"Бұрынғы американ боксшысы және саясаткер Джо Меси"

American boxer

"Baby" Joe Mesi (born November 27, 1973) is an American retired boxer and Democratic Party politician from Tonawanda, New York. During his career, he defeated former world champion Vassily Jirov as well as former title challengers Bert Cooper, Monte Barrett, DaVarryl Williamson, and Jorge Luis González.

Joe grew up in Tonawanda, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. He attended Sweet Home High School in Amherst, New York. He did not start his boxing career until he was about 19 years of age.

He was a New York State Golden Gloves champion, and as an amateur boxer he defeated future two time Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. Mesi made it all the way to the finals in the 1996 Olympic Trials, but lost to eventual US heavyweight representative Lawrence Clay Bey. In Buffalo, for a brief period, Joe was once considered by some to be the city's "third professional franchise", with the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills being the other two. Joe is still often seen at Bills and Sabres games and also supports many local charities.

In 2002, Mesi started a non profit to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation upon finding out his cousin was in need of a kidney transplant, and to help others in the Upstate New York area who needed such surgeries. His cousin, Ganelle Shanor, died in an accident before she was able to receive the operation. In January 2004, Mesi donated $7,500 to the Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, New York as a way of giving back to the Rochester community and to promote an upcoming fight at the Blue Cross Arena, with kidney transplant recipient Dillon Gonzalez and his family in attendance. The foundation was funded in part by admission fees to victory parties.

On February 14, 2008, Mesi publicly expressed his interest to run for the New York State Senate. He attempted to fill the 61st District seat vacated by Mary Lou Rath. He won the Democratic primary for the seat on September 9, 2008. Mesi lost the general election to Republican Michael Ranzenhofer. Most recently, Joe has taken a position with the Democratic Senate Majority heading up a local Buffalo liaison office. Mesi's name was circulated as a potential Democratic candidate to replace the retiring Jim Hayes in the New York State Assembly. The assembly seat was won by Raymond Walter. Professionally, Mesi is a medical supply salesman with Abbott Medical. Mesi and his wife, Michele, have three children.