Giovanni Sili

Roma’s Giovanni Sili was a boxing substitute at the 1924 Paris Olympics. After a short career among amateurs, he made his pro début in his hometown on 15 January 1926, losing by decision to Giulio Brugnetti, whom he then beat in a rematch three months later in Cagliari. A year later, on 31 March, at the Adriano Theater in Roma, he challenged Orlando Magliozzi for the Italian flyweight title. The two trained in the same gym, the Cristoforo Colombo, but the fight ended in a draw. Magliozzi was then called to military service, but they met again in February 1929 with Sili, who had since become Italian champion, retaining the title.

From September 1929 to February 1931 Sili moved to the United States where he fought with varying results in Detroit, New York, Pittsburgh, Toledo, and Cleveland. Back in Italy, he no longer had the opportunity to compete for the national title and, after bouts in France and Spain, closed his career in Paris on 14 January 1937, after being knocked out by Jean Le Balanger. Sili ended his pro career with a record of 25 wins (2 by KO), 27 losses (15 by KO) and 14 draws.