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Ringo Bonavena: not afraid of anything

Eccentric, sincere, playful, swaggering, charismatic, a little child ... Scored a time when boxing in a style appropriate to its personality: bold, blunt, no never give a step backwards. He was yearning for glory and this led him to clash in 1970 with the world title at stake, the largest of the great Muhammad Ali, and combat history. Five years later, shot by the gunman died of a mobster in the vicinity of a brothel in Reno (Nevada). This is the story of the rise and fall of Oscar Bonavena Ringo, the man who did not know the word fear.

The fight appeared uneven. David against Goliath, the greatest boxer in history against the enthusiastic candidate, known as Cassius Clay-Muhammad Ali after his conversion to Islam, against Oscar Bonavena Ringo. That night of December 7, 1970, the icy outdoor environment contrasted with the heat they lived in the Madison Square Garden in New York, the most majestic scenery you can imagine for a fight that jeopardized world title heavyweights. The Argentine, true to form, did not hesitate to provoke his rival the run, daring him so blatant (" I Kill you! "), and calling him a chicken for refusing to go to war (" Chicken, chicken , Vietnam, "he said, quarrelsome).

With 10 to 1 odds against him, Bonavena, all pride, came to overthrow Ali and stoically endured 14 rounds before giving up on the fifteenth after "a few examples of courage sometimes seen "as admit, almost breathless, the greatest boxer of all time . Ringo led him to the limit. Still talk about that battle in the world of boxing, a fight that paralyzed the country of Argentina. It was the highlight of the career of our hero, who, without ever becoming world champion (he had to face some of the biggest heavyweights in history: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Jimmy Ellis ... ) left a deep impression by his courage, his peculiar personality, his wit and eccentricities.

His figure largely transcended the world of boxing, especially in his native Argentina, where he was much more than an idol. Because you have a lot of personality to get the nickname to himself one day, he decided he would call Ringo, Ringo Star and his admired His career as a professional boxer fights ended with 58 wins (44 of them for KO), 9 losses (almost all against world champions or former champions Americans) and a tie. Although could not beat them, always stood up to the largest with courage, honor and fearlessness, not afraid of anything. It would be a constant in his life ... and in his death.


The blows of poverty Oscar Natalio Bonavena
was born on September 25, 1942 in the neighborhood of Boedo (Buenos Aires), robust, round-more than four kilos of weight-, advertising and the power that would show throughout his life. It was the eighth child of nine that were Vicente and Dominga Bonavena Grillo, head of a poor family that occasionally touched poverty. "Once I pulled the chain and fell off the tank of pure rotten," recalled the fighter years later.

was a child "and street fighter" in his own words. Odd were his first contact with the world of boxing, via Carnival, still a kid. Poverty, in this case, we could show the way : "I always dressed as a boxer because it was cheaper: naked, with panties and a pair of gloves provided by a neighbor." As a teenager, his family moved from the neighborhood, reaching Patricios Park, where he became a stalwart of the Club Atlético Huracán. He left school early, in sixth grade, and did various jobs to earn some money, pizza delivery, an assistant in a butcher shop, stonemason ...

At 16 he had already decided his fate would be in the ring, in 1959, with 17 newly completed, the amateur champion Argentina. In early of 60 was initiated as a professional boxer and, after a defeat in their first fight, soon reaped early success, made a brave and aggressive style, like a voracious beast. The same aggressive style, in short, played a trick on him in 1963 during the Pan American Games, and that nearly cost him his career. Angered by the beating he had inflicted the American Lee Carr, bit his chest in battle.

was disqualified and severely punished by the Federation of Argentina. "But I was kind of giving up, remember years later, and went where they were the loot and the glory, the United States." He traveled almost with the post, accompanied by his brother Joseph, with a few dollars in his pocket and a letter of recommendation from the representative Tino Porzio. Soon said in New York for its punch and ability to absorb shock, pure courage. That was how enthralled all lovers of boxing and how he got to make a fortune in this tough sport. At this time and called himself Ringo.


From nowhere to the legend
life changed the night of September 4, 1965, in Buenos Aires, when it passed in just a few minutes "from nothing to the legend." Argentine champion faced the heavy weights idol local, Gregorio Goyo Peralta, who years earlier had starred in a gesture of contempt for a then unknown Bonavena. Wounded in his pride, gave the weeks before the fight to provoke his rival: "What I bring to Peralta, who bit off the head," said he already had a well deserved reputation for bragging. The expectation was high throughout the country and the atmosphere is warmed to the absolute limits. 25,236 people packed the Luna Park; many were left out, no input. Bonavena

took the ring from a large blast (most of the audience had sided then-champion), and left 18 minutes after the fight started between a colossal cheer, having defeated by KO, with a sharp and powerful left, Peralta. "Do not take seriously my insults were to promote the fight," said the new national champion when they met in the locker room. "The only thing I ask," replied the defeated-is that you are a champion seriously, above and below the ring. "

As he wrote then Ulises Barrera sports journalist and author of numerous chronic pugilistic, "in eighteen minutes, with one blow, the boxer clumsy, awkward, not technical, with those flat feet that forced him to ride a bear, but pure courage, went from hatred to love, and nothing to the legend. " Days after his victory, was Hurricane Stadium to receive a tribute from the fans of the club he loves, returning to the field including Olympic. That day was born the famous song that would remind him forever: "We are ward / district of Burning / We are the fans / Ringo Bonavena " . Bonavena

successfully continued boxing in the country of the Stars and Stripes, which led him to see their faces often the best. Beat Canadian champion George Chuvalo, German Mildenberger, and fought twice against the great Joe Frazier. In the first, in September 1966, he knocked twice, but in the second, two years later, with the crown of the heavyweights of the Worl Boxing Association at stake, did not have any choice. But his biggest fight, as already mentioned, took place in December 1970 at Madison Square Garden in New York, where the myth buzzed Muhammad Ali.

Since beginning his successful career as a boxer, the money went gushing into your checking account. After years of poverty and deprivation, began to develop an irresistible taste for luxury cars exclusive suites lodging, relojes de marca, joyas y objetos de oro, una inmensa colección de trajes a medida, puros habanos, los más caros perfumes… Por aquel entonces, Ringo ya estaba casado con Dora Raffo, y tenía dos hijos. Su popularidad era tal que llegó a actuar en tres películas (“ Los chantas ”, “ Pasión dominguera ” y “ Muchachos impacientes ”), e incluso se atrevió a grabar –con entusiasmo infantil, pese a su voz aflautada- una canción de ínfima calidad pero que se convirtió en todo un éxito popular: “ Pío, Pío, Pá ”. Era un auténtico ídolo mass, also outside the ring. Charismatic like no other athlete at the time, was able to win the hearts of Argentines.


contacts with the Mafia
Honest to a fault, carefree, sometimes too innocent, his excessive frankness, as I thought he said, he played tricks on life, especially intrigues in Bury fights. In 1969 said they had participated in some battles with results previously agreed, and these statements (which were not at all surprised at the time) was boycotted by a large majority of entrepreneurs in this sport.

On more than one occasion slammed the boxing establishment , especially some organizers of fighting with few scruples. "In the last match with Frazier me know that they would bribe jurors for my benefit," he wrote in 1969 after fighting with the American. They just wanted the fight lasted fifteen rounds for the benefit of the organizers for the batch of television advertising. Behind all this is moving a world of gamblers who are looking not very clean contacts that enable them secure investments. "

After reaching a peak in the fight with Muhammad Ali's career seemed Bonavena into a kind of downhill becoming a boxing world traveler. In early February 1976-after a while boxing in his native Argentina, Hawaii, and Italy, he returned to the United States, particularly in Nevada, where he signed several fights with the promoter Puerto Rican Jose Montano. But then comes their way a person would mark a decisive way the last months of his life.

As fate would have sold the contract Montano Ringo a man from Las Vegas 53, of Sicilian origin, related to the mafia, casinos and prostitution. Joe Conforte ran with his wife Sally the Mustang Ranch brothel in luxurious Reno, Nevada. In this unusual place Bonavena would dispute his last fight in February of that year, with the mediocre boxer Billy Joiner, who was able to defeat on points. That fight made it very bad taste Argentine champion: "I never felt so bad in life, then told his wife Dora. People ate, laughed and fought us, yes, looked like the Roman circus. I do not want this, I want a big fight, really, I do not know what the hell am I doing here. "


Bonavena The Last Days of
came to Reno together for a manager, but soon broke with him for professional disagreements. So signed a new professional contrast Comfort Sally, who would become his official manager (her husband could not be, having spent five years in prison.) She was about 60 years, was overweight and a limp that he had left a car accident. Signed a two year contract whereby Bonavena received $ 7,000 and promised to pay 10% of its stock for comfort, in addition, Sally gave him $ 3,000 out of pocket. In those months he spoke of fighting against Muhammed Ali in Guatemala against the English Urtain against Ken Northon in Las Vegas ... but in the end, for one reason or another, none of these battles took place. Ringo

and Sally got along from day one, spent much time together, became good friends, much as the buzz of the city, and that triggered all sorts of rumors and anger of the mob. And then the trouble started. Ringo possibly, the man who feared nothing, not well-calculated risk on this occasion. Once, during a big party in the Mustang, several guests said: "Welcome, hope you like my place." When Joe found out, went straight to him: "With my wife do what you want, but do not get into my business." And there was joking.

Between 15 and 20 May produce a number of incidents and threats between Ringo and bodyguard Joe Comfort, who were already expect the worst. boxer decides to return to his country and the day before his death, his wife called to announce that on Sunday 23 would fly back to Buenos Aires, "but he said he once had to fix something that does not inform anyone. " According to later recognize Dora Raffo, "he looked very worried, and asked me to pray for him." What Bonavena wanted to get was a copy of your contract.

To this end, after receiving a call to the casino where I used to go play a few dollars, returned early Saturday 22 to Mustang Ranch, which had already banned. Around 6:15 am, shot fell near the brothel by the firing of a gun-wielding Willard Ross Brymer, bodyguard and confidant of Joe Conforte. A bullet had torn the heart. Brymer, who had a glass eye, spent 15 months in prison for the murder, then her sentence was commuted to manslaughter (claimed that he had no intention of killing him, and only intended to scare him away).

any case, the bullet put an end, after 33 years in the life of Oscar Bonavena Ringo. Days then be buried in Chacarita cemetery in Buenos Aires, 150,000 people joined in, in tears, her body, and covered the casket of red carnations. In Argentina, it remains a myth. The local gallery and a Club Atlético Huracán Buenos Aires street named after him in tribute, a statue of three meters high Patricios Park reminds him, his birth place and dream. "We ward / district of Burning / We are the fans / Bonavena Ringo." 35 years after his death, when Hurricane wins, continues to play this song at the Park Street Patrician.

Video tribute to Ringo Bonavena