The champion boxer and the crime boss who wanted him dead episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 28, 2026 · 42 MIN

The champion boxer and the crime boss who wanted him dead

from Naked City · host The Age and Sydney Morning Herald

Barry Michael was a professional boxer who made his name in the ring as a smart and brave fighter with a kit of wicked body punches.Alphonse John Gangitano, a mobster who preferred a king hit to a fair fight, was in the corner of the talented Lester Ellis when Michael took Ellis’ world title.The trouble was, Gangitano wanted the title back.In today’s episode of Naked City with John Silvester, Michael recounts what happened when Gangitano ambushed him in a Melbourne nightclub, and what happened when "Sly" took him on in the ring. Background reading John Silvester’s story on Barry Michael. All of John Silvester’s stories and columns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NOW PLAYING

The champion boxer and the crime boss who wanted him dead

0:00 42:48

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Naked City?

This episode is 42 minutes long.

When was this Naked City episode published?

This episode was published on April 28, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Barry Michael was a professional boxer who made his name in the ring as a smart and brave fighter with a kit of wicked body punches.Alphonse John Gangitano, a mobster who preferred a king hit to a fair fight, was in the corner of the talented Lester...

Can I download this Naked City episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!