View source for Oscar Bonavena

{{Short description|Argentine boxer (1942–1976)}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name=Oscar Bonavena
|image=Oscar_Bonavena_1966_portrait_by_UPI.jpg
|caption = Bonavena in 1966
|realname=Oscar Natalio Bonavena
|nickname=Ringo
|weight=[[Heavyweight]]
|height={{convert|5|ft|10+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|reach={{convert|73|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}
|nationality= 
|birth_date={{birth date|1942|09|25|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
|death_date={{death date and age|1976|05|22|1942|9|25|mf=y}}
|death_place=[[Mustang, Nevada]], U.S.
|style=[[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total=68
|wins=58
|KO=44
|losses=9 (1 KO)
|draws=1
|no contests=0
}}
'''Oscar Natalio''' "'''Ringo'''" '''Bonavena''' (September 25, 1942 – May 22, 1976) was an Argentine [[heavyweight]] [[professional boxing|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 [[The Beatles|Beatles]] haircut, and enjoyed professional success in both Argentina and the United States. He is remembered for giving [[Joe Frazier]] and [[Muhammad Ali]] hard-fought bouts.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

==Life and pro career==
Oscar Natalio Bonavena was born in [[Buenos Aires]] to Italian immigrants.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fraga |first=Ruben |title=Cuando mataron a Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena |url=https://www.elciudadanoweb.com/cuando-mataron-a-oscar-ringo-bonavena/ |publisher=El Ciudadano |access-date=20 January 2020 |date=25 May 2018 |quote=Oscar Natalio Bonavena nació el viernes 25 de septiembre de 1942 en el barrio porteño de Boedo y fue el séptimo hijo de los nueve que tuvo el matrimonio de inmigrantes italianos formado por Vicente Bonavena y Dominga Grillo. |archive-date=13 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613130702/https://www.elciudadanoweb.com/cuando-mataron-a-oscar-ringo-bonavena/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was a professional boxer, Argentine and South American champion. He also participated in several Argentine TV programs such as the [[Pepe Biondi]] Show.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-15 |title=¡Patapúfete! Pepe Biondi y su conmovedora historia |url=https://radiografica.org.ar/2020/11/15/patapufete-pepe-biondi-y-su-conmovedora-historia/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Radio Gráfica |language=es-AR}}</ref>

== Early career==
Bonavena began his early career in [[New York City]] under the management of World War II hero and dentist Marvin Goldberg.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Following his pro debut on February 1, 1964, he racked up a quick string of early knockouts. Sometimes fighting twice a month, he lost by decision in February 1965, in only his 15th contest, to the highly rated [[Zora Folley]]. Bonavena was far too inexperienced to take on a top veteran like Folley. Three years later he won their rematch by decision.<ref>actual fight video & commentary on Utube</ref>

Returning to Argentina, his winning and knockout streak continued. In mid-1966 he was enticed back to New York where the free-swinging Bonavena ran into trouble outside the ring. He called Muhammad Ali a black [[kangaroo]], and a [[coward|chicken]] for [[draft dodging]]. When, much later, he saw Ali seated ringside at the [[George Foreman]]&ndash;[[Ken Norton]] fight, he went over and started a big slanging match.

In his pre-fight press conference with Frazier, Bonavena needled effectively by implying that Frazier had a personal hygiene problem. He would start sniffing and grimace. Lawsuits were brought about by reporters with broken cameras; and other such "colorful" behavior. He was always volatile, as trainers soon discovered.<ref>Brunt, S., Facing Ali: The Opposition Weighs in, {{ISBN|0-676-97351-5}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121106040524/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904609-1,00.html Sport: Two Down, One to Go], Time</ref>

===Big name contests, Chuvalo and Frazier===
Bonavena first came to wide public attention after a fine performance: defeating rated contender and Canadian champion [[George Chuvalo]], boxing technically better than expected, and later going the distance against the young hard-hitting great [[Joe Frazier]].  In this, their first fight, Bonavena had the future champion down twice in the second round.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

===WBA elimination contests===
In 1967, after the [[World Boxing Association]] stripped [[Muhammad Ali]] of the title for refusing to be [[Conscription|inducted]] into the U.S. military, Bonavena participated in that sanctioning body's 1967 tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion. In a strong performance he decked favoured European champion [[Karl Mildenberger]] four times,<ref>Ring Mag & online boxing records</ref> winning by a decision in [[Frankfurt]], [[West Germany]]. But he was himself knocked down twice and clearly outboxed by eventual tournament winner [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]] in the semi-finals in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], losing by unanimous decision in an upset. Many deemed it the best win of Ellis's career.<ref>Ring magazine</ref>

===World Title shot, the Frazier rematch===
[[File:Susana Giménez y Ringo Bonavera.jpg|thumb|Bonavena with actress [[Susana Giménez]] in 1970.]]
The following year, in 1968, after outpointing [[Leotis Martin]], he got a rematch with Frazier for the heavyweight title in [[Philadelphia]]. After a grueling fifteen rounds Bonavena lost the rematch by decision, fighting more defensively than previous. He left with a seriously battered face, as photographed in the Ring magazine. In 1969, he got a draw in a rematch with talented [[Gregorio Peralta]], who he'd outpointed four years earlier for the Argentine title.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

===Versus Ali===
In December 1970, he fought Ali at Madison Square Garden, in the former champ's second bout after his three-year layoff. Bonavena absorbed punishment throughout but fought well, getting through with various head and body punches. With just under 1:30 left in the 15th and final round, Ali caught Oscar rushing in and decked him with a perfectly placed left hook. Bonavena got up, but was clearly not fully recovered. Ali decked him twice more, and the fight was automatically stopped under the three knockdown rule, giving Ali a TKO (technical knockout). The ending was somewhat controversial, as Ali stood over Bonavena as Bonavena was getting up, never going to a neutral corner as the rules of boxing require, which allowed Ali to quickly knockdown Bonavena twice more and automatically end the fight. After the second knockdown, the referee appears to be attempting to guide Ali to a neutral corner, but Ali brushes the referee's arm away and pursues a wobbly Bonavena.<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YhofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wqYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2537,871414 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySyW0rfYPisC&q=ali+bonavena+%22neutral+corner%22&pg=PA102 |title = The Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier March 8, 1971|isbn = 9780470178638|last1 = Arkush|first1 = Michael|date = 2007-09-24| publisher=Wiley }}</ref>

===Other matches===
After the loss to Ali in 1970, he had a brutally tough match with underrated [[Alvin Lewis (boxer)|Alvin Lewis]], being decked multiple times but eventually winning by disqualification. Bonavena fought intermittently for the next few years. A gregarious party man, he enjoyed life to its fullest, at the cost of his boxing career.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Eventually losses to [[Floyd Patterson]] in 1972 and [[Ron Lyle]] in 1974 effectively relegated him to lower contender status, though he did well enough in both matches. In the Patterson fight he broke his left hand early, possibly after decking Patterson in the fourth, and remained an advancing threat to the final bell. It was around 1973 that a match with a then rising [[Ken Norton]] was being planned but never materialized.<ref>on line boxing archives</ref>

On February 26, 1976, an overweight and sluggish Bonavena fought what would be his last fight, winning a ten-round decision over the unranked [[Billy Joiner]] in Reno.<ref name="Farrell">{{cite magazine |first=Barry|last=Farrell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b-MCAAAAMBAJ|title=The Killing At the Notorious Mustang Ranch|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=July 26, 1976|pages=41–49|access-date= 2009-06-07 }}</ref>

==Death==
On 22 May 1976 Bonavena was shot dead at the age of 33 by security guard Willard Ross Brymer at the [[Mustang Ranch]] brothel near [[Reno, Nevada]], after having become involved in a conflict with its owner, [[Joseph Conforte|Joe Conforte]].<ref name="Farrell"/><ref name= "NYT">{{cite news
| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/23/archives/bonavena-is-slain-a-top-heavyweight.html
| title=Bonavena Is Slain; A Top Heavyweight
| last=Rogers
| first=Thomas
| date=May 23, 1976
| work=[[The New York Times]]
| quote=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.
| access-date=2009-06-11
| archive-date=2018-07-23
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723004443/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/23/archives/bonavena-is-slain-a-top-heavyweight.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="LVR">[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Jun-29-Thu-2000/news/13874074.html Man who killed Oscar Bonavena dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002024036/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Jun-29-Thu-2000/news/13874074.html |date=2012-10-02 }}, ''[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]''</ref> His body was returned to Argentina to lie in state at the [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires|Luna Park]] sports arena in Buenos Aires, where 150,000 people filed by.<ref>[[Associated Press]] newsreel film of Bonavena's funeral, 1 June 1976, published on Youtube 24 July 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6MUdiQ1Q8Y {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727144518/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6MUdiQ1Q8Y |date=2023-07-27 }}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|ko-wins=44
|ko-losses=1
|dec-wins=14
|dec-losses=6
|dq-wins=1
|dq-losses=2
}}

{| class="wikitable" "style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|68
|{{yes2}}Win
|58-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Billy Joiner]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1976-02-26}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Reno, Nevada]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|67
|{{yes2}}Win
|57-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Reinaldo Gorosito
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1975-11-01}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|66
|{{yes2}}Win
|56-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|TGA}} Mani Vaka
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|5 (10)}}
|{{small|1974-11-12}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[International Center Arena]], [[Honolulu]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|65
|{{yes2}}Win
|55-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|JAM}} [[Oliver Wright (boxer)|Oliver Wright]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|9 (10)}}
|{{small|1974-10-18}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ITA}} Rome}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|64
|{{yes2}}Win
|54-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Bob Mashburn
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1974-09-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ITA}} Rome}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|63
|{{yes2}}Win
|53-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|CAN}} Larry Renaud
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1974-07-13}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ITA}} Rome}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|62
|{{yes2}}Win
|52-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Larry Middleton
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|12}}
|{{small|1974-05-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]], [[Largo, Maryland]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|61
|{{no2}}Loss
|51-9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Ron Lyle]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|12}}
|{{small|1974-03-19}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|60
|{{yes2}}Win
|51-8-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Terry Sorrell
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|2 (8)}}
|{{small|1973-11-20}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|59
|{{yes2}}Win
|50-8-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Lou Bailey
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1973-08-15}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|58
|{{yes2}}Win
|49-8-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Roy Wallace
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|6 (10)}}
|{{small|1973-08-06}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|57
|{{yes2}}Win
|48-8-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Leroy Caldwell
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1973-07-23}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Circus Circus Las Vegas|Circus Circus Hotel]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|56
|{{no2}}Loss
|47-8-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Floyd Patterson]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1972-02-11}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|55
|{{yes2}}Win
|47-7-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Alvin Lewis (boxer)|Alvin Lewis]]
|{{small|DQ}}
|{{small|7 (10)}}
|{{small|1971-10-04}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|54
|{{no2}}Loss
|46-7-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Muhammad Ali]]
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|15 (15)}}
|{{small|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Oscar Bonavena|1970-12-07]]}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|{{small|For [[North American Boxing Federation|NABF]]/[[Lineal Championship|Lineal]] Heavyweight Titles}}
|- align=center
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|46-6-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|BRA}} Luis Pires
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|8 (10)}}
|{{small|1970-10-29}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|45-6-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} James J Woody
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|5 (10)}}
|{{small|1970-07-04}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|44-6-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|MEX}} [[Manuel Ramos (boxer)|Manuel Ramos]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (10)}}
|{{small|1970-05-09}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|43-6-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} José Menno
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (8)}}
|{{small|1970-04-24}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|URU}} [[Montevideo]], [[Montevideo Department|Montevideo]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|42-6-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Santiago Lovell]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|7 (10)}}
|{{small|1970-03-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|48
|{{no2}}Loss
|41-6-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Miguel Angel Paez
|{{small|DQ}}
|{{small|7 (10)}}
|{{small|1970-01-10}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|41-5-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Santiago Lovell]]
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|8 (10)}}
|{{small|1969-12-13}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|46
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|40-5-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Gregorio Peralta]]
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1969-08-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|URU}} Palacio Peñarol, [[Montevideo]], [[Montevideo Department|Montevideo]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|40-5
|align=left|{{Flag icon|GER}} [[Wilhelm Von Homburg]]
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1969-06-20}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|GER}} [[Berlin Sportpalast|Sportpalast]], Berlin}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|39-5
|align=left|{{Flag icon|BRA}} Luis Pires
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|8 (10)}}
|{{small|1969-03-05}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Mar del Plata]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|43
|{{no2}}Loss
|38-5
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Joe Frazier]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|15}}
|{{small|1968-12-10}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]], [[Philadelphia]]}}
|align=left|{{small|For [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]] Heavyweight Title}}
|- align=center
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|38-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Jim Fletcher
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (10)}}
|{{small|1968-11-09}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|37-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Leotis Martin]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1968-09-07}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|36-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Zora Folley]]
|{{small|MD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1968-07-06}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|35-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|PER}} Roberto Davila
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1968-06-01}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|34-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Lee Carr
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1968-04-20}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|33-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Alberto Benassi
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1968-03-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[La Rioja, Argentina|La Rioja]], [[La Rioja Province, Argentina|La Rioja]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|32-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Felipe Pedro Marich
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|6 (10)}}
|{{small|1968-02-16}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], [[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|35
|{{no2}}Loss
|31-4
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|12}}
|{{small|1967-12-02}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Freedom Hall]], [[Louisville, Kentucky]]}}
|align=left|{{small|WBA Heavyweight Title elimination series; semi-finals; Bonavena-Ellis, Quarry-Spencer}}
|- align=center
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|31-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|GER}} [[Karl Mildenberger]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|12}}
|{{small|1967-09-16}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|GER}} [[Commerzbank-Arena#First stadium|Waldstadion]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Hesse]]}}
|align=left|{{small|[[World Boxing Association|WBA]] Heavyweight Title elimination series; quarter-finals; Bonavena-Mildenberger, Ellis-Martin, Quarry-Patterson, Terrell-Spencer}}
|- align=center
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|30-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Carlos Vazquez
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1967-08-05}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[General Roca, Río Negro|General Roca]], [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|29-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|BRA}} Luis Pires
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|6 (10)}}
|{{small|1967-07-22}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|28-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Pablo Sagrispanti
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1967-06-23}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|27-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Hubert Hilton
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1967-04-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|26-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Jose Giorgetti
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|9 (10)}}
|{{small|1967-01-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Estadio Bristol, [[Mar del Plata]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|25-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Roberto Veliz
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|4 (10)}}
|{{small|1966-12-01}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Asociación Mendocina de Boxeo, [[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]], [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|24-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Alberto Benassi
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|5 (10)}}
|{{small|1966-11-18}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Rosario]], [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|23-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Amos Johnson
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1966-10-22}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|22-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Alberto Benassi
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|5 (10)}}
|{{small|1966-10-07}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Estadio Bristol, [[Mar del Plata]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|24
|{{no2}}Loss
|21-3
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Joe Frazier]]
|{{small|MD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1966-09-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|21-2
|align=left|{{Flag icon|CAN}} [[George Chuvalo]]
|{{small|MD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1966-06-23}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|20-2
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Jose Giorgetti
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1966-04-16}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|21
|{{no2}}Loss
|19-2
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Jose Giorgetti
|{{small|DQ}}
|{{small|8 (10)}}
|{{small|1966-03-12}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Estadio Bristol, [[Mar del Plata]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|19-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Bruno Segura
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1966-02-12}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Mar del Plata]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|18-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Billy Daniels
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-11-13}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|17-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Hector Wilson
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-10-22}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Concepción, Tucumán|Concepción]], [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|16-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Pablo Sagrispanti
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|1 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-10-09}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|15-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Gregorio Peralta]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|12}}
|{{small|1965-09-04}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|{{small|Won [[Argentina Boxing Federation|Argentinan]] Heavyweight Title}}
|- align=center
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|14-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Alberto Gonzales
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-08-06}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Comodoro Rivadavia]], [[Chubut Province|Chubut]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|13-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Eduardo Cartelli
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (12)}}
|{{small|1965-07-23}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], [[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|12-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Rodolfo Diaz
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|4 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-06-26}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Luna Park, Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|11-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Rogelio Gregorutti
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-05-28}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[San Miguel de Tucumán]], [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|10-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Carlos Vazquez
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-04-30}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Salón de los Deportes, [[Bahía Blanca]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|9-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|ARG}} Rene Sosa
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (10)}}
|{{small|1965-04-16}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|ARG}} [[Mar del Plata]], [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|9
|{{no2}}Loss
|8-1
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Zora Folley]]
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1965-02-26}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Billy Stephan
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|6 (10)}}
|{{small|1964-12-18}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Dick Wipperman
|{{small|UD}}
|{{small|10}}
|{{small|1964-11-13}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Tom McNeeley]]
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|5 (8)}}
|{{small|1964-08-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|GRE}} Byron Stoimenides
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (8)}}
|{{small|1964-05-29}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|CAN}} Leslie Borden
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1964-05-05}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} Sunnyside Garden, [[Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|BAH}} Wendell Newton
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|5 (6)}}
|{{small|1964-03-10}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} Sunnyside Garden, [[Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Everett Copeland
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (6)}}
|{{small|1964-02-04}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} Sunnyside Garden, [[Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]]}}
|align=left|
|- align=center
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Lou Hicks
|{{small|TKO}}
|{{small|1 (4)}}
|{{small|1964-01-03}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City}}
|align=left|
|}

==See also==
* [[List of homicides in Nevada]]
*[[Luis Ángel Firpo]]
*[[José María Gatica]]
*[[Justo Suárez]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* [https://www.foxnews.com/story/nevadas-most-infamous-brothel-mustang-ranch-back-in-business Nevada's Most Infamous Brothel, Mustang Ranch, Back In Business] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218004856/https://www.foxnews.com/story/nevadas-most-infamous-brothel-mustang-ranch-back-in-business |date=2024-12-18 }}, Fox News
* [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SSoSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6993,6119017 Woman Who Operated Mustang Ranch Dies], Spokesman-Review, September 9, 1992

==External links==
* {{boxrec|id=9386}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonavena, Oscar}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Argentine people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Argentine people murdered abroad]]
[[Category:Argentine murder victims]]
[[Category:People murdered in Nevada]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Nevada]]
[[Category:Burials at La Chacarita Cemetery]]
[[Category:Argentine male boxers]]
[[Category:20th-century Argentine sportsmen]]
[[Category:People murdered in 1976]]