Ray Mancini

Ray Mancini
Mancini in 2008
Statistics
Real name Raymond Michael Mancino
Nickname(s) Boom Boom
Weight(s)
Height 5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Reach 65 in (165 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1961-03-04) March 4, 1961
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 34
Wins 29
Wins by KO 23
Losses 5

Raymond Michael Mancini (born March 4, 1961), best known as Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 1992, and has since worked as an actor. He held the WBA lightweight title from 1982 to 1984.[1] Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini,[2] who laid the foundation for his son's career. In 2015, Ray was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.[3]

Early life and amateur career

Mancini, an Italian American, was born Raymond Michael Mancino in Youngstown, Ohio on March 4, 1961. Boxing played a prominent role in the Mancini family history. Mancini's father, Lenny Mancini (the original "Boom Boom"), was a top-ranked contender during the 1940s. Lenny Mancini's dream, however, was dashed when he was wounded during World War II. Although Lenny Mancini returned to boxing, limitations resulting from his injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential.[4]

Lenny inspired young Mancini to develop his boxing skills and encouraged him to train at a gym when he was quite young.

Professional career

On October 18, 1979 he made his professional debut by defeating Phil Bowen with a first-round knockout. His whirlwind punching style caught the attention of network executives at several American television networks, and he became a regular on their sports programming. During this time Mancini defeated some notable boxers including former United States champion Norman Goins in March 1981.[5]

Lightweight title challenges

On April 30, 1980, Mancini defeated Bobby Sparks with a knockout at 1:28 in the first round for the regional Ohio State Lightweight title. Over a year later on May 16, 1981, Mancini won his first major title by defeating Jorge Morales for the WBC-affiliated NABF Lightweight championship when the referee determined that Morales could not continue after the 9th round. Two months later, he successfully defended the title against José Luis Ramírez after a unanimous decision. Mancini's first attempt at a world title came in his next bout on October 3 when he was pitted against Alexis Argüello for his World Boxing Council lightweight title. The event was selected by many (including The Ring and ESPN) as one of the most spectacular fights of the 1980s. Mancini gave Argüello trouble early and built a lead on the scorecards, but Argüello used his experience to his advantage in the later rounds and stopped Mancini in the 14th round.

Mancini would rebound from the loss to Arguello by winning his next two bouts, including a second (and last) successful defense of his NABF Lightweight title against Julio Valdez (10th-round TKO) which would earn him another chance at a world title.

WBA lightweight champion

On May 8, 1982, in a match held at The Aladdin in Las Vegas, he challenged the new World Boxing Association lightweight champion, Arturo Frias.[6] Fifteen seconds into the fight, Frias caught Mancini with a left hook to the chin and another combination made Mancini bleed from his eyebrow. Mancini recovered and dropped Frias right in the center of the ring with a combination. Dazed, Frias got back up but Mancini immediately went on the offensive and trapped Frias against the ropes. After many unanswered blows, referee Richard Greene stopped the fight at 2:54 in the first round, and the Mancini family finally had a world champion.[1]

Match against Duk Koo Kim

Mancini's first defense, against former world champion Ernesto España, went smoothly with a Mancini knockout win in the 6th round.

On November 13, 1982, a 21-year-old Mancini met 23-year-old South Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim. Kim had struggled to make the 135lb weight limit, and had to lose several pounds shortly before the fight. The title bout, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, was televised live at 1pm PST on CBS Sports. It was, according to many observers, a fight filled with action. Mancini finally won by TKO in the 14th round. Moments after the fight ended, Kim collapsed and fell into a coma, having suffered a subdural hematoma; he died four days later.[7] The week after his death, the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine showed Mancini and Kim battling, under the title "Tragedy in the Ring."[8]

Mancini went to the funeral in South Korea and fell into a deep depression afterwards.[4] He has said that the hardest moments came when people approached him and asked if he was the boxer who "killed" Duk Koo Kim. Mancini went through a period of reflection, as he blamed himself for Kim's death. In addition, Kim's mother committed suicide three months after the fight, and the bout's referee, Richard Green, killed himself in July 1983.[9]

As a result of this bout, the WBC took steps to shorten its title bouts to a maximum of 12 rounds. The WBA and WBO followed in 1988, and the IBF in 1989.[9]

Later matches

Mancini began the process of getting his life back together by once again putting on gloves. He went to Italy to face British champion George Feeney. Mancini won a 10-round decision.

He defended his title two more times. First, on September 15, 1983, he beat Peruvian challenger Orlando Romero by a knockout in nine rounds at New York's Madison Square Garden to achieve a lifelong dream of fighting at that building, and then, on January 1984, in a bout with former world champion Bobby Chacon, which was broadcast on HBO, Mancini defeated Chacon after referee Richard Steele stopped the fight in the third round with blood dripping from Chacon's left eye.[10]

In June 1984, Mancini, still recovering from the emotional trauma of Kim's death, fought Livingstone Bramble to retain his title in Buffalo, New York. This time however, Mancini came out on the losing end, defeated after 14 intense rounds.[11] Mancini lost his title, but not before a fierce effort that resulted in an overnight stay at Millard Fillmore Hospital and 71 stitches around one eye.[12]

Mancini returned to the ring twice to attempt to regain his world title. In a rematch with Bramble, Mancini lost the fight by one point on all three judges' scorecards in a 15-round decision.[13] His next attempt came in March 1989, when he lost to Héctor 'Macho' Camacho in a split decision,[14] Mancini had one final fight in April 1992, against former lightweight champion Greg Haugen. Mancini lost when referee Mills Lane stopped the fight in the seventh round.[15]

Retirement and later work

Mancini retired officially in August 1985 at the age of 24.[16] However, he returned to the ring to fight Héctor Camacho in 1989 and had one final fight in 1992. A made-for-television movie based on Mancini's life aired in the 1980s.[17] The former champion was able to keep 75 percent of his $12 million in purse money, which enabled him to pursue a broad range of interests in retirement.[18]

Mancini has a son also called Ray who appeared in the YouTube reality series SummerBreak.

Mancini appeared in and produced a handful of films, and became a fight analyst for the Fox reality series Celebrity Boxing. Mancini, who as of 2007 resides in Los Angeles, owns the El Campeon Cigar Company and operates two movie production companies.[18]

Mancini practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and holds a purple belt in the martial art.[19] He appeared in David Mamet's MMA film Redbelt. He also appeared in the 2000 remake Body and Soul.

Mancini produced Youngstown: Still Standing in 2010, which premiered at the 34th Cleveland International Film Festival on March 24. The documentary film featured his hometown friend, actor Ed O'Neill and included Jim Cummings, Kelly Pavlik, Jay Williams, Andrea Wood and Mancini himself, among many other Youngstown natives and locals. John Chechitelli – another Youngstown native – directed and edited the 89-minute-long film. It recounts the history of Youngstown, Ohio from its founding in 1797 to the present.[20]

Mancini is fluent in Italian. He and Orlando Romero reunited in 2013 at Lima, Peru.[21]

In other media

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
34 fights 29 wins 5 losses
By knockout 23 3
By decision 6 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
34 Loss 29–5 United States Greg Haugen TKO 7 (12), 2:27 Apr 3, 1992 United States Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. For vacant NABF light welterweight title
33 Loss 29–4 Puerto Rico Héctor Camacho SD 12 Mar 6, 1989 United States Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. For vacant WBO light welterweight title
32 Loss 29–3 United States Virgin Islands Livingstone Bramble UD 15 Feb 16, 1985 United States Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. For WBA lightweight title
31 Loss 29–2 United States Virgin Islands Livingstone Bramble TKO 14 (15), 0:53 Jun 1, 1984 United States Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. Lost WBA lightweight title
30 Win 29–1 United States Bobby Chacon TKO 3 (15) Jan 14, 1984 United States Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBA lightweight title
29 Win 28–1 United States Johnny Torres KO 1 (10), 2:58 Nov 25, 1983 United States Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
28 Win 27–1 Peru Orlando Romero KO 9 (15), 1:56 Sep 15, 1983 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained WBA lightweight title
27 Win 26–1 United Kingdom George Feeney UD 10 Feb 6, 1983 Italy Palazzetto dello Sport, Saint-Vincent, Italy
26 Win 25–1 South Korea Kim Duk-koo KO 14 (15), 0:19 Nov 13, 1982 United States Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBA lightweight title
25 Win 24–1 Venezuela Ernesto España TKO 6 (15), 2:59 Jul 24, 1982 United States Mollenkopf Stadium, Warren, Ohio, U.S. Retained WBA lightweight title
24 Win 23–1 United States Arturo Frias TKO 1 (15), 2:54 May 8, 1982 United States The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won WBA lightweight title
23 Win 22–1 Dominican Republic Julio Valdez TKO 10 (12), 0:59 Jan 23, 1982 United States Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained NABF lightweight title
22 Win 21–1 Mexico Manuel Abedoy TKO 2 (10), 2:08 Dec 26, 1981 United States Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21 Loss 20–1 Nicaragua Alexis Argüello TKO 14 (15), 1:44 Oct 3, 1981 United States Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. For WBC and The Ring lightweight titles
20 Win 20–0 Mexico José Luis Ramírez UD 12 Jul 19, 1981 United States Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S. Retained NABF lightweight title
19 Win 19–0 United States Jorge Morales RTD 9 (12), 3:00 May 16, 1981 United States Concord Resort Hotel, Thompson, New York, U.S. Won NABF lightweight title
18 Win 18–0 Canada Al Ford UD 10 Apr 2, 1981 United States Conrad Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 United States Norman Goins KO 2 (10), 0:37 Mar 12, 1981 United States Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 United States Marvin Ladson KO 1 (10), 0:57 Dec 17, 1980 United States St. John Arena, Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 United States Kelvin Lampkin KO 2 (10), 2:10 Dec 9, 1980 United States Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 United States Bobby Plegge TKO 6 (10) Oct 28, 1980 United States Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Canada Johnny Summerhays UD 10 Sep 9, 1980 United States Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 United States Jaime Nava PTS 10 Jul 30, 1980 United States Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Dominican Republic Leon Smith KO 1 (8) Jul 23, 1980 United States Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 United States Trevor Evelyn KO 2 (8), 1:39 Jun 18, 1980 United States Fieldhouse, Struthers, Ohio, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 United States Bobby Sparks KO 1 (12), 1:28 Apr 30, 1980 United States Fieldhouse, Struthers, Ohio, U.S.
8 Win 8-0 United States Antonio Rutledge TKO 1 (6), 1:44 Mar 17, 1980 United States Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
7 Win 7-0 United States Ramiro Hernandez TKO 3 (8), 1:35 Jan 26, 1980 United States Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 United States Charlie Evans KO 2 (6), 0:08 Jan 22, 1980 United States Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 United States Dale Gordon KO 1 (8) Jan 15, 1980 United States Memorial High School Fieldhouse, Campbell, Ohio, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 United States Roberto Perez KO 1 (6), 1:05 Dec 14, 1979 United States Convention Center, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 United States Ricky Patterson KO 2, 1:11 Nov 24, 1979 United States D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
2 Win 2–0 United States Lou Daniels UD 6 Nov 13, 1979 United States Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 United States Phil Bowen KO 1, 1:59 Oct 18, 1979 United States Fieldhouse, Struthers, Ohio, U.S.

References

  1. 1 2 Bassetti, John (December 5, 1999). "Valley boxers, led by Mancini, ruled the ring". Youngstown Vindicator.
  2. ↑ Lenny Mancini
  3. ↑ http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/11978825/riddick-bowe-ray-boom-boom-mancini-highlight-international-boxing-hall-fame-selections
  4. 1 2 "Ray Mancini Uncertain About His Ring Future". Youngstown Vindicator. November 17, 1982.
  5. ↑ http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/ray-mancini-lands-a-punch-against-norman-goins-during-the-news-photo/163935088
  6. ↑ "This Mancini match has different ring". Youngstown Vindicator. April 22, 1989. p. 1.
  7. ↑ "Nevada Court Rules Kim 'Legally Dead'". Youngstown Vindicator. Associated Press. November 18, 1982. p. 26.
  8. ↑ Wiley, Ralph (November 22, 1982). "Then all the joy turned to sorrow". Sports Illustrated: 26.
  9. 1 2 "After 25 years, Kim death still stings Mancini: ESPN airs documentary tonight that revisits 1982 tragedy". Youngstown Vindicator. November 13, 2007.
  10. ↑ Dahlberg, Tim (16 January 1984). "Haugen Defeats Mancini". Daily News. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Perazich, Chuck (June 2, 1984). "What's Ahead For Mancini?". Youngstown Vindicator. p. 13.
  12. ↑ Swanson, Ray (June 2, 1984). "Bramble Claims TKO Win in 14th". Youngstown Vindicator. p. 13.
  13. ↑ Article in Box Rec
  14. ↑ ESPN – Twenty-five years is a long time to carry a memory – Boxing
  15. ↑ Gutskey, Earl (4 April 1992). "Haugen Defeats Mancini". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  16. ↑ Schuyler Jr., Ed (20 August 1985). "Ray Mancini retires". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  17. ↑ "Mancini Movie Start Announced". Youngstown Vindicator. August 14, 1984. p. 12.
  18. 1 2 Shilling, Don (November 11, 2007). "City's past boxing champs offer advice". The Vindicator. p. A-3.
  19. ↑ Thomas, Luke (6 October 2013). "Ray Mancini: Boxers who criticize mixed martial arts 'have no clue'". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 7 October 2013. Legendary boxer Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini joined Ariel Helwani on Monday's 'The MMA Hour' to talk about his experience being a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
  20. ↑ Cleveland International Film Festival :: March 18–28, 2010 – The 34th International Film Festival Program and website summary
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHQpY7Rgy6Q
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Jorge Morales		 NABF lightweight champion
May 16, 1981 – May 1982
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
José Luis Ramírez
World boxing titles
Preceded by
Arturo Frias		 WBA lightweight champion
May 8, 1982 – June 1, 1984		 Succeeded by
Livingstone Bramble


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