Danny DiLiberto (February 19, 1935 – February 11, 2025) was an American professional

pool Pool may refer to: Bodies of water * Swimming pool, usually an artificial structure containing a large body of water intended for swimming * Reflecting pool, a shallow pool designed to reflect a structure and its surroundings * Tide pool, a roc ...

player, professional boxer and billiard commentator nicknamed "Buffalo Danny". The last living veteran player from the Johnston City era, a teacher, an author, and previously working as a commentator for Accu-Stats, DiLiberto was an active member of the pocket billiards community. He was inducted to the

One Pocket One-pocket is a pool game. Only one pocket for each player is used in this game, unlike other games played on a pool table where any can be used to score . The object of the game is to score points. A point is made when a player pockets any obje ...

Hall of Fame in 2004 for his "outstanding contribution to the legacy of the game of

one pocket One-pocket is a pool game. Only one pocket for each player is used in this game, unlike other games played on a pool table where any can be used to score . The object of the game is to score points. A point is made when a player pockets any obje ...

" and in 2017 he was inducted in the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Early boxing days

Before DiLiberto became interested in pocket billiards, he was a professional boxer from 1957-1959 with a 14-0-1 record, with 12 knockouts, until he was forced into retirement after breaking his hands four times.

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...

's trainer

Angelo Dundee Angelo Dundee (born Angelo Mirena; August 30, 1921February 1, 2012) was an American boxing manager, boxing promoter, boxing trainer and cornerman. Internationally known for his work with Muhammad Ali (1960–1981), he also worked with 15 other w ...

remarked that “Danny was a heck of a fighter”, “Whoever I put in front of him he knocked out. If it weren’t for his brittle hands, he would have been a champion." In 2006, he was inducted into Buffalo's Boxing Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport and in 2017 Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

The 1981 BCA National Eight-Ball Championship was a memorable victory for DiLiberto when he faced

Nick Varner Nick Varner (born May 15, 1948, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an American professional pool player who was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1992. Varner is widely considered one of the greatest pool players of all time. ...

in the finals. Running out the deciding match was most appropriate for DiLiberto in what was until then a neck-and-neck race to 7 for the win. DiLiberto was a member of the

International Pool Tour The International Pool Tour was a professional sports tour created in 2005 by Kevin Trudeau and hosted by Rebecca Grant. It aimed to elevate pool to the level of other modern sports. Closely modeled on the PGA Tour, the IPT offered the largest pri ...

. A book was written by pool journalist Jerry Forsyth about Danny DiLiberto entitled "Road Player, the Danny DiLiberto Story". On October 20, 2011, DiLiberto was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place alongside the 36th annual US Open 9-Ball Championships. DiLiberto had won tournaments in four different divisions of professional pocket billiards: straight pool, one pocket, 8 ball, and 9 ball having won titles in the 60's, 70's, 80's & 90's. From 1989 to 2020 DiLiberto was a commentator for Accu-Stats Video Productions along with long time friend and pro player Billie Incardona. DiLiberto died in

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, on February 11, 2025, at the age of 89.

Career titles & achievements

* 1961 New York City 14.1 Championship * 1962 New York State 14.1 Championship * 1963 U.S. Masters Straight Pool Championship * 1965 Florida State 14.1 Championship * 1966 Florida State 14.1 Championship * 1968 Florida State 14.1 Championship * 1969 U.S. Masters Straight Pool Championship * 1972 Ohio State 14.1 Championship * 1972 Johnston City Straight Pool Championship * 1972 Johnston City All-Around Championship * 1974 Florida State 14.1 Championship * 1981 BCA National 8-Ball Championship * 1982 Anheuser-Busch Open 9-Ball Championship * 1983 Florida Open 9-Ball * 1983 Florida One Pocket Championship * 1984 Classic Cup IV 9-Ball * 1985 Austin One Pocket Championship * 1985 Eastern States Open 14.1 * 1989 Western States Open 9-Ball Championship * 1990 ESPN Mixed Doubles 9-Ball Championship (With Robin Dodson) * 1996 Senior Tour Virginia 9-Ball Open * 1997 French Open National Nine Ball Tournament * 1998 French Open National Nine Ball Tournament * 2004

Hall of Fame * 2006

Buffalo Buffalo most commonly refers to: * True buffalo or Bubalina, a subtribe of wild cattle, including most "Old World" buffalo, such as water buffalo * Bison, a genus of wild cattle, including the American buffalo * Buffalo, New York, a city in the n ...

Boxing Hall of Fame * 2011

Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame This is the list of people inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's hall of fame to honor outstanding people who, through their competitive skills and dedication, have enriched the sport and industry. Two categories have been established in ...

* 2017

Sports Hall of Fame

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:DiLiberto, Danny 1935 births 2025 deaths American pool players Sportspeople from Buffalo, New York