By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
I have had several inquiries regarding Primo Carnera, with people asking if I have any untold stories from the old timers that lived in his era. Well, there have been three that have told me various stories of interest that I can share. The three men were Emil De Loreto, Joe Campos and Tim Cobos, all respected friends that have passed away (R.I.P.) that knew boxing at its best.
Emil DeLoreto / Acknowledged from his sources that Primo had many fixed fights with most of them leading up to his title fight, when he won the heavyweight championship on June 29, 1933, defeating Jack Sharkey by 6th round knockout. DeLoreto also elaborated that some of his closest friends witnessed Primo losing the title to Max Baer on June 14,1934, taking eleven brutal knock downs in their fight which ended by 11th round knockout. On June 25, 1935 at Yankee Stadium, New York, DeLoreto witnessed a young, upcoming Joe Louis defeat Primo by 6th round knockout.
Joe Campos / Acknowledged seeing Primo as a young kid himself in several wrestling matches at the old Mission Arena in Santa Barbara, California in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Campos said his father, a boxing trainer at the venue, took him to the matches and they actually met Primo in the dressing room area; he said his handlers used the name “Satchel Feet” referring to his huge feet – a quote that I never forgot.
Tim Cobos / Acknowledged knowing Babe McCoy, who was instrumental in starting Primo’s wrestling career, after he retired from boxing. Cobos also saw Primo wrestle several times at the historic Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, and met him at a local show in Santa Barbara, California. An amazing fact is that Primo engaged in over 3,000 bouts in his sixteen-year wrestling career.
My first recollection of Primo was when I was just a young kid myself, when he acted as a strongman in a tug-of-war contest with another group of strongmen in the 1949 movie, Mighty Joe Young.
Then a few years later, I was treated to one of my favorite boxing films in the 1959 movie The Harder They Fall, in which Primo’s role was based on his own life story.
Known as the “Ambling Alp”, Primo Carnera was born on October 26, 1906, in Sequals, Italy.
He was in a traveling circus as a gladiator-strong man when discovered by entrepreneur Leon See. As a young teenager, he already weighed 220 pounds and was nearly six-feet tall.
Primo won the heavyweight title in 1933, and made two successful defenses against Paolino Uzcudum and Tommy Loughran, both fights won by decision in 15 rounds.
Officially retiring from boxing in 1946, he established a ring record of 88 wins, 14 losses, and 1 newspaper decision draw, with 72 wins by knockout.
On August 20, 1946 he began his wrestling career which took off with huge success at the box office. He would go on to wrestle 120 straight matches without a defeat, posting an incredible 119-0-1 record. In May 1948, he took a 143-1-1 record into his match with world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz, which he lost.
Primo died on June 29, 1967 at the age of 60 due to complications from diabetes and liver disease.