Francesco Damiani
Francesco Damiani ( born October 4, 1958 in Bagnacavallo, Italy ) is an Italian former heavyweight boxer.
Amateur
Damiani was Italian champion of the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
In 1979 he took part in the Mediterranean Games, finishing in third place. The following year, Damiani took the first time in the Olympic Games in part and dropped out after a win over Teodor Pirjol, Romania ( 4-1 ) in the quarterfinals against Pyotr Sajew, Soviet Union ( 0:5 ), from.
1981, where he among other things Damiani European Champion in the semifinals Ulli Kaden, DDR (5:0), and in the final Vyacheslav Yakovlev, Soviet Union (5-0 ) struck. At the World Championships 1982 in Munich, the Italians occupied after a final defeat against Tyrell Biggs, United States ( 1:4), the second place, but defeated in the quarter-finals Teófilo Stevenson, Cuba (5-0 ).
At the European Championships in 1983 Damiani defended his title in 1981, where he won a fight in the final against Ulli Kaden, GDR.
In 1984, Damiani for the second time in the Olympics and won the silver medal. He lost it in the final again against Tyrell Biggs on points.
Professional career
After the Olympics, Damiani joined the professional boxers and announced on January 5, 1985 his professional debut. In his 19th fight, he won the European title by knockout in the sixth round against Sweden Anders Eklund. On October 29, 1988, he met Tyrell Biggs. He won by TKO in round five, since the fight due to a laceration on Biggs ' right eye was canceled.
On June 5, 1988, Francesco Damiani was a knockout victory in the third round of the South African Johnny DuPlooy first heavyweight champion of the newly created WBO Association.
At this time the WBO title, however, enjoyed little prestige. The undisputed heavyweight champion was Mike Tyson, who held the WBA, WBC and IBF belt at that time.
In his second title defense on 11 January 1991 Damiani lost the belt to Ray Mercer. Here, the Italians went in the ninth round by an uppercut that broke his nose to the ground and was counted.
On 23 April 1993 Damiani was up against Oliver McCall and lost by TKO in the eighth round. Then he stepped away from the sport of boxing.