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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Oscar Natalio Bonavena |
| Nickname(s) | "Ringo" |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Nationality |  Argentine |
| Birth date | May 22,1942 |
| Birth place | Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina |
| Death date | May 22, 1976 (aged 33) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 68 |
| Wins | 58 |
| Wins by KO | 44 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena (September 25, 1942 in Buenos Aires, Argentina – May 22, 1976 near Reno, Nevada, United States) was a heavyweight professional boxer with a career record of 58 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. A rugged, wild-swinging puncher, he was nicknamed "Ringo" because of his Beatles haircut.
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Pro career
Bonavena traveled back and forth between the United States and his native Argentina, fighting in both countries and enjoying success.
Bonavena began his early career in New York State under the management of World War II hero and dentist, Marvin Goldberg. Known as "The Argentine Strong-Boy", he racked up a quick string of early knockouts, but was overmatched early and lost by decision to highly-rated Zora Folley. After that, he returned to Argentina, where his winning and knockout streak continued. However, the free-swinging Bonavena ran into trouble outside the ring with "off-beat" remarks, lawsuits brought about by reporters with broken cameras and other such "colorful" events.
Bonavena first came to wide public attention after defeating the Canadian champion, George Chuvalo, then going the distance against the hard-hitting great Joe Frazier on two occasions. In their first fight, Bonavena had the future champion down twice in the second round before Frazier rallied to win the decision. After the World Boxing Association stripped Muhammad Ali of the title for refusing to be inducted into the U.S. military, Bonavena participated in that sanctioning body's 1967 tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion. After defeating European champion Karl Mildenberger by a decision in Frankfurt, West Germany, he was knocked down twice by eventual tournament winner Jimmy Ellis in the semi-finals in Louisville, and lost by unanimous decision.
The following year, in 1968, Bonavena challenged Frazier for his version of the heavyweight title in Frazier's hometown of Philadelphia. After a grueling fifteen rounds, Bonavena lost the rematch by decision. Two years later, he fought Ali, in the former champ's second bout after his three-year layoff, at Madison Square Garden. Taking the fight to Ali, Bonavena managed to slip past most of his punches and had the match in doubt until a left hook from Ali in the 15th and final round knocked Bonavena down for the first of three times. The knockout by Ali was the only time in Bonavena's career he was stopped.
After the loss to Ali in 1970, Bonavena fought intermittently for the next few years, and losses to Floyd Patterson in 1972 and Ron Lyle in 1974 effectively ended his career as a contender.
Reno
Joe Conforte, owner of the notorious Mustang Ranch brothel near Reno, Nevada, brought Bonavena to Reno in 1975 to promote a series of fights and to train on the 440-acre property. Bonavena became friendly with Conforte's wife Sally Burgess, 26 years Bonavena's senior, and the two flirted openly.[1] A later investigation concluded that they began an affair.[2] He signed a contract making the former madam his manager, although she had never managed a fighter before. He gained weight and his condition deteriorated. On February 26, 1976, a flabby and sluggish Bonavena fought what would be his last fight, winning a ten-round decision over the unranked Billy Joiner in Reno.[1]
The ranch was burned down by apparent arson in 1975, and had been rebuilt, with over 100 bedrooms and fancy suites that included a "Blue Room". Joe Conforte was not present at its grand opening in early May, but Bonavena circulated among the 4000 guests, smoking big cigars and greeting some with "How you like my new joint?"[1]
Death
Conforte banished the pair from the ranch two days later. They were warned to stay away, and guards were ordered to stop them if they tried to reenter. Conforte moved out of the family house in town he shared with Sally and into the Blue Room. Willard Ross Brymer, Conforte's ex-convict personal bodyguard and security guard at the ranch, was recalled from a trip. Brymer cleaned out Bonavena's trailer and burned his papers and clothes in the street. At the family house, Sally was plagued by utility shutoffs and other harassment.[1]
On May 19, four days before the shooting, Sally and Bonavena complained to the county sheriff about the harassment and drove to San Francisco (about 230 miles) to replace Bonavena's burned passport. They stayed overnight, taking adjoining rooms, and returned to Reno the next day.[1]
At 6:00 a.m. on Saturday May 22, Bonavena drove up to the locked gate at the Mustang Ranch and rang the bell. He exchanged words with an unarmed guard and demanded to see Conforte. Brymer stepped through the kitchen door with a high-powered rifle. The guard at the gate told Bonavena to leave. As Bonavena stepped behind his car, someone said "Freeze" and Bonavena was shot through the heart, either by Brymer or from a rear guard tower.[1][3][4] A snub-nosed .38 revolver was found in his boot. Four days later, Sally returned to the ranch and took over, firing the guards with guns and the ex-convicts.[1]
An investigation concluded that Bonavena was having an affair with Sally and had bragged about taking over the Mustang Ranch,[2] and that guards had orders to shoot Bonavena if he showed up.[5] Originally charged with murder, Brymer pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and served 15 months in prison.[5]
Bonavena's body was returned to Argentina to lay in state at the Luna Park sports arena in Buenos Aires, where 150,000 people filed by. He is buried in the La Chacarita Cemetery in Buenos Aires.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Farrell, Barry (July 26, 1976). "The Killing At the Notorious Mustang Ranch". New York. pp. 41–49. http://books.google.com/books?id=b-MCAAAAMBAJ. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
- ^ a b Joe Conforte's Legal Tangles, Los Angeles Times
- ^ Rogers, Thomas (May 23, 1976). "Bonavena Is Slain; A Top Heavyweight". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10B1FFA3E5B177B8EDDAA0A94DD405B868BF1D3. Retrieved 2009-06-11. "Oscar Bonavena of Argentina, once a serious contender for the heavyweight boxing championship, was shot to death yesterday at a brothel a few miles east of Reno, Nev. He was 33 years old."
- ^ Bonavena Fatally Shot Outside Nevada Brothel
- ^ a b Man who killed Oscar Bonavena dies, Las Vegas Review-Journal
- Nevada's Most Infamous Brothel, Mustang Ranch, Back In Business, Fox News
- Woman Who Operated Mustang Ranch Dies, Spokesman-Review, September 9, 1992
External links
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