Greatest Italian American Heavyweights Since 1960

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Seamus, May 22, 2026.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    65,751
    52,837
    Feb 11, 2005
    Baby Joe Mesi
    Dino Dennis

    uh....

    Frank Bruno?
     
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    #1
    BCS8 and Boxed Ears like this.
  2. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    58,320
    13,406
    Jul 28, 2009
    Bruno. ...Dennis isn't even an Italian surname.
     
    Boxed Ears, May 22, 2026
    Boxed Ears, May 22, 2026
    #2
  3. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,584
    9,152
    Oct 8, 2013
    No Lou Savarese
     
    The Long Count, May 22, 2026
    The Long Count, May 22, 2026
    #3
    thistle, KO KIDD and Seamus like this.
  4. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Combat sports enthusiast Full Member

    2,277
    3,632
    Jun 30, 2021
    Peter McNeeley.
     
    MixedMartialLaw, May 22, 2026
    MixedMartialLaw, May 22, 2026
    #4
  5. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,439
    12,145
    Aug 16, 2018
    Italian American it's Joe Messi.
    Italian it's Francesco Damiani.

    Messi was a bit undersized but he had really fast hands for a heavyweight and was a pretty likeable guy with an entertaining style.

    Damiani was a solid fighter. He got absolutely robbed in the 84' Olympics but avenged his loss to Tyrell Briggs in the pros. The only men to beat him were prime Ray Mercer and prime Oliver McCall. Silver medal Olympian and WBO championship is not a bad career.
     
    AwardedSteak863, May 22, 2026
    AwardedSteak863, May 22, 2026
    #5
    BCS8 likes this.
  6. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    31,417
    42,264
    Jul 4, 2014
    Wouldn't that be French?
     
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    #6
  7. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    31,417
    42,264
    Jul 4, 2014
    Irish!
     
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    #7
    KO KIDD likes this.
  8. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,466
    9,287
    Aug 15, 2018
    Willie Pastrano had some nice wins at HW….Baby Joe…what could have been.
     
    Gazelle Punch, May 22, 2026
    Gazelle Punch, May 22, 2026
    #8
    catchwtboxing likes this.
  9. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    31,417
    42,264
    Jul 4, 2014
    I know neither are American but if we are throwing Italian names,

    Lorenzo Zanon
    Oscar Bonevena
     
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    #9
  10. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    31,417
    42,264
    Jul 4, 2014
    Half Italian, mother was cajun.
     
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    #10
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    65,751
    52,837
    Feb 11, 2005
    He was born in Italy and moved to The US of A.
     
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    #11
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    65,751
    52,837
    Feb 11, 2005
    Zanon was Italian Italian. No American.

    Bonavena was Argentine. There were a few of those of Italian descent, but they were not IROC driving, wifebeater wearing, proscut n capicole eatin' Americans.
     
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    #12
  13. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic War for Souls Full Member

    8,649
    8,998
    Nov 3, 2021
    Probably Francesco Damiani. The first WBO champion, in the era when the WBO was not a recognized belt (like the WBO was not a recognized belt when Morrison beat Foreman).
     
    ikrasevic, May 22, 2026
    ikrasevic, May 22, 2026
    #13
  14. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    65,751
    52,837
    Feb 11, 2005
    Savarese is very much Italian American. It's how you pronounce it... sa-va-RASE-aye.
     
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    Seamus, May 22, 2026
    #14
    catchwtboxing likes this.
  15. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

    31,417
    42,264
    Jul 4, 2014
    That's what Is said, but I saw Damiani thrown out there.

    What the hell happens on that boatride?

    This content is protected
     
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    catchwtboxing, May 22, 2026
    #15
    Seamus likes this.
Page 1 of 2