Carnera, Primo

Carnera, Primo

▪ Italian athlete
born October 26, 1906, Sequals, Udine, Italy
died June 29, 1967, Sequals
 Italian heavyweight boxing champion of the world from June 29, 1933, when he knocked out Jack Sharkey (Sharkey, Jack) in six rounds in New York City, until June 14, 1934, when he was knocked out by Max Baer (Baer, Max) in 11 rounds, also in New York City. Weighing about 260 pounds, Carnera was the heaviest of all world champions and one of the tallest, at a height of 6 feet 5.75 inches.

      Originally a circus strongman, Carnera began his professional boxing career in Paris in 1928 and went to the United States in 1930. There he began compiling an impressive total of knockout victories, many of which, however, were “fixed” fights with outcomes prearranged, first by his Parisian manager and later by organized crime figures in the United States. (Carnera was likely unaware of these arrangements.) After two successive knockouts by Leroy Haynes in 1936, Carnera returned to Europe practically penniless, having seen little of the purses he won in the United States. From 1928 through 1946 he had 103 bouts, winning 88, 69 by knockout.

      During World War II, Carnera returned to Italy. Though a nominal during the war, he was exempted from actual military service because of his health—Carnera had one kidney removed in 1938, his kidney disease thought to be related to his gigantism. He did, however, serve as a reluctant propaganda tool for the fascists. He also continued to fight in exhibition bouts and made a few films in Italy to earn much-needed cash.

      After a losing a fight in Italy in 1946, Carnera returned to the United States and became a professional wrestler, earning a small fortune. In 1956 the film The Harder They Fall, adapted from Budd Schulberg's novel, was released. Based upon Carnera's life, the film examined the role of organized crime in boxing. Carnera sued the studio for defamation but lost. Carnera became a United States citizen in 1953 but returned to his native Italy shortly before his death.

      Carnera appeared in a number of films—both Italian and American—from 1933 to 1960, the most notable of which perhaps was The Prizefighter and the Lady. Released in 1933, the film features Carnera and Max Baer playing opponents in the ring, one year before they faced each other for the title.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Carnera, Primo — (1906–1967)    Born in Sequala, in Friuli, Primo Carnera was heavyweight champion of the world in the 1930s and a symbol of Fascist athletic prowess. A huge man (he was six feet seven inches in height and weighed 270 pounds; he weighed 17 pounds… …   Historical Dictionary of modern Italy

  • Carnera, Primo — (1906 1967)    Six foot seven inch Italian born boxer Primo Carnera left home to work in France in various laboring jobs and found work in a circus as a boxer, weight lifter, and wrestler. He became a professional boxer in 1928 and won several… …   Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era

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  • Primo Carnera — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Primo Carnera (Sequals, 25 de octubre de 1906 Sequals, 29 de junio de 1967) fue un boxeador italiano, campeón mundial de los pesos pesados. Contenido 1 Primeros pasos 1.1 Primera etapa en Estados Unidos …   Wikipedia Español

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  • Carnera — ist der Name folgender Personen: Luigi Carnera (1875–1962), italienischer Astronom und Entdecker vieler Asteroiden Primo Carnera (1906–1967), italienischer Boxweltmeister Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheid …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Primo Carnera — This article is about the historical boxer, for the wrestler having same nickname, see Primo Carnera. Infobox Boxer name=Primo Carnera Da: Il torso del gigante 1931 [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Category:Primo Carnera Gallery Galleria… …   Wikipedia

  • carnera — car·nè·ra s.m. OB solo sing., per anton., anche con iniz. maiusc., uomo di alta statura eccezionalmente forte e robusto {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: 1934. ETIMO: da Carnera, nome del pugile italiano Primo Carnera (1906 67) …   Dizionario italiano

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