Forgotten great fighters, Part VII

Duilio Loi

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Duilio Loi was born on April the 19th in 1929 in Trieste/ Italy. He was only 5´4½ tall, but was built compact and strong, he was pysically very strong and made sometimes fitness exercises, he weighed between 133 lbs. and 146 lbs. and fought as an Lightweight and Light Welterweight. His trainer was Aldo Spoldi, also a former good fighter who fought the likes of Henry Armstrong, Sammy Angott, Freddie Miller, etc. His style was easy to describe: Very good fast and stiff jab, unbelievable high pace, great stamina, great chin (never knocked down or even stunned), good skills, very slick, great defense, brawler with a high volume of punches, he was always exciting to watch.

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He has a great resume of 126 fights, where he won 115 (26 KO´s), 8 draws and only 3 defeats (all defeats were avenged in rematches), he defeated great/very good fighters like the English Tommy Barnham, in the USA Glen Flanagan, unbeaten Bruno Visintin, Ernesto Formenti, Emilio Marconi, Jorgen Johansen, Ray Famechon, former World Champ Wallace Smith, Giancarlo Garbelli, Fred Galiana, Conny Rudhoff, Piet Van Klaveren, Fortunato Manca, Carlos Ortiz, Eddie Perkins, etc. Against Ortiz, a three fights-trilogy, Loi was robbed the 1st time in the USA against Ortiz viá SD, the crowd hooted and were angry that the wrong fighter won, that´s why a 2nd fight was made, this time Loi won viá MD, also a very close fight. In their 3rd fight Loi was clearly the better fighter, knocked Ortiz in the 6th round down, and hurt him badly in the 13th, he won with 3, 5 and 8 points difference. Against Perkins it was a draw in their 1st fight, the 2nd one Loi showed that he was already washed up, although he knocked Perkins in the 1st round and in the 14th round down, he lost this fight. In the 3rd fight Loi made a hard preparation for 3 months and said himself he trained so hard like he never did. He won this fight clearly and retired on top. We should notice that Loi, when he fought the young guns Ortiz and Perkins in their primes, was already washed up and not near prime. He suffered also a pretty bad car accident in 1956, where he hurt his leg. During his prime he was ducked by many fighters.

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He defended his Italian Lightweight Title for 5 times, his European crown for 13 times, he fought in Italy, France, Denmark, USA, Tunisia, Australia, Switzerland, England, Another interesting thing is, that Loi could accommodate himself to his opponents, Perkins said for example something interesting: " I fought Duilio Loi three times, but I fought three different kind of fighters!" Loi could brawl with punchers like Manca, Ortiz, Galiana, etc., but he could also box with boxing master techniques like Perkins, Famechon, etc. When Loi was asked about the fighter who was the most difficult to fight, Loi answered surprisingly with Gianluigi Uboldi. Duilio Loi was finally introducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.

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Thanks! He fought for the world title against Carlos Ortiz at Light Welterweight, lost in the USA a SD, than in the rematch in Italy he won also a close MD, than in their 3rd fight he won a UD with 3, 5 and 8 points more than Carlos. Than against Perkins it was a draw, the 2nd one a loss and in their 3rd fight Loi won. The problem was, that Loi was in his prime ducked so long, that´s why he fought later for the World Title (almost when he wanted to end his career)...

 

Like I wrote, he was ducked by most fighters at LW. He traveled to USA to conquer fans there, but he never got the chance. Ortiz, a great LW in his prime, thaught it would be good and quick earned money zo fight for the LWW World Title against a European fighter with a padded record, but he was wrong.

 

You´re welcome! :thumbsup

 

IMO he would have beaten him, Brown at his best was a very good fighter, but a prime Loi was just better to be honest... what do you think, unitas?

 

Good description, right-minded arguments!

 

Thx! :thumbsup