Bantamweight (≤118 pounds), Men

Before the competition began, the favorites included the Italian champion Ulderico Sergo, who had been the outstanding European bantamweight over the previous 12 months; Stig Cederberg of Sweden, the reigning silver medalist from the European championship; and Jackie Wilson of the United States, who had moved up from flyweight due to problems making the weight. These three lived up to their expectations and were joined in the semi-final by Fidel Ortiz of Mexico.

Sergo was a factory worker but had received generous backing by the Federazione Pugilistica Italiana and was in excellent physical condition. Sergo defeated Cederberg and moved on to the final, where he would meet Wilson for the gold medal. Although Wilson, at 5 ft 10 in (182 cm), was the taller man, and had a reach advantage over his opponent, the tenacious Italian took the fight to the American. The first round was close but Sergo moved up a gear from then on, forcing his opponent back onto the ropes and negating his physical advantages. Wilson had been considered the USA’s best chance of a championship but, when he tried to turn the fight his way in the final round, he had left it too late, and Sergo was a clear champion.

Sergo went on to win the European Amateur championships on home soil in 1937, and retain it in 1939 in Dublin. He would have been a strong medal contender for the cancelled 1940 Games. With no prospect of further Olympic success available, Sergo turned professional but no less than six attempts at Italian national titles ended in failure. Jackie Wilson’s professional début came in late 1936, in Los Angeles, where he was to base his career. One of the best lightweights and welterweights of his era, he was unlucky never to earn a World title shot. He did, however, win a California state title, and went the distance with both Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta.