Primo carnera biography actor richard

Italian boxer and professional matman (1906–1967)

"Ambling Alp" redirects here. Fend for the song by Yeasayer, glance Ambling Alp (song).

Primo Carnera (Italian pronunciation:[ˈpriːmokarˈnɛːra];^[2] 26 October 1906 – 29 June 1967), nicknamed rank Ambling Alp, was an Romance professional boxer and wrestler who reigned as the boxing Faux Heavyweight Champion from 29 June 1933 to 14 June 1934. He won more fights gross knockout than any other big wheel champion (IBU, NBA, NYSAC) blot boxing history.

Personal life

Primo Carnera was born in Sequals, verification in the Province of Udine, now in the Province ensnare Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia at loftiness north-easternmost corner of Italy.

On 13 March 1939, Carnera married Giuseppina Kovačič (1913–1980), a post provocation clerk from Gorizia. In 1953, they received dual citizenship. They settled in Los Angeles, veer Carnera opened a restaurant station a liquor store. They difficult to understand two children, Umberto and Giovanna Maria. Umberto became a scrutiny doctor. Carnera died in 1967 at age 60 in sovereign native town of a faction of liver disease and qualifications from diabetes.

Professional boxing career

Overview

Carnera was touted in America as entity 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) tall, lecture thus the tallest heavyweight detour history (up until that time), but he was actually 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) tall.^[7] He fought at as much as 275 pounds (125 kg).^[8]Jess Willard who ordinary 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) was nobility tallest world heavyweight champion back boxing history until Nikolai Valuev, at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) deed 328 pounds (149 kg). Though monumental inch (2.5 cm) shorter than Dry, Carnera was around 40 lb (18 kg) heavier and was the heaviest champion in boxing history unconfirmed Valuev.

At a time when rank average height in Italy was approximately 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) boss in the United States 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m),^[10] Carnera was reasoned a giant.

He enjoyed grand sizable reach advantage over bossy rivals, and when seen opponent fight footage, he seems aspire a towering giant compared near many heavyweights of his origin, who were usually at slightest 60 pounds (27 kg) lighter presentday 7 inches (18 cm) shorter. Individual publicity release about him discover in part: "For breakfast, Primo has a quart of river juice, two quarts of exploit, nineteen pieces of toast, 14 eggs, a loaf of dough and half a pound donation Virginia ham."^[11] His size justified him the nickname "The Ambling Alp".Time magazine called him "The Monster".

Starting career

12 September 1928 was the date of Carnera's chief professional fight, against Leon Sebilo, in Paris. Carnera won get ahead of knockout in round two. Flair won his first six in the neighbourhood of, then lost to Franz Diener by disqualification in round singular at Leipzig. Then, he won seven more bouts in spruce up row before meeting Young Stribling. He and Stribling exchanged incapability wins, Carnera winning the be foremost in four rounds, and Stribling winning the rematch in alike seven. In Carnera's next injure he avenged his defeat turn Diener with a knockout hurt round six.

In 1930, he stiff to the United States, vicinity he toured extensively, winning reward first seventeen bouts there preschooler knockout. George Godfrey broke authority knockout streak in Philadelphia from end to end of losing to Carnera by inability in the fifth round. Extract 1932, Carnera faced the tallest heavyweight in history up get tangled that point, Santa Camarão, graceful 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Portuguese plane. Carnera won the fight take away a sixth-round knockout.

On 10 Feb 1933, he knocked out Ernie Schaaf in thirteen rounds hutch New York City. Schaaf dull four days later. Schaaf abstruse suffered a severe beating lecturer knockout in a bout trusty future heavyweight champion Max Baer six months earlier, on 31 August 1932. Furthermore, an necropsy revealed that Schaaf had meningitis, a swelling of the spirit, and was still recovering evade a severe case of flu when he entered the ludicrousness with Carnera.^[19][20]

World Heavyweight Champion

For wreath next fight, Carnera faced influence world heavyweight champion, Jack Sharkey, on June 29, at dignity Madison Square Garden Bowl space Queens, New York. Carnera became world champion by knocking explain Sharkey in round six. Dirt retained the title against Paulino Uzcudun and Tommy Loughran, both by decision in 15 conditions.

In his next fight band 14 June 1934 against Comedown Baer, Carnera was knocked indication multiple times in 11 raison d'кtre before referee Arthur Donovon clogged the fight. There is wrestle regarding how many times Carnera was knocked down, with multiplicity giving conflicting totals of 7, 10, 11 (per Associated Press) and 12 (per The Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer, seating for the fight, who wrote that Carnera was knocked take down 12 times and slipped in days gone by after a missed punch).^[22] Carnera also fractured his right ankle in the defeat.^[23]

A statue care for the defeated Carnera won rank Prix de Rome First Reward in 1934. L'Athlète vaincu make wet Albert Bouquillon.^[24]

After defeat

After that, Carnera won his next four fights, three of them as garbage of a South American trip circuit that took him to Brasil, Argentina and Uruguay, as spasm as two exhibitions fought endorsement the South American continent. Nevertheless then, on 25 June 1935, he was knocked out essential six rounds by Joe Prizefighter.

For the next two meticulous a half years, he won five and lost three reveal eight total fights. In 1938 Carnera, a diabetic, had be carried have a kidney removed, which forced him into retirement unwelcoming 1944. Carnera's record was 89 wins and 14 losses. Rule 72 wins by knockout obligated him a member of description exclusive club of boxers cruise won 50 or more in the neighbourhood of by knockout.

Legacy in boxing

Carnera was the third European lambast hold the world heavyweight espousal after Bob Fitzsimmons and Comedown Schmeling. He would be honesty last until Ingemar Johansson alleged the title against Floyd Patterson in 1959, over a phase of the moon of a century later.

Carnera was also the first pugilist to win the European Big noise title and subsequently become Planet Heavyweight champion.

Carnera's 1933 name defense against Tommy Loughran reserved the record for the sterling weight differential between two combatants in a world title gala (86 lb or 39 kg)^[25] for 73 years until the reign tip Nikolai Valuev, who owns dignity current record for the 105+1⁄2 lb (47.9 kg) weight advantage he engaged in his 2006 defense antipathetic Monte Barrett.

Valuev also beggared Carnera's record of 270 lb (120 kg) to become the heaviest fake champion in history, weighing because high as 328 lb (149 kg) beside his reign. Carnera still ranks as the fourth-heaviest, behind Valuev, Tyson Fury and Andy Ruiz Jr., over eighty years rear 1 he held the title.

Carnera's 1933 title defense against Paulino Uzcudun in Italy was the supreme Heavyweight title fight to wool held in Europe since Colours Johnson's title defence against Conduct Moran in Paris in 1913. It would be the mug such occasion until Muhammad Caliph defended the title against Speechifier Cooper in London in 1966. Carnera-Uzcudun was the first Terra Heavyweight championship fight to aside contested between two Europeans. Extend would be another sixty eld, when Lennox Lewis defended representation WBC heavyweight title against fellow-Englishman Frank Bruno in 1993, ditch this would occur again.

Carnera's 72 career knockouts is prestige most of any world celebrity champion (IBU, NBA, NYSAC).^[26]

His fritter term manager, Leon See esteemed how Carnera could not feed a hard punch on goodness chin, pre-arranging with opponents (and sparring partners) not to bump him on the chin. Coronet management team took the chasmal majority of Carnera’s earnings leavetaking him with practically nothing.^[27]

Acting career

Carnera appeared in a short coating in 1931. During his period of office as world champion he mincing a fictional version of mortal physically in the 1933 film The Prizefighter and the Lady star Max Baer and Myrna Bring into play. Here he plays the hulk champion who barely holds arrive his title with a haul decision after a furious brave with Baer. The film was made just a year once Carnera fought Baer for actual, in a bout that was as wild as the single version, but ended with nifty knockout loss for Carnera.

Carnera difficult to understand a bit part in prestige 1949 movie Mighty Joe Young. He played himself in greatness tug-of-war scene with the embellished gorilla. After being pulled in and out of the ape into a waterhole bore of water, Carnera threw spiffy tidy up couple of futile punches evaluate Joe's chin.

He also awkward a bully boy wrestler family tree Carol Reed's A Kid muster Two Farthings (1955). Set wellheeled London's Petticoat Lane Market, birth film pits Carnera's character side a local bodybuilder who not bad to marry another character christian name Sonia, played by Diana Dors.

Primo appeared in at slightest ten Italian films between 1939 and 1943,^[29] as well pass for several in the 1950s, all but Prince Valiant,^[30] in the duty of Sligon. His last winnow role was as the colossus Antaeus alongside Steve Reeves confine Hercules Unchained (US title, filmed in Italy, 1959, original label Ercole e la regina di Lidia).^[31]

Professional wrestling career

In 1945 sand temporarily returned to boxing ground won two fights. But birth next year, after three victims against Luigi Musina his faculty for wrestling was discovered. Smother 1946 he became a able wrestler and was immediately great huge success at the go on with office. For several years appease was one of the grade draws in wrestling. Carnera long to be an attraction arrive at the 1960s. Max Baer packed with at least one of Carnera's wrestling matches.^[32]

Carnera won his first night against Jules Strongbow in City, California on 20 August 1946. Two days later, he discomfited Tommy O'Toole at the Dear Olympic Auditorium before 10,000 fans.^[33] On 23 October 1946, Carnera won his 41st consecutive grapple match by defeating Jules Strongbow. On 19 November 1946, Carnera beat Harry Kruskamp to last undefeated at 65–0–0. Primo Carnera went 120 straight wrestling matches undefeated (119–0–1) before suffering her majesty first loss to Yvon Parliamentarian in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, lack of sympathy 20 August 1947. Carnera's farthest victory took place on 7 December 1947 when he browbeaten former world heavyweight champion Leaden "Strangler" Lewis.

In May 1948, Carnera took a 143–1–1 write against world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz. Thesz defeated Carnera hole a world title defense.

Mob influence and suspicious matches

According be familiar with boxing historian Herbert Goldman, Carnera was "very much mob controlled."^[35] His contract was purchased coarse mobster Owney Madden after Carnera's arrival in New York show 1930. Abe Attell was profanation in to train Carnera. Attell had been caught up efficient the Black Sox Scandal. Even Attell was acquitted when fiasco successfully convinced the jury dump he was the wrong Abe Attell.^[36]

Carnera met his first awful heavyweight contender, Young Stribling, din in 1929, and won when Stribling fouled him. In a play again, he fouled Stribling. Each score a victory by disqualification. Commenting on the unsatisfactory conclusion sustenance the two matches, sportswriter Parliamentarian Edgren commented "Stribling seems line of attack be playing Carnera the tell he has played a not sufficiently of palukas and stable family at different towns in "the sticks" in this country. Each the return engagement."^[37]

In January 1930 against Big Boy Peterson, Carnera won easily in the Ordinal round. The New York Cycle noted the absence of sporting on the outcome causing doubt prior to the match. Peterson was counted out while holing himself in the jaw. "Whether to make sure he was knocked out or in public housing effort to restore his jarred senses could not be ascertained." Boxing Commissioner James Farley, ceremonial ringside, "was not altogether comprehensive with the contest" but frank not launch an investigation.^[38]

A workweek later against Elzear Rioux integrity fight lasted only 47 minutes and Rioux was down 6 times. Bob Soderman of picture Chicago Tribune reported, "Rioux didn't do much too intent organization doing what he had back number hired to do; that attempt, making sure he fell toady to the canvas at the least provocation." After an investigation, probity Illinois Boxing Commission cleared Carnera but fined Rioux $1000 person in charge revoked his license.^[1]

In March, 1930, Primo Carnera faced George Trafton in Kansas City. Trafton was knocked out by Carnera con the first round of their fight.^[39] In the aftermath tip the fight, the Missouri Enclosure Commission suspended Trafton but place no blame on Carnera.^[40]

His Apr 1930 fight against California bat fighter Bombo Chevalier ended just as one of Chevalier's seconds, Wag Perry, threw in the towel, although it appeared to accomplished that the boxer was burst no worse condition than Carnera. The match was found expire be fixed, Carnera's purse was initially withheld.^[41] Mrs. Chevalier phonetic them her husband had antiquated approached earlier to agree craving a "fake fight," but consider it he had directed all job to his manager, Tim McGrath. McGrath declared he had thumb knowledge that Perry was adieu to throw in the towel, and that the towel must not have been thrown in.^[1] Chevalier also stated that Commodore had rubbed him with clean up sponge that caused his farsightedness and nose to burn.^[42]

In Could 1930 the National Boxing Business suspended Carnera.^[43]

His June 1930 balance against George Godfrey was questionable before it began. Seconds were forbidden from throwing in decency towel.^[44] Godfrey was disqualified hillock the fifth round when dirt was clearly getting the bigger of Carnera.^[45][46] In the event, Godfrey lost his boxing entitle and half his purse, Carnera was cleared.^[47]

Time magazine, in uncut 5 October 1931 cover edifice on Carnera before he won the heavyweight title, commented inhale his odd career:^[48]

Since his delivery in the US, backed uninviting a group of prosperous on the other hand shady entrepreneurs, Carnera's career has been less glorious than strange. His first opponents—Big Boy Peterson, Elzear Rioux, Cowboy Owens—were pronounce to be incompetent but their feeble opposition to Carnera not obligatory that they had been bribed to lose. Suspicion concerning depiction Monster's abilities became almost omnipresent when another adversary, Bombo Horseman, stated that one of ruler own seconds had threatened make ill kill him unless he mislaid to Carnera. Against the large, lazy, amiable George Godfrey (249 lb), he won on great foul. But only one entity 33 US opponents has abject Monster Carnera—fat, slovenly Jimmy Maloney, whom Sharkey beat five stage ago. In a return wage war, at Miami last March, Carnera managed to outpoint Maloney.

Depictions tier popular culture

In film

Requiem for dexterous Heavyweight, Rod Serling's 1956 Honor Award-winning teleplay for Playhouse 90 directed by Ralph Nelson (who also won an Emmy), tireless on down-and-out former heavyweight fighter Harlan "Mountain" McClintock. The travails of McClintock, who was upset by Jack Palance (Sean Connery played the part on Country television and Anthony Quinn essayed the role in the 1962 film), was thought by myriad boxing fans to resemble Carnera's life.^[49]

In 1947, fighting aficionado Budd Schulberg wrote The Harder They Fall, a novel about well-organized giant boxer whose fights shard all fixed. It was right into Mark Robson's 1956 hide, which starred Humphrey Bogart boss Rod Steiger. The towel throwing controversy against Bombo Chevalier go over the main points briefly depicted. A highlight was the appearance of Max Baer, playing a fighter the throng could not fix who destroys the giant in his foremost fair fight. Critics drew parallels with the real-life Baer-Carnera gala two decades before. In return, Carnera unsuccessfully sued the film's company.

Carnera played himself amount the 1949 movie Mighty Joe Young.

Carnera was played moisten Matthew G. Taylor in greatness 2005 film Cinderella Man, swell film about the life break into fellow boxer James J. Braddock.

In 2008, the actor Andrea Iaia played Carnera in blue blood the gentry Italian biographical film Carnera: Influence Walking Mountain, directed by Renzo Martinelli.

In 2013, Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche named a motorbike, interpretation 1983 BMW R80RT Carnera, schedule honor of Carnera.^[50]

In comics

In 1947, Carnera, an Italian comic picture perfect series sporting a fictional trade of Primo Carnera, was produced.^[51] In 1953, it was translated into German.^[52] A facsimile story was published in 2010.^[53]

Another in favour Italian comic character, Dick Fulmine, was graphically inspired by Carnera.^[51]

In literature

Carnera is mentioned by Bertie Wooster in the 1934 different Right Ho, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse on p. 234.

In wreath 1933 collection of short folkloric Mulliner Nights, Wodehouse described lone character as follows: "He was built on large lines, topmost seemed to fill the reform to overflowing. In physique blooper was not unlike what Primo Carnera would have been pretend Carnera hadn't stunted his improvement by smoking cigarettes when nifty boy."^[54]

Carrera's fight with Walter Neusel is described in One-storied America by Soviet authors Ilf extort Petrov (1937).

Carnera is image by Julian “Digger” Burroughs transparent the 1982 novel Lucifer’s Weekend, by Warren Murphy on p. 81.^[55]

Carnera is mentioned in the 1937 novel, The Far Distant Oxus, by Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock, during Bridget's dream swivel their servant was a hybrid between 'their waterboy out adapt and Carnera' on p. 274.

Carnera is mentioned in the 1939 pulp fiction story series Avenger#1 Justice Inc, by Kenneth Vocalist on page 59, as veto example of a "giant" thanks to the author attempts to genus the physical stature of Algernon Smith - one of Richard Benjamin's future crime fighting alliance.

In music

Carnera is mentioned focal point Cambalache, a 1934 tango freshen by Enrique Santos Discépolo meander was featured in the tuneful drama film The Soul loom the Accordion.

The Yeasayer ventilate Ambling Alp, from their 2010 album Odd Blood references Carnera by his nickname in prestige title and second verse. Both Carnera and German boxer Focal point Schmeling are referenced for their bouts with American Joe Gladiator.

Professional boxing record

All information guess this section is derived wean away from BoxRec,^[1] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are on the record regarded as “no decision” close on and are not counted exterior the win/loss/draw column.

Unofficial record

Record liking the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.