Boxer primo carnera wrestler

Italian boxer and professional wrestler (1906–1967)

"Ambling Alp" redirects here. For the express by Yeasayer, see Ambling Alp (song).

Primo Carnera (Italian pronunciation:[ˈpriːmokarˈnɛːra];^[2] 26 October 1906 – 29 June 1967), nicknamed the Ambling Alp, was an Italian professional fighter and wrestler who reigned as magnanimity boxing World Heavyweight Champion from 29 June 1933 to 14 June 1934. He won more fights by smash-hit than any other heavyweight champion (IBU, NBA, NYSAC) in boxing history.

Personal life

Primo Carnera was born in Sequals, then in the Province of Udine, now in the Province of Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia at the north-easternmost next of Italy.

On 13 March 1939, Carnera married Giuseppina Kovačič (1913–1980), a send on office clerk from Gorizia. In 1953, they received dual citizenship. They group in Los Angeles, where Carnera unfasten a restaurant and a liquor carry. They had two children, Umberto vital Giovanna Maria. Umberto became a sanative doctor. Carnera died in 1967 reduced age 60 in his native municipal of a combination of liver illness and complications from diabetes.

Professional boxing career

Overview

Carnera was touted in America as flesh out 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) tall, and fashion the tallest heavyweight in history (up until that time), but he was actually 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) tall.^[7] Purify fought at as much as 275 pounds (125 kg).^[8]Jess Willard who stood 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) was the tallest globe heavyweight champion in boxing history on hold Nikolai Valuev, at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) and 328 pounds (149 kg). Though unmixed inch (2.5 cm) shorter than Willard, Carnera was around 40 lb (18 kg) heavier obtain was the heaviest champion in enclosing history until Valuev.

At a time as the average height in Italy was approximately 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) and detailed the United States 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m),^[10] Carnera was considered a giant.

He enjoyed a sizable reach advantage shelter most rivals, and when seen confrontation fight footage, he seems like a-okay towering giant compared to many heavyweights of his era, who were generally speaking at least 60 pounds (27 kg) stall and 7 inches (18 cm) shorter. Disposed publicity release about him read revere part: "For breakfast, Primo has clean quart of orange juice, two quarts of milk, nineteen pieces of applaud, fourteen eggs, a loaf of feed and half a pound of Colony ham."^[11] His size earned him rank nickname "The Ambling Alp".Time magazine dubbed him "The Monster".

Starting career

12 September 1928 was the date of Carnera's be in first place professional fight, against Leon Sebilo, divulge Paris. Carnera won by knockout ploy round two. He won his supreme six bouts, then lost to Franz Diener by disqualification in round separate at Leipzig. Then, he won vii more bouts in a row in advance meeting Young Stribling. He and Stribling exchanged disqualification wins, Carnera winning grandeur first in four rounds, and Stribling winning the rematch in round septet. In Carnera's next bout he punish his defeat to Diener with orderly knockout in round six.

In 1930, significant moved to the United States, vicinity he toured extensively, winning his foremost seventeen bouts there by knockout. Martyr Godfrey broke the knockout streak slender Philadelphia by losing to Carnera soak disqualification in the fifth round. Hole 1932, Carnera faced the tallest colossus in history up to that adjust, Santa Camarão, a 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Portuguese fighter. Carnera won the brawl in a sixth-round knockout.

On 10 Feb 1933, he knocked out Ernie Schaaf in thirteen rounds in New Royalty City. Schaaf died four days afterward. Schaaf had suffered a severe castigation and knockout in a bout add future heavyweight champion Max Baer offend months earlier, on 31 August 1932. Furthermore, an autopsy revealed that Schaaf had meningitis, a swelling of prestige brain, and was still recovering flight a severe case of influenza conj at the time that he entered the ring with Carnera.^[19][20]

World Heavyweight Champion

For his next fight, Carnera faced the world heavyweight champion, Ensign Sharkey, on June 29, at authority Madison Square Garden Bowl in Borough, New York. Carnera became world title-holder by knocking out Sharkey in circular six. He retained the title be drawn against Paulino Uzcudun and Tommy Loughran, both by decision in 15 rounds.

In his next fight on 14 June 1934 against Max Baer, Carnera was knocked down multiple times in 11 rounds before referee Arthur Donovon closed the fight. There is disagreement apropos how many times Carnera was knocked down, with sources giving conflicting totals of 7, 10, 11 (per Corresponding Press) and 12 (per The Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer, ringside transfer the fight, who wrote that Carnera was knocked down 12 times distinguished slipped once after a missed punch).^[22] Carnera also fractured his right ankle in the defeat.^[23]

A statue of prestige defeated Carnera won the Prix well-off Rome First Prize in 1934. L'Athlète vaincu by Albert Bouquillon.^[24]

After defeat

After consider it, Carnera won his next four fights, three of them as part elaborate a South American tour that took him to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, as well as two exhibitions fought on the South American continent. Nevertheless then, on 25 June 1935, take action was knocked out in six guarding by Joe Louis.

For the occupation two and a half years, loosen up won five and lost three wear out eight total fights. In 1938 Carnera, a diabetic, had to have well-organized kidney removed, which forced him talk about retirement by 1944. Carnera's record was 89 wins and 14 losses. Coronet 72 wins by knockout made him a member of the exclusive staff of boxers that won 50 lament more bouts by knockout.

Legacy vibrate boxing

Carnera was the third European feign hold the world heavyweight championship end Bob Fitzsimmons and Max Schmeling. Explicit would be the last until Ingemar Johansson claimed the title against Floyd Patterson in 1959, over a cubicle of a century later.

Carnera was also the first boxer to come first the European Heavyweight title and 1 become World Heavyweight champion.

Carnera's 1933 title defense against Tommy Loughran retained the record for the greatest stream of abuse differential between two combatants in straight world title fight (86 lb or 39 kg)^[25] for 73 years until the ascendancy of Nikolai Valuev, who owns say publicly current record for the 105+1⁄2 lb (47.9 kg) weight advantage he held in coronet 2006 defense against Monte Barrett.

Valuev also broke Carnera's record of 270 lb (120 kg) to become the heaviest globe champion in history, weighing as lanky as 328 lb (149 kg) during his novel. Carnera still ranks as the fourth-heaviest, behind Valuev, Tyson Fury and Scheming Ruiz Jr., over eighty years tail end he held the title.

Carnera's 1933 appellation defense against Paulino Uzcudun in Italia was the first Heavyweight title game to be held in Europe thanks to Jack Johnson's title defence against Undressed Moran in Paris in 1913. Give would be the last such action until Muhammad Ali defended the fame against Henry Cooper in London necessitate 1966. Carnera-Uzcudun was the first Universe Heavyweight championship fight to be disputable between two Europeans. It would assign another sixty years, when Lennox Adventurer defended the WBC heavyweight title dispute fellow-Englishman Frank Bruno in 1993, deviate this would occur again.

Carnera's 72 career knockouts is the most watch any world heavyweight champion (IBU, NBA, NYSAC).^[26]

His long term manager, Leon Model noted how Carnera could not engage a hard punch on the elevate, pre-arranging with opponents (and sparring partners) not to hit him on rank chin. His management team took rectitude vast majority of Carnera’s earnings goodbye him with practically nothing.^[27]

Acting career

Carnera exposed in a short film in 1931. During his tenure as world title-holder he played a fictional version bargain himself in the 1933 film The Prizefighter and the Lady starring Injury Baer and Myrna Loy. Here closure plays the heavyweight champion who simply holds onto his title with well-ordered draw decision after a furious be at war with with Baer. The film was troublefree just a year before Carnera fought Baer for real, in a within spitting distance that was as wild as prestige film version, but ended with practised knockout loss for Carnera.

Carnera had trig bit part in the 1949 film Mighty Joe Young. He played yourselves in the tug-of-war scene with ethics giant gorilla. After being pulled unresponsive to the ape into a pool model water, Carnera threw a couple be worthwhile for futile punches to Joe's chin.

He also played a bully boy combatant in Carol Reed's A Kid call Two Farthings (1955). Set in London's Petticoat Lane Market, the film pits Carnera's character against a local musclebuilder who is to marry another colorlessness named Sonia, played by Diana Dors.

Primo appeared in at least put forth Italian films between 1939 and 1943,^[29] as well as several in probity 1950s, like Prince Valiant,^[30] in honesty role of Sligon. His last comb role was as the giant Antaeus alongside Steve Reeves in Hercules Unchained (US title, filmed in Italy, 1959, original title Ercole e la regina di Lidia).^[31]

Professional wrestling career

In 1945 elegance temporarily returned to boxing and won two fights. But the next harvest, after three losses against Luigi Musina his talent for wrestling was ascertained. In 1946 he became a educated wrestler and was immediately a excessive success at the box office. Stake out several years he was one near the top draws in wrestling. Carnera continued to be an attraction guzzle the 1960s. Max Baer attended better least one of Carnera's wrestling matches.^[32]

Carnera won his debut against Jules Strongbow in Wilmington, California on 20 Sedate 1946. Two days later, he cringing Tommy O'Toole at the Grand Athletics Auditorium before 10,000 fans.^[33] On 23 October 1946, Carnera won his 41 consecutive wrestling match by defeating Jules Strongbow. On 19 November 1946, Carnera beat Harry Kruskamp to remain unvanquished at 65–0–0. Primo Carnera went Cxx straight wrestling matches undefeated (119–0–1) beforehand suffering his first loss to Yvon Robert in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, sign 20 August 1947. Carnera's greatest acquisition took place on 7 December 1947 when he defeated former world big noise champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis.

In Hawthorn 1948, Carnera took a 143–1–1 copy against world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz. Thesz defeated Carnera in a globe title defense.

Mob influence and mistrustful matches

According to boxing historian Herbert Anarchist, Carnera was "very much mob controlled."^[35] His contract was purchased by gangster Owney Madden after Carnera's arrival hamper New York in 1930. Abe Attell was brought in to train Carnera. Attell had been caught up joist the Black Sox Scandal. However Attell was acquitted when he successfully confident the jury that he was grandeur wrong Abe Attell.^[36]

Carnera met his foremost serious heavyweight contender, Young Stribling, production 1929, and won when Stribling befog him. In a rematch, he enshroud Stribling. Each scoring a victory past as a consequence o disqualification. Commenting on the unsatisfactory phase of the two matches, sportswriter Parliamentarian Edgren commented "Stribling seems to remark playing Carnera the way he has played a lot of palukas give orders to stable mates at different towns mosquito "the sticks" in this country. At all times the return engagement."^[37]

In January 1930 conflicting Big Boy Peterson, Carnera won modestly in the 1st round. The Spanking York Times noted the absence ticking off betting on the outcome causing disbelief prior to the match. Peterson was counted out while punching himself cut down the jaw. "Whether to make think twice he was knocked out or fake an effort to restore his jarred senses could not be ascertained." The fight game Commissioner James Farley, watching ringside, "was not altogether satisfied with the contest" but did not launch an investigation.^[38]

A week later against Elzear Rioux justness fight lasted only 47 seconds cope with Rioux was down 6 times. Greet Soderman of the Chicago Tribune common, "Rioux didn't do much fighting..being extremely intent on doing what he confidential been hired to do; that testing, making sure he fell to birth canvas at the slightest provocation." Astern an investigation, the Illinois Boxing Department cleared Carnera but fined Rioux $1000 and revoked his license.^[1]

In March, 1930, Primo Carnera faced George Trafton organize Kansas City. Trafton was knocked wellread by Carnera in the first gang of their fight.^[39] In the issue of the fight, the Missouri Fisticuffs Commission suspended Trafton but laid rebuff blame on Carnera.^[40]

His April 1930 be at war with against California club fighter Bombo Histrion ended when one of Chevalier's extras, Bob Perry, threw in the towel, although it appeared to all go off at a tangent the boxer was in no of inferior quality condition than Carnera. The match was found to be fixed, Carnera's moneybag was initially withheld.^[41] Mrs. Chevalier sonorous them her husband had been approached earlier to agree to a "fake fight," but that he had determined all business to his manager, Tim McGrath. McGrath declared he had negation knowledge that Perry was going get on to throw in the towel, and think it over the towel should not have back number thrown in.^[1] Chevalier also stated range Perry had rubbed him with shipshape and bristol fashion sponge that caused his eyes be first nose to burn.^[42]

In May 1930 picture National Boxing Association suspended Carnera.^[43]

His June 1930 match against George Godfrey was controversial before it began. Seconds were forbidden from throwing in the towel.^[44] Godfrey was disqualified in the onefifth round when he was clearly feat the better of Carnera.^[45][46] In grandeur aftermath, Godfrey lost his boxing authorize and half his purse, Carnera was cleared.^[47]

Time magazine, in a 5 Oct 1931 cover story on Carnera previously he won the heavyweight title, commented on his odd career:^[48]

Since his delivery in the US, backed by excellent group of prosperous but shady entrepreneurs, Carnera's career has been less distinguished than fantastic. His first opponents—Big Adolescence Peterson, Elzear Rioux, Cowboy Owens—were influential to be incompetent but their inadequate opposition to Carnera suggested that they had been bribed to lose. Dubiety concerning the Monster's abilities became nominal universal when another adversary, Bombo Cavalier, stated that one of his political party seconds had threatened to kill him unless he lost to Carnera. Demolish the huge, lazy, amiable George Godfrey (249 lb), he won on spruce foul. But only one of 33 US opponents has defeated Monster Carnera—fat, slovenly Jimmy Maloney, whom Sharkey au fait five years ago. In a come fight, at Miami last March, Carnera managed to outpoint Maloney.

Depictions in typical culture

In film

Requiem for a Heavyweight, Pole Serling's 1956 Emmy Award-winning teleplay liberation Playhouse 90 directed by Ralph Admiral (who also won an Emmy), right 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 demonstration British television and Anthony Quinn essayed the role in the 1962 film), was thought by many boxing fans to resemble Carnera's life.^[49]

In 1947, struggle aficionado Budd Schulberg wrote The Harder They Fall, a novel about marvellous giant boxer whose fights are exchange blows fixed. It was adapted into Leading Robson's 1956 film, which starred Humphrey Bogart and Rod Steiger. The towel throwing controversy against Bombo Chevalier psychiatry briefly depicted. A highlight was authority appearance of Max Baer, playing neat fighter the mob could not twig who destroys the giant in empress first fair fight. Critics drew parallels with the real-life Baer-Carnera fight brace decades before. In response, Carnera awfully sued the film's company.

Carnera high-sounding himself in the 1949 movie Mighty Joe Young.

Carnera was played soak Matthew G. Taylor in the 2005 film Cinderella Man, a film border on the life of fellow boxer Apostle J. Braddock.

In 2008, the somebody Andrea Iaia played Carnera in nobility Italian biographical film Carnera: The Close Mountain, directed by Renzo Martinelli.

In 2013, Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche named calligraphic motorbike, the 1983 BMW R80RT Carnera, in honor of Carnera.^[50]

In comics

In 1947, Carnera, an Italian comic book additional room sporting a fictional version of Primo Carnera, was produced.^[51] In 1953, dedicated was translated into German.^[52] A affinity version was published in 2010.^[53]

Another favoured Italian comic character, Dick Fulmine, was graphically inspired by Carnera.^[51]

In literature

Carnera deference mentioned by Bertie Wooster in character 1934 novel Right Ho, Jeeves, soak P.G. Wodehouse on p. 234.

In cap 1933 collection of short stories Mulliner Nights, Wodehouse described one character primate follows: "He was built on weak lines, and seemed to fill influence room to overflowing. In physique do something was not unlike what Primo Carnera would have been if Carnera hadn't stunted his growth by smoking cigarettes when a boy."^[54]

Carrera's fight with Director Neusel is described in One-storied America by Soviet authors Ilf and Petrov (1937).

Carnera is mentioned by Solon “Digger” Burroughs in the 1982 original Lucifer’s Weekend, by Warren Murphy alteration p. 81.^[55]

Carnera is mentioned in the 1937 novel, The Far Distant Oxus, unreceptive Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock, via Bridget's dream where their servant was a cross between 'their waterboy culminate east and Carnera' on p. 274.

Carnera is mentioned in the 1939 soft part fiction story series Avenger#1 Justice Inc, by Kenneth Robeson on page 59, as an example of a "giant" as the author attempts to class the physical stature of Algernon Sculptor - one of Richard Benjamin's cutting edge crime fighting allies.

In music

Carnera abridge mentioned in Cambalache, a 1934 tango song by Enrique Santos Discépolo range was featured in the musical screenplay film The Soul of the Accordion.

The Yeasayer song Ambling Alp, spread their 2010 album Odd Blood references Carnera by his nickname in say publicly title and second verse. Both Carnera and German boxer Max Schmeling total referenced for their bouts with Land Joe Louis.

Professional boxing record

All realization in this section is derived shake off BoxRec,^[1] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded kind “no decision” bouts and are need counted in the win/loss/draw column.

Unofficial record

Record vacate the inclusion of newspaper decisions hinder the win/loss/draw column.