Duilio Loi

Duilio Loi (19 April 1929 – 20 January 2008) was an Italian boxer who held the Italian and European lightweight and welterweight titles, as well as the World Junior Welterweight Championship. Loi fought from 1948 to 1962, and retired with a record of 115 wins (26 KOs), 3 losses and 8 draws.

Duilio Loi
Duilio Loi with daughter, 1960s
Statistics
Weight(s)	Light welterweight
Height	1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Reach	175 cm (69 in)
Nationality	Italian
Born	29 April 1929 Trieste, Kingdom of Italy
Died	20 January 2008 (aged 78) Treviso, Republic of Italy
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	126
Wins	115
Wins by KO	26
Losses	3
Draws	8

Loi is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time at his weight and one of the best fighters to come out of Italy.[1]

Biography

Loi's grave at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan, Italy, in 2015

Loi was born in Trieste in 1929, to a father from Sardinia and mother from Friuli Venezia Giulia.[2][3]

Loi fought many outstanding fighters in his career, including three bouts with lightweight great Carlos Ortiz. Although all their fights were close, Loi won two out of three bouts, which were all for the world light welterweight title.[4]

The first bout, which was nationally televised in the USA, took place on 16 June 1960 at Cow Palace in Daly City, California. In what would be one of only two US appearances, Loi was defeated after 15 rounds, with a controversial split-decision in Ortiz' favour. Less than three months later the two met again for a rematch, this time in Loi's native Italy. The bout took place at Milan's famous San Siro stadium, in front of a record crowd of 65,000. Loi came through strongly in the late rounds to become World Champion by majority decision.[5][6] The next year a third bout took place, again at the San Siro. Loi knocked down Ortiz in the sixth and earnt a victory by unanimous decision to defend his title.[7]

Loi was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. His daughter Bonaria accepted the award on his behalf, because Loi was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.[8][9] Loi died in January 2008 at the age of 78 in Treviso, Italy, and is buried at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan.[10][11][12]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

118 fights	115 wins	3 losses
By knockout	23	0
By decision	92	3

See also

• Legends of Italian sport - Walk of Fame
• Lineal championship
• List of light welterweight boxing champions

References

1. Hudson, David (2009). Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting, and Mixed Martial Arts. p. 187. ISBN 978-0313343841. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
2. Giallara, Giuseppe (21 January 2008). "Era orgoglioso delle sue origini sarde". La Nuova Sardegna (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2018.
3. Liebling, A. J. (2016). A Neutral Corner: Boxing Essays. New York: North Point Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0865474956.
4. Roberts, James B.; Skutt, Alexander G. (2006). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book. Ithaca, New York: McBooks Press. p. 484. ISBN 1-59013-121-5.
5. Roberts & Skutt 2006, p. 487.
6. "Duilio Loi - Lineal Junior Welterweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
7. Fischer, Doug (9 January 2018). "10: Best final acts". The Ring. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
8. "Class of 2005". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
9. Mohamed, Khalid (15 November 2005). "Duilio Loi, History's forgotten great". Boxing247.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
10. "Ieri i funerali di Duilio Loi". Il Tirreno (in Italian). 24 January 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
11. "Palazzo Marino, Palmeri ricorda in Aula Duilio Loi". Comune di Milano (in Italian). 24 January 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
12. Signori, Riccardo (17 September 2009). "In mostra la Milano di Duilio Loi". Il Giornale. Retrieved 19 August 2018.

External links

• Boxing record for Duilio Loi from BoxRec
• Duilio Loi - CBZ Profile