BoxRec

The first time I ever saw him in action was back in 1991 against Ray Mercer. Other fights on that card were Seldon vs Ribalta and Morrison vs Tillis. It was a fun prospect card to watch. The next time I would see Damiani, he lost to McCall in the last fight of his career. I've never sat down and watched his best work, but he looked pretty good against Mercer before getting tagged with that left uppercut that broke his nose. I also caught some brief clips of him fighting Tyrell Biggs on youtube.

Not a bad record or resume. He apparently won a silver medal in the super heavyweight class at the 1984 olympics, and in the pros beat guys like Biggs, Broad, and Duplooy. Final pro record was 30-2-0-24 or something like that.

He was a coach on the Italian Olympic team in 2012.

polecateddy wrote:He was a coach on the Italian Olympic team in 2012.

Interesting.

Zaev beat him in semifinal Olympic Games in Moscow

Seem to remember that he had one of those unfortunate, chubby physiques - bit like big Big John McDermott - that suggested he was not in shape (not true) or much of an athlete.

But he was a rugged guy with decent skills and read an interview with Mercer a while back who was actually genuinely respectful towards Damiani....said he boxed well and caused him a decent amount of bother. Praise indeed.

Saw him at London as well and he's done a good job with the Italian team....weirdly, he seemed slimmer and fitter yelling from the corner than he ever did as a fighter!!

Bodyshot3 wrote:Seem to remember that he had one of those unfortunate, chubby physiques - bit like big Big John McDermott - that suggested he was not in shape (not true) or much of an athlete.

But he was a rugged guy with decent skills and read an interview with Mercer a while back who was actually genuinely respectful towards Damiani....said he boxed well and caused him a decent amount of bother. Praise indeed.

Saw him at London as well and he's done a good job with the Italian team....weirdly, he seemed slimmer and fitter yelling from the corner than he ever did as a fighter!!

His skills on film plus whatever power he had suggests that there was some potential. Perhaps with a bit more devotion to keeping in shape and maybe a different trainer he might have gone a bit further. But of course, we can say that about a lot of fighters.

polecateddy wrote:He was a coach on the Italian Olympic team in 2012.

Indeed he was. Forget the name of the heavyweight he was coaching, but he took gold.

He was a very well schooled boxer. He would have eaten Morrison alive.

Bodyshot3 wrote:But he was a rugged guy with decent skills and read an interview with Mercer a while back who was actually genuinely respectful towards Damiani....said he boxed well and caused him a decent amount of bother. Praise indeed.

He certainly did cause a decent amount of bother. As I recall Damiani had pretty much shutout Mercer before he got caught.

The Great John L wrote:

Bodyshot3 wrote:But he was a rugged guy with decent skills and read an interview with Mercer a while back who was actually genuinely respectful towards Damiani....said he boxed well and caused him a decent amount of bother. Praise indeed.

He certainly did cause a decent amount of bother. As I recall Damiani had pretty much shutout Mercer before he got caught.

That's what I seem to remember as well, though I haven't seen the fight since 1991. But Mercer definitely needed to do something big to win that fight, because he was well behind.

Wasn't he supposed to be the original opponent for Holyfield when Tyson got hurt...and Cooper took his place?

zojo, wrote:Wasn't he supposed to be the original opponent for Holyfield when Tyson got hurt...and Cooper took his place?

Yes.

zojo, wrote:Wasn't he supposed to be the original opponent for Holyfield when Tyson got hurt...and Cooper took his place?

he was lined up for tyson too...89 i think