Vingo won 12 consecutive fights, including a unanimous decision over highly regarded 16–2 contender Joe Modzele on a boxing card at Yankee Stadium in August 1949.
A second round knockout of Al Robinson at Sunnyside Garden Arena in Queens, New York, propelled Vingo into the world heavyweight rankings, and a crossroads bout with rising star Rocky Marciano.
Vingo fought back well, and by the end of the fifth round, was hurting Marciano with right hand power shots, and seemed to be gaining momentum.
[citation needed] Administered last rites by a priest, and given only a 50–50 chance of survival after slipping into a coma, Vingo underwent brain surgery,[2] eventually recovering and returning home from the hospital two months later in February 1950.
[3] Following the end of his boxing career, Vingo married his high school sweetheart and worked at an office building on Broadway in Manhattan as a 'security porter' (a combination of both positions) for many years.