Vito Antuofermo

Vito Antuofermo (born February 9, 1953) is an actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.

Background

Antuofermo was born in Italy, town of Palo del Colle is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17 years old. Antuofermo learned how to fight in the tough areas of New York City, and by his teens he had made up his mind that he wanted to be a professional boxer.

Amateur career

Antuofermo won the 1970 147 lb New York Golden Gloves Championship, defeating Thomas Chestnut in the finals. In 1971 Antuofermo was defeated by future Light Heavyweight Champion Eddie Gregory in the finals of the 147 lb Open division. Antuofermo trained at the Police Athletic Leagues Sweeney Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Professional career

One of the things for which Antuofermo was known was his propensity to bleed easily, especially around the eyebrows, after taking a head butt there. In between rounds in his fights, as much attention (if not more) was given to Vito patching up cuts on his face as it was giving him advice and instructions. In fact, 'cuts' seemed to be the operative word in what determined his fate in his title matches against Alan Minter and Marvin Hagler.

In 1979, Antuofermo became world's Middleweight champion by beating defending champ Hugo Corro by a decision in 15 rounds at Monte Carlo. According to an article on Ring Magazine, Howard Cosell, who was working on that fight's live broadcast to the USA, was telling viewers that Corro was, in his opinion, way ahead on the judges' cards. When someone on the American television crew found out it was Antuofermo who was actually leading on the cards, Cosell then began to say he had Antuofermo ahead.

On the morning after winning the title, Antuofermo and his crew were driving to a small vacation in Italy, when he saw a car fly off a bridge under which they were passing. The car landed right in front of his, but luckily the accident did not injure any occupants in Antuofermo's car. He was so shocked that he kept driving, and never found out what happened to the occupants of that car. He came back to his senses about 20 minutes later.

Antuofermo defended his title against Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas, Nevada, the fight resulting in a controversial 15-round draw. In his next defense, against Alan Minter, also in Las Vegas, he lost the title by a 15-round split decision. They had a rematch, in London, and Minter retained the crown by a TKO (on cuts) in eight.In the second Minter fight, his management argued against the use of any substance by Vito to stop any bleeding that might occur. Knowing they had to try to beat him on cuts.

Antuofermo kept fighting and winning, and, after Hagler won the title from Minter in 1980, Antuofermo was given another chance to regain the world Middleweight crown. In front of an HBO Boxing audience and a full house at Hagler's native Boston's Boston Garden, Antuofermo this time lost by a TKO on cuts in the fourth round. Following Minter's lead, the Hagler camp also fought against the use of coagulants. Another controversial bout, as Hagler very blatantly head butted Antuofermo to cause cuts.

After several attempts at becoming a top Middleweight again, Antuofermo in 1984 retired from boxing.

Apart from Corro, other boxers he beat included world champions Eckhard Dagge, Denny Moyer, and Emile Griffith.

Life After Boxing

After retirement Antuofermo began to pursue an acting career, and in 1990 he landed a small speaking role in The Godfather Part III. He has landed several small speaking roles in movies and television shows since, included the critically acclaimed television show The Sopranos as a mobster. He has also done many theater plays.

Antuofermo's record reads 50 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws, with 21 wins by knockout.

Vito Antuofermo's second oldest son Pasquale Antuofermo is currently fighting as an amateur.

He now owns a successful landscaping company that operates in Long Island, New York.