A city in silence for the last farewell to Francesco Fiori, the "Sardinian rock" former Italian welterweight champion, disciple of the great master Baccicia Martellini. A page of Porto Torres boxing history that closes, in the city where he was born on March 31, 1935 and where the noble art has always been at home.
He was 88 years old, spent twenty with boxing gloves fighting first as an amateur and then as a professional. Relatives, family and friends, but also former boxers attended the mass celebrated by Don Salvatore Masia in the basilica of San Gavino. Also present were the agents of the Local Police, the municipal body to which Francesco Fiori belonged. Yellow flowers on the coffin.
Outside the church a banner with the words "Strong as a special rock, like a... super hero", a thought of those who knew his talents, technical skills and his particular strength. The middleweight boxer forged ahead as a novice and in 1958 made his professional debut treading the prestigious ring at Madison Square Garden in New York, where in June 1961, he defeated Joe Rubino on points.
In 1962 he made use of his physical power in a meeting with the future world middleweight champion, Sandro Mazzinghi, a narrow defeat. His memory is particularly linked to the memorable encounters with the Italian champion Nino Benvenuti, in August 1963. In the third round he was defeated by Kot by the Olympic welterweight champion, a match with the Italian title up for grabs. The last message: «Hi Francesco, we will remember you for your particular strength and big heart».
