The Robberies of Ringo Bonavena
RCM Historical Boxing
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Correspondent
Oscar Natalio ‘Ringo’ Bonavena (1943-1976), the great Argentine heavyweight, is a name which has long faded from public limelight. Ringo was the heavyweight from Buenos Aires, Argentina who fought during the Carlos Monzon era. Bonavena’s fighting ability made him famous, but today this reporter would like to talk a bit about the robberies Bonavena occurred during his lifetime.
Today it is commonplace for a fighter to take the check and lose to the promoter’s fighter. For Oscar Bonavena, a fighter with heart, guts and determination, his bouts were indelible. The results stunk, however, and it has merit to discuss the results why Ringo got robbed.
Bonavena compiled a professional record between 1964 and 1976 of 58 wins, nine losses, and one draw, with 44 knockouts. Only Muhammad Ali would stop him by automatic TKO when Oscar was knocked down three times in the fifteenth round in a world title eliminator.
The then unbeaten Bonavena failed to beat Zora Folley when the two judges gave him only one round, and another gave him none over ten rounds at Madison Square Garden in 1965. Oscar then beat 12 opponents including decisioning George Chuvalo, when Smoking Joe Frazier got a gift 10 round split decision over Bonavena in Madison Square Garden in 1966. Bonavena had Frazier down twice in the second. Bonavena then won ten straight bouts before losing a 12 round WBA heavyweight eliminator to Jimmy Ellis.
Bonavena then won seven straight, including a rematch over Zora Folley, and a ten round decision win over highly regarded Leotis Martin (who later beat Sonny Liston). Oscar won eight of his next 10 bouts, drawing with Gregorio Peralta, who he had beaten previously. After losing to Ali, Bonavena beat Ali sparring partner Alvin ‘Blue’ Lewis.
Oscar won 11 of his final 13 bouts, including decision wins over Larry Middleton and Oliver Wright. Bonavena broke one of his hands when he lost a 10 rounder to Floyd Patterson, the fourth heavyweight champion to have beaten him, and a 12 round loss to top contender Ron Lyle. Oscar had won seven straight was he was shot to death at the Mustang Ranch bordello on May 22, 1976, by a hunting rifle.
Among Oscar’s trainers was Charley Goldman, who earlier had trained Rocky Marciano. Ring Magazine editor Nat Fleischer called Bonavena the most powerful fighter he had ever seen. Colorful in his remarks and broken cameras, Bonavena was probably looking for a world title match with Muhammad Ali at the time of his passing. Like his fellow countryman, Carlos Monzon, it all just wasn’t meant to be for Ringo. Still, his classic bout with Muhammad Ali lives, on, only one of two bouts which Ali ended in the fifteen round. The other Ali victory over Chuck Wepner.
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