File:Francesco-Libonati-e-Primo-Carnera.jpg Primo Carnera (right) and the sculptor Francesco Libonati (left) in 1958 (Quaregnon - Belgium) | |||||||||||||
Real name: Primo Carnera | |||||||||||||
Nationality: Italian | |||||||||||||
Date of birth: | October 26, 1906|||||||||||||
Place of birth: Sequals, Italy | |||||||||||||
Date of death: June 29, 1967 | (aged 60)|||||||||||||
Place of death: Sequals, Italy | |||||||||||||
Rated at: Heavyweight | |||||||||||||
Weight: 275 lb (125 kg) | |||||||||||||
Reach: 216cm | |||||||||||||
Stance: Orthodox | |||||||||||||
Total fights | 103 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wins | 89 | ||||||||||||
Losses | 14 |
Primo Carnera (Italian pronunciation: [ˈprimo karˈnɛra]; October 26, 1906 – June 29, 1967) was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.
His career was controversial. Some believe Carnera was "owned" by underworld figures who manipulated his career by fixing his early fights not only for monetary gain but also to give him a shot at the world heavyweight title.
Biography[]
Born in Sequals, then in the Province of Udine, now in the Province of Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy), Carnera was touted in America as being 6' 7" tall and thus the tallest heavyweight in history (up until that time), but he was actually 6′ 5½″ tall (197 cm).[1] He fought at as much as 275 lbs (125 kg).[2] Until December 19, 2005, when the 7' 1", 147 kg Nikolay Valuev won the WBA title, Jess Willard who stood 6' 6½" was the tallest champion in boxing history.
At a time when the average height in Italy was approximately 5 ft 5 (167 cm) and in the United States 5 ft 8 (176 cm),[3] Carnera was considered a giant. Though an inch shorter than Willard, he was around 40 lbs heavier and was the heaviest champion before Valuev in boxing history.
He enjoyed a sizable reach advantage over most rivals, and when seen on fight footage, he seems like a towering giant compared to many heavyweights of his era, who were usually at least 60 pounds (27 kg) lighter and 7 inches (18 cm) shorter. One publicity release about him read in part: "For breakfast, Primo has a quart of orange juice, two quarts of milk, nineteen pieces of toast, fourteen eggs, a loaf of bread and half a pound of Virginia ham." [4] His size earned him the nickname "The Ambling Alp." Time Magazine called him "The Monster".
Boxing career[]
September 12, 1928 was the date of Carnera's first professional fight, against Leon Sebilo, in Paris. Carnera won by knockout in round two. He won his first six bouts, then lost to Franz Diener by disqualification in round one at Leipzig. Then, he won seven more bouts in a row before meeting Young Stribling. He and Stribling exchanged disqualification wins, Carnera winning the first in four rounds, and Stribling winning the rematch in round seven. In Carnera's next bout he avenged his defeat to Diener with a knockout in round six.
In 1930, he moved to the United States, where he toured extensively, winning his first seventeen bouts there by knockout. George Godfrey broke the streak in Philadelphia by disqualification in the fifth round. Carnera lost a decision to Jim Maloney in Boston to finish 1930.
In 1932, Carnera faced the tallest heavyweight in history up to that point, Santa Camarão, a 6' 9" Portuguese fighter who was 31⁄2" taller. Carnera won the fight in a 6th-round decision
1933 was one of the most important years in Carnera's life. On February 10, he knocked out Ernie Schaaf in thirteen rounds in New York City. Schaaf died two days later. For his next fight, Carnera faced the world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey. The championship date was June 29, at the Madison Square Garden Bowl at Long Island. Carnera became world champion by knocking out Sharkey in round six. The fight came under the eye of fans and sportswriters alike when the uppercut that KO'd Sharkey was believed not to have landed. Rumours of a mob fix were brought up causing some to maintain Sharkey threw the fight.
He retained the title against Paulino Uzcudun (who was attempting to become the first Basque world heavyweight champion) and Tommy Loughran, both by decision in 15 rounds, but in his next fight on June 14, 1934 against Max Baer, Carnera was knocked down 11 times and was defeated in 11 rounds.
After that, Carnera won his next four fights, three of them as part of a South American tour that took him to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, as well as two exhibitions in the southern American continent. But then, in his next fight of importance, on June 25, 1935, he was knocked out in six rounds by Joe Louis, who would become world heavyweight champion in 1937.
For the next two and a half years, he had a rather ordinary record, winning 5 and losing 3 of 8 total fights. But in 1938, Carnera, a diabetic, had to have a kidney removed, which forced him into retirement until 1944.
In 1941, Carnera was hand-picked by Mussolini to take part in a propaganda film in North Africa. In order "to prove the inferiority of Negro race" a boxing match was set up between Carnera and a 6 foot 3 inch Zulu POW by the name of Kay Masaki. Even though Masaki had no boxing experience, he went on to knock Carnera unconscious with one punch. [5]
Alleged mob influence[]
Carnera's manager, Lou Soresi, stole much of Carnera's money and left him nearly broke. Because of Soresi's connection to mobster Owney Madden, it has always been speculated across the boxing world that most of Carnera's fights were fixed. The book East Side, West Side: Tales of New York Sporting Life 1910-1960 took the rumors a step further, stating that "Most of the Italian giant's opponents were pushovers, paid to take a dive or too frightened to stand up for three minutes in a row". Jack Sharkey himself had to deny rumors about him taking a dive in his world championship fight with Carnera, swearing that he had not.
The rumors dogging Carnera started early in his career, after he arrived in the United States. Underworld figures began to exert control over boxing in New York in the period after the 1927 defeat of longtime champ Jack Dempsey by Gene Tunney, who retired from prizefighting after beating Dempsey in a 1928 rematch. From 1930 to 1933, the world heavyweight title was held by Max Schmeling and Jack Sharkey. Madden's lieutenants, by manipulating Carnera's early fights, were able to manufacture a sterling record that gave him a shot at the heavyweight title.
According to boxing historian Herbert Goldman, Carnera was "very much mob controlled."[6] Carnera met his first serious heavyweight contender, Young Stribling, in 1929, and won when Stribling fouled him. In a rematch, he fouled Stribling. His 1930 fight against California club fighter Bombo Chevalier in Emeryville was considered fixed, and Carnera was banned from fighting in California.[7] His 1930 match against George Godfrey was controversial as Godfrey was disqualified in the sixth round when he was clearly getting the better of Carnera.[8]
Time Magazine, in an October 5, 1931 cover story on Carnera before he won the heavyweight title, commented on his odd career.
"Since his arrival in the U. S., backed by a group of prosperous but shady entrepreneurs, Carnera's career has been less glorious than fantastic. His first opponents—Big Boy Peterson, Elzear Rioux, Cowboy Owens—were known to be incompetent but their feeble opposition to Carnera suggested that they had been bribed to lose. Suspicion concerning the Monster's abilities became almost universal when another adversary, Bombo Chevalier, stated that one of his own seconds had threatened to kill him unless he lost to Carnera. Against the huge, lazy, amiable Negro George Godfrey (249 lb.), he won on a foul. But only one of 33 U. S. opponents has defeated Monster Carnera—fat, slovenly Jimmy Maloney, whom Sharkey beat five years ago. In a return fight, at Miami last March, Carnera managed to outpoint Maloney."
Movie career[]
Carnera appeared in a short film in 1931 and had a role as himself in 1933 movie The Prizefighter and the Lady, which starred Max Baer and Myrna Loy. (Baer took the heavyweight crown from Carnera the year after the movie's release.) He appeared in many Italian films in the period of 1939 to 1942 and returned to Hollywood for a bit part as himself in Mighty Joe Young (1949). Back in the city of the stars, he acted in a number of movies. His later role in the 1955 British film A Kid for Two Farthings was critically acclaimed.
Attempted comeback and wrestling career[]
In 1945, he attempted a comeback to boxing, and he won his first 2 fights. But after losing to Luigi Musina 3 times in a row, he quit boxing for good. Carnera's record was 89 wins and 14 losses. His 72 wins by knockout made him a member of the exclusive club of boxers that won 50 or more bouts by knockout.
In 1946, he became a professional wrestler and was immediately a huge success at the box office. For a few years he was one of the top draws in wrestling. Carnera continued to be an attraction into the 1960s. Max Baer refereed at least one of his wrestling matches.[9]
Carnera wrestled from 1946 to 1962. He won his debut on August 22, 1946 when he defeated Tommy O'Toole in California. On October 23, 1946, Carnera won his 41st consecutive wrestling match by defeating Jules Strongbow. On November 19, 1946, Carnera beat Harry Kruskamp to remain undefeated at 65-0-0.
Primo Carnera won 120 straight wrestling matches (119-0-1) before suffering his first defeat to Yvon Robert in Montreal, Canada on August 20, 1947. Carnera's biggest victory was on December 7, 1947 when he defeated former world heavyweight champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
In May 1948, Carnera took a 143-1-1 record against world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz. Thesz defeated Carnera in a world title defense.
In Ring Magazine, August 1962, page 38, Carnera "flattened" Ox Anderson in a heavyweight wrestling match in Los Angeles, California.
Carnera's wrestling career came to an end in October 1962. On October 17, he lost to Jess Ortega in Los Angeles, and on October 25 Carnera lost to The Destroyer. Following these losses Carnera retired from wrestling.
Personal life[]
On March 13, 1939, Carnera married Giuseppina Kovacic (whose surname was changed to "Cavazzi" due to the Fascist regime).
In 1953 they became American citizens. They settled in Los Angeles, where Carnera opened a restaurant and a liquor store. They had two children, one of whom became a medical doctor.
Carnera died in 1967 in his native town of a combination of liver disease and complications from diabetes.
Movies[]
Carnera during his championship reign played a fictional version of himself in the 1933 film The Prizefighter and the Lady starring Max Baer and Myrna Loy. In the film, he plays the heavyweight champion who barely holds onto his title with a draw decision after a wild fight with Baer. The film, ironically, was made just the year before Carnera fought Baer for real, in a bout that was as wild as the film version, but ended with a KO loss for Carnera.
The movie Carnera: The Walking Mountain, directed by Italian director Renzo Martinelli, is the story of Primo Carnera's life, with Carnera's role played by Andrea Iaia. The world premiere of the movie [1] took place on April 22, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Carnera had a non-speaking bit part in the 1949 movie Mighty Joe Young. He played himself in the tug-of-war scene with the giant gorilla. After being pulled by the ape into a pool of water, Carnera throws a couple of futile punches to Joe's chin.
He also played a bully boy wrestler in Carol Reed's film A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) based around London's Petticoat Lane Market where he has a match against a local bodybuilder who is getting married to Diana Dors.
Primo also appeared in at least 10 Italian films between 1939 and 1943,[10] as well as several in the 1950s, like Prince Valiant,[11] in the role of Sligon. His last screen role was as the giant Antaeus alongside Steve Reeves in Hercules Unchained (USA Title, filmed in Italy, 1959, original title Ercole e la regina di Lidia).[10]
Primo features in the 2005 film Cinderella Man, a film about the life of fellow boxer James J. Braddock.
Depictions in popular culture[]
Requiem for a Heavyweight, Rod Serling's 1956 Emmy Award-winning teleplay for Playhouse 90 directed by Ralph Nelson (who also won an Emmy), focused on down-and-out former heavyweight boxer Harlan "Mountain" McClintock. The travails of McClintock, who was played by Jack Palance (Sean Connery played the part on British television and Anthony Quinn assayed the role in the 1962 film), was thought by many boxing fans to resemble Carnera's life.
In 1947, fighting aficionado Budd Schulberg wrote his novel, The Harder They Fall, a story about a boxer whose fights are fixed. In 1956 a movie with the same name, and based on the novel, was released by Columbia Pictures. In response, Carnera unsuccessfully sued the movie company.
Music[]
The Yeasayer song, "Ambling Alp," from their 2010 album Odd Blood references Carnera by his nickname in the title and second verse. Both Carnera and German boxer Max Schmeling are referenced for their bouts with American Joe Louis.
Professional boxing record[]
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 88–14 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Luigi Musina | UD | 8 | May 12, 1946 | Gorizia, Italy | ||
Loss | 88–13 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Luigi Musina | PTS | 8 | March 19, 1946 | Trieste, Italy | ||
Loss | 88–12 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Luigi Musina | TKO | 7 | November 21, 1945 | Milan, Italy | ||
Win | 88–11 | File:Unknown.png Sam Gardner | KO | 1 | September 25, 1945 | Trieste, Italy | ||
Win | 87–11 | File:Unknown.png Michel Blevens | KO | 3 | July 22, 1945 | Udine, Italy | ||
Win | 86–11 | File:Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg Joseph Zupan | KO | 2 (10) | December 4, 1937 | Zirkus, Budapest, Hungary | ||
Loss | 85–11 | Albert di Meglio | PTS | 10 | November 18, 1937 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | ||
Loss | 85–10 | Leroy Haynes | TKO | 3 (10) | May 27, 1936 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA | ||
Loss | 85–9 | Leroy Haynes | TKO | 3 (10) | March 16, 1936 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | ||
Win | 85–8 | File:Flag of Spain.svg Isidoro Gastanaga | TKO | 5 (10) | March 6, 1936 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA | ||
Win | 84–8 | Big Boy Brackey | TKO | 4 (10) | 1:06 | December 9, 1935 | Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, USA | |
Win | 83–8 | Ford Smith | UD | 10 | November 25, 1935 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | ||
Win | 82–8 | Walter Neusel | TKO | 4 (15) | November 1, 1935 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA | ||
Loss | 81–8 | Joe Louis | TKO | 6 (15) | 2:32 | June 25, 1935 | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, USA | |
Win | 81–7 | File:Flag of Estonia.svg Erwin Klausner | KO | 6 (12) | January 22, 1935 | Estádio Manuel Schwartz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
Win | 80–7 | Seal Harris | KO | 7 (10) | January 13, 1935 | Estádio da Floresta, São Paulo, Brazil | ||
Win | 79–7 | Victorio Campolo | PTS | 12 | December 1, 1934 | Club Atlético Independiente, Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
Loss | 78–7 | Max Baer | TKO | 11 (15) | 2:16 | June 14, 1934 | Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, USA | Lost NBA and NYSAC World Heavyweight titles. |
Win | 78–6 | Tommy Loughran | UD | 15 | March 1, 1934 | Madison Square Garden Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA | Retained NBA and NYSAC World Heavyweight titles. | |
Win | 77–6 | File:Flag of Spain.svg Paulino Uzcudun | UD | 15 | October 22, 1933 | Piazza di Siena, Rome, Italy | Won IBU Heavyweight title. | |
Win | 76–6 | Jack Sharkey | KO | 6 (15) | 2:27 | June 29, 1933 | Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, USA | Won NBA and NYSAC World Heavyweight titles. |
Win | 75–6 | Ernie Schaaf | KO | 13 (15) | February 10, 1933 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA | ||
Win | 74–6 | Young Spence | KO | 1 (10) | December 30, 1932 | Fair Park Arena, Dallas, Texas, USA | ||
Win | 73–6 | James Merriott | KO | 1 (10) | December 20, 1932 | City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, USA | ||
Win | 72–6 | Joe Rice | KO | 2 (10) | December 19, 1932 | Fort Worth, Texas, USA | ||
Win | 71–6 | KO Christner | KO | 4 (10) | December 15, 1932 | City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, USA | ||
Win | 70–6 | Big Boy Peterson | TKO | 2 (10) | December 13, 1932 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA | ||
Win | 69–6 | King Levinsky | PTS | 10 | December 9, 1932 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA | ||
Win | 68–6 | John Schwake | KO | 7 (10) | 2:16 | December 2, 1932 | Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, USA | |
Win | 67–6 | File:Flag of Portugal.svg José Santa | TKO | 6 (10) | November 18, 1932 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA | ||
Win | 66–6 | Les Kennedy | KO | 3 (10) | November 4, 1932 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, USA | ||
Win | 65–6 | Jack Taylor | KO | 2 (10) | October 17, 1932 | Jefferson County Armory, Louisville, Kentucky, USA | ||
Win | 64–6 | Gene Stanton | KO | 6 (10) | October 13, 1932 | 114th Infantry Armory, Camden, New Jersey, USA | ||
Win | 63–6 | Ted Sandwina | KO | 4 (10) | October 7, 1932 | Benjamin Field Arena, Tampa, Florida, USA | ||
Win | 62–6 | Art Lasky | NWS | 10 | September 1, 1932 | Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA | ||
Win | 61–6 | File:Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957.svg.png Jack Gagnon | KO | 1 (10) | 1:35 | August 19, 1932 | Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA | |
Loss | 60–6 | Stanley Poreda | PTS | 10 | August 16, 1932 | Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, USA | ||
Win | 60–5 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Hans Birkie | PTS | 10 | August 2, 1932 | Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York, USA | ||
Win | 59–5 | Jerry Pavelec | TKO | 5 (10) | 0:51 | July 28, 1932 | Playground Arena, West New York, New Jersey, USA | |
Win | 58–5 | Jack Gross | TKO | 7 (10) | 2:50 | July 20, 1932 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA | |
Loss | 57–5 | File:Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957.svg.png Larry Gains | PTS | 10 | May 30, 1932 | White City Stadium, London, England, UK | ||
Win | 57–4 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Hans Schoenrath | TKO | 3 (10) | May 15, 1932 | San Siro, Milan, Italy | ||
Win | 56–4 | File:Flag of France.svg Maurice Griselle | TKO | 10 (10) | April 29, 1932 | Palais des Sports, Paris, France | ||
Win | 55–4 | File:Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg Don McCorkindale | PTS | 10 | April 7, 1932 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK | ||
Win | 54–4 | File:Flag of Australia.svg George Cook | KO | 4 (10) | March 23, 1932 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK | ||
Win | 53–4 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Pierre Charles | PTS | 10 | February 29, 1932 | Palais des Sports, Paris, France | ||
Win | 52–4 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Ernst Gühring | TKO | 5 (10) | February 5, 1932 | Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany | ||
Win | 51–4 | File:Flag of France.svg Moise Bouquillon | TKO | 2 (10) | January 25, 1932 | Palais des Sports, Paris, France | ||
Win | 50–4 | Victorio Campolo | KO | 2 (15) | 1:27 | November 27, 1931 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA | |
Win | 49–4 | King Levinsky | PTS | 10 | November 19, 1931 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA | ||
Loss | 48–4 | Jack Sharkey | UD | 15 | October 12, 1931 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA | This match was billed as being for the American Heavyweight title. | |
Win | 48–3 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Armando de Carolis | KO | 2 (10) | 1:08 | August 6, 1931 | Shellpot Park, Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, USA | |
Win | 47–3 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Roberto Roberti | TKO | 3 (10) | 2:25 | August 4, 1931 | Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, USA | |
Win | 46–3 | File:Flag of Denmark.svg Knute Hansen | KO | 1 (10) | 2:10 | July 24, 1931 | Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York, USA | |
Win | 45–3 | Bud Gorman | KO | 2 (10) | 2:35 | June 30, 1931 | Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
Win | 44–3 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Umberto Torriani | KO | 2 (10) | 0:43 | June 26, 1931 | Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, USA | |
Win | 43–3 | Pat Redmond | KO | 1 (10) | 2:24 | June 15, 1931 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA | |
Win | 42–3 | Jim Maloney | PTS | 10 | March 5, 1931 | Madison Square Garden Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA | ||
Win | 41–3 | Reggie Meen | TKO | 2 (6) | December 18, 1930 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK | ||
Win | 40–3 | File:Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Paulino Uzcudun | SD | 10 | November 30, 1930 | Estadio Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain | ||
Loss | 39–3 | Jim Maloney | PTS | 10 | October 7, 1930 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA | ||
Win | 39–2 | Jack Gross | KO | 4 (10) | September 17, 1930 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA | ||
Win | 38–2 | Pat McCarthy | KO | 2 (10) | 1:16 | September 8, 1930 | Velodrome, Newark, New Jersey, USA | |
Win | 37–2 | File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg.png Riccardo Bertazzolo | TKO | 3 (15) | August 30, 1930 | Auditorium, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA | ||
Win | 36–2 | File:Flag of Australia.svg George Cook | KO | 2 (10) | July 29, 1930 | Taylor Bowl, Cleveland, Ohio, USA | ||
Win | 35–2 | Bearcat Wright | KO | 4 (10) | July 17, 1930 | Omaha, Nebraska, USA | ||
Win | 34–2 | George Godfrey | DQ | 5 (10) | 1:13 | June 23, 1930 | Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | |
Win | 33–2 | KO Christner | KO | 4 (10) | 1:20 | June 5, 1930 | Fairgrounds Coliseum, Detroit, Michigan, USA | |
Win | 32–2 | Sam Baker | KO | 1 (10) | April 22, 1930 | Ice Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, USA | ||
Win | 31–2 | Leon Chevalier | TKO | 6 (10) | April 14, 1930 | Oaks Park, Emeryville, California, USA | ||
Win | 30–2 | Neal Clisby | KO | 2 (10) | 0:40 | April 8, 1930 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA | |
Win | 29–2 | Jack McAuliffe II | KO | 1 (10) | 2:18 | March 28, 1930 | Stockyards Stadium, Denver, Colorado, USA | |
Win | 28–2 | George Trafton | KO | 1 (10) | 0:54 | March 26, 1930 | Memphis, Tennessee, USA | |
Win | 27–2 | Frank Zaveta | KO | 1 (10) | 1:51 | March 20, 1930 | Jacksonville, Florida, USA | |
Win | 26–2 | Chuck Wiggins | KO | 2 (10) | March 17, 1930 | Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, USA | ||
Win | 25–2 | Sully Montgomery | KO | 2 (10) | 1:15 | March 11, 1930 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | |
Win | 24–2 | Roy Ace Clark | KO | 6 (10) | 2:38 | March 3, 1930 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | |
Win | 23–2 | Farmer Lodge | KO | 2 (10) | 1:22 | February 24, 1930 | Heinemann Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA | |
Win | 22–2 | File:Flag of Sweden.svg Johnny Erickson | KO | 2 (10) | 1:45 | February 17, 1930 | Coliseum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA | |
Win | 21–2 | Jim Sigman | KO | 1 (8) | 1:35 | February 14, 1930 | Memphis, Tennessee, USA | |
Win | 20–2 | Buster Martin | KO | 2 (10) | 0:56 | February 11, 1930 | Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, USA | |
Win | 19–2 | Billy Owens | KO | 2 (10) | 2:22 | February 6, 1930 | Armory, Newark, New Jersey, USA | |
Win | 18–2 | File:Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957.svg.png Elzear Rioux | KO | 1 (10) | 0:47 | January 31, 1930 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA | |
Win | 17–2 | Big Boy Peterson | KO | 1 (10) | 1:10 | January 24, 1930 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA | |
Win | 16–2 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Franz Diener | TKO | 6 (15) | December 17, 1929 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK | ||
Loss | 15–2 | Young Stribling | DQ | 7 (10) | December 7, 1929 | Vélodrome d'hiver, Paris, France | ||
Win | 15–1 | Young Stribling | DQ | 4 (15) | November 18, 1929 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK | ||
Win | 14–1 | Jack Stanley | TKO | 1 (8) | 1:45 | October 17, 1929 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK | |
Win | 13–1 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Hermann Jaspers | KO | 3 (10) | September 18, 1929 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | ||
Win | 12–1 | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Feodor Nikolaeff | KO | 1 | August 30, 1929 | Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France | ||
Win | 11–1 | File:Flag of France.svg Joe Thomas | TKO | 4 | August 25, 1929 | Arènes du Prado, Marseille, France | ||
Win | 10–1 | File:Flag of Spain.svg José Leté | UD | 10 | August 14, 1929 | Atocha, San Sebastián, Spain | ||
Win | 9–1 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jack Humbeeck | TKO | 6 (10) | June 26, 1929 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | ||
Win | 8–1 | File:Flag of France.svg Marcel Nilles | TKO | 3 (10) | May 30, 1929 | Cirque de Paris, Paris, France | ||
Win | 7–1 | File:Flag of France.svg Moise Bouquillon | PTS | 10 | May 22, 1929 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | ||
Loss | 6–1 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Franz Diener | DQ | 1 (10) | April 28, 1929 | Leipzig, Germany | ||
Win | 6–0 | File:Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Ernst Roesemann | TKO | 5 (8) | January 18, 1929 | Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany | ||
Win | 5–0 | File:Flag of France.svg Constant Barrick | KO | 3 | December 1, 1928 | Vélodrome d'hiver, Paris, France | ||
Win | 4–0 | Epifanio Islas | UD | 10 | November 25, 1928 | Palazzo Dello Sport, Milan, Italy | ||
Win | 3–0 | Salvatore Ruggirello | TKO | 4 (10) | October 30, 1928 | Cirque de Paris, Paris, France | ||
Win | 2–0 | File:Flag of France.svg Joe Thomas | KO | 3 | September 25, 1928 | Cirque de Paris, Paris, France | ||
Win | 1–0 | File:Flag of France.svg Leon Sebilo | TKO | 2 | September 12, 1928 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | Carnera's professional debut. |
Championships and accomplishments[]
Boxing[]
- International Boxing Union
- IBU Heavyweight Championship (October 22, 1933 – June 21, 1935; vacated)
- National Boxing Association
- NBA World Heavyweight Championship (June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934)
- New York State Athletic Commission
- NYSAC World Heavyweight Championship (June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934)
Professional wrestling[]
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobo Brazil
- NWA San Francisco
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) – with Sandor Szabo
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Primo Carnera - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Human:12086. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ↑ better weight
- ↑ Steckel, Richard H.. "A History of the Standard of Living in the United States". Economic History Association. http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/steckel.standard.living.us. Retrieved http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primo_Carnera&action=submit#.
- ↑ "Cinderella Man: James J. Braddock, Max Baer, and the Greatest Upset in ... - Jeremy Schaap - Google Boeken". Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=_LzhBcWcf8QC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ↑ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,885648,00.html
- ↑ Bodner, Alan (1997). When Boxing Was a Jewish Sport. Praeger Publishers. p. 133. ISBN 978-0275953539.
- ↑ Johnston, Chuck. "Famous 'fixes' in boxing history....". BoxRec. http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30761&start=0. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "Primo Carnera vs. George Godfrey". BoxingRec. http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Primo_Carnera_vs._George_Godfrey. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ The Strange Case of Carnera, By Jack Sher, Sport, February 1948
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0138712/ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "IMDM" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047365/
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Primo Carnera |
- Carnera: The Walking Mountain at the Internet Movie Database
- Primo Carnera Photos
- Professional boxing record for Primo Carnera from BoxRec
- Primo Carnera at Find a Grave
Achievements | ||
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Preceded by Jack Sharkey |
World Heavyweight Champion June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934 |
Succeeded by Max Baer |