Aureliano Bolognesi was the Italian lightweight champion of 1951 and 1952 coming into the Helsinki Games. In his first match, he faced the tournament favourite Bobby Bickle, and beat him in a close fight in a 2-1 decision. Winning his next three bouts as well, Bolognesi returned home with the gold medal. With an excellent amateur record (just 1 defeat and 4 draws in 151 fights), he turned pro. His career was mostly confined to Italy, and he wound up with 17 wins in 21 fights. In honor of his sporting achievements, Bolognesi was awarded a Gold Medal by the Italian Olympic Committee.
Italy