Giovanni Parisi

{{short description|Italian boxer}} {{Infobox boxer |name=Giovanni Parisi |image= |image_size= |caption= |realname= |birth_date={{Birth date|1967|12|02|df=y}} |birth_place=Vibo Valentia, Italy |death_date={{Death date and age|2009|03|25|1967|12|02|df=y}} |death_place=Voghera, Italy |nationality= |nickname=Flash |weight={{plainlist| *Lightweight *Light welterweight *Welterweight}} |height=5 ft 8 in |reach= |style=Orthodox |total=47 |wins=41 |KO=29 |losses=5 |draws=1 |no contests= |medaltemplates= {{MedalSport|Men's Boxing}} {{MedalCountry|{{ITA}}}} {{Medal|Competition|Olympic Games}} {{Medal|Gold|1988 Seoul|Featherweight}} }}

'''Giovanni Parisi''' (2 December 1967 – 25 March 2009) was an Italian boxer, who won the gold medal in the Men's Featherweight (57 kg) category at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

==1988 Olympic results== Below is the record of Giovanni Parisi, an Italian featherweight boxer who competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics:

* Round of 64: bye * Round of 32: defeated Lu Chih Hsiung (Taipei) by decision, 5-0 * Round of 16: defeated Mikhail Kazaryan (Soviet Union) referee stopped contest in the second round * Quarterfinal: defeated Ya'acov Shmuel (Israel) by decision, 5-0 * Semifinal: defeated Abdelhak Achik (Morocco) referee stopped contest in the first round * Final: defeated Daniel Dumitrescu (Romania) by first-round knockout (won gold medal)

==Professional career== A native of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Parisi began his professional career in 1989 and won the vacant WBO lightweight title by defeating Javier Altamirano in 1992. He later defeated former champion Freddie Pendleton and in 1995 challenged Mexican legend Julio César Chávez for the WBC light-welterweight Title, losing a unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/10/sports/boxing-beaten-holmes-exits-with-a-parting-jab.html|title=Beaten Holmes Exits With a Parting Jab|work=The New York Times|date=10 April 1995 |access-date=2024-05-09}}</ref> Parisi went on to capture the WBO light-welterweight title and defend it successfully six times. He lost the WBO light-welterweight belt to Carlos Gonzalez in May 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/05/30/trainer-defends-real-quiet/|title=Trainer defends Real Quiet|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2024-05-09}}</ref> and failed in a challenge for the welterweight title against Daniel Santos in July 2000.

He last fought in September 2006, when he lost a majority decision against Frederic Klose in Milan for the European welterweight crown.

==Professional boxing record== {{BoxingRecordSummary |draws=1 |nc= |ko-wins=29 |dec-wins=12 |ko-losses=3 |dec-losses=2 }} {|class=wikitable style=text-align:center |- !{{abbr|No.|Number}} !Result !Record !Opponent !Type !Round, time !Date !Location !Notes |- |47 |{{no2}}Loss |{{nowrap|41–5–1}} |align=left|Frederic Klose |MD |12 (12) |2006-10-08 |align=left|{{small|PalaLido, Milan, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|For European welterweight title}} |- |46 |{{yes2}}Win |41–4–1 |align=left|Lubomir Wejs |TKO |6 (8) |2006-05-09 |align=left|{{small|Sazka Arena, Prague, Czech Republic}} |align=left| |- |45 |{{yes2}}Win |40–4–1 |align=left|Louis Mimoune |UD |10 (10) |2005-03-12 |align=left|{{small|Mazda Palace, Milan, Italy}} |align=left| |- |44 |{{yes2}}Win |39–4–1 |align=left|Miguel Ángel Peña |UD |8 (8) |2003-02-11 |align=left|{{small|Pentagono, Bormio, Italy}} |align=left| |- |43 |{{no2}}Loss |38–4–1 |align=left|Daniel Santos |KO |4 (12) |2000-07-29 |align=left|{{small|Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|For WBO welterweight title}} |- |42 |{{yes2}}Win |38–3–1 |align=left|Jose Luis Baltazar |TKO |1 (8) |1999-08-04 |align=left|{{small|Tezze sul Brenta, Italy}} |align=left| |- |41 |{{yes2}}Win |37–3–1 |align=left|Benjamin Martinez |PTS |8 (8) |1999-04-17 |align=left|{{small|Palazzetto dello Sport, Sassari, Italy}} |align=left| |- |40 |{{no2}}Loss |36–3–1 |align=left|Carlos González |TKO |9 (12) |1998-05-29 |align=left|{{small|Palasport, Pesaro, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Lost WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |39 |{{yes2}}Win |36–2–1 |align=left|Jose Manuel Berdonce |UD |12 (12) |1997-12-06 |align=left|{{small|Palasport, Catanzaro, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |38 |{{yes2}}Win |35–2–1 |align=left|Nigel Wenton |RTD |8 (12) |1997-10-04 |align=left|{{small|Vibo Valentia, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |37 |{{yes2}}Win |34–2–1 |align=left|Harold Miller |TKO |8 (12) |1997-04-19 |align=left|{{small|PalaLido, Milan, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |36 |{{yes2}}Win |33–2–1 |align=left|Sergio Rey |KO |4 (12) |1996-10-12 |align=left|{{small|Forum, Assago, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |35 |{{draw}}Draw |32–2–1 |align=left|Carlos González |SD |12 (12) |1996-06-20 |align=left|{{small|Forum, Assago, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |34 |{{yes2}}Win |32–2 |align=left|Sammy Fuentes |TKO |8 (12) |1996-03-09 |align=left|{{small|PalaLido, Milan, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Won WBO light-welterweight title}} |- |33 |{{yes2}}Win |31–2 |align=left|Hector Ulises Chong |TKO |7 (10) |1995-12-16 |align=left|{{small|Voghera, Italy}} |align=left| |- |32 |{{yes2}}Win |30–2 |align=left|Angel Fernandez |KO |5 (10) |1995-07-14 |align=left|{{small|Sheraton Golfo Parco de' Medici, Rome, Italy}} |align=left| |- |31 |{{no2}}Loss |29–2 |align=left|Julio César Chávez |UD |12 (12) |1995-04-08 |align=left|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left|{{small|For WBC light-welterweight title}} |- |30 |{{yes2}}Win |29–1 |align=left|Freddie Pendleton |SD |10 (10) |17 Sep 1994 |align=left|{{small|MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |29 |{{yes2}}Win |28–1 |align=left|Richie Hess |KO |2 (10) |1994-05-07 |align=left|{{small|MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |28 |{{yes2}}Win |27–1 |align=left|Mike Bryan |TKO |1 (10) |1994-01-29 |align=left|{{small|MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |27 |{{yes2}}Win |26–1 |align=left|Antonio Rivera |UD |12 (12) |1993-09-24 |align=left|{{small|PalaEur, Rome, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO lightweight title}} |- |26 |{{yes2}}Win |25–1 |align=left|Jesus Rojas |TKO |5 (10) |1993-07-30 |align=left|{{small|Salò, Italy}} |align=left| |- |25 |{{yes2}}Win |24–1 |align=left|Michael Ayers |UD |12 (12) |1993-04-16 |align=left|{{small|PalaEur, Rome, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBO lightweight title}} |- |24 |{{yes2}}Win |23–1 |align=left|Mark Smith |KO |4 (10) |1993-01-13 |align=left|{{small|Sanremo, Italy}} |align=left| |- |23 |{{yes2}}Win |22–1 |align=left|Francisco Javier Altamirano |TKO |10 (12) |1992-09-25 |align=left|{{small|Stadio di Voghera, Voghera, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBO lightweight title}} |- |22 |{{yes2}}Win |21–1 |align=left|Fernando Ramos |KO |4 (?) |1992-06-10 |align=left|{{small|Godiasco Salice Terme, Italy}} |align=left| |- |21 |{{yes2}}Win |20–1 |align=left|Wanerge Acosta |TKO |6 (8) |1992-04-11 |align=left|{{small|Terni, Italy}} |align=left| |- |20 |{{yes2}}Win |19–1 |align=left|Silvestre Castillo |TKO |7 (?) |1992-03-14 |align=left|{{small|Arezzo, Italy}} |align=left| |- |19 |{{yes2}}Win |18–1 |align=left|Martin Cruz |KO |3 (?) |1992-02-15 |align=left|{{small|Lumezzane, Italy}} |align=left| |- |18 |{{yes2}}Win |17–1 |align=left|Tony Foster |KO |6 (8) |1991-11-21 |align=left|{{small|Palazzo Dello Sport, Perugia, Italy}} |align=left| |- |17 |{{yes2}}Win |16–1 |align=left|Stefano Cassi |KO |2 (12) |1991-09-28 |align=left|{{small|Veroli, Italy}} |align=left|{{small|Won vacant Italian lightweight title}} |- |16 |{{yes2}}Win |15–1 |align=left|Rudi Valentino |UD |8 (8) |1991-07-17 |align=left|{{small|Abbiategrasso, Italy}} |align=left| |- |15 |{{yes2}}Win |14–1 |align=left|Marvin P Gray |KO |6 (8) |1991-05-15 |align=left|{{small|Montichiari, Italy}} |align=left| |- |14 |{{yes2}}Win |13–1 |align=left|Alan Peacock |PTS |6 (6) |1991-03-27 |align=left|{{small|Mestre, Italy}} |align=left| |- |13 |{{no2}}Loss |12–1 |align=left|Antonio Rivera |KO |3 (?) |1990-11-10 |align=left|{{small|Monsano, Italy}} |align=left| |- |12 |{{yes2}}Win |12–0 |align=left|Tony Richards |PTS |8 (8) |1990-03-10 |align=left|{{small|Priolo Gargallo, Italy}} |align=left| |- |11 |{{yes2}}Win |11–0 |align=left|Roberto Rubaldino |TKO |1 (10) |1990-01-06 |align=left|{{small|Druzhba Multipurpose Arena, Moscow, Russia}} |align=left| |- |10 |{{yes2}}Win |10–0 |align=left|Brian Brown |PTS |8 (8) |1989-10-27 |align=left|{{small|Saint-Vincent, Italy}} |align=left| |- |9 |{{yes2}}Win |9–0 |align=left|Alain Bamba |TKO |5 (?) |1989-09-13 |align=left|{{small|Godiasco Salice Terme, Italy}} |align=left| |- |8 |{{yes2}}Win |8–0 |align=left|Higinio DeLeon |RTD |5 (?) |1989-08-20 |align=left|{{small|Terracina, Italy}} |align=left| |- |7 |{{yes2}}Win |7–0 |align=left|Gary Gamble |KO |2 (?) |1989-08-09 |align=left|{{small|Anagni, Italy}} |align=left| |- |6 |{{yes2}}Win |6–0 |align=left|Phil Carter |TKO |6 (?) |1989-07-15 |align=left|{{small|Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |5 |{{yes2}}Win |5–0 |align=left|Bobby Moore |TKO |1 (?) |1989-06-10 |align=left|{{small|Palazzo Dello Sport, Frosinone, Italy}} |align=left| |- |4 |{{yes2}}Win |4–0 |align=left|Tchoza Mukuta |PTS |6 (6) |1989-04-22 |align=left|{{small|Perugia, Italy}} |align=left| |- |3 |{{yes2}}Win |3–0 |align=left|Benito Rodriguez |KO |3 (?) |1989-03-29 |align=left|{{small|Cariati, Italy}} |align=left| |- |2 |{{yes2}}Win |2–0 |align=left|Richard Campbell |KO |2 (?) |1989-03-11 |align=left|{{small|Acqui Terme, Italy}} |align=left| |- |1 |{{yes2}}Win |1–0 |align=left|Kenny Brown |KO |3 (?) |1989-02-15 |align=left|{{small|Vibo Valentia, Italy}} |align=left| |}

==Death== On 25 March 2009, Parisi was driving a car at Voghera, near Pavia, when it crashed head-on with a truck. Parisi died at the scene; he was 41.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7965950.stm|title=Former champ Parisi dies in crash|date=26 March 2009 |publisher=BBC|access-date=2009-03-26}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Boxrec|id=1594}} *{{Olympedia}}

{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Regional boxing titles}} |- {{s-vac|last=Antonio Renzo}} {{s-ttl|title=Italian lightweight champion |years=28 September 1991 – 25 September 1992<br>Won world title}} {{s-vac|next=Antonio Strabello}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}} |- {{s-vac|last=Dingaan Thobela}} {{s-ttl|title=WBO lightweight champion |years=25 September 1992 – 23 January 1994<br>Vacated}} {{s-vac|next=Oscar De La Hoya}} {{s-bef|before=Sammy Fuentes}} {{s-ttl|title=WBO light-welterweight champion |years=9 March 1996 – 29 May 1998}} {{s-aft|after=Carlos González}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=light-welterweight status}} {{s-bef|before=Edwin Rosario}} {{s-ttl|title=Latest born world champion to die |years=25 March 2009 – 11 July 2009}} {{s-aft|after=Arturo Gatti}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parisi, Giovanni}} Category:1967 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Italian male boxers Category:People from Vibo Valentia Category:Sportspeople from the Province of Vibo Valentia Category:Boxers at the 1988 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic boxers for Italy Category:Olympic gold medalists for Italy Category:Olympic medalists in boxing Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics Category:Road incident deaths in Italy Category:Welterweight boxers Category:World lightweight boxing champions Category:World light-welterweight boxing champions Category:World Boxing Organization champions Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen