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Ray Mancini
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Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini (born Raymond Michael Mancino; March 4, 1961) is an Italian-American former boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship for two years in the 1980s. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname, "Boom Boom", from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career. The name, however, perfectly suited the younger Mancini's wild, "whirlwind" fighting style.
as born in Youngstown, Ohio.
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Encyclopedia
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini (born Raymond Michael Mancino; March 4, 1961) is an Italian-American former boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship for two years in the 1980s. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname, "Boom Boom", from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career. The name, however, perfectly suited the younger Mancini's wild, "whirlwind" fighting style.
Early life and family
He was born in Youngstown, Ohio. Boxing played a prominent role in the Mancini family history. Mancini's father, Lenny Mancini (the original "Boom Boom"), was a top-ranked contender during the 1940s who was widely predicted to be a future world champion. Lenny Mancini's dream, however, was dashed when he was wounded during World War II. Although Lenny Mancini returned to boxing, limitations resulting from his injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential.
Lenny inspired young Ray to develop his boxing skills and encouraged him to train at a gym when he was quite young. Ray had a stellar amateur career, and in 1978, he made the jump to the professional ranks. His whirlwind punching style caught the attention of network executives at several American television networks, and he became a regular on their sports programming. During this time Ray Mancini defeated some excellent boxers, including former United States champion Norman Goins.
Lightweight championship
His first attempt at a world title came in his next bout, when he was pitted against the legendary champion Alexis Arguello for his World Boxing Council lightweight title. The event was selected by many (including Ring Magazine and ESPN) as one of the most spectacular fights of the 1980s. Mancini gave Arguello trouble early and built a lead on the scorecards, but Arguello used his experience to his advantage in the later rounds and stopped Mancini in the 14th round. Mancini was saddened by his first defeat, but not about to give up on his dream.
Rudy Carmona
On May 8, 1982, in a match held in Las Vegas, he challenged the new World Boxing Association lightweight champion, Rudy Carmona A.K.A Rudy The Jet Carmona.
Fifteen seconds into the fight, the fast-starting champion caught Mancini with a left hook to the chin and Mancini shook. Another combination made Mancini start bleeding from his eyebrow. Mancini stormed back and dropped the champion right in the center of the ring with a spectacular combination. Dazed and surprised, Carmona got back up, but Mancini went after his prey with a fury, and was on top of him the moment the referee said they could go on, trapping Carmona against the ropes. After many unanswered blows, the referee stopped the fight, and the Mancini family finally had a world champion.
Match Against Duk Koo Kim
Mancini's first defense, against former world champion Ernesto Espana, went smoothly with a Mancini knockout win in the 6th round.
His next defense would change both his life and the face of boxing: On November 13, 1982, a 21-year-old Mancini met 23-year-old South Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim. Kim had to lose several pounds before the fight to make the weight, and was dehydrated. The title bout, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, was televised live at 1pm PST on CBS Sports. By fight time, Kim was spent. It was, according to many observers, a fight filled with action, but Mancini had an easy time hitting Kim during the 14 rounds the fight lasted. Kim sustained brain injuries that led to his death five days later. The week after his death, the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine showed Mancini and Kim battling, under the title "Tragedy In The Ring".
Mancini went to the funeral in South Korea, but he fell into a deep depression afterwards. He has said that the hardest moments came when people approached him and asked if he was the boxer who "killed" Duk Koo Kim. Mancini went through a period of reflection, as he blamed himself for Kim's death. In addition, Kim's mother committed suicide four months after the fight, as did the bout's referee, Richard Green, in July of 1983.
As a result of this bout, the WBC took steps to shorten its title bouts to a maximum of 12 rounds. The WBA and WBO followed in 1988 and the IBF did in 1989.
Later matches
Mancini began the process of getting his life back together by once again putting on gloves. He went to Italy to face British champion George Feeney, a tough fighter from England. Mancini won a 10-round decision, but he was not the Ray Mancini of old.
He defended his title two more times. In a bout with former world champion Bobby Chacon, which was broadcast on HBO, the overmatched Mexican boxer lasted only three rounds. To fans at least, the old "Boom Boom" appeared to be back. Mancini, however, was making plans to get out of boxing to pursue a less violent trade: acting.
In June 1984, Mancini, still recovering from the emotional trauma of Kim's death, struggled to retain his title in a battle with Livingstone Bramble in Buffalo, New York. It was to be another Mancini "slugfest." This time, however, he came out on the losing end, defeated after 14 intense rounds. Mancini would lose his title, but not before a fierce effort that resulted in an overnight stay at Millard Fillmore Hospital and 71 stitches around one eye.
Mancini was not finished, however. He returned to the ring twice to attempt to regain his world title. After a tenacious effort in a rematch with Bramble, Mancini lost the fight by one point on all three judges scorecards in a 15-round decision. His next attempt came in March 1989, when he lost to Hector 'Macho' Camacho in a highly questionable split decision. Ray had one final fight in April 1992, against former lightweight champion Greg Haugen. Ray was just a mere shadow of his old self, having only two fights in seven years, and was stopped in round seven.
Retirement and later work
Mancini retired officially in 1992, leaving a record of 29–5, with 23 knockouts. His legacy also included an inspirational story involving a young champion who had won the title as much for his family as for himself. The essence of this story was captured in a made-for-television movie based on Mancini's life, which aired in the 1980s. Thanks to expert legal advice, the former champion was also able to keep 75 percent of his $12 million in purse money, which enabled him to pursue a broad range of interests in retirement.
More recently, Mancini realized his Hollywood dreams, appearing in as well as producing a handful of films. In addition, he gained new fans as a fight analyst for the Fox reality series, Celebrity Boxing. Mancini currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He owns the El Campeon Cigar Company and operates two movie production companies. Mancini remains accessible and interactive with his fans.
On July 13, 2007, Ray was a Guest on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.
Mancini's career has enjoyed a curious afterlife in the realm of popular culture. Warren Zevon wrote a song that tracked Mancini's career, up until his fight with Bobby Chacon. In the song, "Boom Boom Mancini," Zevon evidently took artistic license when he described Mancini's response to the accidental death of Duk Koo Kim. The best known lyrics of the song are as follows: "When they asked him [Mancini] who was responsible / For the death of Duk Koo Kim / He said, 'Someone should have stopped the fight / And told me it was him.' "
Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters has recorded several versions of a song named for Kim, most recently a version on the Sun Kil Moon album Ghosts Of The Great Highway. It happens to be fourteen minutes long, the number of rounds Kim lasted in his final bout.
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