Boxing loses two stalwarts
by Ron Jackson 30 January 2012, 12:58
Don Fullmer, who once fought Pierre Fourie in Johannesburg, has died at the age of 72.
And Goody Petronelli, who trained Marvin Hagler, also passed away last weekend.
Fullmer, a tough American, also took on champions such as Terry Downes, Dick Tiger, José Torres, Emile Griffith and Bobo Olson.
He campaigned as a middleweight in the 1950s and 1960s and fought nine world champions during a career of 79 professional fights of which he won 54, lost 20 and drew five.
His older brother Gene was world middleweight champion in the 1960s.
After remaining undefeated in 65 amateur fights, Don turned pro at the age of 17. He fought opponents of the calibre of Phil Moyer, Virgil Akins, Downes, Tiger, Torres, Griffith and Carl “Bobo” Olson.
He once beat Jimmy Ellis, who went on to win the WBA heavyweight title.
But he lost to Nino Benvenuti in Rome in 1966. Benvenuti later won the world middleweight title and gave Fullmer a rematch. The Italian was knocked down but won on points over 15 rounds.
In 1967, Fullmer beat John Hopkins in a fight that was billed as a bout for the world junior light-heavyweight title, but few people recognised this title.
Fullmer lost points over ten rounds when he met Fourie at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg on February 19, 1972. The light-heavyweight match was marred by fouls.
After retiring from the ring, Fullmer worked for the Salt Lake City fire department and helped his brothers run boxing gyms.
He died of lymphocytic leukaemia in Utah last Saturday and is survived by his wife and five sons.
HAGLER’S TRAINER DIES AT 88
Goody Petronelli, who once trained Marvin Hagler, died in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, last Sunday. He was 88.
Born Guerino Petronelli in Brocton on October 12, 1923 Petronelli also trained Robbie Sims, Kevin McBride and
Steve Collins, who won WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles.
Petronelli had 27 professional fights before a hand injury forced him to retire. He also had about 40 fights as an amateur.
He and his brother trained Hagler throughout his distinguished career. When the champion retired in 1987, Goody continued training other boxers at Petronelli’s Boxing Club in Brockton.
He was named Manager of the Year by the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1983.