Sandro Lopopolo

Sandro Lopopolo ( born December 18, 1939 in Milan ) is an Italian former light welterweight boxer.

Amateur

Lopopolo won the 1960 at the Olympic Games in Rome, the silver medal in lightweight. In the final he was defeated by Poland Kazimierz Paździor.

Professional career

His professional career began in 1961 with an impressive series of 35 fights without defeat. In November 1963 he became Italian champion in the light welterweight division. Twice he was able to defend the title, but in September 1964 he was defeated by Piero Brandi on points. The rematch in March of the following year won Lopopolo by TKO. Regained his championship title he defended then again.

His attack on the vacant European title in the light welterweight failed in July 1965, by point defeat against the Spaniard Juan Albornoz.

The highlight of his boxing career gained Lopopolo in April 1966, when he was sent to a victory over the Venezuelans Carlos " Morocho " Hernández world champion in the light welterweight division after WBA and WBC version. In October, he was challenged by Vicente Rivas of Venezuela. In the eighth round Rivas had to retire injured. Lopopolo then met in April 1967 to the Japanese Takeshi Fuji, the ausknockte him already in the second round.

In the remainder of his career, Lopopolo tried three more times in title fights. Twice he failed in this, to gain the vacant European title in the light welterweight: In May 1970, he was defeated by Frenchman Rene Roque on points and in February 1972 the Frenchman Roger Zarni. Lopopolo moved to the welterweight division, there to secure the European Championship title. But the Frenchman Roger Menetrey prevented this in December 1972 by technical knockout in the thirteenth round.