Oscar Bonavena boxer

Oscar Bonavena boxer
bouts
68
won
58
lost
9
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1964-01-03
Height
5′ 10½″/179cm
Reach
73″/185cm
Age
33
Born
1942-09-25
Death
1976-05-22
Nationality
Argentina

Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena (September 25, 1942 – May 22, 1976) was an Argentine heavyweight professional boxer with a career record of 58 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. A rugged, wild-swinging puncher, he was nicknamed "Ringo" because of his Beatles haircut, and enjoyed professional success in both Argentina and the United States. He is remembered for giving Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali hard fought bouts.Oscar Natalio Bonavena was born in Buenos Aires to two Italian immigrants. He was a professional boxer, Argentinian and South American champion. He also participated in several Argentinian TV programs such as the Pepe Biondi Show.Bonavena began his early career in New York City under the management of World War II hero and dentist Marvin Goldberg.His pro debut was on February 1, 1964. He soon racked up a quick string of early knockouts, but was overmatched early, sometimes fighting twice a month, and lost by a decision in February 1965 to then highly rated Zora Folley. Bonavena was in only his 15th contest and was far too inexperienced to then really tackle a top veteran like Folley. It was a one sided contest with Bonavena getting up off the deck from a wicked right hand. Even courageous Oscar looked discouraged and shaken at times in the later rounds. However, three years later with far more experience and training he won their rematch by decision.After that, he returned to Argentina, where his winning and knockout streak continued. But in mid 1966 he was enticed back to New York and the free-swinging Bonavena soon ran into trouble outside the ring. He called Muhammad Ali a black kangaroo and even a chicken for draft dodging. Ali was furious. Oscar was one of the few people to upstage Ali in pre-fight press conferences. When, much later, he saw Ali seated ringside at the George Foreman–Ken Norton fight, he went over and started a big slanging match. In his pre-fight press conference with Frazier, Bonavena needled effectively by implying that Frazier had a personal hygiene problem. He would start sniffing and grimace. Lawsuits were brought about by reporters with broken cameras; and other such "colorful" behavior. He was always volatile, as trainers soon discovered.Bonavena first came to wide public attention after a fine performance defeating rated contender and Canadian champion George Chuvalo, boxing technically better than expected and later going the distance against the young hard-hitting great Joe Frazier. In this, their first fight, Bonavena had the future champion down twice in the second round.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1976-02-26 Billy Joiner LLLLLL Centennial Coliseum, Reno WIN
Unanimous decision
1975-11-01 Raul Gorosito LWLLLW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Points
1974-11-12 Mani Vaka WWWWWL Honolulu International Center, Honolulu WIN
Technical knockout
1974-10-18 Oliver Wright LLLWLL Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma WIN
KO
1974-09-21 Bob Mashburn WLLLLL Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma WIN
KO
1974-07-13 Larry Renaud WWLLLL Roma WIN
KO
1974-05-21 Larry Middleton WLLLWD Capitol Center, Landover WIN
Unanimous decision
1974-03-19 Ron Lyle WWWWWD Denver Coliseum, Denver LOST
Unanimous decision
1973-11-20 Terry Sorrell WDLLLW Fairgrounds' International Building, Oklahoma City WIN
Technical knockout
1973-08-15 Lou Bailey LLWLLL Denver Coliseum, Denver WIN
Unanimous decision
1973-08-06 Roy Wallace LWWWWW Las Vegas WIN
Technical knockout
1973-07-23 Leroy Caldwell WWWLLL Circus Circus Hotel, Las Vegas WIN
Technical knockout
1972-02-11 Floyd Patterson WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Unanimous decision
1971-10-04 Alvin Blue Lewis WWWWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
1970-12-07 Muhammad Ali WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Technical knockout
1970-10-29 Luis Faustino Pires LWWDWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Technical knockout
1970-07-04 James J Woody WLWDWL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1970-05-09 Manuel Ramos LWLLWL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1970-04-24 Jose Humberto Menno LLWLLL Montevideo WIN
KO
1970-03-21 Santiago Alberto Lovell WWWDWL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1970-01-10 Miguel Angel Paez LLWWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires LOST
1969-12-13 Santiago Alberto Lovell WWWWDW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Technical knockout
1969-08-08 Gregorio Peralta WWWWWW Palacio Peñarol, Montevideo DRAW
Points
1969-06-20 Wilhelm Von Homburg WWWWLW Sportpalast, Schoeneberg WIN
Technical knockout
1969-03-05 Luis Faustino Pires WWWWLW Mar del Plata WIN
Corner retirement
1968-12-10 Joe Frazier WWWWWW Spectrum, Philadelphia LOST
Unanimous decision
1968-11-09 Jim Fletcher WLWLWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1968-09-07 Leotis Martin WLLWLW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Unanimous decision
1968-07-06 Zora Folley LWWLDD Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Majority decision
1968-06-01 Roberto Davila WLLLLW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Unanimous decision
1968-04-20 Lee Carr LLLWWL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1968-03-08 Alberto Benassi LLLWLL La Rioja WIN
KO
1968-02-16 Felipe Marich WWLL Cordoba WIN
Technical knockout
1967-12-02 Jimmy Ellis WWWWWW Freedom Hall, Louisville LOST
Unanimous decision
1967-09-16 Karl Mildenberger WWLWWW Waldstadion/Radrennbahn, Frankfurt WIN
Unanimous decision
1967-08-05 Carlos Vazquez LLLLLL General Roca WIN
Technical knockout
1967-07-22 Luis Faustino Pires WWWWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Corner retirement
1967-06-23 Pablo Sagrispanti LLLLLL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1967-04-08 Hubert Hilton LLWWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Technical knockout
1967-01-21 Jose Giorgetti WWWWLL Estadio Bristol, Mar del Plata WIN
KO
1966-12-01 Roberto Veliz LLWWLL Asociacion Mendocina de Boxeo, Ciudad Mendoza WIN
KO
1966-11-18 Alberto Benassi LWLLLL Rosario WIN
Technical knockout
1966-10-22 Amos Johnson WWWWLL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Unanimous decision
1966-10-07 Alberto Benassi WLWLLL Estadio Bristol, Mar del Plata WIN
KO
1966-09-21 Joe Frazier WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Split-decision
1966-06-23 George Chuvalo WLWLLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Majority decision
1966-04-16 Jose Giorgetti WWWWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Unanimous decision
1966-03-12 Jose Giorgetti LWWWWW Estadio Bristol, Mar del Plata LOST
1966-02-12 Bruno Segura LLL Mar del Plata WIN
KO
1965-11-13 Billy Daniels LDWLLL Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
KO
1965-10-22 Hector Wilson LLLLLL Concepcion WIN
KO
1965-10-09 Pablo Sagrispanti LWLLLL Rosario WIN
Technical knockout
1965-09-04 Gregorio Peralta WWDWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Unanimous decision
1965-08-06 Alberto Gonzales debut Comodoro Rivadavia WIN
KO
1965-07-23 Eduardo Corletti LLDWDD Cordoba WIN
KO
1965-06-26 Rodolfo Diaz WLLWWW Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires WIN
Technical knockout
1965-05-28 Rogelio Fernando Gregorutti LLLLW San Miguel WIN
KO
1965-04-30 Carlos Vazquez LWLLLL Salon de los Deportes, Bahia Blanca WIN
KO
1965-04-16 Rene Sosa LDLWLL Mar del Plata WIN
KO
1965-02-26 Zora Folley WWWWDW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Unanimous decision
1964-12-18 Billy Stephan LLLWLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1964-11-13 Dick Wipperman WWWWWL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1964-08-21 Tom McNeeley WWWLWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1964-05-29 Byron Stoimenides DWLWWL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
KO
1964-05-05 Leslie Borden WWWWLW Sunnyside Garden, Sunnyside, Queens WIN
Technical knockout
1964-03-10 Wendell Newton LWDLWD Sunnyside Garden, Sunnyside, Queens WIN
Technical knockout
1964-02-04 Everett Copeland WL Sunnyside Garden, Sunnyside, Queens WIN
KO
1964-01-03 Lou Hicks LLWLL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout