A long overdue and superb documentary on a very unusual fighter. With his toughness, stamina, bravery and raw power, he gave everyone he fought a tough fight. The fact Frazier couldn’t break him, speaks volumes for his durability.
I remember Ringo as if it was yesterday, as a fellow South-American (I am Peruvian)He was the great South-American "hope" to put us on the world map of Boxing.
Remember listening to the Ali fight as a 13 year old on the radio with my Dad, and a neighbor. Regardless of his troubled life and inconsistent career, he was one Tough dude! Gave Ali, Frazier and Lyle all they could want. Believe he was murdered, would never take the word of known criminals, pimps and their bodyguards. Rich, another captivating story🤙
A great fighter, active during the 60's and 70's, which was, to boxing aficianados, the halcyon era of heavyweight boxing. Thanks for the great presentation Rich.
Rich I love your channel. Ivebeen involved in boxing over 50 year. I was a sparring partner to Aaron Pryor, Greg Page, Billy Joiner and many others. In LA the old main street gym was my gym. It was awesome talking with Howie Steindler, Little Red, Bazooka Limon just to list a few. I will always cherish those times when kings of the sport were everywhere. Now I collect old fight gloves even Flores from your area. Keep up the great work.
@@michaelmarron8441 you get bigger as you get older. All sparring sessions aren't with guys your own weight. Some heavyweights fool around with featherweights and lightweights just to get a look at speed and fast movements.
You were born at a good time, very good era, my generation has to select one between Conor n Floyd.....who's the fighter, who's the businessman, both of them cant take a shot, no chin, no will.....just fame.......its like who's better, android or apple, postcards n letters were the best.....dumass generation,Im an mma guy too with my roots in boxing...
I agree that the left hook is the most devastating punch in the heavyweight class, I remember Bonavena who was a tough warrior,I also remember when he was shot dead.Some says it was murdered, others say he provoked his demise
I watched the first Frazier fight on a TV in my fraternity dining room. If memory serves, I was the only one in there, being the one boxing fanatic in the house. The two knockdowns were shocking. The fifteenth round of the Ali fight was one for the Ages. Ali’s legend had grown during the exile and the one comeback fight against Quarry. Watching Oscar give him fits silenced the audience at the closed circuit venue that night. The knockout blew the roof off of the place. I had no idea of the circumstances surrounding Oscar’s death other than he was shot at a brothel. What a character and tough guy he was. Thanks for another gem Rich.
Bullshit, he died in the Mustang whorehouse outside Reno after getting shitty with the madam. The security guy put some bullets in him and that was that.
Bonavena is seriously underrated. He always gave it his all in the ring even if it didn't show in the gym, and his untimely murder was a tragic end to a great fighter.
Another great story Rich! Oscar Bonavina was one of my favorite fighters, I remember when I was little sitting down watching a Muhammad Ali documentary with my father and seeing Oscar Bonavena taunting Muhammad Ali calling him Clay with Oscar Bonavena’s little voice. 😂 This documentary brought back memories and he is definitely one of my favorite fighters. P.S. if Oscar Bonavena was alive during the time of Tommy Morrison I think that would’ve been a great fight!🥊
Bonavena was a personal favorite. And after all these years, I discover that Bonavena was a fellow Italian. Once again, Rich the Fight Historian comes through with a great video and lots of information!
His first fight vs Frazier was a robbery. Dropped him twice and fighting in Frazier`s country. So were many of his fights, lost on points because of local judges.
Tough, tough fighter with heart in this great era. Didn't know he knocked down Frazier twice. He gave Ali fits while sadly exposing the rust of the exile despite that spectacular 15th round setting the stage for the Frazier epics. Bonavena just a step below the great ones. Tragic end.
I think Ali telling Ringo after their fight that he was the toughest man he had ever fought speaks volumes. I'm sure Frazier would have agreed. Great video.
TIL Angelo Dundee spoke fluent Spanish. As always, Rich put a well documented, fast moving, and highly entertaining video. You're a national treasure Rich.
The Spanish and Italian languages are very close. My Sicilian Father could speak very good Spanish because he spoke Italian. And you are right about Rich!
Great doc on oscar. I have around 10 fights of Oscar's on DVD. He was a very tough strong heavyweight who was a strong puncher with a solid chin. Everyone who went into the ring with oscar knew they were in for a tough fight. 2 of my favourite fights of Oscar's was his fight against george chuvalo who also was a very tough strong punching heavyweight with a great chin and his fight against karl milldenburger. He fought all the best heavyweight's of his time , Ali, Frazier, Patterson, chuvalo , Ellis and Folly to name a few. His first fight against Joe Frazier was a real battle with Frazier down twice and one knockdown away from defeat. Its tragic that Oscar's life ended in that manner, but I will always remember him as a strong solid heavyweight who gave even the greatest heavyweight's of his era a run for their money. R.I.P oscar.
@@oldschoolboxing6048 he said he looked like a punk ! Do your self a favour read things and understand them before replying in a childish insulting manner. In my opinion he was a punk look at his end it’s the lifestyle ex fighters can fall into as usually they are just uneducated
Hey I live near the Mustang Ranch and have gone in a few times. Nice spot with a very interesting story I didn't know about. It is sad to see a man go down like that though. It really does sound like a guy you could enjoy a cold brew with. Rest in peace, and to all the good ones that left us too early.
Another fantastic mini doc Rich. As well as I thought I knew his career, I knew nothing of his personal life & antics after boxing. Really enjoyable stuff, that's so well thought out and presented. Always appreciated.! Bless up bro 👊
Fight machine just so happen to be fighting in the Golden Heavyweight era very underrated.. in his heyday he fight everybody dude literally fought 7 fights in 1970 alone went 20 rounds strait with The Great Joe Frazier and 15 rounds with Ali both in their prime.. He fought 68 fights in just 12 years that’s 5 1/2 fights per year sheesh that jus show his durability drive and will took on any challenge and gave his all every time… Rip Ringo
Great watch, Ringo's sorely missed down here on Argentina as he was quite the character but good guy nonetheless. Gotta look for a Nicolino "untouchable" Locche doc that I hope you've already made by now.
You know you're a boxing dork when you get excited when Rich covers a obscure Argentinean Heavyweight contender from the 1960's and 70's. Jokes aside, amazing investigative skills as usual Rich. I will keep watching your channel until you cover every boxer in existence, keep up the good work.
Excellent. Bonavena looked like a throwback fighter in the days of throwback fighters. I would have loved to have seen the fight that was scheduled against Forman...Then I guess most would say Foreman would have done to Bonavena what he did to Frazier....possibly so, but it would have been interesting to see.
I was living in Reno, Nevada, when Oscar was shot and killed by a security guard, at the Mustang Ranch brothel outside of town. Quite the news story for a while!
Over the years I had seen films of the tough Ali-Bonavena fight several times, but this superb professional documentary added an emotional background I was unaware existed. Just discovered your channel so thanks and keep up the good work.
I really enjoyed this video. Prior to this I knew very little about Bonavena other than that he fought Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, and almost went the full 15 rounds with Ali. You provided good detail to his boxing career. Well done!
An enlightening overview of the life of "Ringo". Interesting to see Angelo Dundee and Bonavena, both from Italian immigrant families, speaking in Spanish rather than Italian. Angie obviously honed his Spanish language skills in Miami.
awesome, Oscar Bona Vena was one of those great heavyweights of the 60s and 70s the Golden Era. I've been watching boxing for over 40 years in the more I look back I realized that Liston, Clay, ushered an incredible era of heavyweight Challengers, and heavyweight champions I'm so lucky I grew up into it.
So true, but what I don't understand is that Ali is no longer with us.And he went by the name Ali, and some people still call Clay. Knowing he go by that name ..
@@jameshampton2899 Sir Hampton I said Clay because I'm just placing Clay in a time chronicle he didnt call himself Muhammad Ali yet that's all. Believe me I loved when he changed his name. his era and till now has produced a plethora of great heavyweights perhaps the best in the divisions history
Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena PRO record: 58-9-1, KO's 44. # World Heavyweight Title Challanger: 1968 (UD 15 loss to Joe Frazier). # Argentinian Heavyweight Champion: 1965-1968. # Fought against 4 recognized world champions: Mohammad Ali, Joe Frazier x2, Floyd Patterson & Jimmy Ellis + Top contenders like: Ron Lyle & Zora Folley. # Biggest career victories: George Chuvalo, Tom McNeeley, Karl Mildenberger, Leotis Martin, Manuel Ramos, Gregorio Peralta & Santiago Lovell x2.
Good one Rich ! Tough, tough, guy, one of the biggest characters, ever to step into the ring. Seems a lot of the Argentine greats are a bit, shall we say wacky ! Bonavena, Monzon, Galindez
To bad he was a Knuckle Head if he had more discipline like Frazier and Marciano, could've been champion. Strong Tough and Talented would have loved to see him fight Foreman.
Strength and toughness were Bonavena's largest assets. Came within a knockdown of beating an early Joe Frazier and gave Ali fits in their fight. His awkwardness was both an asset and a negative. If you could have meshed the boxing skills of say a Jerry Quarry with the toughness of Bonavena you would have had something. Overall, think he was the best of the heavyweight contenders below Frazier and Ali between 1966-72.
Oscar Came along during a very competitive era in heavyweight boxing and didn’t do so bad. He was a tough guy. Great video Rich! I never knew where he got the name Ringo until now!
hello from the south of Argentina , thanks for this post . Ringo is my idol and still i got nervous when I see the fight against Ali , it usual in my country to have italian names , my mother came from that country so our spanish language is enrich with many italian words
The Blocky Beast- He was super tough, resilient, and a good puncher. If you fought him, you better be ready. He fought the best and did very well. Had he come along at another time he could have been champ. He would not run from anyone. Right Infront of you ready to hit or be hit. What a fighter!
Man! Honestly! I've said it before & I'm gonna say it again. How the hell is your subscriber count sooo, low? WTF!? Rich, you make the best boxing documentaries online, not just on here. Thank you again for another Stella upload. Brilliant! 👏 🙂
Good job on the Oscar Bonavena documentary. Him and Luis Angel Firpo were the two best Heavyweights out of Argentina. Bonavena was belong to one of the best in the golden age of the heavyweights. Btw, at the 30 seconds at the start of the video, he knocked out Wilhelm Von Homburg, who played one of Hans Guber's henchmen in the first Die Hard film and the ghostly villain Viggo from the second Ghostbuster film, right? Anyways, great work Rich.
My best friend worked as a luggage loader at JFK airport in the mid 60's, ( before most of today's security measures)! As he was loading a plane, Oscar Bonavena walked out onto the tarmac, looking for a bag that his wife had inadvertently loaded! When my friend told him that he didn't see it, Bonavena reached up & in one motion, lifted his body into the plane's hold! Astonished, my friend let him 'root' through, until he found it!
He got shot at Mustang Ranch, supposedly he got rough with one of the girls and a bodyguard shot him. I heard it on the news when it happened years ago.
Absolutely I love your channel, Its given me a chance to see fighters from the past I was much to young to have ever seen. Thanks so much for all the great content you post. R.I.P. Oscar heaven is were all boxer's go.
Oscar was a wild puncher and a real handful for every heavyweight…very very similar to Juan Roldan who gave king Marvin and Tommy hearns a few difficult rounds because they were so wild and in orthodox!!
Wow what a fighter I should have seen him but I don't remember him. He had very good talent. Thanks again Rich for another great fight documentary I really enjoyed this one
Thanks for this Rich. A wonderful insight to a stalwart of the Heavyweight Golden age. Bonavena was incredibly strong, similar in build to Mike Tyson, but I suspect may have been stronger. I think he would have given Foreman and Holmes a good argument. The interview with Ali was touching and it was great to learn that Dundee could speak Spanish. Learn something new each one of your videos. This channel is the jewel of boxing.
@@richardbranton7396 Oh I know that i am just pointing out the fact that at THAT time Ali was just coming back from his forced exile and rightfully so felt he was STILL Champ. I have pretty much most of his career on tape and very seldom during this era do you hear him praising any opponent. I know he was a good man, and it was mostly all for show biz so to speak, but Frazier beat him in 71 fair and square and all Ali did was make excuses and not give Joe his just due in the biggest win of his career. He did finally acknowledge Joe in 75.
Bonavena had great potential, but never quite realized it. His partying lifestyle eroded his focus and determination to the point that he hardly ever presented his best self. I remember when they killed him. I was a fan and it was a sad day.
A long overdue and superb documentary on a very unusual fighter. With his toughness, stamina, bravery and raw power, he gave everyone he fought a tough fight. The fact Frazier couldn’t break him, speaks volumes for his durability.
@igor putin who?
Ali did
outstanding reply 8309
Ali knocked him down 3 times in 15th round 🤣
I remember Ringo as if it was yesterday, as a fellow South-American (I am Peruvian)He was the great South-American "hope" to put us on the world map of Boxing.
He could played Rocky. I saw him fight against Ron Lyle in Denver with my dad. , What a tragic death. Rip Ringo
Remember listening to the Ali fight as a 13 year old on the radio with my Dad, and a neighbor. Regardless of his troubled life and inconsistent career, he was one Tough dude! Gave Ali, Frazier and Lyle all they could want. Believe he was murdered, would never take the word of known criminals, pimps and their bodyguards. Rich, another captivating story🤙
Thanks, D Man.
A great fighter, active during the 60's and 70's, which was, to boxing aficianados, the halcyon era of heavyweight boxing. Thanks for the great presentation Rich.
My pleasure, David, thanks for watching.
Rich I love your channel. Ivebeen involved in boxing over 50 year. I was a sparring partner to Aaron Pryor, Greg Page, Billy Joiner and many others. In LA the old main street gym was my gym. It was awesome talking with Howie Steindler, Little Red, Bazooka Limon just to list a few. I will always cherish those times when kings of the sport were everywhere. Now I collect old fight gloves even Flores from your area. Keep up the great work.
Aaron Pryor and Greg Page, that's quite a weight span
@@michaelmarron8441 you get bigger as you get older. All sparring sessions aren't with guys your own weight. Some heavyweights fool around with featherweights and lightweights just to get a look at speed and fast movements.
That's quite a history in the sport, thanks for the share.
Hi, what weight were you ?
You were born at a good time, very good era, my generation has to select one between Conor n Floyd.....who's the fighter, who's the businessman, both of them cant take a shot, no chin, no will.....just fame.......its like who's better, android or apple, postcards n letters were the best.....dumass generation,Im an mma guy too with my roots in boxing...
Bonavena has one of the most powerful devastating left hooks I ever seen. Incredible amount of chin. He was a different animal. Awesome Documentary.
Thanks, Ro. Yes, he was a converted southpaw. Delivered it at an angle that even confused Ali at times.
I agree that the left hook is the most devastating punch in the heavyweight class, I remember Bonavena who was a tough warrior,I also remember when he was shot dead.Some says it was murdered, others say he provoked his demise
Man Bonavena was STRONG and tough for anyone in his era
Would have seen him against Iron Mike in '86🧐❣️
BUT Respect to this Man👌❣️
I watched the first Frazier fight on a TV in my fraternity dining room. If memory serves, I was the only one in there, being the one boxing fanatic in the house. The two knockdowns were shocking. The fifteenth round of the Ali fight was one for the Ages. Ali’s legend had grown during the exile and the one comeback fight against Quarry. Watching Oscar give him fits silenced the audience at the closed circuit venue that night. The knockout blew the roof off of the place. I had no idea of the circumstances surrounding Oscar’s death other than he was shot at a brothel. What a character and tough guy he was. Thanks for another gem Rich.
My pleasure, uncjim.
So he got asked something in English, a translator relayed it to him in his native language, and he answered in English.....iconic
Ringo, he fought as he died. A Warrior.
Daniel Shaw He died trying to break into a whorehouse. Some warrior.
Bullshit, he died in the Mustang whorehouse outside Reno after getting shitty with the madam. The security guy put some bullets in him and that was that.
A Fight Between Ringo & George Foreman Would've Been Epic! 🥊
If the first fight against Frazier were scored on points instead of the antiquated scoring by rounds Oscar wins
Bonavena is seriously underrated. He always gave it his all in the ring even if it didn't show in the gym, and his untimely murder was a tragic end to a great fighter.
@@jg6698 the sad truth unfortunately.
Nooooo, not the underrated tag!
His character did him in. Or should I say, LACK of character
@@hippy1002 YEP!
To bad he was a Knuckle Head if he had more discipline like Frazier and Marciano, could've been champion.
He was good not great
Another great story Rich! Oscar Bonavina was one of my favorite fighters, I remember when I was little sitting down watching a Muhammad Ali documentary with my father and seeing Oscar Bonavena taunting Muhammad Ali calling him Clay with Oscar Bonavena’s little voice. 😂 This documentary brought back memories and he is definitely one of my favorite fighters. P.S. if Oscar Bonavena was alive during the time of Tommy Morrison I think that would’ve been a great fight!🥊
Yeah, that would have been a great clash of styles. Cool that the video triggered some good memories.
@@RichtheFightHistorian thanks to you and your great Channel!🙏🏾🥊
Ali made him pay. “What’s my name?”
@@sholland42 he sure did, but it doesn’t negate the fact that he was a good contender and he apologized for that.
@@sholland42 wrong fight, Ali taunted Ernie Terrell with that question.
The bullet stole his life but not the legend..👏 rest in paradise ringo.💪😘💕🙏
Bonavena was a personal favorite. And after all these years, I discover that Bonavena was a fellow Italian. Once again, Rich the Fight Historian comes through with a great video and lots of information!
My pleasure, texasstadium.
Argentino italiano
Italo-Argentino
His first fight vs Frazier was a robbery. Dropped him twice and fighting in Frazier`s country. So were many of his fights, lost on points because of local judges.
I agree. He was completely robbed, but even so Oscar’s legacy is amazing. Very underrated fighter
Indeed
Tough, tough fighter with heart in this great era. Didn't know he knocked down Frazier twice. He gave Ali fits while sadly exposing the rust of the exile despite that spectacular 15th round setting the stage for the Frazier epics. Bonavena just a step below the great ones. Tragic end.
That was one of the most entertaining documentaries yet! Thanks again Rich!👍✌❤👊
Sure thing, Monty.
I think Ali telling Ringo after their fight that he was the toughest man he had ever fought speaks volumes. I'm sure Frazier would have agreed. Great video.
TIL Angelo Dundee spoke fluent Spanish. As always, Rich put a well documented, fast moving, and highly entertaining video. You're a national treasure Rich.
I agree with you Rich has the very best channel for boxing
I appreciate your support, testcyp, thanks very much.
The Spanish and Italian languages are very close. My Sicilian Father could speak very good Spanish because he spoke Italian. And you are right about Rich!
@@texasstadium I believe it's the same correlation with Portuguese also?
@@t9190kp Interesting thought. I don't know about Portuguese but the borders are all close in that area.
Thank you. Tough journeyman boxer, who lived a full, unbridled life.
Great doc on oscar. I have around 10 fights of Oscar's on DVD. He was a very tough strong heavyweight who was a strong puncher with a solid chin. Everyone who went into the ring with oscar knew they were in for a tough fight. 2 of my favourite fights of Oscar's was his fight against george chuvalo who also was a very tough strong punching heavyweight with a great chin and his fight against karl milldenburger.
He fought all the best heavyweight's of his time , Ali, Frazier, Patterson, chuvalo , Ellis and Folly to name a few. His first fight against Joe Frazier was a real battle with Frazier down twice and one knockdown away from defeat. Its tragic that Oscar's life ended in that manner, but I will always remember him as a strong solid heavyweight who gave even the greatest heavyweight's of his era a run for their money. R.I.P oscar.
As a kid, I loved Bonavena! I was heartbroken when he lost to Floyd Patterson.
Yea mate I remember his name from back then too , from fight films on the back covers of comics , but looks like he was a punk.
@@queenslander954 if you think Bonavenas a punk, you’re probably thick in the head.
@@oldschoolboxing6048 he said he looked like a punk ! Do your self a favour read things and understand them before replying in a childish insulting manner. In my opinion he was a punk look at his end it’s the lifestyle ex fighters can fall into as usually they are just uneducated
Frazier won the first fight?🧐
@@NoName-zm1ks Yes, by decision.
Boxers were built different back then🙏
Thanks for the amazing video Rich
My pleasure, John.
Hey I live near the Mustang Ranch and have gone in a few times. Nice spot with a very interesting story I didn't know about. It is sad to see a man go down like that though. It really does sound like a guy you could enjoy a cold brew with. Rest in peace, and to all the good ones that left us too early.
Another fantastic mini doc Rich. As well as I thought I knew his career, I knew nothing of his personal life & antics after boxing. Really enjoyable stuff, that's so well thought out and presented. Always appreciated.! Bless up bro 👊
Thank you, Nick. Oscar was certainly a colorful character.
Another you can’t make this stuff up moment.Oscar led a colourful life in and out of the ring!Great job Rich!Keep them coming!
Thanks, Paul. Will do.
Thank you for the great documentary. Really enjoyed watching Ringo.
Crazy man
Thanks, Champ.
Fight machine just so happen to be fighting in the Golden Heavyweight era very underrated.. in his heyday he fight everybody dude literally fought 7 fights in 1970 alone went 20 rounds strait with The Great Joe Frazier and 15 rounds with Ali both in their prime.. He fought 68 fights in just 12 years that’s 5 1/2 fights per year sheesh that jus show his durability drive and will took on any challenge and gave his all every time… Rip Ringo
I really enjoy your docos. Thanks 🙏
My pleasure, Con Artist.
Great watch, Ringo's sorely missed down here on Argentina as he was quite the character but good guy nonetheless.
Gotta look for a Nicolino "untouchable" Locche doc that I hope you've already made by now.
You know you're a boxing dork when you get excited when Rich covers a obscure Argentinean Heavyweight contender from the 1960's and 70's. Jokes aside, amazing investigative skills as usual Rich. I will keep watching your channel until you cover every boxer in existence, keep up the good work.
I appreciate that, Alpha, thank you.
I wouldn't call Bonavena obscure.
Smh
Nice!! I was rewatching some older ones and this pops up. Thanks Rich, it’s a good day!
Sure thing, whitehurstcomic
Excellent. Bonavena looked like a throwback fighter in the days of throwback fighters. I would have loved to have seen the fight that was scheduled against Forman...Then I guess most would say Foreman would have done to Bonavena what he did to Frazier....possibly so, but it would have been interesting to see.
All I want to know is...
Y U NOT GO IN THE ARMY???
Ignorance is thorough.
I was living in Reno, Nevada, when Oscar was shot and killed by a security guard, at the Mustang Ranch brothel outside of town. Quite the news story for a while!
Over the years I had seen films of the tough Ali-Bonavena fight several times, but this superb professional documentary added an emotional background I was unaware existed. Just discovered your channel so thanks and keep up the good work.
Thank you Oscar, welcome to the channel.
Rich,
Who the heck are you and how do you keep doing this?!?! Such amazing content, best of the interwebs.
THANK YOU!!!
haha, all my pleasure, John. Thanks for the support.
Another good one 👍 rich cheers RIP Ringo
Thanks, Bruce.
Thank you for these documentaries keep up the good work.
Thank you, Al.
Ringo was much better than it seemed.
Had he been serious would have been much better
RIP
Oscar
Another Good 1
@Rich The Fight Historian
Thank you, Dose.
Oscar was a hard tough man ...I certainly wouldn't want to have faced Oscar in the bar ...or the ring ...Yes one tough dude....Rip Oscar ..
I really enjoyed this video. Prior to this I knew very little about Bonavena other than that he fought Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, and almost went the full 15 rounds with Ali. You provided good detail to his boxing career. Well done!
An enlightening overview of the life of "Ringo".
Interesting to see Angelo Dundee and Bonavena, both from Italian immigrant families, speaking in Spanish rather than Italian. Angie obviously honed his Spanish language skills in Miami.
Thank you~ this story brought tears back to my heart.
He is one of those few fighters that didn’t get to shine ✨.
My pleasure, TC MV
Another instant classic. Thank u rich.
Sure thing, Joe.
awesome, Oscar Bona Vena was one of those great heavyweights of the 60s and 70s the Golden Era. I've been watching boxing for over 40 years in the more I look back I realized that Liston, Clay, ushered an incredible era
of heavyweight Challengers, and heavyweight champions I'm so lucky I grew up into it.
So true, but what I don't understand is that Ali is no longer with us.And he went by the name Ali, and some people still call Clay. Knowing he go by that name ..
I meant to write why would still call him Clay when he didn't go by that name and didn't like it..
@@jameshampton2899
Sir Hampton I said Clay because I'm just placing Clay in a time chronicle he didnt call himself Muhammad Ali yet that's all. Believe me I loved when he changed his name. his era and till now has produced a plethora of
great heavyweights perhaps the best in the divisions history
One of your very best Rich- thanks as always,
Bonavena was competitive in nearly every battle- and what a character too !
Keep going and going Sir !
Thank you, Martin. Will do.
Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena
PRO record: 58-9-1, KO's 44.
# World Heavyweight Title Challanger: 1968 (UD 15 loss to Joe Frazier).
# Argentinian Heavyweight Champion: 1965-1968.
# Fought against 4 recognized world champions: Mohammad Ali, Joe Frazier x2, Floyd Patterson & Jimmy Ellis + Top contenders like: Ron Lyle & Zora Folley.
# Biggest career victories: George Chuvalo, Tom McNeeley, Karl Mildenberger, Leotis Martin, Manuel Ramos, Gregorio Peralta & Santiago Lovell x2.
Good one Rich ! Tough, tough, guy, one of the biggest characters, ever to step into the ring. Seems a lot of the Argentine greats are a bit, shall we say wacky ! Bonavena, Monzon, Galindez
Thanks, Andrew. I noticed that too, Argentines are a wild bunch.
@@RichtheFightHistorian Yep ! very good fighters
To bad he was a Knuckle Head if he had more discipline like Frazier and Marciano, could've been champion.
Strong Tough and Talented would have loved to see him fight Foreman.
Great documentary as usual!..Had never heard about how he died.
Thank you, t9190kp.
Argentina: A land of crazy Legends.
He fought many of the best. Too bad he didn't reach his full potential.
Strength and toughness were Bonavena's largest assets. Came within a knockdown of beating an early Joe Frazier and gave Ali fits in their fight. His awkwardness was both an asset and a negative. If you could have meshed the boxing skills of say a Jerry Quarry with the toughness of Bonavena you would have had something. Overall, think he was the best of the heavyweight contenders below Frazier and Ali between 1966-72.
Oscar Came along during a very competitive era in heavyweight boxing and didn’t do so bad. He was a tough guy. Great video Rich! I never knew where he got the name Ringo until now!
Thanks, Sylvester. Yeah, some competing stories on how he got the nickname but I went with the oldest one.
Tough as nails
hello from the south of Argentina , thanks for this post . Ringo is my idol and still i got nervous when I see the fight against Ali , it usual in my country to have italian names , my mother came from that country so our spanish language is enrich with many italian words
Thanks for the watch, Marcelo.
How about a documentary on two weight division all time great Biafran hero Dick Tiger?
You're the second to request Tiger. I'll boost him up the list.
Another great one Rich! I have the Ali fight and I thought he was beating Ali fairly convincingly until getting stopped in 15th
Thanks, Brian. Yeah, it was rough going for Ali there in the ninth.
The Blocky Beast- He was super tough, resilient, and a good puncher. If you fought him, you better be ready. He fought the best and did very well. Had he come along at another time he could have been champ. He would not run from anyone. Right Infront of you ready to hit or be hit. What a fighter!
Man!
Honestly!
I've said it before & I'm gonna say it again.
How the hell is your subscriber count sooo, low?
WTF!?
Rich, you make the best boxing documentaries online, not just on here.
Thank you again for another Stella upload.
Brilliant! 👏 🙂
Thanks so much, Nicholas, I appreciate your kind words.
El mejor peso pesado latino de siempre. Y uno de los mejores peso pesados de siempre.
Good job on the Oscar Bonavena documentary. Him and Luis Angel Firpo were the two best Heavyweights out of Argentina. Bonavena was belong to one of the best in the golden age of the heavyweights. Btw, at the 30 seconds at the start of the video, he knocked out Wilhelm Von Homburg, who played one of Hans Guber's henchmen in the first Die Hard film and the ghostly villain Viggo from the second Ghostbuster film, right? Anyways, great work Rich.
Thanks, Scorpio. You're exactly right about Von Homburg...But I didn't know he became an actor...and such an accomplished one at that. Good catch.
@@RichtheFightHistorian No problem Rich and you're welcome.
Incredible research and story Rich in a fascinating vlog. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure, oncall21
My best friend worked as a luggage loader at JFK airport in the mid 60's, ( before most of today's security
measures)! As he was loading a plane, Oscar Bonavena walked out onto the tarmac, looking for a bag
that his wife had inadvertently loaded! When my friend told him that he didn't see it, Bonavena reached up &
in one motion, lifted his body into the plane's hold! Astonished, my friend let him 'root' through, until he found it!
Wonder if it was some coke? Lol
I think if he became more of a boxer, learned to jab stiffer he would of been even more lethal.
Thanks Rich, he was a real character. I saw the Ali fight closed circuit. The place went wild when Ali knocked him out.
About the only opponent who gave Ali a run for his money in the trash talking department…..
Stallone in Rocky mimics this guy..same mannerisms
He got shot at Mustang Ranch, supposedly he got rough with one of the girls and a bodyguard shot him. I heard it on the news when it happened years ago.
Absolutely I love your channel, Its given me a chance to see fighters from the past I was much to young to have ever seen. Thanks so much for all the great content you post. R.I.P. Oscar heaven is were all boxer's go.
My pleasure, Jamie, thanks for the support.
This is an amazing documentary.
I remember seeing this guy when I was a kid he was a tough SOB!!!
Oscar was a wild puncher and a real handful for every heavyweight…very very similar to Juan Roldan who gave king Marvin and Tommy hearns a few difficult rounds because they were so wild and in orthodox!!
Thanks for a brilliant documentary.
My pleasure, Pam.
Juan Roldan was the middleweight version of Oscar both Argentinian bulls 🥊
Thank you Rich..these documentaries are on par with any production from whichever major network out there..Excellence galore.
Hey I appreciate that, Jose. Thanks so much.
Wow what a fighter I should have seen him but I don't remember him. He had very good talent. Thanks again Rich for another great fight documentary I really enjoyed this one
My pleasure, Ron.
Thanks Rich I enjoyed that very much. Bonavena was a force of nature If he was around now he would make a fortune.
Thanks, Lester. I agree.
watched ringo several rimes ..very heavy puncher ..Ali said he "hit harder than george " ... golden age of heavyweights
Thanks for this Rich. A wonderful insight to a stalwart of the Heavyweight Golden age. Bonavena was incredibly strong, similar in build to Mike Tyson, but I suspect may have been stronger. I think he would have given Foreman and Holmes a good argument. The interview with Ali was touching and it was great to learn that Dundee could speak Spanish. Learn something new each one of your videos. This channel is the jewel of boxing.
Thanks so much, John.
Wow I never saw the post fight interview! Very touching. You didnt see that side of Ali much back then
@@richardbranton7396 Oh I know that i am just pointing out the fact that at THAT time Ali was just coming back from his forced exile and rightfully so felt he was STILL Champ. I have pretty much most of his career on tape and very seldom during this era do you hear him praising any opponent. I know he was a good man, and it was mostly all for show biz so to speak, but Frazier beat him in 71 fair and square and all Ali did was make excuses and not give Joe his just due in the biggest win of his career. He did finally acknowledge Joe in 75.
I didn’t expect the way this one ended.. so many boxers flame out at the end of their lives.
Wow, another masterpiece. Thank you.
Thanks, nyquil
Another awesome documentary. You are an artiste
Thanks so much for the support, Michael.
If Oscar bonavena were around today he would be the undisputed heavyweight champion
It was really a wonderful documentary. I do appreciate 🥰
My pleasure, ibrahim
He also became a singer and had one hit song in Argentina.
Simply magnificent! Thank you, Rich.
Thank you, Jeff.
As usual another great boxing documentary from Rich. Worth watching for that beautiful left hand from Ali alone!
Thanks, Steve.
Jesus bless you. I always had a curiosity about Oscar after watching him fight Muhammed Ali.
Another superbly talented individual who became self-destructive.
At the time of his death Bonavena had signed to fight Earnie Shavers in Nevada.
I met Oscar Bonavena in 1972 a couple of days before he fought in Honolulu, Hawaii. He seemed like a nice guy.
This was really cool !!! Thanks for uploading it. I enjoyed it
My pleasure, Anthony.
Another excellent documentary Rich. Your content is second to none. Great work.
I appreciate that Todd, thank you.
Bonavena had great potential, but never quite realized it. His partying lifestyle eroded his focus and determination to the point that he hardly ever presented his best self. I remember when they killed him. I was a fan and it was a sad day.