Olli Mäki facts for kids
Olli Mäki (born December 22, 1936 – died April 6, 2019) was a famous Finnish boxer. He was known for his skills in the ring. Later in his life, he also became a coach and manager. A movie called The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki was even made about his interesting story!
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Olli Mäki's Boxing Journey
Starting as an Amateur
Olli Mäki began his boxing career as an amateur. This means he competed for fun or experience, not for money. He was very good! In 1957, he came in second place in a big European competition. Just two years later, in 1959, he won the European lightweight title. This was a huge achievement for him.
Sadly, Olli was not chosen for the 1960 Olympic team. But this did not stop him from pursuing his passion for boxing.
Becoming a Professional Boxer
After his amateur career, Olli Mäki decided to become a professional boxer. This meant he would now fight for money. He continued to box until 1973. During his professional career, he had many fights. He won 28 matches, lost 14, and had 8 draws (meaning no one won).
One of his most famous fights was in 1962 against Davey Moore. Olli lost this fight in the second round.
Life After the Ring
Even after he stopped fighting, Olli Mäki stayed involved in boxing. He worked as a coach, helping other boxers learn and improve their skills. He also became a manager, guiding the careers of other fighters.
Olli Mäki was born in Kokkola, Finland. He passed away on April 6, 2019, in Kirkkonummi at the age of 82. He had been living with Alzheimer's disease.
- Professional boxing record for Olli Mäki from BoxRecLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).