R.I.P PAUL FERRERI
SATURDAY July 15, 2017
WE are very sorry to learn of the death of former double Commonwealth champion Paul Ferreri, of Australia.
Paul was born in Sicily in 1948 but grew up in Australia. His professional boxing career commenced there in 1968 and he remained undefeated until 1971. He won the Commonwealth bantamweight title first in 1972, holding that until 1977. After that loss he then won the Commonwealth superbantamweight title that same year, a title he never defended, winning the vacant bantamweight belt again in Denmark in 1981 against Kenyan Mike Irungu. He held that until 1986, losing it in his last ever contest to rising Bahamian star, Ray Minus Jr.
He lost his only World Championship challenge in 1978 to the outstanding Mexican, Carlos Zarate, but defeated former and future World Champions, Venice Borkhorsor and Roland Navarette. The majority of his contests took place in Australia but he boxed with varying success all over the World. As well as Los Angeles, he boxed in Wales, Denmark, Oregon, Italy and the Phillipines.
Although Paul never won a world championship he will be remembered as one of Australia’s finest boxers. The thoughts of Boxing News are with his family.