Bruno Arcari; A Forgotten Champion

Bruno 0002-cropBy Jim Amato / Senior Boxing Writer


He may very well be one of the most underrated champions of the glorious seventies. He won an astounding 70 of 73 battles. He held the 140 pound title for nearly four years and relinquished it. He never lost his belt in the ring. He was a 5’5″ southpaw from Italy named Bruno Arcari.

Amazingly he was stopped in his first professional fight in 1964. He would then win ten straight before being halted again. He would never lose another fight! In 1966 he proved he was a legitimate contender when he beat former lightweight king Joe Brown. In 1967 he followed that up beating the always tough Angel Robinson Garcia. In 1968 he won the European junior welterweight title by halting the respected Johann Orsolics.

In 1970 he won the WBC junior welterweight title with a decision over Pedro Adigue. Over nearly four year period,this champion defeated the likes of Bunny Grant, Rene Roque, Raymundo Dias, Joao Henrique, Enrique Jana, Domingo Barrera Corpas, “Have Mercy Mr. Percy” Pugh, Chris Fernandez, Joergen Hansen, Robert Gallios and Antonio Hernandez.

He would give up his title without being defeated. He would move up to welterweight hoping for a shot at the great Jose Napoles and his welterweight title. He would defeat the likes of quality fighters like Doc McClendon, Lawrence Hafey, the extremely talented Harold Weston. A one round kayo of Gaetan Hart. A fifth round stoppage of the dangerous David Love and a draw with future junior middleweight champion Rocky Mattioli.

He would win his last three fights and then retire in 1978. Why is this champion so overlooked ?

 

2 thoughts on “Bruno Arcari; A Forgotten Champion

  1. He had an incredable record. Dulio Loi is another Italian fighter who had some record while guys like Nino Benvenutti get so much exposure.

  2. My good friend Lawrence Hafey of Stellarton, N.S. lost a 10 rd split decision to Bruno in Milan, Italy in 1974. I don’t know if any video exists of that fight but would sure love to be able to get one should one exist. Lawrence Hafey is Art Hafey’s brother The Toy Tiger as he was called in Mexico. Art was # 1 in the world back in the 70’s.

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