Primo Carnera

Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera (right) and the sculptor Francesco Libonati (left) in 1958 (Quaregnon - Belgium)
Statistics
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Reach	216 cm (85 in)
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1906-10-26)October 26, 1906 Sequals, Italy
Died	June 29, 1967(1967-06-29) (aged 60) Sequals, Italy
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	103
Wins	89
Wins by KO	72
Losses	14
Draws	0
No contests	0

Primo Carnera (Italian pronunciation: [ˈprimo karˈnɛra]; October 26, 1906 – June 29, 1967) was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.

His career was controversial. Some believe Carnera was "owned" by underworld figures who manipulated his career by fixing his early fights not only for monetary gain but also to give him a shot at the world heavyweight title.

Biography

Born in Sequals, then in the Province of Udine, now in the Province of Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy), Carnera was touted in America as being 6' 7" tall and thus the tallest heavyweight in history (up until that time), but he was actually 6′ 5½″ tall (197 cm). He fought at as much as 275 pounds (125 kg),. Until December 19, 2005, when the 7' 1", 147 kg Nikolay Valuev won the WBA title, Jess Willard who stood 6' 6½" was the tallest champion in boxing history.

At a time when the average height in Italy was approximately 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) and in the United States 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m), Carnera was considered a giant. Though an inch shorter than Willard, he was around 40 lbs heavier and was the heaviest champion before Valuev in boxing history.

He enjoyed a sizable reach advantage over most rivals, and when seen on fight footage, he seems like a towering giant compared to many heavyweights of his era, who were usually at least 60 pounds (27 kg) lighter and 7 inches (18 cm) shorter. One publicity release about him read in part: "For breakfast, Primo has a quart of orange juice, two quarts of milk, nineteen pieces of toast, fourteen eggs, a loaf of bread and half a pound of Virginia ham." His size earned him the nickname "The Ambling Alp." Time Magazine called him "The Monster".

Boxing career

Primo Carnera silent newsreel 1933

September 12, 1928 was the date of Carnera's first professional fight, against Leon Sebilo, in Paris. Carnera won by knockout in round two. He won his first six bouts, then lost to Franz Diener by disqualification in round one at Leipzig. Then, he won seven more bouts in a row before meeting Young Stribling. He and Stribling exchanged disqualification wins, Carnera winning the first in four rounds, and Stribling winning the rematch in round seven. In Carnera's next bout he avenged his defeat to Diener with a knockout in round six.

In 1930, he moved to the United States, where he toured extensively, winning his first seventeen bouts there by knockout. George Godfrey broke the streak in Philadelphia by disqualification in the fifth round. Carnera lost a decision to Jim Maloney in Boston to finish 1930.

In 1932, Carnera faced the tallest heavyweight in history up to that point, Santa Camarão, a 6' 9" Portuguese fighter who was 3¹⁄₂" taller. Carnera won the fight in a 6th-round decision

1933 was one of the most important years in Carnera's life. On February 10, he knocked out Ernie Schaaf in thirteen rounds in New York City. Schaaf died two days later. For his next fight, Carnera faced the world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey. The championship date was June 29, at the Madison Square Garden Bowl at Long Island. Carnera became world champion by knocking out Sharkey in round six. The fight came under the eye of fans and sportswriters alike when the uppercut that KO'd Sharkey was believed not to have landed. Rumours of a mob fix were brought up causing some to maintain Sharkey threw the fight.

He retained the title against Paulino Uzcudun (who was attempting to become the first Basque world heavyweight champion) and Tommy Loughran, both by decision in 15 rounds, but in his next fight on June 14, 1934 against Max Baer, Carnera was knocked down 11 times and was defeated in 11 rounds.

After that, Carnera won his next four fights, three of them as part of a South American tour that took him to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, as well as two exhibitions in the southern American continent. But then, in his next fight of importance, on June 25, 1935, he was knocked out in six rounds by Joe Louis, who would become world heavyweight champion in 1937.

For the next two and a half years, he had a rather ordinary record, winning 5 and losing 3 of 8 total fights. But in 1938, Carnera, a diabetic, had to have a kidney removed, which forced him into retirement until 1944.

In 1941, Carnera was hand-picked by Mussolini to take part in a propaganda film in North Africa. In order "to prove the inferiority of Negro race" a boxing match was set up between Carnera and a 6 foot 3 inch Zulu POW by the name of Kay Masaki. Even though Masaki had no boxing experience, he went on to knock Carnera unconscious with one punch.

Alleged mob influence

Carnera's manager, Lou Soresi, stole much of Carnera's money and left him nearly broke. Because of Soresi's connection to mobster Owney Madden, it has always been speculated across the boxing world that most of Carnera's fights were fixed. The book East Side, West Side: Tales of New York Sporting Life 1910-1960 took the rumors a step further, stating that "Most of the Italian giant's opponents were pushovers, paid to take a dive or too frightened to stand up for three minutes in a row". Jack Sharkey himself had to deny rumors about him taking a dive in his world championship fight with Carnera, swearing that he had not.

The rumors dogging Carnera started early in his career, after he arrived in the United States. Underworld figures began to exert control over boxing in New York in the period after the 1927 defeat of longtime champ Jack Dempsey by Gene Tunney, who retired from prizefighting after beating Tom Heeney in 1928. From 1930 to 1933, the world heavyweight title was held by Max Schmeling and Jack Sharkey. Madden's lieutenants, by manipulating Carnera's early fights, were able to manufacture a sterling record that gave him a shot at the heavyweight title.

According to boxing historian Herbert Goldman, Carnera was "very much mob controlled." Carnera met his first serious heavyweight contender, Young Stribling, in 1929, and won when Stribling fouled him. In a rematch, he fouled Stribling. His 1930 fight against California club fighter Bombo Chevalier in Emeryville was considered fixed, and Carnera was banned from fighting in California. His 1930 match against George Godfrey was controversial as Godfrey was disqualified in the sixth round when he was clearly getting the better of Carnera.

Time Magazine, in an October 5, 1931 cover story on Carnera before he won the heavyweight title, commented on his odd career.

"Since his arrival in the U. S., backed by a group of prosperous but shady entrepreneurs, Carnera's career has been less glorious than fantastic. His first opponents—Big Boy Peterson, Elzear Rioux, Cowboy Owens—were known to be incompetent but their feeble opposition to Carnera suggested that they had been bribed to lose. Suspicion concerning the Monster's abilities became almost universal when another adversary, Bombo Chevalier, stated that one of his own seconds had threatened to kill him unless he lost to Carnera. Against the huge, lazy, amiable Negro George Godfrey (249 lb.), he won on a foul. But only one of 33 U. S. opponents has defeated Monster Carnera—fat, slovenly Jimmy Maloney, whom Sharkey beat five years ago. In a return fight, at Miami last March, Carnera managed to outpoint Maloney."

Movie career

Carnera appeared in a short film in 1931 and had a role as himself in 1933 movie The Prizefighter and the Lady, which starred Max Baer and Myrna Loy. (Baer took the heavyweight crown from Carnera the year after the movie's release.) He appeared in many Italian films in the period of 1939 to 1942 and returned to Hollywood for a bit part as himself in Mighty Joe Young (1949). Back in the city of the stars, he acted in a number of movies. His later role in the 1955 British film A Kid for Two Farthings was critically acclaimed.

Attempted comeback and wrestling career

In 1945, he attempted a comeback to boxing, and he won his first 2 fights. But after losing to Luigi Musina 3 times in a row, he quit boxing for good. Carnera's record was 89 wins and 14 losses. His 72 wins by knockout made him a member of the exclusive club of boxers that won 50 or more bouts by knockout.

In 1946, he became a professional wrestler and was immediately a huge success at the box office. For a few years he was one of the top draws in wrestling. Carnera continued to be an attraction into the 1960s. Max Baer refereed at least one of his wrestling matches.

Carnera wrestled from 1946 to 1962. He won his debut on August 22, 1946 when he defeated Tommy O'Toole in California. On October 23, 1946, Carnera won his 41st consecutive wrestling match by defeating Jules Strongbow. On November 19, 1946, Carnera beat Harry Kruskamp to remain undefeated at 65-0-0.

Primo Carnera won 120 straight wrestling matches (119-0-1) before suffering his first defeat to Yvon Robert in Montreal, Canada on August 20, 1947. Carnera's biggest victory was on December 7, 1947 when he defeated former world heavyweight champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis.

In May 1948, Carnera took a 143-1-1 record against world heavyweight champion Lou Thesz. Thesz defeated Carnera in a world title defense.

In Ring Magazine, August 1962, page 38, Carnera "flattened" Ox Anderson in a heavyweight wrestling match in Los Angeles, California.

Carnera's wrestling career came to an end in October 1962. On October 17, he lost to Jess Ortega in Los Angeles, and on October 25 Carnera lost to The Destroyer. Following these losses Carnera retired from wrestling.

Personal life

On March 13, 1939, Carnera married Giuseppina Kovacic (whose surname was changed to "Cavazzi" due to the Fascist regime).

In 1953 they became American citizens. They settled in Los Angeles, where Carnera opened a restaurant and a liquor store. They had two children, one of whom became a medical doctor.

Carnera died in 1967 in his native town of a combination of liver disease and complications from diabetes.

Movies

Carnera during his championship reign played a fictional version of himself in the 1933 film The Prizefighter and the Lady starring Max Baer and Myrna Loy. In the film, he plays the heavyweight champion who barely holds onto his title with a draw decision after a wild fight with Baer. The film, ironically, was made just the year before Carnera fought Baer for real, in a bout that was as wild as the film version, but ended with a KO loss for Carnera.

The movie Carnera: The Walking Mountain, directed by Italian director Renzo Martinelli, is the story of Primo Carnera's life, with Carnera's role played by Andrea Iaia. The world premiere of the movie [1] took place on April 22, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Carnera had a non-speaking bit part in the 1949 movie Mighty Joe Young. He played himself in the tug-of-war scene with the giant gorilla. After being pulled by the ape into a pool of water, Carnera throws a couple of futile punches to Joe's chin.

He also played a bully boy wrestler in Carol Reed's film A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) based around London's Petticoat Lane Market where he has a match against a local bodybuilder who is getting married to Diana Dors.

Primo also appeared in at least 10 Italian films between 1939 and 1943, as well as several in the 1950s, like Prince Valiant, in the role of Sligon. His last screen role was as the giant Antaeus alongside Steve Reeves in Hercules Unchained (USA Title, filmed in Italy, 1959, original title Ercole e la regina di Lidia).

Primo features in the 2005 film Cinderella Man, a film about the life of fellow boxer James J. Braddock.

Depictions in popular culture

Requiem for a Heavyweight, Rod Serling's 1956 Emmy Award-winning teleplay for Playhouse 90 directed by Ralph Nelson (who also won an Emmy), focused on down-and-out former heavyweight boxer Harlan "Mountain" McClintock. The travails of McClintock, who was played by Jack Palance (Sean Connery played the part on British television and Anthony Quinn essayed the role in the 1962 film), was thought by many boxing fans to resemble Carnera's life.

In 1947, fighting aficionado Budd Schulberg wrote his novel, The Harder They Fall, a story about a boxer whose fights are fixed. In 1956 a movie with the same name, and based on the novel, was released by Columbia Pictures. In response, Carnera unsuccessfully sued the movie company.

Music

The Yeasayer song, "Ambling Alp," from their 2010 album Odd Blood references Carnera by his nickname in the title and second verse. Both Carnera and German boxer Max Schmeling are referenced for their bouts with American Joe Louis.

Professional boxing record

Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	88–14	Musina, LuigiLuigi Musina	UD	8		01946-05-12May 12, 1946	Gorizia, Italy
Loss	88–13	Musina, LuigiLuigi Musina	PTS	8		01946-03-19March 19, 1946	Trieste, Italy
Loss	88–12	Musina, LuigiLuigi Musina	TKO	7		01945-11-21November 21, 1945	Milan, Italy
Win	88–11	Gardner !Sam Gardner	KO	1		01945-09-25September 25, 1945	Trieste, Italy
Win	87–11	Blevens !Michel Blevens	KO	3		01945-07-22July 22, 1945	Udine, Italy
Win	86–11	Zupan !Joseph Zupan	KO	2 (10)		01937-12-04December 4, 1937	Zirkus, Budapest, Hungary
Loss	85–11	di Meglio !Albert di Meglio	PTS	10		01937-11-18November 18, 1937	Salle Wagram, Paris, France
Loss	85–10	Haynes !Leroy Haynes	TKO	3 (10)		01936-05-27May 27, 1936	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Loss	85–9	Haynes !Leroy Haynes	TKO	3 (10)		01936-03-16March 16, 1936	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	85–8	Gastanaga !Isidoro Gastanaga	TKO	5 (10)		01936-03-06March 6, 1936	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Win	84–8	Brackey !Big Boy Brackey	TKO	4 (10)	4106 !1:06	01935-12-09December 9, 1935	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, USA
Win	83–8	Smith !Ford Smith	UD	10		01935-11-25November 25, 1935	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	82–8	Neusel !Walter Neusel	TKO	4 (15)		01935-11-01November 1, 1935	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Loss	81–8	Louis, JoeJoe Louis	TKO	6 (15)	6232 !2:32	01935-06-25June 25, 1935	Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, USA
Win	81–7	Klausner !Erwin Klausner	KO	6 (12)		01935-01-22January 22, 1935	Estádio Manuel Schwartz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	80–7	Harris, SealSeal Harris	KO	7 (10)		01935-01-13January 13, 1935	Estádio da Floresta, São Paulo, Brazil
Win	79–7	Campolo 2 !Victorio Campolo	PTS	12		01934-12-01December 1, 1934	Club Atlético Independiente, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Loss	78–7	Baer !Max Baer	TKO	11 (15)	11216 !2:16	01934-06-14June 14, 1934	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, USA	Lost NBA and NYSAC World Heavyweight titles.
Win	78–6	Loughran, TommyTommy Loughran	UD	15		01934-03-01March 1, 1934	Madison Square Garden Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA	Retained NBA and NYSAC World Heavyweight titles.
Win	77–6	Uzcudun, PaulinoPaulino Uzcudun	UD	15		01933-10-22October 22, 1933	Piazza di Siena, Rome, Italy	Won IBU Heavyweight title.
Win	76–6	Sharkey, JackJack Sharkey	KO	6 (15)	6227 !2:27	01933-06-29June 29, 1933	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, USA	Won NBA and NYSAC World Heavyweight titles.
Win	75–6	Schaaf, ErnieErnie Schaaf	KO	13 (15)		01933-02-10February 10, 1933	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Win	74–6	Spence !Young Spence	KO	1 (10)		01932-12-30December 30, 1932	Fair Park Arena, Dallas, Texas, USA
Win	73–6	Merriott !James Merriott	KO	1 (10)		01932-12-20December 20, 1932	City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, USA
Win	72–6	Rice !Joe Rice	KO	2 (10)		01932-12-19December 19, 1932	Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Win	71–6	Christner !KO Christner	KO	4 (10)		01932-12-15December 15, 1932	City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Win	70–6	Peterson !Big Boy Peterson	TKO	2 (10)		01932-12-13December 13, 1932	Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Win	69–6	Levinsky, KingKing Levinsky	PTS	10		01932-12-09December 9, 1932	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Win	68–6	Schwake !John Schwake	KO	7 (10)	7216 !2:16	01932-12-02December 2, 1932	Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Win	67–6	Santa !José Santa	TKO	6 (10)		01932-11-18November 18, 1932	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Win	66–6	Kennedy !Les Kennedy	KO	3 (10)		01932-11-04November 4, 1932	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Win	65–6	Taylor !Jack Taylor	KO	2 (10)		01932-10-17October 17, 1932	Jefferson County Armory, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Win	64–6	Stanton !Gene Stanton	KO	6 (10)		01932-10-13October 13, 1932	114th Infantry Armory, Camden, New Jersey, USA
Win	63–6	Sandwina !Ted Sandwina	KO	4 (10)		01932-10-07October 7, 1932	Benjamin Field Arena, Tampa, Florida, USA
Win	62–6	Lasky !Art Lasky	NWS	10		01932-09-01September 1, 1932	Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Win	61–6	Gagnon !Jack Gagnon	KO	1 (10)	1135 !1:35	01932-08-19August 19, 1932	Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA
Loss	60–6	Poreda, StanleyStanley Poreda	PTS	10		01932-08-16August 16, 1932	Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	60–5	Birkie !Hans Birkie	PTS	10		01932-08-02August 2, 1932	Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York, USA
Win	59–5	Pavelec !Jerry Pavelec	TKO	5 (10)	5051 !0:51	01932-07-28July 28, 1932	Playground Arena, West New York, New Jersey, USA
Win	58–5	Gross !Jack Gross	TKO	7 (10)	7250 !2:50	01932-07-20July 20, 1932	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Loss	57–5	Gains !Larry Gains	PTS	10		01932-05-30May 30, 1932	White City Stadium, London, England, UK
Win	57–4	Schoenrath !Hans Schoenrath	TKO	3 (10)		01932-05-15May 15, 1932	San Siro, Milan, Italy
Win	56–4	Griselle !Maurice Griselle	TKO	10 (10)		01932-04-29April 29, 1932	Palais des Sports, Paris, France
Win	55–4	McCorkindale !Don McCorkindale	PTS	10		01932-04-07April 7, 1932	Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK
Win	54–4	Cook 2 !George Cook	KO	4 (10)		01932-03-23March 23, 1932	Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK
Win	53–4	Charles !Pierre Charles	PTS	10		01932-02-29February 29, 1932	Palais des Sports, Paris, France
Win	52–4	Gühring !Ernst Gühring	TKO	5 (10)		01932-02-05February 5, 1932	Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany
Win	51–4	Bouquillon 2 !Moise Bouquillon	TKO	2 (10)		01932-01-25January 25, 1932	Palais des Sports, Paris, France
Win	50–4	Campolo !Victorio Campolo	KO	2 (15)	2127 !1:27	01931-11-27November 27, 1931	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Win	49–4	Levinsky, KingKing Levinsky	PTS	10		01931-11-19November 19, 1931	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Loss	48–4	Sharkey, JackJack Sharkey	UD	15		01931-10-12October 12, 1931	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA	This match was billed as being for the American Heavyweight title.
Win	48–3	Carolis !Armando de Carolis	KO	2 (10)	2108 !1:08	01931-08-06August 6, 1931	Shellpot Park, Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, USA
Win	47–3	Roberti !Roberto Roberti	TKO	3 (10)	3225 !2:25	01931-08-04August 4, 1931	Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	46–3	Hansen !Knute Hansen	KO	1 (10)	1210 !2:10	01931-07-24July 24, 1931	Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York, USA
Win	45–3	Gorman !Bud Gorman	KO	2 (10)	2235 !2:35	01931-06-30June 30, 1931	Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Win	44–3	Torriani !Umberto Torriani	KO	2 (10)	2043 !0:43	01931-06-26June 26, 1931	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, USA
Win	43–3	Redmond !Pat Redmond	KO	1 (10)	1224 !2:24	01931-06-15June 15, 1931	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Win	42–3	Maloney !Jim Maloney	PTS	10		01931-03-05March 5, 1931	Madison Square Garden Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA
Win	41–3	Meen !Reggie Meen	TKO	2 (6)		01930-12-18December 18, 1930	Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK
Win	40–3	Uzcudun, PaulinoPaulino Uzcudun	SD	10		01930-11-30November 30, 1930	Estadio Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain
Loss	39–3	Maloney !Jim Maloney	PTS	10		01930-10-07October 7, 1930	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Win	39–2	Gross !Jack Gross	KO	4 (10)		01930-09-17September 17, 1930	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Win	38–2	McCarthy !Pat McCarthy	KO	2 (10)	2116 !1:16	01930-09-08September 8, 1930	Velodrome, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	37–2	Bertazzolo !Riccardo Bertazzolo	TKO	3 (15)		01930-08-30August 30, 1930	Auditorium, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Win	36–2	Cook !George Cook	KO	2 (10)		01930-07-29July 29, 1930	Taylor Bowl, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Win	35–2	Wright !Bearcat Wright	KO	4 (10)		01930-07-17July 17, 1930	Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Win	34–2	Godfrey !George Godfrey	DQ	5 (10)	5113 !1:13	01930-06-23June 23, 1930	Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	33–2	Christner !KO Christner	KO	4 (10)	4120 !1:20	01930-06-05June 5, 1930	Fairgrounds Coliseum, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Win	32–2	Baker !Sam Baker	KO	1 (10)		01930-04-22April 22, 1930	Ice Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, USA
Win	31–2	Chevalier !Leon Chevalier	TKO	6 (10)		01930-04-14April 14, 1930	Oaks Park, Emeryville, California, USA
Win	30–2	Clisby !Neal Clisby	KO	2 (10)	2040 !0:40	01930-04-08April 8, 1930	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Win	29–2	McAuliffe !Jack McAuliffe II	KO	1 (10)	1218 !2:18	01930-03-28March 28, 1930	Stockyards Stadium, Denver, Colorado, USA
Win	28–2	Trafton !George Trafton	KO	1 (10)	1054 !0:54	01930-03-26March 26, 1930	Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Win	27–2	Zaveta !Frank Zaveta	KO	1 (10)	1151 !1:51	01930-03-20March 20, 1930	Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Win	26–2	Wiggins !Chuck Wiggins	KO	2 (10)		01930-03-17March 17, 1930	Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Win	25–2	Montgomery !Sully Montgomery	KO	2 (10)	2115 !1:15	01930-03-11March 11, 1930	Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Win	24–2	Clark !Roy Ace Clark	KO	6 (10)	6238 !2:38	01930-03-03March 3, 1930	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	23–2	Lodge !Farmer Lodge	KO	2 (10)	2122 !1:22	01930-02-24February 24, 1930	Heinemann Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Win	22–2	Erickson !Johnny Erickson	KO	2 (10)	2145 !1:45	01930-02-17February 17, 1930	Coliseum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Win	21–2	Sigman !Jim Sigman	KO	1 (8)	1135 !1:35	01930-02-14February 14, 1930	Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Win	20–2	Martin !Buster Martin	KO	2 (10)	2056 !0:56	01930-02-11February 11, 1930	Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Win	19–2	Owens !Billy Owens	KO	2 (10)	2222 !2:22	01930-02-06February 6, 1930	Armory, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	18–2	Rioux !Elzear Rioux	KO	1 (10)	1047 !0:47	01930-01-31January 31, 1930	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Win	17–2	Peterson !Big Boy Peterson	KO	1 (10)	1110 !1:10	01930-01-24January 24, 1930	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA
Win	16–2	Diener !Franz Diener	TKO	6 (15)		01929-12-17December 17, 1929	Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK
Loss	15–2	Stribling, YoungYoung Stribling	DQ	7 (10)		01929-12-07December 7, 1929	Vélodrome d'hiver, Paris, France
Win	15–1	Stribling, YoungYoung Stribling	DQ	4 (15)		01929-11-18November 18, 1929	Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK
Win	14–1	Stanley !Jack Stanley	TKO	1 (8)	1145 !1:45	01929-10-17October 17, 1929	Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK
Win	13–1	Jaspers !Hermann Jaspers	KO	3 (10)		01929-09-18September 18, 1929	Salle Wagram, Paris, France
Win	12–1	Nikolaeff !Feodor Nikolaeff	KO	1		01929-08-30August 30, 1929	Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France
Win	11–1	Thomas !Joe Thomas	TKO	4		01929-08-25August 25, 1929	Arènes du Prado, Marseille, France
Win	10–1	Leté !José Leté	UD	10		01929-08-14August 14, 1929	Atocha, San Sebastián, Spain
Win	9–1	Humbeeck !Jack Humbeeck	TKO	6 (10)		01929-06-26June 26, 1929	Salle Wagram, Paris, France
Win	8–1	Nilles !Marcel Nilles	TKO	3 (10)		01929-05-30May 30, 1929	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
Win	7–1	Bouquillon !Moise Bouquillon	PTS	10		01929-05-22May 22, 1929	Salle Wagram, Paris, France
Loss	6–1	Diener !Franz Diener	DQ	1 (10)		01929-04-28April 28, 1929	Leipzig, Germany
Win	6–0	Roesemann !Ernst Roesemann	TKO	5 (8)		01929-01-18January 18, 1929	Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany
Win	5–0	Barrick !Constant Barrick	KO	3		01928-12-01December 1, 1928	Vélodrome d'hiver, Paris, France
Win	4–0	Islas !Epifanio Islas	UD	10		01928-11-25November 25, 1928	Palazzo Dello Sport, Milan, Italy
Win	3–0	Ruggirello !Salvatore Ruggirello	TKO	4 (10)		01928-10-30October 30, 1928	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
Win	2–0	Thomas !Joe Thomas	KO	3		01928-09-25September 25, 1928	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
Win	1–0	Sebilo !Leon Sebilo	TKO	2		01928-09-12September 12, 1928	Salle Wagram, Paris, France	Carnera's professional debut.

Championships and accomplishments

Boxing

• International Boxing Union
  • IBU Heavyweight Championship (October 22, 1933 – June 21, 1935; vacated)

• National Boxing Association
  • NBA World Heavyweight Championship (June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934)

• New York State Athletic Commission
  • NYSAC World Heavyweight Championship (June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934)

Professional wrestling

• NWA Hollywood Wrestling
  • NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobo Brazil

• NWA San Francisco
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) – with Sandor Szabo

See also

• List of heavyweight boxing champions

External links

• Carnera: The Walking Mountain at the Internet Movie Database
• Primo Carnera Photos
• Professional boxing record for Primo Carnera from BoxRec
• Primo Carnera at Find a Grave

Achievements
Preceded by Jack Sharkey	World Heavyweight Champion June 29, 1933 – June 14, 1934	Succeeded by Max Baer