Giovanni Parisi
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Parisi was an Italian
boxer
, who won the gold medal in the Men's Featherweight (– 57 kg) category at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
.
, Calabria
, Parisi began his professional career in 1989 and won the Vacant WBO Lightweight Title by defeating Javier Altamirano in 1992. He later defeated former champion Freddie Pendleton
and in 1995 challenged Mexican legend Julio César Chávez
for the WBC Light Welterweight Title, losing a unanimous decision. Parisi went on to capture the WBO Light Welterweight Title and defend it successfully six times. He lost the WBO light-welterweight belt to Carlos Gonzalez in May 1998, and failed in a challenge for the welterweight title against Daniel Santos in July 2000.
He last fought in September 2006, when he lost a majority decision against Frederic Klose in Milan for the European welterweight crown.
On 25 March 2009, Parisi was driving a car at Voghera
, near Pavia
, when it crashed head-on with a truck. Parisi died at the scene; he was 41.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, who won the gold medal in the Men's Featherweight (– 57 kg) category at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Biography
A native of Vibo ValentiaVibo Valentia
Vibo Valentia is a city and comune in the Calabria region of southern Italy, near the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital of the province of Vibo Valentia, and is an agricultural, commercial and tourist center . There are also several large manufacturing industries, including the tuna district of...
, Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, Parisi began his professional career in 1989 and won the Vacant WBO Lightweight Title by defeating Javier Altamirano in 1992. He later defeated former champion Freddie Pendleton
Freddie Pendleton
Freddie Pendleton is a retired professional boxer in the lightweight division.Known as "Fearless", Pendleton had a 1-5 amateur career & turned pro in 1982 losing to Rodney Watts at the Tropicana Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.Pendleton won his first title in October 1985 knocking out...
and in 1995 challenged Mexican legend Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
for the WBC Light Welterweight Title, losing a unanimous decision. Parisi went on to capture the WBO Light Welterweight Title and defend it successfully six times. He lost the WBO light-welterweight belt to Carlos Gonzalez in May 1998, and failed in a challenge for the welterweight title against Daniel Santos in July 2000.
He last fought in September 2006, when he lost a majority decision against Frederic Klose in Milan for the European welterweight crown.
On 25 March 2009, Parisi was driving a car at Voghera
Voghera
thumb|250px|The Castle of Voghera in a 19th century etching.Voghera is a town and comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Pavia...
, near Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, when it crashed head-on with a truck. Parisi died at the scene; he was 41.