Stefano "Tami" Mauriello (May 24, 1923 – December 3, 1999) was an American professional boxer and actor of Italian descent who was world ranked in two divisions during the 1940s.
Mauriello made his professional boxing debut with a first-round knockout of Gilberto Ramirez Vazquez at Queensboro Arena, Long Island City, Queens, New York.
Mauriello proceeded by taking on tough Bill McDowell (119–60–22) barely 5 weeks after the defeat to Soose, on February 11, 1941, at the New York Coliseum in the Bronx.
Belloise had twice fought Ken Overlin for the NYSAC's version of the world Light-Heavyweight championship and had lost both times by close fifteen-round decisions.
Wins over 'Wildcat' O'Connor, Charlie Williams, Jimmy O'Boyne, Tony Cisco and Steve Mamakos followed, setting Mauriello up for his first world title challenge.
Mauriello then fought Gus Lesnevich, who was the National Boxing Association's Light-Heavyweight champion of the world, for the NBA's and the vacant NYSAC's version of the championship.
The closeness of the fight made a rematch possible; the second Mauriello-Lesnevich contest took place, once again at the Madison Square Garden, on November 14, 1941.
This time around Lesnevich outscored Mauriello more comprehensively, with referee Arthur Donovan, judges George Lecron and Sam Austin each scoring the bout for the champion, 9–4–2, 9-5-1 and 10-2-3 in rounds, respectively.
Mauriello next moved to the Heavyweight division, The New York Times announcing his fight against Jay D. Turner (24–19–2) as his first in that weight.
Joe Louis, who had headed to the United States Army to help boost soldier morale during World War II, had symbolically handed Bivins a "duration championship belt", so the fight was billed as for the "duration world Heavyweight championship"-a symbolic title with no official recognition.
Nevertheless, when the two boxers met in Cleveland, Ohio, September 15, 1942, Bivins won by a close, split ten-round decision.
After another win against Buddy Knox, Mauriello met Pennsylvanian fighter, Joe Baksi, in front of 16,015 people at the Madison Square Garden on February 5, 1944.
Mauriello caused controversy after the fight when he told a reporter on live radio, "I guess I'm just an unlucky son of a bitch".
Mauriello, despite the suspension, kept active and had a winning effort two months later in Brooklyn, New York against 30-10-2 Jimmy Carrollo, leading to a rematch with old foe, Gus Lesnevich.
Back in the United States, Mauriello took on Mike Jacobs, a 13-11 trial horse boxer, on August 9, 1949, at New Bedford, Massachusetts.