Giovanni Pretorius

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGiovanni•Pretorius
Used nameGiovanni•Pretorius
Born1 January 1972 in Transvaal (RSA)
Died23 August 2021 in Alberton, Gauteng (RSA)
Measurements170 cm / 67 kg
NOC South Africa

Biography

Giovanni Pretorius was a middleweight boxer who competed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. A few months later he began his pro career against Thomas Mnisi, winning on points in Johannesburg. Pretorius drew his second fight, but then won 21 bouts in a row, earning him a shot at the WBC super-middleweight title against England’s Robin Reid, who had won a bronze medal at the Barcelona Games.

The fight with Reid was somewhat close for six rounds, although Pretorius suffered two knockdowns, but Reid floored Pretorius three times in the seventh round and won by TKO. Pretorius then won six more fights before losing a bout against Johnson Tshuma in Hammanskraal on 28 August 1999. Pretorius retired after that loss, finishing with a career professional record of 28 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.

In August 2021 Pretorius died at only 49-years-old from the COVID-19 virus.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1992 Summer Olympics Boxing RSA Giovanni Pretorius
Welterweight, Men (Olympic) =17

Special Notes