Goody Petronelli, born in Brockton in 1923, had a successful amateur boxing career in the US Navy.
The Petronellis were contemporaries of undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano - who was born a month before Goody and also began boxing in the Navy - and followed the tradition of Marciano’s trainer, Allie Colombo. They began working with fighters at their gym in 1969, the year both Colombo and Marciano died in separate accidents.
The Petronellis’ father and Marciano’s father both hailed from the Abruzzo region of Italy and their sons grew up close friends. One of Goody’s favorite stories involved how he tried to persuade Marciano not to pursue a boxing career. After returning from World War II, Marciano said, “I’m thinking about turning pro,’’ Goody’s nephew, Tony Petronelli, recalled yesterday. “And Goody tried to talk him out of it. He said, ‘You know, Rocky, it’s a real tough game.’ And Rocky said I think I’m going to give it a shot. Goody is talking to probably the toughest guy in the world and telling him it’s a real tough game and you’ve got to think about it, Rocky.
“But he was great for boxing. Some guys give boxing a black eye - he was not one of them.’’
Goody did most of the hands-on training of fighters, donning gloves and sparring with them, accompanying Hagler while he did his roadwork in Provincetown. Both brothers were technically manager/trainers, but Goody focused on the gym work and used his Navy medical experience as a cut man in the ring, while Pat emerged as a negotiator.
Their work with Hagler launched the Petronellis to high-profile status and they spent time in the company of celebrities in Las Vegas and Palm Springs, Calif., where Hagler trained.
