Oscar Bonavena

[Southpaw Great]

Give me your take on his career, greatness, legacy etc...........

[sonnyboyx2]

Give me your take on his career, greatness, legacy etc...........

What a great pressure fighter Ringo was, a two-fisted brawler who rolled in with his punching style, he had a granite chin and was a tough fight for anyone.. Joe Frazier said "Bonavena was the toughest guy he ever fought" their 2nd fight is a classic, with Bonavena very nearly getting Frazier out of there in the last 3rds. it is one of the best 15rd fights ive ever seen.. Todays fighters could never dream of being able to go that 15rd distance at such a terrific pace, Bonavena gets stronger as the rounds go by and his fitness and toughness are a tribute to him against a Class A opponent..

Oscar had an excellent career with several long unbeaten runs as well as fighting the best fighters in the world and beating several of them, Zora Folley, Leotis Martin, Larry Middleton, George Chuvalo, Blue`Lewis was all beaten by him, he also went to Germany and beat the excellent southpaw Karl Mildenberger... Oscar took part in the WBA 8 man tournament in 67 losing to eventual winner Jommy Ellis on points he also put up tremendous performances against Floyd Patterson & Muhammad Ali staggering Ali in the 10th round of a terrific fight with Ali stopping him for the only time in his career in the final round..

Greatness & Legacy... IMO Oscar Bonavena was one of the roughest toughest of heavyweight contenders and would have been a tough nights work for any heavyweight in history... to gauge just how good Ringo was i suggest you watch his 2nd fight with Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Championship, what a great fight!

[boxing boy]

What a great pressure fighter Ringo was, a two-fisted brawler who rolled in with his punching style, he had a granite chin and was a tough fight for anyone.. Joe Frazier said "Bonavena was the toughest guy he ever fought" their 2nd fight is a classic, with Bonavena very nearly getting Frazier out of there in the last 3rds. it is one of the best 15rd fights ive ever seen.. Todays fighters could never dream of being able to go that 15rd distance at such a terrific pace, Bonavena gets stronger as the rounds go by and his fitness and toughness are a tribute to him against a Class A opponent..

Oscar had an excellent career with several long unbeaten runs as well as fighting the best fighters in the world and beating several of them, Zora Folley, Leotis Martin, Larry Middleton, George Chuvalo, Blue`Lewis was all beaten by him, he also went to Germany and beat the excellent southpaw Karl Mildenberger... Oscar took part in the WBA 8 man tournament in 67 losing to eventual winner Jommy Ellis on points he also put up tremendous performances against Floyd Patterson & Muhammad Ali staggering Ali in the 10th round of a terrific fight with Ali stopping him for the only time in his career in the final round..

Greatness & Legacy... IMO Oscar Bonavena was one of the roughest toughest of heavyweight contenders and would have been a tough nights work for any heavyweight in history... to gauge just how good Ringo was i suggest you watch his 2nd fight with Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Championship, what a great fight!

Very nice post.

I agree with almost everything you said.

I believe the only tough match-ups that Oscar would have had where against guys like George Forman and Sonny Liston.Besides guys like them he would give alot of heavyweight champions a very long and hard night.

[Snopkins]

In Argentina,he is still known as "el padre de Joe Frazier".

[JAB5239]

In Argentina,he is still known as "el padre de Joe Frazier".

Which roughly translates to "I got my ass kicked twice by Joe Frazier", right?

[TheGreatA]

Good fighter, a bit on the slow side which hindered him against clever boxers but he was a tough fight for anybody. Ellis managed to knock him down twice but Bonavena came on strong in the end. He had decent skills, utilizing head movement and the shoulders for defense like many Argentinian fighters do.

I think he compares to Gene Fullmer, as he would do his best to spoil and brawl against boxers but himself turned boxer against pressure fighters.

[Snopkins]

Which roughly translates to "I got my ass kicked twice by Joe Frazier", right?

I won't comment on the rematch as I've never seen it,but bonavena was obviously robbed in their first fight.

Pretty shocking decision really.

[TheGreatA]

Decided to upload highlights of the first fight between Bonavena and the over-looked Gregorio Peralta. An underrated performance by Bonavena, Peralta later went onto trouble a young George Foreman and Ron Lyle.



You can see the overwhelming strength of Bonavena in the clinches.

Short clips of Bonavena giving German southpaw Karl Mildenberger a beating:

KARL MILDENBERGER V OSCAR BONAVENA

[boxing boy]

I won't comment on the rematch as I've never seen it,but bonavena was obviously robbed in their first fight.

Pretty shocking decision really.

I have seen the 1st fight several times.It could have gone either way.I wouldn't say Bonevena got robbed though.Frazier was young and had only about 10 pro fights.Frazier beat him clearly in the 2nd fight.

[Snopkins]

No,it couldn't have gone either way.frazier was ineffective throughout most of the fight.He won the first round and the round after he got put on his arse twice,and then went on to lose virtully every single round after that.


bonavena outboxed and outfought him decisively.


bonavena fought Zora folley in his 9th pro fight.He sure didn't have the amateur credentials that frazier had either.