Duilio Loi
Titles: Jr. Welterweight Champion 1960-1962
Record: 115-3-8
Born: April 19, 1929 in Trieste, Italy
Years active: 1949-1962
Nickname: None
Here is another case of a truly great fighter who is overlooked by many fans simply
because he fought almost exclusively in Europe. Everyone talks of Marciano, Galaxy
and Monzon because they retired while on top and still champions of the world but
few know that Loi did the same! it probably did not help Loi much that he was also
not a knockout puncher as only 25 of his 126 fights ended with a knockout, but
then again Loi was never knocked out in a 13 year pro career either. Loi was a
short but well built all around boxer, who was not afraid to brawl when it was
needed but certainly his defense was above average. His southpaw stance was some-
what negated by his infighting style at times. He was a shorter much more skilled
version of Marciano, always bobbing and weaving his way inside. But of course he
lacked Rocky's knock out power. All of Loi's losses were avenged, another tough
feat along with the fact that Loi lost only once in his first 110 fights! Looking
at Loi's ring record shows he beat very good fighters like Wallace "Bud" Smith,
Orlando Zuleta, Conny Rudhoff, Eddie Perkins, Carlos Ortiz and Jorgen Johansen.
In his third year as a pro Loi won the Italian lightweight title by outpointing
Gianni Uboldi and for the rest of his career would be either a Italian, European
or World champion. After many defenses of his Italian title Loi often avoided by
champions was finally given the chance to fight for the European lightweight crown
and won it easily by Jorgen Johansen on points. In doing so he reversed a earlier
loss to Johansen in his hometown of Copenhagen. That earlier loss to Johansen was
hotly disputed and Loi felt especially proud and vindicated by this win. In a
strange move which no one has ever been able to explain to me Loi decided to travel
to Australia to fight for his next 3 fights when he could have made more money
defending the title at home. The next win came over world rated Glen Flanagan in
Miami Florida. Moving back to Europe over the next 5 years Loi defended the title
8 times without a setback or real challenge to his skills other than a hard fought
draws with Jose Hernandez and Manfred Neuke. Like other boxers Loi moved up in
weight as he aged and found the going at welterweight to be a bit stiffer but then
he was also fighting better opponents. When the jr. welterweight title was brought
back it suited Loi perfectly as he did not have good height for a welterweight.
He won his first title at jr. welterweight by defeating Emelio Marcini in 1959 and
would never loose this title in the ring. A world title shot finally came to Loi
in the form of the great Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz, fighting for only the second
only time in America Loi lost a 15 round split decision. The fight was very close
by all accounts but the champion had retained his title fairly. Because the fight
was close it created interest in a rematch and Ortiz looking to make extra money
fought Loi in Italy, while it was a good financial move it proved to be too much
for Ortiz to beat Loi on his own turf. Ortiz won the early rounds, the middle rounds
were close but Loi cleary won the championship rounds. Loi had now won the title
on points as was his fashion and even knocked a prime Ortiz (who later won more
titles) down in front of 65,000 fans. Loi at the age of 31 and after 102 fights
was finally a world champion. Both the title win and rematch in Italy were by close
and properly scored margins. Eddie Perkins a tall skilled boxer that provided the
next stiff challenge for Loi. In their first bout Loi came away with a boring draw
which no one deserve t win, still some felt Perkins deserved the nod in a close
fight. At one point of the fight the referee stopped the bout and urged the fighter
to "fight" as the crowd booed all involved. The rematch was different as Perkins
behind a stiff jab went on the attack early wearing Loi down for a unanimous points
win. Only three months later a extremely fit and determined Loi was able to reverse
the loss and gain his world title back from Perkins. A month later without taking
any more fight Loi decided it was time to retire as the champion feeling his skills
were diminishing. When rating the best Italian fighters of all time I think Loi
is a close second place to Nino Benvenuti, only because Nino fought a bit better
class of opposition.
Duilio Loi
Career Record: 115 W, 3 L, 8 D (25 K.O's)
1948
Nov 1 Nino Frangioni Genoa, Italy W 6
Feb 12 Georgescu Genoa, Italy W 6
Apr 12 Ruggero Grilli Milan, Italy W 6
Apr 24 Giulio DiRocco Genoa, Italy W 6
Oct 5 Bruno Bisterzo Milan, Italy W 8
Nov 23 Jean Berthelier Milan, Italy W 6
Nov 30 Oreste Baiocco Cagliari, Italy KO 8
Dec 16 Young Robert La-Chaux-de-Fonds, FR W 10
1950
Jan 31 Vittorio Costa Cagliari, Italy W 8
Mar 4 Vittorio Costa Bologna, Italy W 8
Mar 15 Pedro Martinez Milan, Italy KO 2
Mar 22 Nicola Funari Milan, Italy W 8
Apr 15 Jan Nicolaas Milan, Italy W 8
May 8 Djillali Bouaziz Gallarte, Italy W 8
May 17 Giuseppe DeJoanni Milan, Italy W 8
Sep 13 Allan Tanner Bologne, Italy D 10
Nov 8 Luigi Male Milan, Italy D 12
Dec 14 Frank Hermal Milan, Italy W 10
1951
Feb 21 Karl Machart Milan, Italy W 10
Mar 6 Juan Castellanos Monza, Italy W 10
Mar 14 Raoul Guillaume Milan, Italy KO 5
Mar 31 Roland Guibert Modene, Italy W 8
Apr 14 Leon Bourlet Milan, Italy W 8
Jun 9 Morley Kamara Cagliari, Italy W 10
Jul 6 Ray Lewis Genoa, Italy W 10
Jul 18 Gianni Uboldi Milan, Italy W 12
Sep 1 Leyton Lewis Varese, Italy KO 2
Oct 9 Ray Lewis Cagliari, Italy KO 2
Oct 26 Svend Wad Geneva, Switzerland W 10
Dec 12 Tommy Barnham London W 10
Dec 26 Emile Orozco Milan, Italy KO 6
1952
Jan 14 Karl Pinsdorf Genoa, Italy W 10
Apr 2 Emilio Marconi Cagliari, Italy W 12
Apr 12 Charles Colpin Genoa, Italy KO 6
Jun 4 Agustin Argote Milan, Italy W 10
Aug 18 Jorgen Johansen Copenhagen L 15
Nov 12 Alois Brandt Cagliari, Italy W 10
Nov 26 Serge Ceustermans Milan, Italy W 10
Dec 17 Francis Bonnardel Milan, Italy W 10
1953
Jan 28 Ernesto Formenti Milan, Italy KO 9
Feb 20 Giuseppe De Joanni Genoa, Italy W 10
Apr 2 Allan Tanner Milan, Italy W 10
May 8 Jean Labalette Geneva, Switzerland W 10
Jun 20 Ernesto Formenti Milan, Italy KO 10
Jun 27 Franco Antonini Foligno, Italy D 10
Jul 11 Mario Rossellini La Spezia, Italy KO 2
Sep 13 Emilio Marconi Grosseto, Italy D 12
Oct 21 Valde Fusaro Milan, Italy W 10
Nov 4 Sandy Manuel Milan, Italy W 10
Nov 15 Joseph Janssens Milan, Italy W 10
1954
Feb 6 Jorgen Johansen Milan, Italy W 15
Mar 3 Franco Antonini Genoa, Italy W 10
Mar 18 Giuseppe De Joanni Rome W 10
May 13 Bruno Visintin Milan, Italy W 15
Jun 23 Mario Ciccarelli Milan, Italy W 10
Jul 16 Jacques Herbillon Milan, Italy W 15
Sep 10 Ivor Germain Melbourne KO 9
Oct 1 Mario Trigo Melbourne W 12
Nov 8 Agustin Argote Sydney W 12
1955
Jan 14 Glen Flanagan Miami W 10
Feb 19 Ray Famechon Milan, Italy W 10
Mar 30 Guy Gracia Milan, Italy W 10
Apr 30 Alby Tissong Trieste, Italy W 10
May 22 Louis Carrara Milan, Italy W 10
Jun 8 Morley Kamara Florence, Italy W 10
Jul 2 Giancarlo Garbelli Milan, Italy W 15
Jul 30 Frank Hermanl St. Vincent, Italy KO 3
Sep 13 Boswell St. Louis Milan, Italy KO 5
Oct 15 Joe Lucy Milan, Italy W 10
Oct 29 Werner Handtke Milan, Italy W 10
Nov 26 Seraphin Ferrer Milan, Italy W 15
Dec 26 Gordon Goodman Milan, Italy KO 6
1956
Jan 21 Orlando Zulueta Milan, Italy W 10
Apr 7 Manolo Garcia Milan, Italy W 10
Apr 21 Ben Buker Tunis, Tunisia W 10
May 21 Jose Hernandez Milan, Italy D 15
Jun 23 Fred Galiana Milan, Italy KO 6
Jul 11 Piet Van Klaveren Milan, Italy KO 6
Jul 21 Karl-Heinz Friedrich Bologne, Italy W 10
Sep 15 Fernand Nollet Milan, Italy W 10
Sep 23 Albert Mueller Forli, Italy KO 3
Oct 13 Maurice Auzel Milan, Italy W 10
Nov 10 Sauveur Chiocca Milan, Italy W 10
Dec 3 Felix Chiocca Paris W 10
Dec 26 Jose Hernandez Milan, Italy W 15
1957
Feb 2 Bobby Ros Milan, Italy WDQ 5
Apr 3 Karl-Heinz Bick Milan, Italy KO 10
Apr 27 Houacine Khalfi Milan, Italy W 10
May 29 Rudi Langer Milan, Italy W 10
Jun 2 Chico Santos Lecce, Italy KO 6
Jun 9 Ahcene Attar Cagliari, Italy W 10
Jun 26 Piet Van Klaveren Milan, Italy W 10
Jul 12 Ernst Zetzmann Milan, Italy W 10
Jul 27 Jack Subero Genoa, Italy W 10
Sep 7 Stefano Bellotti Rome W 10
Sep 25 Idrissa Dione Milan, Italy W 10
Oct 29 Marcel Dupre Milan, Italy W 10
Dec 26 Felix Chiocca Milan, Italy W 15
1958
Feb 8 Manfred Neuke Bale, Italy D 10
Mar 1 Wallace "Bud" Smith Milan, Italy KO 9
Apr 27 Al Nevarez Milan, Italy W 10
Jul 7 Charley Douglas Naples, Italy W 10
Sep 5 Mario Vecchiatto Milan, Italy D 15
Dec 13 Conny Rudhoff Turin, Italy W 10
1959
Apr 19 Emilio Marconi Milan, Italy W 15
1960
Feb 13 Bruno Visintin Milan, Italy W 15
Mar 16 Tommy Molloy Milan, Italy KO 5
Mar 31 Giacomo Nervi Rome W 10
Jun 15 Carlos Ortiz San Francisco L 15
(For World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Sep 1 Carlos Ortiz Milan, Italy W 15
(Wins World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Nov 25 Maurice Auzel Rome W 15
1961
May 10 Carlos Ortiz Milan, Italy W 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Aug 5 Christian Christensen St. Vincent, Italy W 15
Oct 21 Eddie Perkins Milan, Italy D 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Dec 6 Epiphane Akono Rome KO 8
Dec 20 Gale Kerwin Milan, Italy KO 7
1962
Feb 9 Don Ellis Rome W 10
Mar 27 Billy Collins Milan, Italy W 10
Apr 13 Willie Stevenson Rome W 10
Apr 29 Roger Harvey Milan, Italy KO 8
May 26 Isaac Vaughn Milan, Italy KO 5
Jul 15 Fortunato Manca Cagliari, Italy W 15
Sep 14 Eddie Perkins Milan, Italy L 15
(Loses World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Dec 15 Eddie Perkins Milan, Italy W 15
(Regains World Jr. Welterweight Title)