Martín Coggi

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Martín Coggi
Born
Juan Martin Coggi

(1961-12-19) 19 December 1961 (age 62)
Fighiera, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
NationalityArgentine
Other namesEl Látigo (The Whip)
Statistics
Weight(s)Light welterweight
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights82
Wins75
Wins by KO44
Losses5
Draws2

Juan Martin Coggi (born 19 December 1961) is a former boxer from Argentina. A native of Santa Fe Province (he lived as a child until a few years Brandsen, Buenos Aires Province), which was also the birthplace of Carlos Monzón, Coggi was a three-time world light welterweight champion. He had 75 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws, with 44 wins by knockout. He never lost a fight by knockout.

Early boxing career[edit]

After a stellar amateur career, Coggi became a professional boxer on 2 April 1982, knocking out Horacio Valdes in four rounds at La Plata. Coggi won seven of his first ten bouts by knockout. The first boxer to last the scheduled distance with him was Viterman Sanchez, who lost a six-round decision to Coggi on 7 May 1982.

Coggi went undefeated for 21 bouts, with 11 knockout wins. Then, on 9 March 1985, he met Adolfo Arce Rossi in Buenos Aires. Arce Rossi became the first boxer to defeat Coggi by outpointing him over ten rounds. After one more win, Coggi fought to a draw over ten rounds with Ramon Collado, on 20 June of that same year.

Coggi went on a six-fight winning streak before he and Collado met again. Once again, Collado held him to a ten-round draw, on 19 July 1986.

On 25 October of that year, Coggi won the Argentine light welterweight title, knocking out Hugo Hernandez in three rounds.

Championship career[edit]

Despite having a record that included no one of apparent relevance, the WBA placed Coggi on top of their list of challengers for the world crown at the light welterweight division. After one more win, Coggi challenged for the world title for the first time.

The WBA's world champion, Patrizio Oliva, had dethroned Coggi's countryman, Ubaldo Sacco, to win the world championship. So the fight between Coggi and Oliva generated much interest among Argentine boxing fans. Coggi's first title try was also his first fight abroad, as the fight was held in Ribera, Italy, on 4 July 1987. Coggi caused a minor upset when he knocked out Oliva in three rounds to become world champion.[1]

Like Monzon, Coggi also became well liked in Italy despite the fact he had beaten an Italian for the world championship. Coggi would fight in Italy a number of times during the rest of his career. His first title defense came in Italy, when he knocked out Sang-Ho Lee in two rounds on 7 May 1988.

After beating Lee, he would win four non-title bouts in his country, including two ten-round decisions over Jorge Tejada, who later became a contender in the welterweight division.

For his second defense, Coggi returned to Italy, where he defeated perennial contender Harold Brazier of the United States by a twelve-round unanimous decision on 21 January 1989.

His third defense, on 29 April 1989, was also held in Italy. He defeated future world champion Akinobu Hiranaka by a twelve-round decision. However, this match was controversial for the decision: Coggi was knocked down by Hiranaka twice at 3rd round. Among many boxing fans, there have been the strong voice that the victory should have been given to Hiranaka . After two non title wins, Coggi had four fights in France, beginning with a fourth-round knockout victory over Jesse Williams in another non-title bout.

On 24 March 1990, Coggi beat the former lightweight champion José Luis Ramírez by a twelve-round unanimous decision to retain the title. After beating Danilo Cabrera by knockout in round five, Coggi defended his title in Nice against the relatively unheralded Loreto Garza of Sacramento, California, on 17 August. This time around, it was Coggi's turn to lose in a mild upset, as Garza became the champion by outpointing Coggi over twelve rounds.

On his next fight, held on 11 November at Buenos Aires, Coggi once again outpointed Tejada over ten rounds.

His next fight happened under extremely unlikely circumstances: he was in Sacramento to watch Garza defend his world title and, at the same time, challenge him to a rematch, when one of the boxers to be featured as part of the night's undercard suffered a car accident at the ARCO Arena parking lot and broke his wrist. Coggi took on the role of substitute fighter, and he beat Alberto Alcaraz by a knockout in round seven, 1 December.

Coggi went on to win his next eleven fights, six of them by knockout, before challenging Morris East for the WBA title on 12 January 1993, in Mar del Plata. Coggi became a light welterweight champion for the second time that night when he knocked East out in eight rounds.

On 10 April 1993, he made his first defense of his second reign, knocking out perennial Puerto Rican world title challenger Joe Rivera in seven rounds, in Mar del Plata. Next, he defended against Hiroyuki Yoshino on 23 June. In what marked his Asian debut, Coggi knocked Yoshino out in five rounds, in a fight held in Tokyo, Japan.

He defended his title three more times in 1993. On 13 August, he outpointed Jose Rafael Barbosa over twelve rounds in Buenos Aires, once again, retaining the world title. On 24 September, he knocked out Guillermo Cruz in ten rounds at Tucumán.

Bouts with Eder Gonzalez[edit]

On 11 December, 1993, Coggi defended his title against the WBA's number ten contender Eder Gonzalez in Tucumán. In the second round, Gonzalez knocked Coggi down with a right hand and appeared to have him on the verge of a knockout when fight referee Isidro Rodriguez stopped the action, giving Coggi time to recover, at one point even helping Coggi remain on his feet. In the confusion, Gonzalez believed the referee had ended the fight and that he had won, but Rodriguez motioned for them to resume. A member of Coggi's corner then leapt onto the ring apron, grabbed Coggi and fended off Gonzalez' attacks. The round ended about 20 seconds prematurely, thanks to Coggi's compatriot Jorge Fernando Castro grabbing the timekeeper's hammer and ringing the bell.

The rest period between rounds, which should last one minute, also lasted about 90 seconds. In the third round, with Coggi still visibly hurt, Gonzalez landed 25 unanswered blows before the referee again intervened to give him time to recover. The timekeeper rang the bell to end the round 27 seconds early. In round five, Gonzalez knocked Coggi down, which was ruled a slip by the referee. Coggi began to recuperate and eventually knocked Gonzalez out in the seventh round.[2]

Due to the controversy, the WBA ordered an immediate rematch, this time to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on 18 March 1994, which marked Coggi's American debut. Referee Isidro Rodriguez was banned from boxing for life by the WBA. Coggi knocked Gonzalez out in three rounds, retaining the title.

Bouts with Frankie Randall[edit]

On 17 September 1994, he began a series of three bouts with former Chávez-conqueror Frankie Randall, who relieved Coggi of the title by beating him by a twelve-round unanimous decision. Coggi suffered three knockdowns during the fight.

Coggi had two more wins, then he faced Randall for the second time. Coggi became champion for the third time on 13 January 1996, when he beat Randall by a fifth round technical decision. Randall was controlling the fight when he went down when his feet became tangled with Coggi in the third round. Because Coggi landed a glancing blow as Randall went down, Coggi was credited with a knockdown by the referee. In the fifth round, the two fighters clashed heads and Coggi walked to his corner and lay down. The referee tried to convince Coggi to fight but he was either unwilling or unable to do so. The ringside physician later said that Coggi was coherent and when Coggi was examined at a hospital after the fight, he was given a clean bill of health. The fight went to the scorecards and Coggi was ahead on all judges' cards by one point (due to the knockdown called against Randall in the third round).[3]

The third fight between Coggi and Randall came on 16 August, at Buenos Aires. Coggi suffered a knockdown in the second round, which would prove to be pivotal in the end, as Randall pulled a unanimous but close decision to recover the title.

Post-championship career[edit]

The rest of his career, Coggi fought second level opposition, posting five wins in a row, three by knockout, before facing another well known fighter. In Coggi's last fight, contended on 29 May 1999, he lost a twelve-round unanimous decision to Michele Piccirillo in Italy.

Retirement[edit]

Coggi is now a boxing trainer. His son, Martin Antonio Coggi, is a professional boxer.

Coggi was one of Raúl Alfonsín's favorite boxers: in a rare opportunity for a boxer, President Alfonsín invited Coggi to his presidential home after Coggi became world champion for the first time.

Professional boxing record[edit]

82 fights 75 wins 5 losses
By knockout 44 0
By decision 31 5
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
82 Loss 75–5–2 Michele Piccirillo UD 12 1999-05-29 Bari, Italy For WBU Welterweight title
81 Win 75–4–2 Dezi Ford UD 10 1998-05-29 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
80 Win 74–4–2 Silvio Rojas PTS 8 1998-03-21 Club Acción, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Chaco, Argentina
79 Win 73–4–2 Santiago Ahumada RTD 1 (10) 1998-02-21 Estadio Polideportivo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
78 Win 72–4–2 Agustin Gurrola KO 4 (10) 1997-09-06 Centro de Educacion Física, Ranchos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
77 Win 71–4–2 Alberto Zuluaga KO 2 (10) 1996-12-14 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
76 Loss 70–4–2 Frankie Randall UD 12 1996-08-16 Sociedad Alemana de Gimnasia de Villa Ballester, Jose Leon Suarez, Argentina Lost WBA Light Welterweight title
75 Win 70–3–2 Frankie Randall TD 5 (12) 1996-01-13 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. Won WBA Light Welterweight title
74 Win 69–3–2 Hiroyuki Sakamoto UD 10 1995-05-06 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
73 Win 68–3–2 Ildemar Jose Paisan UD 10 1995-04-08 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
72 Loss 67–3–2 Frankie Randall UD 12 1994-09-17 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Lost WBA Light Welterweight title
71 Win 67–2–2 Mario Morales KO 3 (10) 1993-04-17 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
70 Win 66–2–2 Eder Gonzalez TKO 3 (12) 1994-03-18 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
69 Win 65–2–2 Eder Gonzalez TKO 7 (12) 1993-12-17 Club Defensores de Villa Luján, San Miguel, Tucumán, Argentina Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
68 Win 64–2–2 Guillermo Cruz TKO 10 (12) 1993-09-24 Club Defensores de Villa Luján, San Miguel, Tucumán, Argentina Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
67 Win 63–2–2 Jose Rafael Barboza UD 12 1993-08-13 Club Atlético Lanús, Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
66 Win 62–2–2 Hiroyuki Yoshino TKO 5 (12) 1993-06-23 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
65 Win 61–2–2 José Antonio Rivera TKO 7 (12) 1993-04-10 Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
64 Win 60–2–2 Domingo Martínez KO 3 1993-02-22 Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
63 Win 59–2–2 Morris East TKO 8 (12) 1993-01-12 Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina Won WBA Light Welterweight title
62 Win 58–2–2 Juan Alberto Contreras KO 8 (10) 1992-09-11 Bella Vista, Buenos Aires, Argentina
61 Win 57–2–2 Eduardo Jaquez KO 6 1992-08-14 Buenos Aires, Argentina
60 Win 56–2–2 Francisco Bobadilla PTS 10 1992-05-02 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
59 Win 55–2–2 Julián Rodriguez KO 3 (10) 1992-04-03 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
58 Win 54–2–2 Joseph Alexander PTS 10 1991-11-17 Carpentras, France
57 Win 53–2–2 Juan Alberto Contreras KO 10 1991-09-06 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
56 Win 52–2–2 Fernando Segura KO 7 1991-07-27 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
55 Win 51–2–2 Francisco Cuesta PTS 10 1991-06-29 Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
54 Win 50–2–2 Ricardo Espinosa KO 5 (10) 1991-04-13 San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina
53 Win 49–2–2 Dwayne Swift PTS 8 1991-03-07 Palacio de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
52 Win 48–2–2 Nestor Gil PTS 10 1990-12-21 Cañuelas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
51 Win 47–2–2 Alberto Alcaraz TKO 7 (10) 1990-12-01 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
50 Win 46–2–2 Jorge Tejada PTS 10 1990-11-10 Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina
49 Loss 45–2–2 Loreto Garza MD 12 1990-04-23 Palais des Congrès Acropolis, Nice, France Lost WBA Light Welterweight title
48 Win 45–1–2 Danilo Cabrera KO 5 1990-04-23 Nogent-sur-Marne, France
47 Win 44–1–2 José Luis Ramírez UD 12 1990-03-24 Ajaccio, France Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
46 Win 43–1–2 Jesse Williams KO 4 (8) 1989-12-30 Amiens, France
45 Win 42–1–2 Antonio Ojeda PTS 10 1989-10-14 Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina
44 Win 41–1–2 Omar Alegre TKO 9 (10) 1989-09-22 Córdoba, Argentina
43 Win 40–1–2 Akinobu Hiranaka UD 12 1989-04-29 Palazzo Dello Sport, Vasto, Italy Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
42 Win 39–1–2 Raul Bianco KO 2 (10) 1989-02-25 Villa Carlos Paz, Cordoba, Argentina
41 Win 38–1–2 Harold Brazier UD 12 1989-01-21 Palazzo Dello Sport, Vasto, Italy Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
40 Win 37–1–2 Jorge Tejada PTS 10 1988-12-02 Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
39 Win 36–1–2 Jorge Tejada PTS 10 1988-10-14 Guernica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
38 Win 35–1–2 Osvaldo Maldonado KO 6 (10) 1988-08-12 Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
37 Win 34–1–2 Lee Sang-Ho KO 2 (12) 1988-05-07 Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
36 Win 33–1–2 Mario Araya KO 6 (10) 1988-02-19 Catamarca, Argentina
35 Win 32–1–2 Patrizio Oliva KO 3 (15) 1987-07-04 Palazzo Dello Sport, Ribera, Italy Won WBA Light Welterweight title
34 Win 31–1–2 José Magarino KO 5 (10) 1987-04-04 General Roca, Rio Negro, Argentina
33 Win 30–1–2 Hugo Hernandez KO 3 (12) 1986-10-25 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina Won Argentina Light Welterweight Title
32 Draw 29–1–2 Ramon Collado PTS 10 1986-07-19 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
31 Win 29–1–1 Jose Luis Saldivia KO 2 (10) 1986-06-14 Santa Maria, Cordoba, Argentina
30 Win 28–1–1 Edecio Molina Ortiz PTS 10 1986-04-05 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
29 Win 27–1–1 Sergio Brites KO 5 (10) 1986-03-07 Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
28 Win 26–1–1 Ruben Verdun TD 7 (10) 1985-10-26 Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
27 Win 25–1–1 Oscar Sosa RTD 7 (10) 1985-08-31 Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
26 Win 24–1–1 Miguel Angel Pereyra TKO 8 (10) 1985-08-03 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
25 Draw 23–1–1 Ramon Collado PTS 10 1985-06-20 Las Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina
24 Win 23–1 Ramon Jara TKO 7 (10) 1985-05-11 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
23 Loss 22–1 Adolfo Omar Arce Rossi PTS 10 1985-03-09 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
22 Win 22–0 Miguel Angel Pereyra PTS 10 1985-02-22 Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
21 Win 21–0 Marcelo Villagra PTS 10 1984-11-11 San Juan, Argentina
20 Win 20–0 Ramon Collado PTS 10 1984-09-01 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
19 Win 19–0 Pedro Gutierrez KO 1 (10) 1984-08-10 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
18 Win 18–0 Ricardo Espinosa TKO 2 (10) 1984-06-23 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
17 Win 17–0 Ricardo Espinosa PTS 10 1984-03-09 Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
16 Win 16–0 Marcelo Villagra PTS 10 1984-02-10 Las Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina
15 Win 15–0 Romulo Ibarra PTS 10 1983-12-23 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
14 Win 14–0 Anibal Ozuna KO 2 (10) 1983-12-07 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
13 Win 13–0 Apolinario Romero PTS 10 1983-11-09 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
12 Win 12–0 Anibal Ozuna PTS 10 1983-10-14 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
11 Win 11–0 Sergio Brites KO 2 (10) 1983-06-15 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
10 Win 10–0 Apolinario Romero PTS 10 1983-05-18 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
9 Win 9–0 Carlos Fallone KO 7 (10) 1983-04-08 José C. Paz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
8 Win 8–0 Osvaldo Colros KO 1 (10) 1983-02-11 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
7 Win 7–0 Norberto Ramirez PTS 8 1982-12-10 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
6 Win 6–0 Carlos Fallone KO 7 (8) 1982-11-12 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
5 Win 5–0 Rogelio Florentin KO 2 (6) 1982-10-27 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
4 Win 4–0 Felipe Baez TKO 4 (10) 1982-09-10 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3 Win 3–0 Raul Gramasco KO 2 (6) 1982-06-11 Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2 Win 2–0 Viterman Sanchez PTS 6 1982-05-07 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1 Win 1–0 Horacio Valdez KO 4 (6) 1982-04-02 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Challenger Juan Martin Coggi of Argentina knocked out champion..." United Press International. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. ^ "Money, shit, and the left hand of god – the tale of Coggi vs. Gonzalez". The Ring. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ^ "COGGI AWARDED TITLE ON ILLEGAL HEAD BUTT". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-03-03.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Hugo Ariel Hernandez
Argentina Light Welterweight Champion
25 October 1986 – 4 July 1987
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Hugo Ariel Hernandez
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA light welterweight champion
4 July 1987 – 17 August 1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBA light welterweight champion
12 January 1993 – 17 September 1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Frankie Randall
WBA light welterweight champion
13 January 1996 – 16 August 1996