This post concerns five Italian heavyweights whose biggest years were either in the late 1960's or the early/late 1970's: Dante Cane, Eduardo Corletti, Alfio Righetti, Bepe Ros and Lorenzo Zanon. I'm including Corletti because, though originally from South America, he was of Italian heritage and fought extensively in Italy.
They all fought each other, for the most part, with Cane being (I think) the common opponent for the other four...Joe Bugner was also a foe, at one time or another, for most of them. Corletti, who I wrote about in other posts, may have (at least at one time) been the best of the five. Zanon is the only other one I'm familiar with from his fights with Quarry, Norton and Holmes being televised here in the US: he didn't impress, all jab and movement but no real power in his punches and would crumble whenever he was hit.
I'm looking for information, perhaps especially from Italians who have posted here (though British or other European fans may have seen them fight Bugner or others), on any or all of these five. Cane I think passed on some years back but are the other four still alive? Anyone know what they've been doing? What sort of style(s) did they generally use and how would you rate them, among themselves and in the European and/or wider
world?
Thanks,
Anthony
60's/70's Italy Heavys: Cane, Corletti, Righetti, Ros, Zanon
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Gherardo Bonini
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 29 Dec 2001, 20:00
Italian heavies
Dear friends,
Corletti was a dream by Italy to have imported by chance a hors class boxer, in fact he was scarcely involved in the affair of Italian title, enough lesser than Pier Mario Baruzzi. Zanon was the best of that group, with a good style and higher capacity of concentration, that vanished at first big difficulties. As we say in Italy, he was boxer "built on gym". Cane' died on 5 May 2000 in Bologna for heart attack, he had big punch (for Italian standards), scarce weaving. Righetti was a traffic policeman lent to boxing, but an intelligent person, who applied tenaciuosly to sport. He left boxing still young. Finally, Ros the worse, as we say in Italy, "un pugile da osteria", a boxer more adapted to tavern sudden exhibitions rather than ring. In sum, Zanon was the unique to stay decently in Europe's elite.
Friendly yours
Gherardo Bonini
Corletti was a dream by Italy to have imported by chance a hors class boxer, in fact he was scarcely involved in the affair of Italian title, enough lesser than Pier Mario Baruzzi. Zanon was the best of that group, with a good style and higher capacity of concentration, that vanished at first big difficulties. As we say in Italy, he was boxer "built on gym". Cane' died on 5 May 2000 in Bologna for heart attack, he had big punch (for Italian standards), scarce weaving. Righetti was a traffic policeman lent to boxing, but an intelligent person, who applied tenaciuosly to sport. He left boxing still young. Finally, Ros the worse, as we say in Italy, "un pugile da osteria", a boxer more adapted to tavern sudden exhibitions rather than ring. In sum, Zanon was the unique to stay decently in Europe's elite.
Friendly yours
Gherardo Bonini
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Gherardo Bonini
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 29 Dec 2001, 20:00
Baruzzi
OK.
Pier Mario Baruzzi had a good punch, but he defected of mobility and personality. His two lost matches with Ros were emblematic, Ros created confusion to the rigid and a bit slow one-two advancement of Baruzzi. Ros was able to corrode the concentration of well-stanced Baruzzi and surprised him with left hook, the best hit of Ros.
Friendly yours
Gherardo Bonini
Pier Mario Baruzzi had a good punch, but he defected of mobility and personality. His two lost matches with Ros were emblematic, Ros created confusion to the rigid and a bit slow one-two advancement of Baruzzi. Ros was able to corrode the concentration of well-stanced Baruzzi and surprised him with left hook, the best hit of Ros.
Friendly yours
Gherardo Bonini
Lorenzo Zanon
["terap"]I remember Zanon.
He was a rangy guy who could box.
Yep, he was sort of the opposite of the stereotype of the Italian, or Italian-American fighter, which would be a crude, tough brawler. Zanon on the other hand seldom "mixed it up," instead preferring to keep moving, jabbing and trying to pile up points....until (at least against the well-known US fighters) he would run out of steam from all that movement and/or his opponent would get through his guard and knock him out. Though it should be said that (Italian-Americans) Joey Maxim, Willie Pastrano and Willie Pep all fought variations of the same style, with usually more defense and durability.
He made Larry Holmes look terrible for a number of rounds.
As I remember the stoppage in favor of Holmes was debatable.
Howard Cosell IIRC called Holmes-Zanon something like "inglorious, from all angles." Zanon for suddenly (and typically) collapsing, Holmes for having trouble those early rounds.
Zanon was a guy who looked good---made you look bad---for a number of rounds---then would collapse suddenly.
Yes, almost looked like taking a dive. Except, if you saw more than one of his fights, you could see the pattern of Zanon's lack of defense/durability/taking a punch getting him eventually knocked out. Jimmy Young was also a "spoiler," again with the difference of Young having more boxing ability and (again, usually) ability to take a punch.
He did the same against Quarry---making Quarry look absolutely terrible---and then suddenly collapsed in a late round---with Quarry escaping with a win.
I remember watching Quarry-Zanon, and it really showed Zanon's inability to successfully fight at the major level, the "Italian Stallion" should have won that fight easily. Also, Quarry should have known it was time to finally retire after the beating he took (even though he escaped with the win), alas Jerry kept making those disastrous comebacks which led to his death.
Zanon's fight with Ken Norton pretty much followed the same pattern as Holmes-Zanon and Quarry-Zanon.
Anthony
He was a rangy guy who could box.
Yep, he was sort of the opposite of the stereotype of the Italian, or Italian-American fighter, which would be a crude, tough brawler. Zanon on the other hand seldom "mixed it up," instead preferring to keep moving, jabbing and trying to pile up points....until (at least against the well-known US fighters) he would run out of steam from all that movement and/or his opponent would get through his guard and knock him out. Though it should be said that (Italian-Americans) Joey Maxim, Willie Pastrano and Willie Pep all fought variations of the same style, with usually more defense and durability.
He made Larry Holmes look terrible for a number of rounds.
As I remember the stoppage in favor of Holmes was debatable.
Howard Cosell IIRC called Holmes-Zanon something like "inglorious, from all angles." Zanon for suddenly (and typically) collapsing, Holmes for having trouble those early rounds.
Zanon was a guy who looked good---made you look bad---for a number of rounds---then would collapse suddenly.
Yes, almost looked like taking a dive. Except, if you saw more than one of his fights, you could see the pattern of Zanon's lack of defense/durability/taking a punch getting him eventually knocked out. Jimmy Young was also a "spoiler," again with the difference of Young having more boxing ability and (again, usually) ability to take a punch.
He did the same against Quarry---making Quarry look absolutely terrible---and then suddenly collapsed in a late round---with Quarry escaping with a win.
I remember watching Quarry-Zanon, and it really showed Zanon's inability to successfully fight at the major level, the "Italian Stallion" should have won that fight easily. Also, Quarry should have known it was time to finally retire after the beating he took (even though he escaped with the win), alas Jerry kept making those disastrous comebacks which led to his death.
Zanon's fight with Ken Norton pretty much followed the same pattern as Holmes-Zanon and Quarry-Zanon.
Anthony
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Vetteguy99
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 58
- Joined: 19 May 2003, 00:53
Italian heavies
Thanks to Sr. Bonini for his insights. Here's a bit more...
Dante Cane (44-15-6): fought a 5-fight back-and-forth series with Ros, 2 wins each (Ros scored the only KO), 2 losses, 1 draw. Drew with Corletti early in their careers (earlier for Cane than Corletti), lost by decision to Righetti (12 rounds), TKO'd (8 rounds) by Zanon. In international competition, lost by decision (12 rounds) to Urtain, TKO'd once (7) by George Chuvalo, twice by Joe Bugner (6 and 5). Fought in the US against lesser-known opponents (even once at Madison Square Garden) but obviously wasn't too successful outside of Italy.
Eduardo Corletti (30-14-5): besides the draw with Cane, outpointed in 10 by Bugner but (in perhaps his best fight) won a 10-round decision over Chuvalo. On the other hand, KO'd in 1 by Jerry Quarry in one of Corletti's US fights (these were mostly toward the end of his career and losing efforts, Corletti might have been yet another fighter who tried hanging on too long).
Alfio Righetti (36-2-1): decisioned Ros in 8, drew with Zanon (12 rounds). In his only US appearance, lost a 10-round decision (title bout eliminator?) to Leon Spinks (I have heard this was a controversial call with some feeling, as with other of Spinks' early fights, that Spinks was being deliberately pushed over other fighters for the Ali title shot; anyone recall Spinks-Righetti?). In the event, was likely a tough loss for Righetti as he never fought again in the US. He was only KO'd once, against Mims (Alfio's only other loss), and it happened in his last fight so Righetti was one who knew when to retire.
Giuseppe "Bepi" Ros (44-16-2) besides the series with Cane and the loss to Righetti (in what would be Ros' last fight), lost a (12 round) decision to Zanon. Also lost, in international fights, to Jurgen Blin and Joe Bugner (but went the 15 round distance with Joe). Ros did outpoint Urtain in 8 and, earlier, was an Olympic fighter in 1964 (he won a bronze, though did not face gold medalist Joe Frazier). A durable fighter, Ros was only knocked out once: by Mac Foster in 8. That was a costly loss for Bepi, not only in terms of losing and being knocked out, it was apparently an eliminator for a fight with Muhammad Ali (who indeed was Foster's next opponent). Ali did not hold the title at the time but still meant major $$$ and fame for those facing him. Ros never fought in the US, so he is perhaps less well-known here than some of these others (the Foster fight was in Switzerland).
Lorenzo Zanon (27-6-3): as above, fought in the US against the toughest competition any in this group had: Holmes, Norton and Quarry. As noted, Zanon was not successful in these fights but at least he tried. Again as noted, Lorenzo did better against other Italian fighters, TKO'ing Cane (a fairly rare stoppage for Zanon) and decisioning Ros...and the draw with Righetti.
There were other Italian heavyweights of note then or shortly before, such as Baruzzi, Tomasoni and Amonte. But they fought mostly before my time and didn't seem to accomplish much, so I'll let others comment on them if they wish. And Giorgio Bambini (or Bambimi), who fought and lost to Foreman at the 1968 Olympics and had an exhibition with Ali (were there really 2 fighters in the ring with Ali as reported?), also had a brief professional career.
Last, though likely not least, there was Oscar Bonavena (57-9-1). Born in Argentina, Bonavena was of Italian heritage (which I didn't discover until recently) and occasionally fought in Italy. His uncle was a well-known conductor and, of course, Oscar nearly beat both Ali and Frazier. He did, alas, come to a bad end as too many boxers have but was a very good fighter in his day.
Anthony
Dante Cane (44-15-6): fought a 5-fight back-and-forth series with Ros, 2 wins each (Ros scored the only KO), 2 losses, 1 draw. Drew with Corletti early in their careers (earlier for Cane than Corletti), lost by decision to Righetti (12 rounds), TKO'd (8 rounds) by Zanon. In international competition, lost by decision (12 rounds) to Urtain, TKO'd once (7) by George Chuvalo, twice by Joe Bugner (6 and 5). Fought in the US against lesser-known opponents (even once at Madison Square Garden) but obviously wasn't too successful outside of Italy.
Eduardo Corletti (30-14-5): besides the draw with Cane, outpointed in 10 by Bugner but (in perhaps his best fight) won a 10-round decision over Chuvalo. On the other hand, KO'd in 1 by Jerry Quarry in one of Corletti's US fights (these were mostly toward the end of his career and losing efforts, Corletti might have been yet another fighter who tried hanging on too long).
Alfio Righetti (36-2-1): decisioned Ros in 8, drew with Zanon (12 rounds). In his only US appearance, lost a 10-round decision (title bout eliminator?) to Leon Spinks (I have heard this was a controversial call with some feeling, as with other of Spinks' early fights, that Spinks was being deliberately pushed over other fighters for the Ali title shot; anyone recall Spinks-Righetti?). In the event, was likely a tough loss for Righetti as he never fought again in the US. He was only KO'd once, against Mims (Alfio's only other loss), and it happened in his last fight so Righetti was one who knew when to retire.
Giuseppe "Bepi" Ros (44-16-2) besides the series with Cane and the loss to Righetti (in what would be Ros' last fight), lost a (12 round) decision to Zanon. Also lost, in international fights, to Jurgen Blin and Joe Bugner (but went the 15 round distance with Joe). Ros did outpoint Urtain in 8 and, earlier, was an Olympic fighter in 1964 (he won a bronze, though did not face gold medalist Joe Frazier). A durable fighter, Ros was only knocked out once: by Mac Foster in 8. That was a costly loss for Bepi, not only in terms of losing and being knocked out, it was apparently an eliminator for a fight with Muhammad Ali (who indeed was Foster's next opponent). Ali did not hold the title at the time but still meant major $$$ and fame for those facing him. Ros never fought in the US, so he is perhaps less well-known here than some of these others (the Foster fight was in Switzerland).
Lorenzo Zanon (27-6-3): as above, fought in the US against the toughest competition any in this group had: Holmes, Norton and Quarry. As noted, Zanon was not successful in these fights but at least he tried. Again as noted, Lorenzo did better against other Italian fighters, TKO'ing Cane (a fairly rare stoppage for Zanon) and decisioning Ros...and the draw with Righetti.
There were other Italian heavyweights of note then or shortly before, such as Baruzzi, Tomasoni and Amonte. But they fought mostly before my time and didn't seem to accomplish much, so I'll let others comment on them if they wish. And Giorgio Bambini (or Bambimi), who fought and lost to Foreman at the 1968 Olympics and had an exhibition with Ali (were there really 2 fighters in the ring with Ali as reported?), also had a brief professional career.
Last, though likely not least, there was Oscar Bonavena (57-9-1). Born in Argentina, Bonavena was of Italian heritage (which I didn't discover until recently) and occasionally fought in Italy. His uncle was a well-known conductor and, of course, Oscar nearly beat both Ali and Frazier. He did, alas, come to a bad end as too many boxers have but was a very good fighter in his day.
Anthony
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Gherardo Bonini
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 29 Dec 2001, 20:00
Some addings
Dear friends,
thanks for the debate ! Just few lines to specify a couple of true surnames : Bambini (NOT Bambimi), Amonti (NOT Amonte, but his forename Sante).
There were rumours in Italy concerning Bonavena. Unfortunately, most of us had(have) natural attitude to Italianize people who had (have) also a lowest degree of opportunity to be Italianized. And some journalists and clerks of Federation ventilated the attempt to persuade Bonavena in becoming Italian citizen !! However, no official step was undertaken.
Friendly yours
Gherardo
thanks for the debate ! Just few lines to specify a couple of true surnames : Bambini (NOT Bambimi), Amonti (NOT Amonte, but his forename Sante).
There were rumours in Italy concerning Bonavena. Unfortunately, most of us had(have) natural attitude to Italianize people who had (have) also a lowest degree of opportunity to be Italianized. And some journalists and clerks of Federation ventilated the attempt to persuade Bonavena in becoming Italian citizen !! However, no official step was undertaken.
Friendly yours
Gherardo
Addenda
My mistake above, it was Cane who knocked out Zanon (yet another time Lorenzo seems to have run out of steam), not the other way around. Apologies on that.
Interesting information from Sr. Bonini. Perhaps Oscar Bonavena should have become an Italian citizen, he might not have had too great an attachment to Italy but it would have been better for him than getting involved with the dubious activities in Nevada that led to his death.
Anthony
Interesting information from Sr. Bonini. Perhaps Oscar Bonavena should have become an Italian citizen, he might not have had too great an attachment to Italy but it would have been better for him than getting involved with the dubious activities in Nevada that led to his death.
Anthony
You have to consider that Argentina is a country where almost half the population can trace their roots back to Italy. Other famous italian surnames in sports include Fangio, Maradona, Locche, etc...
In a general sense there's no such thing as an Italian-Argentine (like there are Italian-americans for instance).
I see that Oscar Bonavena may have benefited from an Italian passport, but I fail to see how that would have prevented him from getting shot at the Mustang Ranch in Reno.
In a general sense there's no such thing as an Italian-Argentine (like there are Italian-americans for instance).
I see that Oscar Bonavena may have benefited from an Italian passport, but I fail to see how that would have prevented him from getting shot at the Mustang Ranch in Reno.
Italian heavies
Watching Muhammad Ali-Jurgen Blin (originally 12/26/71) on ESPN Classic the other day, it appears certain that the Mac Foster-Bepi Ros bout was a boxoff for Ali's next fight (provided Ali didn't lose to Blin, which was of course extremely unlikely). Because not only was Ali's next opponent indeed Mac Foster but Foster-Ros was actually on the Ali-Blin undercard. Also on the same card, another future Ali foe, Rudi Lubbers, won by KO. Meanwhile, in Italy that same day, Dante Cane was losing by disqualification (wonder what exactly he did?).
Interestingly, Ali in his post-fight interview mentioned neither Foster nor Ros (nor even Joe Frazier). Instead, he challenged Irish-British fighter Danny McAlinden! The announcer was British and McAlinden had beaten Ali's brother on the Frazier-Ali undercard, so that apparently was the reason (though Muhammad Ali vs. McAlinden never came about anyway).
Anthony
Interestingly, Ali in his post-fight interview mentioned neither Foster nor Ros (nor even Joe Frazier). Instead, he challenged Irish-British fighter Danny McAlinden! The announcer was British and McAlinden had beaten Ali's brother on the Frazier-Ali undercard, so that apparently was the reason (though Muhammad Ali vs. McAlinden never came about anyway).
Anthony
I remember Zanon's Challenge for British fighter John L Gardner's European title in 1980
Gardner travelled to Italy for the challenge which was a pretty brave thing to do as it was said that you had to get a knockout to be awarded a draw in Italy.
Gardner was an Ok fighter better than Dunn, not as Good as Bugner, plenty of agression, like Zanon.
I met John L in 1986 and talked about the Zanon fight. He thought Zanon was a good fighter too. If i remember correctly he rated Zanon as one of the best he fought.
John L didnt remmber much of Young and Dokes, but that is understandable.
Gardner travelled to Italy for the challenge which was a pretty brave thing to do as it was said that you had to get a knockout to be awarded a draw in Italy.
Gardner was an Ok fighter better than Dunn, not as Good as Bugner, plenty of agression, like Zanon.
I met John L in 1986 and talked about the Zanon fight. He thought Zanon was a good fighter too. If i remember correctly he rated Zanon as one of the best he fought.
John L didnt remmber much of Young and Dokes, but that is understandable.