that he learned from and continues to study on a daily basis.

A list of current amateurs ranging from 12 to 22 years old and some newly acquired professionals help clear the path to Yankello’s future goals: building champions. 

Congratulations to Tommy and company on the well-deserved recognition.