Vito Antuofermo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vito Antuofermo |
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Antuofermo in 2006
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Vito Gabriele Antuofermo |
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 7+1/2 in |
| Reach | 69 in |
| Nationality | Italian American |
| Born | February 9, 1953 Palo del Colle, Italy |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 59 |
| Wins | 50 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 2 |
Vito Antuofermo (born February 9, 1953) is an Italian American actor and a retired professional boxer. He was once the undisputed World Middleweight Champion, meaning he held all the major titles in his weight class at the same time.
Contents
Early Life and Boxing Dreams
Vito Antuofermo was born in Palo del Colle, a town in Italy. When he was 17 years old, his family moved to the United States. Vito grew up in the tough neighborhoods of New York City, where he learned how to fight. By the time he was a teenager, he knew he wanted to become a professional boxer. He lived in Howard Beach, Queens for many years.
Amateur Boxing Success
Before turning professional, Vito had a successful amateur career. In 1970, he won the New York Golden Gloves Championship in the 147-pound weight class. He beat Thomas Chestnut in the final match. The next year, in 1971, he reached the finals again but was defeated by Eddie Gregory, who later became a Light Heavyweight Champion. Vito trained hard at the Police Athletic League's Sweeney Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Professional Boxing Career
Vito Antuofermo was known for his exciting fighting style. However, he also had a tendency to get cuts easily, especially around his eyebrows. During his fights, his corner team often spent a lot of time patching up his cuts between rounds.
Becoming a World Champion
In 1979, Vito Antuofermo achieved his dream of becoming a World Middleweight Champion. He fought against the defending champion, Hugo Corro, in Monte Carlo. After a tough 15-round match, Vito won by a decision from the judges. The scores were very close, showing how evenly matched the two boxers were.
The day after winning his title, Vito was driving in Italy when he saw a car fall off a bridge right in front of him. He was so shocked by the accident that he kept driving for a while before he fully realized what had happened.
Defending the Title
On November 30, 1979, Vito defended his title against Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas. Their fight was very close and ended in a controversial 15-round draw. This meant Vito kept his title.
In his next title defense, against Alan Minter in Las Vegas, Vito lost his championship by a split decision after 15 rounds. The judges' scores for this fight were very different, showing how hard it was to decide a winner. They had a rematch in London on June 28, 1980. In this fight, Minter won again when the referee stopped the match in the eighth round because of cuts on Vito's face.
Final Fights and Retirement
After Alan Minter lost the title to Marvin Hagler in 1980, Vito Antuofermo got another chance to become the World Middleweight Champion. He fought Hagler again in Boston, but he lost in the fourth round due to cuts.
Vito continued to fight for a few more years, trying to get back to the top of the middleweight division. He retired from boxing in 1985. During his career, he defeated other world champions like Eckhard Dagge, Denny Moyer, and Emile Griffith.
Life After Boxing
After retiring from boxing, Vito Antuofermo started a new career in acting. In 1990, he had a small role in the movie The Godfather Part III. Since then, he has appeared in several movies and television shows, including the popular show The Sopranos. He has also performed in many theater plays.
Vito also appeared in television commercials for Old Spice deodorant.
Vito Antuofermo's final boxing record shows 50 wins, 7 losses, and 2 draws. He won 21 of his fights by knockout. His second oldest son, Pasquale Antuofermo, also boxed as an amateur but did not become a professional. Pasquale now owns a successful landscaping company in Long Island, New York.
Filmography
Vito Antuofermo has appeared in several films and TV shows:
- 1990: Goodfellas – Prizefighter
- 1990: The Godfather Part III – Anthony 'The Ant' Squigliaro
- 1991: Loser – Homeless Man
- 1993: New York Undercover – Jimmy
- 1996: The Mouse – Trainer
- 1998: Hell's Kitchen – Boyle's Thug
- 1999: La bomba – Pippo Messina
- 2000: The Boys Behind the Desk
Boxing Achievements
Vito Antuofermo held several important boxing titles during his career.
Major World Titles
- WBA middleweight champion (160 pounds)
- WBC middleweight champion (160 pounds)
The Ring Magazine Titles
- The Ring middleweight champion (160 pounds)
Regional and International Titles
- European light middleweight champion (154 pounds)
Undisputed Titles
- Undisputed middleweight champion
See also
In Spanish: Vito Antuofermo para niños
