During the 60’s and the early 1970’s the state of California produced several world class heavyweights. Talented and capable boxers like Eddie Machen, Jerry Quarry, Henry Clark, Thad Spencer, Bill McMurray, Mac Foster and Kenny Norton.
The city of Wilmington was represented by a rough and tough customer by the name of Joey Orbillo. Joey did not have a lot of fights in a career that lasted less then a decade. He did have a lot of memorable wars. He was a game and brawling crowd pleaser. If it was blood and guts you wanted, Joey gave it to you.
This seemed to please his fans no end, and it was amazing to see someone with such dedication to the desire of his audiences. His career was short, but the thrills he got out of it were easily comparable to your most intense rounds of texas holdem in a grand tournament, or the last few moments of a race.
He began his career in the mid-1960 and was soon swapping leather with the likes of Henry Clark, Johnny Featherman and future world title challenger Manuel Ramos. Joey scored a big victory in March of 1966 outscoring the highly regarded Tony Doyle.
The win over Doyle set the stage for Joey to invade the top layer of the heavyweight division. He was matched with Eddie Machen. The veteran was among the best in the world. On June 23, 1966 he proved to be a little too much for Joey winning a hotly contested ten round split decision.
Orbillo put up such a fine showing against Machen that he was then matched with the streaking Jerry Quarry. This bout was a matchmaker’s dream and it lived up to all expectations.
The aggressive Orbillo forced the action and the slick Quarry counterpunched beautifully. In the fourth round Quarry stunned Orbillo with a counter hook off the ropes. Jerry then followed with a series of ripping, brain jarring shots that dropped Orbillo. How Joey got up from this knockdown and still fights on was a testament to his sheer guts and will. Veteran trainer Gil Clancy who handled Quarry later in his career called Jerry the hardest puncher he ever had. Gil had once trained George Foreman! Quarry won the decision but Joey’s gameness won the crowd.
Joey’s career slowed down after the loss to Quarry. He had a couple of wins over journeyman Roy “Cookie” Wallace. Then in 1968 he lost to Amos “Big Train” Lincoln.
Finally on November 18, 1971 Joey was halted in five rounds by big Roby Harris.
Orbillo has pretty much been forgotten but anyone who saw his war with Quarry will never forget him.
My uncle joey is a hero. Vietnam was a war forced upon the middle class and poor. It wasn’t like he was happy to go there. Get your facts straight before talking shit! What did you do in boxing by the way?
I’ve always wanted to locate a good copy of Orbillo’s fight with Quarry. Actually, he was in fact better than most believe. Years later an East Los heavyweight, Eddie “The Animal” Lopez of Hazzard, would remind me a bit of Joey Orbillo.
During the few years that I lived in California I met and struck up a friendship with Eddie, through his sister. He was known as “Sonny” to friends and family. He himself adopted his “Sonny” nickname in memory of his boxing hero, Charles “Sonny” Liston.
“Sonny”/”The Animal” should’ve/could’ve gone farther himself but wasn’t the most disciplined fighter you’d wanna meet. I lost contact with him many years ago. I wonder about him from time to time. I have a copy of his Leon Spinks fight, declared a draw although most belived “Sonny” did more than enough to win. I’d like to know what ever became of him?? Does anybody know??
defend his country ! against who !!!
stop portray this guy as a hero.it was unjust war
Americans live in stupid insularity.
It is too bad the Vietnam war was going on. If Joey hadn’t spent those two years in vietnam he would have flourished as fighter. And Joey was not one to renig on his responsibility as an American. Like so many others he went to defend his country at the expense of maybe not having the opportunity to continue boxing on his return. Sometimes life is hard, but you would not know by talking to Joey. He is one of the nicest young men to grace the squared circle. Joey, YOU are the MAN. tu amigo……you know who.
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