Rocky Mattioli

A boxer using a cigarrete brand as his sponsor, how odd this sounds today.....

 

Vic-Jofre

Many of the South American, Central American and European boxers wore
Cigarette sponsor logo's.
'
Roberto Duran, used to wear the 'Viceroy' logo on his trunks.

Going rate back then in the mid-to-late 70's...........$1000 plus a couple of cases of cigarette's.

 

Mid 1978 WBC Light-Middleweight Rankings

**.... Rocky Mattioli (Italy)
#1.... Maurice Hope (United Kingdom)
#2.... Ayub Kalue (Denmark)
#3.... Edgar Ross (USA)
#4.... Frank Wissenbach (Germany)
#5.... Loucif Hamani (Algeria)
#6.... Jimmy Batten (United Kingdom)
#7.... Eckhard Dagge (Germany)
#8.... Claude Martin (France)
#9.... Rocky Mosley (USA)
#10.. Marijan Benes (Yugoslavia)
#11.. Gilbert Cohen (France)
#12.. Manuel Gonzalez (Argentina)
#13.. Alvin Anderson (USA)
#14.. Ho Joo (South Korea)
#15.. Fernand Marcotte (Canada)

 

March 11, 1978

WBC Light-Middleweight Championship Bout

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Saturday - September 9, 1978

Milan, Lombardia, Italy

The WBC Light-Middleweight Championship bout between Champion
Rocky Mattioli and #9 Ranked Rocky Mosley Jr. America has been
cancelled, due to an injury sustained by the Challenger.

Rocky Mosley Jr. 22-4-0 (10 KO's), the Top-Rated American 154 lb.
boxer, injured his left shoulder in a sparring session, and will not be able to
participate in Saturday's scheduled Television bout. This was to be the
American's first attempt at a World Championship.

Rocky Mattioli was to make the '3rd Defense' of his WBC Light-Middleweight
crown. Mattioli will go on and fight Saturday, but his opponent will now be
a substitute boxer from America, 25 year-old Light-Middleweight Freddie Boyton.

The 25 year-old Boyton 11-4-2 (5 KO's), is regarded as a 'tough club-fighter' and is looking
to 'upset' the Champion in a 'non-title bout'. Freddie was a highly regarded
amateur, who won the New Jersey Golden Gloves Championship in 1972 and 1973,
as well as several Regional Amateur Championships, while compliling an 85-11 record
as an amateur. The 5' 10" boxer-puncher, should give the Champion Mattioli a
good work-out for several rounds.

The bout;

Rocky Mattioli chases a suprisingly 'running' Freddie Boyton for the better part of each round,
as the boxer-puncher from America is not willing to trade with the harder punching Champion.

In Round 3, Mattioli finally catches Boyton, and nails him with a hard left-right that drops him for
a '5-count'. Mattioli continues to press, and looks to score with hard punches.

In Round 5, Mattioli is landing very hard shots on Boyton, who is just looking to survive.
Mattioli buckles the legs of Boyton several times the round..

In Round 6, Mattioli hurts Boyton with a hard right hand to the jaw, staggering the American,
and nearly drops him again with a hard left-right to the head.

In Round 7, a dazed Boyton is battered along the ropes, and is dropped by a short right from Mattioli.
Boyton rises at the '8-count', but the Referee has seen enough, and stops the bout at the 0:51 mark.

Rocky Mattioli improves to 53-4-2 (40 KO's)
Fight Purses;,,, Rocky Mattioli,, $15,000 ---- Freddie Boyton,, $3000 (U.S. Dollars)

 

Finally,,

Sunday - March 4, 1979

Teatro Ariston Theatre, San Remo, Italy

WBC Light-Middleweight Championship

** Rocco 'Rocky' Mattioli (Italy) 53-4-2 (40 KO's)
vs.
#1 Marurice Hope (United Kingdom) 26-2-1 (21 KO's)

25 year-old Rocky Mattioli will attempt to make the '3rd-Defense' of his
WBC Light-Middleweight Title versus the #1 WBC-ranked Challenger,
United Kingdom's 27 year-old, Maurice Hope.

This Sunday-night bout will be held at the 2500-seat Ariston Theatre, in San Remo,
and nationally televised.

The Champion from Italy and Challenger from Hackney, London, are regarded as the 'two' best
154 lb. boxers in Europe. This 'highly anticipated' match will answer the question, just
who is the best Light-Middleweight.

Since winning the Title (KO 5) over Germany's Eckhard Dagge in August 1977, Mattioli has
scored '2' impressive Knock-outs in defense of his Belt, as well as '3' non-title wins.
Rocky's last bout, was a 'workman-like' TKO 7 over American Freddie Boyton in a
non-title bout fought in September 1978, 6-months ago.

Maurice Hope, from the United Kingdom - by way of Antigua is the #1 WBC Light-Middleweight.
The 27 year-old southpaw, is the EBU (European Boxing Union) Light-Middleweight Champion.
Sporting an impressive 26-2-1 (21 KO's) record, Maurice has gone undefeated in nearly 4-years.
Since June 1975, Hope has run off a 13-0-1 (11 KO's) record.

In that span, Maurice has defeated, in October 1976 (KO 15) Vito Antuofermo (for the European Championhsip),
fought a 'disputed' (Draw 15) in March 1977 with WBC Champion Eckhard Dagge, won a (Maj. Dec 15)
in July 1977 with Frank Wissenbach, and scored a (KO 5) in November 1977 over Joel Bonnetaz.

Maurice Hope, has been the #1 WBC-ranked Light-Middleweight since January 1977.

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March 1979 - WBC Light-Middleweight Rankings
**... Rocky Mattioli
#1... Maurice Hope
#2... Edgar Ross
#3... Rocky Mosley Jr.
#4... Frank Wissenbach
#5... Tony Chiaverini
#6... Carlos Herrera
#7... Claude Martin
#8... Gilbert Cohen
#9... Sandy Torres
#10.. Marijan Benes

Boxing World

London-based Maurice Hope won the WBC Light-Middleweight Championship by stopping
Champion Rocky Mattioli of Italy by TKO 9 in San Remo, Italy.

Hope, the #1 WBC-ranked Challenger floored the 25 year-old Champion just moments into the bout, with
a straight left hand. Mattioli, while falling to the canvas - injured his right wrist in an attempt
to slow the trip to the mat.

The 27 year-old southpaw, then put on a clinic of right jabs, straight lefts and overall boxing
skills to dominate the injured Champion over the first '5' rounds. Mattioli, fighting with only his
left-hand, did battle back in Rounds 6 and 7, as the Challenger slowed a bit.

But, Maurice Hope stepped up the pace in Round 8, and battered Mattioli without a return.
Before Round 9, the Champion's corner decided to retire their injured fighter, who despite a
broken wrist, wanted to continue.

Referee Ray Solis, then raised the hand of the new Champion, while the 2000+fans in attendance
at the Teatro Ariston sat in grief as their fallen hero wept openly.

Maurice Hope, said he would make his 'first-defense' of his WBC Light-Middleweight Championship
in London, sometime in July 1979. The ex-Champion Mattioli, will need at least 6-months rest, to
repair his broken right wrist.

This bout was telecast on ABC-TV television.

Fight purses;
Rocky Mattioli......$185,000 (U.S. Dollars)
Maurice Hope.......$65,000 (U.S. Dollars)

 

Bugger,,,,,,,,


I think you could exchange the champagne and caviar,,,,,,,,, for shrimp and a Foster's.

Put another shrimp on the barby !!!

And don't forget, the Round Card Girl,,,,,,,,,,,Katrina Redina parading around the ring in a white string bikini.

 

Rocco 'Rocky' Mattioli to return.

Former WBC Light-Middleweight Champion signs a '6-bout' contract with
the Italain Promoters, to participate in an exclusive 'Friday Night Fight'
promotion.

Rocky's manager, Umberto Branchini, has stated, that his fighter will enter into a
'6-bout' fight promotion over '8-months', in preperation for regaining his
WBC Light-Middleweight Championship, which hopefully will take place in July 1980.

The 26 year-old Italian will start the '6-fight' promotion in October 1979 and end in
May 1980. The contract calls for Rocky Mattioli to receive $150,000, or $25,000
per bout, against selected Light-Middleweight opponents. All of the Friday Night Fights
will be broadcast on the Italian Sports Newtwork.

Rocky's right wrist, broken in his bout with Maurice Hope in March 1979, has healed,
and Rocky will be testing it on Friday Nights.

Rocky Mattioli's 'Friday Night Fight' comeback run, 'Italian Style'.

October 1979.....(Rome).........TKO 5....Leon McCullum
November 1979...(Pordenone)...KO 4.....Roy Johnson
December 1979...(Milan)..........KO 2.....'Irish' Pat Murphy
March 1980........(Bologna)......KO 1....Jesse Carter
May 1980...........(Rome).........KO 2....Jaime Thomas
May 1980...........(Rome).........KO 8....Rafael Rodriguez

Rocco, Rocky' Mattioli has improved his record to 59-5-2 (46 KO's), and has regained his
#1 WBC Light-Middleweight ranking.

The 26 year-old former Champion is training in Milan, Italy, and will move his training camp
to England, for his upcoming (July 12) challenge for the WBC Championship, held by
Maurice Hope of the United Kingdom.

Rocky Mattioli training in Rome, Italy, before his rematch with Maurice Hope.

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Saturday - July 12, 1980

WBC Light-Middleweight Championship

Conference Centre - Wembley, London

Attendance; 4700

** Maurice Hope (United Kingdom) 29-2-1 (23 KO's) {Age; 28 1/2}
vs.
#1 Rocky Mattioli (Italy) 59-5-2 (46 KO's) {Age; 26 1/2}

WBC Champion, Maurice Hope makes the '2nd' Title Defense of his Championship Belt,
that he won from Rocky Mattioli in March 1979.

Fight Broadcast; ABC-TV Television

From the out-set, it is all Maurice Hope, as his speed, power, sharp-punching and southpaw
style - all frustrate the 'pressure fighter' from Italy.

By Round 6, Mattioli becomes desperate, and starts winging punches, in hopes of landing a
one-punch haymaker. As Rocky fades, 'Mo-Hope' turns it on, an batters Mattioli with straight
left-hands down the middle.

In Round 10, Referee Arthur Mercante takes a good look at the battered Italian, but lets
the former-Champion continue. In Round 11, 'Mo-Hope' continues his offensive assault, and
scores without a return on a defenseless Mattioli.

At 2:52 of Round 11, Referee Arthur Mercante calls a halt to the 'one-sided bout', and Maurice Hope
retains his WBC Light-Middleweight title by a TKO 11.

Maurice Hope was ahead on all Scorecards; {98-91 / 98-91/ 98-92}

Fight Purse;
Maurice Hope;....... $225,000 (U.S. Dollars)
Rocky Mattioli;........ $75,000 (U.S. Dollars)

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WBC Champion Rocky Mattioli vs. #1 WBC Maurice Hope

March 4, 1979

The Champion, floored moments into the '1st Round'.
Mattioli injured his right wrist (cracked bone) while trying to slow down his fall.

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