Paolo Curcetti

Paolo Curcetti was an Italian boxer who was the first Olympic boxer from Foggia, a home of several future Olympians. Curcetti was the first Italian champion and the first Azzurro produced by the Taralli gym. Curcetti began boxing at 18, and won the 1957 Italian Championship, winning each bout by KO. After winning two more national titles (1959-60) and numerous victories abroad, he took part in the Roma Games where he was stopped by a cut in the quarter-finals, the same situation that would happen 12 years later to his brother Gaetano.

Curcetti later had a brief professional career, which reached its zenith on 2 September 1962 when he fought Mimoun Ben Ali in the semi-finals of the European title, but was knocked out. He finished his pro career in 1964 with 11 wins (4 by KO), 3 losses (all by KO) and one draw. His son Salvatore was an Italian and European champion. Curcetti died at almost 84-years-old after a long illness.