Immigrant of the Day: Primo Carnera (Italy)

Primo Carnera (1906–1967) was a world heavyweight champion. Born in Sequals, near Udine, Italy, Carnera was 6 ft 6 in tall and weighed 265 pounds. Carnera towered over most of his opponents. His nickname was the Ambling Alp.

In 1928, Carnera knocked out heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey in the sixth round to become heavyweight champion. On June 14, 1934, Max Baer, who later lost the title to James J. Braddock (as depicted in the hit movie Cinderella Man), knocked Carnera a dozen times before the fight was stopped in the eleventh round.

After that, Carnera won his next four fights. In 1935, Joe Louis, who would later become heavyweight champion, knocked Carnera out in six rounds.

During his time off boxing, Carnera went to Hollywood and tried his fortune there, and he did well in the city of the stars, participating in a number of movies — his later role in the 1955 British film A Kid for Two Farthings being critically acclaimed.

In 1946, Carnera became a professional wrestler and, for a few years, was one of the top draws in wrestling. In 1953, Carnera married a woman that he had known in Italy, and they became U.S. citizens. They settled in Los Angeles, where Carnera opened a restaurant and a liquor store.

Carnera’s boxing record was of 87 wins, 14 losses and 1 no-decision, with 69 knockouts. Cyberbox has compiled the results of Carnera’s boxing and wrestling matches.

KJ