BoxRec

According to Peter Maniatis' twitter Paul Ferreri has passed away.

The great southpaw Ferreri put together a 78-13-5 record and held numerous national and international titles.

RIP champ.

Very Sad. Great Aussie fighter and a really nice guy.
He gave me half an hour of his time at a recent Malvern fight night and was happy to chat about any of his fights. I asked him what happened to his moustache and he said it blew off. He fought the great Carlos Zarate and although was beaten on a cut eye stoppage he said that Zarate was tiring badly.
RIP Paul

Genuinely very sad news to wake up to. Arguably the best defensive boxer we have produced. Heard nothing but good things about the man.

The only man to cut Ferreri was Zarate and that was from a class of heads. I realise its all ifs and buts, BUT despite being behind Paul had begun to swing the fight in his favor, if his eye wasnt such a mess, Zarate not being able to see out the last 3 rounds is quite a possibility. In the end it was probably a good stoppage and a shame they never got a rematch. It should noted that up until that point Zarate had been absolutely mowing through his opposition, no one had even lasted ten rounds with him.

My thoughts go out to the family and friends. RIP Paul.

Tragically we have lost one of our greatest.

Paul Ferreri would have won a world title in most eras, but he was unfortunate enough to have coincided with the legend Carlos Zarate. He did take Zarate, who was 42-0 and knocked everybody else out inside a few rounds, into deep water though. A cut eye eventually stopping things in the 12th round..

Goodbye to a champion inside and outside the ring.

One of the stars of the old TV Ringside from Festival Hall, and could match it with anyone.

RIP Champ.

Saw his commonwealth title fight with Mad Dog Miller in early 86. I'd arranged to buy the tickets from him and went to his house to collect them. A very good boxer and by all accounts a quiet decent fellow. RIP Paul Ferreri

Beltane wrote:One of the stars of the old TV Ringside from Festival Hall, and could match it with anyone.

RIP Champ.

He was and I think Paul was also the first, and perhaps the only fighter, to appear on all four TV stations back in the day when they all telecast boxing.

Former bantam contender Paul Ferreri passes

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

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.

Funeral details will be published as soon as possible.

Im not big on fantasy matches, but i was watching some Alberto Davila bouts earlier in the year and thought he and Ferreri would have been a very interesting bout.... not totally dissimilar in styles.... i believe it would have been a good chess match....

Tinnie wrote:Im not big on fantasy matches, but i was watching some Alberto Davila bouts earlier in the year and thought he and Ferreri would have been a very interesting bout.... not totally dissimilar in styles.... i believe it would have been a good chess match....

Another interesting match-up and one that team Ferreri were extremely keen for was Ferreri vs Jeff Fenech.

At the time Ferreri was the cagey veteran and Fenech the young champion on a meteoric rise.

Fenech was a once in a generation fighter, but Ferreri was class and would not have given him an easy night.

Just chatting in the world forum and confirming there that Paul Ferreri had no amateur fights. 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.

bollocks wrote:Saw his commonwealth title fight with Mad Dog Miller in early 86. I'd arranged to buy the tickets from him and went to his house to collect them. A very good boxer and by all accounts a quiet decent fellow. RIP Paul Ferreri

I was at that fight also, we had great position and then the krakour brothers came and stood in front of us. We moved

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

Grant wrote:

bollocks wrote:Saw his commonwealth title fight with Mad Dog Miller in early 86. I'd arranged to buy the tickets from him and went to his house to collect them. A very good boxer and by all accounts a quiet decent fellow. RIP Paul Ferreri

I was at that fight also, we had great position and then the krakour brothers came and stood in front of us. We moved

And you didn't bother even coming over to say hello!!! Harumph!!!

Was an excellent card. From memory...'Dashing' Dave Ramsden, Brian Roberts, Wilf Gentzen and I think Vince Cervi may have been making his debut?

bollocks wrote:

Grant wrote:

bollocks wrote:Saw his commonwealth title fight with Mad Dog Miller in early 86. I'd arranged to buy the tickets from him and went to his house to collect them. A very good boxer and by all accounts a quiet decent fellow. RIP Paul Ferreri

I was at that fight also, we had great position and then the krakour brothers came and stood in front of us. We moved

And you didn't bother even coming over to say hello!!! Harumph!!!

Was an excellent card. From memory...'Dashing' Dave Ramsden, Brian Roberts, Wilf Gentzen and I think Vince Cervi may have been making his debut?

Yeah bloody mad dog was tough. Next tim we will have a beer that is if you go to the Flemington nights ....

Marko Orlovic after winning his pro debut at the weekend:

Got the win last night, first pro boxing fight against a tough fighter, been 18 months since my last fight due to injury but I’m back ! I’d like to thank my coach @coachcolgrave at @theringgym for helping me prepare for this fight also my corner Amy and Ajay who were awesome also thank you to everyone who came and supported me, love it

I like to dedicate this boxing fight to the man who taught me the sweet science of boxing, the great Paul Ferreri, I know he’s proud up there and will be giving me strength and guidance in all my bouts as he watches over me, miss ya Paul this ones for you.

RIP Paul - one of Australia's best over all the eras.