Gianfranco Rosi
Encyclopedia
Gianfranco Rosi was an Italian boxer at middleweight
.
. He lost the belt in 1988 when he was dominated by Donald Curry
. Rosi was down once in 2nd, 4th and 8th and down twice in 7th, failing to answer the bell starting the 10th round. In 1989 he won the IBF
Light Middleweight Title by decisioning undefeated Darrin Van Horn
. He went on to defend successfully the title an impressive 11 times. In 1994 he had a technical draw against Vincent Pettway
, and in the rematch later that year Pettway KO'd Rosi, ending his long reign. In 1995 he took on WBO Light Middleweight Title holder Verno Phillips
, and won a decision, but Rosi failed a drug test and Phillips was reinstated as champion. The result of the bout was changed to a draw. In 1997 he lost a rematch to Phillips and retired. In 2003 he came out of his retirement, and as of 2006 was still fighting at the age of 49.
Highlights:
1976 Italian Light-Welterweight Champion
1977 Italian Welterweight Champion
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
.
Professional career
Rosi turned pro in 1979 and won the WBC Light Middleweight Title in 1987 by decisioning Lupe AquinoLupe Aquino
Isaias Guadalupe Aquino , was a professional boxer in the super welterweight division....
. He lost the belt in 1988 when he was dominated by Donald Curry
Donald Curry
Donald Curry is a retired boxer from Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Nicknamed the "Lone Star Cobra," Curry was the Undisputed World Welterweight Champion and the WBC Super Welterweight Champion.-Amateur career:...
. Rosi was down once in 2nd, 4th and 8th and down twice in 7th, failing to answer the bell starting the 10th round. In 1989 he won the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
Light Middleweight Title by decisioning undefeated Darrin Van Horn
Darrin Van Horn
Darrin Van Horn was a professional boxer and a world champion in two weight divisions.Van Horn turned professional in 1984, just five days before his 16th birthday...
. He went on to defend successfully the title an impressive 11 times. In 1994 he had a technical draw against Vincent Pettway
Vincent Pettway
Vincent Pettway Vincent Pettway Vincent Pettway (born November 9, 1965 in Baltimore, MD, was a professional boxer in the super welterweight (154lb) division.- Professional career :...
, and in the rematch later that year Pettway KO'd Rosi, ending his long reign. In 1995 he took on WBO Light Middleweight Title holder Verno Phillips
Verno Phillips
Verno Jeremias Phillips , is a professional boxer in the Light Middleweight division.- Career :Phillips turned pro in 1988 and captured the Vacant WBO Light Middleweight Title in 1993 with a win over Lupe Aquino...
, and won a decision, but Rosi failed a drug test and Phillips was reinstated as champion. The result of the bout was changed to a draw. In 1997 he lost a rematch to Phillips and retired. In 2003 he came out of his retirement, and as of 2006 was still fighting at the age of 49.
Amateur career
Rosi had a record of 94 wins - 2 losses - 4 drawsHighlights:
1976 Italian Light-Welterweight Champion
1977 Italian Welterweight Champion