Francesco Damiani boxer

Francesco Damiani boxer
bouts
32
won
30
lost
2
draw
0
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1985-01-05
Height
6′ 3″/190cm
Reach
-
Age
-
Born
1958-10-04
Death
-
Nationality
Italy

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.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.) 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 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.1980:1984:Damiani began his professional career on a tear, with 27 consecutive victories over limited opposition. 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.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1993-04-23 Oliver McCall WWWLWW The Pyramid, Memphis LOST
Technical knockout
1992-09-12 Greg Page LWWWLW Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
1992-04-22 Michael Greer LWWLWL Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford WIN
KO
1992-03-07 Frankie Swindell WLLWWW Fano WIN
Points
1991-01-11 Ray Mercer WWWWWW Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City LOST
KO
1990-10-20 Everett Martin WLLLLL Palazzo Dello Sport, Cesena WIN
KO
1990-06-02 Tony Morrison WLLLWL Salice Terme WIN
KO
1989-12-16 Daniel Eduardo Neto WWWWWW Palazzo Dello Sport, Cesena WIN
Technical knockout
1989-05-06 Johnny Du Plooy WDLWWW Stadio Nicola De Simone, Syracuse WIN
KO
1988-12-17 Manfred Jassmann LWLLWW Sassari WIN
KO
1988-10-29 Tyrell Biggs WWWWWL PalaSharp (ex PalaTrussardi), Milan WIN
Technical knockout
1988-04-22 John Emmen WWWWWW PalaSharp (ex PalaTrussardi), Milan WIN
Technical knockout
1988-01-22 Dorcy Gaymon WWLWLL Convention Center, Atlantic City WIN
Technical knockout
1987-10-09 Anders Eklund LWWWWW Aosta WIN
KO
1987-07-11 Eddie Richardson WLLLWL Corsico WIN
Points
1987-04-11 James Broad WLWWWL Palazzo Dello Sport, Bologna WIN
Unanimous decision
1987-02-14 Eddie Gregg LWWWWL Lucca WIN
Technical knockout
1986-12-19 Rodney Smith LWWLLW Ancona WIN
Technical knockout
1986-11-14 Kevin P Porter WWWWWL San Giuseppe Vesuviano WIN
Technical knockout
1986-09-19 Rocky Sekorski LLLLWW Lerici WIN
Points
1986-07-04 Donnie Long LWWLWL Porlezza WIN
KO
1986-05-30 Danny Sutton WLWWL Abano Terme WIN
Technical knockout
1986-04-02 Mike Perkins WLDLLL Ice World, Totowa WIN
Technical knockout
1986-02-14 Tom Trimm WWWWLD Milan WIN
KO
1986-01-31 Bobby Crabtree WLWLWL Abbiategrasso WIN
Technical knockout
1985-09-28 Felipe Rodriguez WDLDLW Sassari WIN
Technical knockout
1985-07-13 Rick Kellar LLWLLL Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City WIN
Technical knockout
1985-06-29 Walter Santemore LLLLLL Bellaria WIN
Points
1985-05-17 Larry Roberson WLLLLL Caesars Tahoe, Cascade Showroom, Stateline WIN
Technical knockout
1985-04-20 Dragomir Milo Popovic WLLLDL Ceriale WIN
Technical knockout
1985-03-08 George Butzbach LWLLLL Modena WIN
Technical knockout
1985-01-05 Allou Gobe L Palazzetto dello Sport, Perugia WIN
Technical knockout