Carl Vinciquerra started in sports as a football player, playing at Omaha Tech High School and then Creighton University. He started boxing in his junior year at Creighton. He won his first tournament in March 1936, taking the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. Vinciquerra qualified for the 1936 Olympics, where he lost his opening match. After the Olympics, Vinciquerra won the Midwest Golden Gloves in February 1937 and then turned pro. He fought professionally from March 1937 through February 1941, exclusively in the Midwest, primarily in Chicago, Omaha, Michigan and Minnesota. Vinciquerra finished with a pro record of 40 wins, 5 losses, and 5 draws, but despite that solid record, he never fought for a major title.