Al and Annette Mussachio did not want their 15-year-old son hanging out with the wrong crowds. Al would even show up at the old Wildwood Recreation Center on Rio Grande Boulevard to check on his boy.
“He would point to the trouble makers and tell me to stay away from them,” said Chuck Mussachio, now 31. “He would tell me, ‘You’re gonna do something with your life.’”
Shortly thereafter, father took son to a Pleasantville boxing gym run by light heavyweight champ Virgil Hill and the rest is history. The 6-1, 172-pound Mussachio has used his love of the “sweet science,” impressive talent and long arms to post a 16-1-2 record.
He squares off against Theo Kruger on Sat., Dec. 4 in the Grand Ballroom at Atlantic City’s Bally’s Casino Hotel in a fight that could finally put him on the U.S. Boxing Association map. If he wins this match, Mussachio will rank among the top 15 International Boxing Federation fighters making him eligible for a world championship bout.
Chuck’s exposure to boxing came at an early age. Al was an amateur fighter and Chuck’s grandmother was a big fan. She frequented the casinos and picked up complimentary tickets to a Spinks-Tyson fight.
“I was just a little boy, nine or 10 years old, but I’ll never forget the electricity in the place,” said Mussachio. “All of those people came to see one person. It struck me.”
Mussachio had predicted his future to his grammar school principal. “I had my share of fights when I was a kid,” said Mussachio. “I remember carrying a boxing magazine with Tyson on the cover when I was at Crest Memorial School. I told the principal that would be me one day and he said, ‘You know Chuck, I don’t doubt it.’”
Unlike many fighters, Mussachio never abandoned his education to pursue the sport.
“When I met Virgil Hill in Pleasantville I saw how he was well-spoken and a good looking guy,” said Mussachio. “I wanted to pattern myself after him. I got hooked. It helped that I was good at it.”
Pennsylvania’s Lock Haven University had a boxing program and was a good teacher’s school. Mussachio was a national championship runner-up as a 185-pounder in his freshman and sophomore years of college. He won the NCAA title as a 185-pound junior and again as a 175-pound senior.
This success led to an invitation to train at the Olympic Center at Northern Michigan University including a full financial ride for grad school where Mussachio earned a master’s degree in guidance.
“I made lifelong friends there,” said Mussachio. “We all lived together for three years. We ate together, went to parties together, movies, everything. We keep in touch to this day.”
He landed him a teaching position in Wildwood before a guidance counselor role in the Middle Township school district. Today he’s a counselor for the Ventnor Schools.
Mussachio, who turned professional in 2005, credits several people for his success.
“I wouldn’t do this without my father,” said Mussachio. “The boxing allows me to spend a lot of extra time with my dad. We argue and fight like brothers but I’ve never met a person who’s always in a good mood like he is. He’s the nicest guy I know.”
Mussachio’s mother “can’t stand it,” according to her son.
“I’ve been boxing for 16 years and she’s never seen me fight,” he said. “She used to go and sit in the waiting room. But when I go over to eat she gets on me about my diet to make sure I stay in shape.”
Mussachio counts his sister, Alanna, and her husband, Greg Smallwood, as his two biggest fans.
But that may have changed on May 15 when Mussachio married Delia Nelson.
“Her sister was in my class and I’ve known her my whole life,” said Mussachio, who now makes his home in Rio Grande with his new bride. “She wonders how long I’m going to fight but she supports me 100 percent. Her parents are also very supportive of my career. “
Mussachio said he’s especially appreciative of Delia’s patience. “When I’m in training for a fight I can be a pain in the neck,” he said. “She likes boxing but she knows I love it.”
Mussachio, whose goal remains a world title, says he enjoys the feeling of being alone in the ring with his opponent. “It’s one-on-one,” he said. “We both trained hard and may be the best man win. It’s the ultimate.”
Aside from his family, Mussachio offers special thanks to Chaz Antinori, Delano Richards and 77-year-old Richie Bennett, who goes back to his father’s fighting days. He also expressed gratitude to Christine Rothwell, former owner of Rio Grande’s Apollo Gym. “I trained there and had free reign of the place thanks to her,” said Mussachio.
Doors open at 7 p.m. for the Dec. 4 bout. Tickets are $50 and $75 and can be purchased by calling Mussachio at 609-425-1558.
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net
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