Boxing, Primo Carnera wins the heavyweight title: the feat ninety years ago – Corriere.it

A night of boxing ninety years ago that deserves to be remembered; for her repercussions on an Italy dressed in coarse wool and with a mind already full of redundant mottos. June 29, 1933; a gigantic simple man, a migrant out of desperation from the poorest Friuli, crashes into New York a bellicose Bostonian with enormous hands. That unlikely Italian, tall, powerful and with a kind heart, Primo Carnera da Sequals (1906-1967).

His hit on Jack Sharkey gives Italy the first (and so far only) world title – unified – heavyweight. Net of what were the propaganda repercussions, Primo Carnera became a legend of fascist Italy. It happened that June 29, a day in a month that would have marked the life of the Mountain that walks in many circumstances. And bordering on the surreal.

A difficult life

On June 29, 1920, Carnera was just an (already) oversized teenager. Maybe he doesn’t know it yet: suffering from acromegaly; gigantism. poor and to help his family that day he leaves for France in search of fortune. He will act for years – among other jobs – as a real freak (very tall; two huge shoulders), working in a small circus. There will also be Juan, terror of Guadalajara and the monster of the cave. Then, another June 29 (1928), a new turning point: his uncommon physique and strength attract former boxing champion Paul Journe and a manager looking for new talent, Lon Se. That day the 22-year-old Carnera, pushed by the two, will choose his path: he will be a boxer.

The ascent

Debut in Paris in September 1928 (won by knockout in the 2nd round) against Leon Sebilo; also fights in Italy arousing very little enthusiasm in the press: Torre di gorgonzola also defined. First defeat in ’29 in Leipzig (against the German Diener; due to disqualification), but then many successes in a row. He lands in the US and enters the stable of Bill Duffy (representative of the Italian-American mafia) who – with the help of the US press – has him called The Ambling Alp (The Slowly Walking Mountain). He wins a lot (even many softened matches) and loses sometimes. In short, by boxing in the US and Europe he learns, acquires technique and further physical resistance. Up to a very high and — objective — quotation. Also the result of great victories, until meeting Ernei Schaaf. Sort of semi-final for the World title, set by holder Sharkey. Schaaf had returned from a semi-coma in the knockdown suffered by Max Baer, ​​which had probably caused him the first irreversible brain damage. In the meantime Carnera has also acquired French nationality and changed managers, discovering that Se was stealing the money from his purses. On 10 February 1933 in New York Carnera knocks out the debilitated Schaaf twice in the 13th round. The second, the definitive one; also for the life ofopponent, who dies of a cerebral hemorrhage four days later. Carnera thinks about retiring. His family, his entourage and a moving letter from Schaaf’s mother convince him to return to face Sharkey …

The meeting in front of 70,000 people

Madison Square Garden Bowl (Long Island outdoor arena), that June 29th ’33. post-depression America: many go into debt to see the match live. After the rain, there is the sun: at 3 pm there are already 20,000 spectators; 60 thousand at 18. At 21.40 there will be 70 thousand (even sitting on the sidelines); the scalpers did a brisk business. the time: the referee Artur Donovan gives the signal: boxing. In the ring the champion, former sailor Jack Sharkey (real name Joseph Paul Zukauskas; 183 cm by 91 kg; W35, L8, 2 tied) and challenger Primo Carnera (203 cm by 118 kg; W74, L6). Already in the first round: Carnera lands his opponent twice, who avoids the count by getting up immediately. The balanced match for another five rounds: Carnera in the center, Sharkey rotating around him, trying to shorten. Then in the sixth round the Friulian knocks down the Champion a second time who gets up but is counted by the referee. Sharkey staggers, slows down, defends himself, but it doesn’t last long. the 6th round and almost immediately from Carnera comes a deadly right uppercut in the face. The now ex Champion collapses and doesn’t get up: the giant from Sequals World Champion of the Heavyweights.

Italy in raptures: one of its sons on top of the world. The first radio and the newspapers in an extraordinary edition tell the Italians of his deeds. almost a national holiday.

A symbol

Fascism rides it, it becomes a symbol of the Black Boot; a national hero. Mussolini makes it appear in Piazza Venezia, Carnera wears the uniform of the fascist militia; the Minculpop (Ministry of popular culture) makes him an ideal model of Italian, forbidding the publication of images of him (subsequent) to the carpet. His popularity becomes such as to encourage the sale of magazines, posters and newspapers that talk about him. The first (exploited) phenomenon of an Italian sports character to become truly media. Max Baer’s punches will follow, who will take the title away from him a year later and a rapid decline – after a long transition to wrestling and a few film cameos – until his death, once he returns to his Friuli, which took place in 1967 in semi-poverty. The date? Exactly June 29th…