By Peter Nicolino
Growing up in Plainview, Tommy Rainone often had trouble staying in school and off the street.
However, once the now 44-year-old retired professional boxer, known professionally as “The Razor”, discovered boxing as a youth, he found discipline and structure in his life. By channeling his energy and talents into boxing, Rainone amassed a pro record of 26-8-3.
Rainone’s start to boxing began at multiple amateur boxing clubs and Police Athletic Leagues. Rainone had his first fight at age 17 and racked up amateur wins until the age of 23. Then, Rainone decided to take a three-year break from boxing. He said he was missing out on a time when those around him were traveling and enjoying life.
Originally, Rainone planned to start his professional career after he took a short time off. However, the break ended up taking more time than he had initially planned. “One year turned into two, and two years turned into three, 23 turned into 26,” Rainone said.
He ultimately picked up boxing again, though. “Finally, I just hit the brakes and changed everything I was doing, and I ended up making a career out of it,” he said.
The decision to pursue professional boxing carried Rainone through the next 12 years of his life. After winning his first professional fight against Marquis McConnell at the Huntington Hilton Hotel on Sept. 15, 2006, Rainone won his next 10 clashes, executing three knockouts during the stretch.
The win streak ended when Rainone lost his first professional match to Manuel Guzman at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn. Rainone lost his next match to Henry White Jr. in the place where he made his professional debut, the Huntington Hilton Hotel.
To reset from the losses, Rainone decided to give the first international fight of his career a go, traveling over 5,500 miles to Argentina. After a victory during a seventh-round technical knockout against Uruguayan boxer Santos Galli, Rainone was back.
Rainone scored five victories and suffered two losses in his next seven bouts, and contended for a New York State welterweight title.
“Finally, I just hit the brakes and changed everything I was doing, and I ended up making a career out of it.”
Tommy Rainone, Professional Boxer
From 2012 to 2016, Rainone went 9-3-1 and kept his steady reputation as an underrated and underestimated fighter. During that stretch came Rainone’s second international fight, competing against newcomer Juan Carlos Santos Guillen on Sept. 17, 2014, in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.
Rainone doubted the legitimacy of the fight’s circumstances, calling it “one of the most shadiest situations ever.”
“They tried to screw me,” said Rainone. “I was lucky to walk out of there with a draw in a fight I should have won three different ways.”
Rainone’s technical knockout against Engelberto Valenzuela on Oct. 1, 2016, would be the last win in his professional career. “I had more bad days than good days, and that just wasn’t something I was used to, so I had to make adjustments,” Rainone said.
Boxing did not always pay the bills for Rainone, and he had to maintain a job as an overnight supervisor at a local Hilton hotel. Even leading up to one of the most important fights of his career against the undefeated 20-year-old Dusty Hernandez Harrison, Rainone had to work every night before the matchup at Madison Square Garden.
“I never had a fight without distractions,” he said.
Eventually, he found a new passion post-fight career, this time outside the ring. Rainone said his friends had long told him he offered keen insight into fights. Rainone started by writing boxing analysis articles for $50 each, ultimately finding a new way to earn a living in the world he had loved since he was a kid.
Rainone went on to write a feature article on his friend Patrick Day, who on Oct. 16, 2019, tragically died of the injuries he suffered during a match.
“These things happen. It’s just a part of the game. Boxing is an unforgiving sport,” Rainone said.
Throughout his professional career, Rainone put his life on the line 37 times before he decided to hang up his gloves, a number many fighters do not come close to.
