Former bantam contender Paul Ferreri passes

[Ruthless-RKO]

The Australian boxing community is in mourning with the passing of former world bantamweight challenger Paul Ferreri (78-13-5, 26 KOs) at the age of 69 years in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on Friday.

Ferreri turned professional in 1968 and captured the Commonwealth bantamweight crown in 1972 by defeating John Kellie over fifteen rounds.

In 1976 Ferreri lost a WBC bantamweight title challenge when Carlos Zarate (42-0-0) was crowned the winner by referee Richard Steele at 2.44 of round twelve at the Inglewood Forum in California.

Ferreri defeated world champions Rolando Navarette in 1976 and Venice Borkhorsor in 1978.

Other notable victories were Rocky Gattelari, Stix McCloud and John Feeney.

World champions Gilberto Roman and Arnold Taylor defeated Ferreri on points. Paul has suffered dementia in recent years.

[Counter-puncher]

Woah, I'd barely heard of this guy but he fought a pretty damn good roster of opponents

[Grant]

He was an Aussie Legend, one of the very few fighters who never fought as an amateur. (thats from memory, sorry if its wrong)
The loss to the great Zarate was because of a cut sustained by what I thought was a head clash, Never the less Zarate was well in front at the time. So many 15 round fights in his record when almost every title from state to world was over that distance. Sorry to hear he had dementia.

RIP

[bennie]

Really cute fighter, one of the cleverest southpaws around. Johnny Owen beat him but had to fight flat out for 15 rounds to do so. One of his greatest wins came over Mike Irungu in Denmark, where the tall, dangerous, unbeaten Kenyan was based. Ferreri deserved more than one crack at a world title.

[Like a Boss]

He was an Aussie Legend, one of the very few fighters who never fought as an amateur. (thats from memory, sorry if its wrong)
The loss to the great Zarate was because of a cut sustained by what I thought was a head clash, Never the less Zarate was well in front at the time. So many 15 round fights in his record when almost every title from state to world was over that distance. Sorry to hear he had dementia.

RIP

Quite correct. Paul had no amateur fights at all. Not sure whether it was Snowy Sullivan or later Ambrose Palmer who was training him when he made his debut? But whoever it was they simply said to him "we don't do amateurs here". So straight into the pros he went.

Paul was actually right handed too. In one of his earliest training sessions his trainer, probably Snowy Sullivan at the time, lined up his fighters and said "show me your stance."

Paul shaped up southpaw and that's the way he stayed.

[SenorPipino]

Put up a great scrap against one of my all time favorites, Zarate, back in '76.

Going late into a fight with the murderous punching Zarate is enough to merit consideration as an outstanding fighter.

A smart, quick boxer who could take a shot.

His lengthy record speaks for itself.

Toll the 10 count for another of boxing's fallen warriors.

[Like a Boss]

Put up a great scrap against one of my all time favorites, Zarate, back in '76.

Going late into a fight with the murderous punching Zarate is enough to merit consideration as an outstanding fighter.

A smart, quick boxer who could take a shot.

His lengthy record speaks for itself.

Toll the 10 count for another of boxing's fallen warriors.

[Like a Boss]

Former Commonwealth Champion Paul Ferreri passes away

Commonwealth Boxing secretary Simon Block has released the following statement on the passing of Paul Ferreri.

I am very sorry to learn this morning of the death of our distinguished former double Commonwealth Champion, Paul Ferreri of Australia," said Block.

Paul was born in Sicily in 1948 but grew up in Australia. His professional boxing career commenced there in 1968 and he remained undefeated until 1971. He won our Commonwealth Bantamweight Championship in 1972, holding that Title until 1977. After that loss he then won the Commonwealth Super bantamweight Championship that same year, a Title he never defended, winning the vacant Bantamweight Championship again in Denmark in 1981 against Kenyan Mike Irungu. That Title he held until 1986, losing it in his last ever contest to rising Bahamian star, Ray Minus Jr.

Paul was represented internationally by the late former CBC Director, Dennie Mancini, in whose honour an award is made each year to the Commonwealth Champion or former Champion who the board of the CBC has made a particular outstanding contribution to the sport in that year.

Ferreri lost his only World Championship challenge in 1978 to the outstanding Mexican, Carlos Zarate, but defeated former and future World Champions, Venice Borkhorsor and Roland Navarette.

The majority of his contests took place in Australia but he boxed with varying success all over the World. As well as Los Angeles, he boxed in Wales, Denmark, Oregon, Italy and the Phillipines. Not only was he a double Commonwealth Champion, but he also won the Australian Bantamweight, Featherweight and Superfeatherweight Champions. His record between 1972 and 1986 was a very creditable 78 wins, 13 losses and 5 draws.

Although Paul never won a World Championship he will be remembered as one of Australia’s nest boxers. I never met him myself but have a particular fondness for him and his career, which was so active when I first took over as the Commonwealth Championship’s Hon Secretary in 1980, and I can recall many conversations with my friend, the late Dennie Mancini, about future Commonwealth Championship opportunities for him.

May this Champion rest in peace.


http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2017/07/ ... asses-away

[bennie]

Aussie boxing great Paul Ferreri passed away in his home city of Melbourne on Friday at the age of 69. He had been suffering from dementia.
Southpaw Ferreri was a 'natural' who never boxed as an amateur but went unbeaten in his first 29 paid fights before Filipino Willie Cordova outscored him in a 10-rounder in 1971. Ferreri shrugged it off and went on another long unbeaten run to secure a non-title showdown with reigning WBA bantamweight king Arnold Taylor in South Africa in 1974, dropping a 10-round decision to the ferocious Taylor in one of many forays into world class.
By now Ferreri had established himself as an outstanding Commonwealth champion and big wins over the likes of Fernando Sotelo, Paddy Maguire and Rolando Navarette earned him a shot at WBC champion Carlos Zarate in Los Angeles in 1976, a man who looked more like a lightweight than a bantamweight and with a formidable record of 42-0 (41). Zarate walked right through his opponents but he really struggled with the slippery challenger until a cut over the left eye forced Ferreri out in the 12th round. Nobody had gone that far with Zarate.
Ferreri's stamina was limitless and his boxing ability was such that you could barely hit him. Johnny Owen beat him in Wales in 1978 by simply working non-stop for 15 rounds but it still proved desperately close. Ferreri came back to outscore dangerous Kenyan Mike Irungu over 15 rounds and he hammered Britain's John Feeney in 13 rounds in 1982 in a real show of force. He deserved a second world title crack but had to settle for three 10-rounders overseas with Min-Keun Oh, Gilberto Roman and James Manning consecutively - all world class exponents whom he took the distance.
In the end, Paul Ferreri is best remembered as a man of incredible boxing skills which led to incredible longevity. His career spanned 18 years and 96 fights (78 wins) and he was stopped only twice, by Zarate and in his very last fight by Ray Minus.

[Like a Boss]

Aussie boxing great Paul Ferreri passed away in his home city of Melbourne on Friday at the age of 69. He had been suffering from dementia.
Southpaw Ferreri was a 'natural' who never boxed as an amateur but went unbeaten in his first 29 paid fights before Filipino Willie Cordova outscored him in a 10-rounder in 1971. Ferreri shrugged it off and went on another long unbeaten run to secure a non-title showdown with reigning WBA bantamweight king Arnold Taylor in South Africa in 1974, dropping a 10-round decision to the ferocious Taylor in one of many forays into world class.
By now Ferreri had established himself as an outstanding Commonwealth champion and big wins over the likes of Fernando Sotelo, Paddy Maguire and Rolando Navarette earned him a shot at WBC champion Carlos Zarate in Los Angeles in 1976, a man who looked more like a lightweight than a bantamweight and with a formidable record of 42-0 (41). Zarate walked right through his opponents but he really struggled with the slippery challenger until a cut over the left eye forced Ferreri out in the 12th round. Nobody had gone that far with Zarate.
Ferreri's stamina was limitless and his boxing ability was such that you could barely hit him. Johnny Owen beat him in Wales in 1978 by simply working non-stop for 15 rounds but it still proved desperately close. Ferreri came back to outscore dangerous Kenyan Mike Irungu over 15 rounds and he hammered Britain's John Feeney in 13 rounds in 1982 in a real show of force. He deserved a second world title crack but had to settle for three 10-rounders overseas with Min-Keun Oh, Gilberto Roman and James Manning consecutively - all world class exponents whom he took the distance.
In the end, Paul Ferreri is best remembered as a man of incredible boxing skills which led to incredible longevity. His career spanned 18 years and 96 fights (78 wins) and he was stopped only twice, by Zarate and in his very last fight by Ray Minus.

Great post mate

[Like a Boss]

Paul Ferreri funeral details:

Funeral: Thursday 27th July 10.30am at St Martin’s church, Military Road, Avondale Heights.

Public Burial: At the new Keilor Cemetery, Ely Court, Keilor East.

Wake: At St Martin’s church in the function room.