Francesco Damiani

Francesco Damiani (born 4 October 1958) is an Italian former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1993. He was the first WBO heavyweight champion, having held the title from 1989 to 1991, as well as the European heavyweight title from 1987 to 1989. As an amateur he won silver medals in the super-heavyweight division at the 1982 World Championships and 1984 Summer Olympics.

Francesco Damiani
Born	(1958-10-04) 4 October 1958 (age 66) Bagnacavallo, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	32
Wins	30
Wins by KO	24
Losses	2
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  Italy Olympic Games 1984 Los Angeles Super-heavyweight World Championships 1982 Munich Super-heavyweight European Championships 1981 Tampere Super-heavyweight 1983 Varna Super-heavyweight Mediterranean Games 1979 Split Heavyweight

Amateur career

He participated at 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, where he lost to the eventual silver medalist Piotr Zaev in the quarter-finals. The following year he won the European Amateur Championships in Tampere. At the 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Munich, he beat the legendary Teofilo Stevenson but lost to Tyrell Biggs in the final. In 1983 in Varna he became European champion for the second time, beating Ulli Kaden. He was ranked world's #1 super heavyweight by the AIBA in 1984 (ahead of Tyrell Biggs, who was ranked #2.^[1]) At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles he again lost to Biggs in the final, despite Biggs' home crowd booing at the judges decision who believed Damiani won the contest (since he threw more punches and was moving forward for most of the contest) which led to the leading BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter, who was commentating for the BBC sport Olympic coverage, to say that "..it was the worst boxing decision in all my years of boxing commentating". Francesco Damiani was the Italian boxing team coach for the London 2012 Summer Olympics.^[2]

Olympic results

1980:

• Round of 16: Defeated Teodor Pîrjol (Romania) 4-1
• Quarterfinal: Lost to Piotr Zaev (Soviet Union) 0-5

1984:

• 1st round bye
• Defeated William Isangura (Tanzania) RSC 2
• Defeated Robert Wells (Great Britain) RSC 3
• Lost to Tyrell Biggs (United States) 1-4

Professional career

Damiani began his professional career on a tear, with 27 consecutive victories. He defeated Tyrell Biggs in a rematch of their Olympic meeting, stopping him on a cut, and then won the newly created WBO Heavyweight title with a 3rd-round KO victory over Johnny DuPlooy on 6 May 1989. Damiani hit a brick wall when he took on 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Ray Mercer in 1991 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Damiani was ahead on points but went down after a Mercer left uppercut broke his nose, and he was counted out by the referee in the 9th round.

In 1991, he had been chosen to face Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship, but an injury prevented him from getting into the ring.

Damiani would come back in 1992 to take a decision over former champion Greg Page, but quit in the 8th round of the following bout versus Oliver McCall in 1993, ending his career.

In 1993 former mobster Sammy Gravano testified under oath that in the late 80s he attempted to arrange a fixed fight between Damiani, who Gravano alleged was associated with an organized crime family in Italy, and Renaldo Snipes.^{[citation needed]} The winner (Snipes) would fight Tyson, however Damiani lost his fight with Ray Mercer before the Snipes bout and that put him out of the picture for a major fight.^{[citation needed]}

Professional boxing record

32 fights	30 wins	2 losses
By knockout	24	2
By decision	6	0

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
32	Loss	30–2	Oliver McCall	TKO	8 (10), 1:09	23 Apr 1993	The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, US
31	Win	30–1	Greg Page	UD	10	12 Sep 1992	Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
30	Win	29–1	Michael Greer	KO	1 (10), 3:00	22 Apr 1992	Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US
29	Win	28–1	Frankie Swindell	PTS	8	7 Mar 1992	Fano, Italy
28	Loss	27–1	Ray Mercer	KO	9 (12), 2:47	11 Jan 1991	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US	Lost WBO heavyweight title
27	Win	27–0	Everett Martin	KO	2	20 Oct 1990	Carisport, Cesena, Italy
26	Win	26–0	Tony Morrison	KO	3 (10)	2 Jun 1990	Godiasco, Italy
25	Win	25–0	Daniel Eduardo Neto	TKO	2 (12)	16 Dec 1989	Carisport, Cesena, Italy	Retained WBO heavyweight title
24	Win	24–0	Johnny du Plooy	KO	3 (12), 1:48	6 May 1989	Stadio Nicola De Simone, Syracuse, Italy	Won inaugural WBO heavyweight title
23	Win	23–0	Manfred Jassmann	KO	3 (12)	17 Dec 1988	Sassari, Italy	Retained European heavyweight title
22	Win	22–0	Tyrell Biggs	TKO	5 (10), 1:06	29 Oct 1988	Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy
21	Win	21–0	John Emmen	TKO	3 (12)	22 Apr 1988	Palatrussardi, Milan, Italy	Retained European heavyweight title
20	Win	20–0	Dorcey Gaymon	TKO	4 (10)	22 Jan 1988	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
19	Win	19–0	Anders Eklund	KO	6 (12), 2:40	9 Oct 1987	Aosta, Italy	Won European heavyweight title
18	Win	18–0	Eddie Richardson	PTS	10	11 Jul 1987	Corsico, Italy
17	Win	17–0	James Broad	UD	10	11 Apr 1987	PalaDozza, Bologna, Italy
16	Win	16–0	Eddie Gregg	TKO	1 (12)	14 Feb 1987	Lucca, Italy	Won vacant WBC International heavyweight title
15	Win	15–0	Rodney Smith	TKO	2	19 Dec 1986	Ancona, Italy
14	Win	14–0	Kevin P Porter	TKO	5	14 Nov 1986	San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Italy
13	Win	13–0	Rocky Sekorski	PTS	10	19 Sep 1986	Lerici, Italy
12	Win	12–0	Donnie Long	KO	2	4 Jul 1986	Porlezza, Italy
11	Win	11–0	Danny Sutton	TKO	7	30 May 1986	Abano Terme, Italy
10	Win	10–0	Mike Perkins	TKO	5 (8)	2 Apr 1986	Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, US
9	Win	9–0	Tom Trimm	KO	2	14 Feb 1986	Milan, Italy
8	Win	8–0	Bobby Crabtree	TKO	6	31 Jan 1986	Abbiategrasso, Italy
7	Win	7–0	Felipe Rodriguez	TKO	5	28 Sep 1985	Sassari, Italy
6	Win	6–0	Rick Kellar	TKO	1 (6), 1:26	13 Jul 1985	Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
5	Win	5–0	Walter Santemore	PTS	6	29 Jun 1985	Bellaria, Italy
4	Win	4–0	Larry Roberson	TKO	1, 2:47	17 May 1985	Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, US
3	Win	3–0	Dragomir Milo Popovic	TKO	6	20 Apr 1985	Ceriale, Italy
2	Win	2–0	George Butzbach	TKO	2	8 Mar 1985	Modena, Italy
1	Win	1–0	Allou Gobe	TKO	3	5 Jan 1985	PalaEvangelisti, Perugia, Italy