Luigi Musina: A Look Back at a Tough as Nails Boxer

By Luca “Mamaluke” Balossino

Luigi Musina was born in Gorizia during WW1, north of Italy, close by the border of Slovenia, on December 18, 1914. Musina was the man that retired the man who attempted a comeback after WW2, not only once but 3 times. The man that I am talking about was once the Heavyweight Champion of the world: Primo Carnera. As a boxer, Luigi was a light heavyweight for most of his career. Before turning pro in 1940, he twice won the Gold Medal (equivalent of golden gloves in America) of the European Amateur Boxing Championships in 1937 in Milan and 1939 in Dublin.
His professional record was 37-10-5, 3 KO’s.

His professional debut was on April 27, 1940 Vs Primo Bassi in Milan, where he won by TKO in round 4. He became the Italian heavyweight champion less than two years into his professional boxing career by beating Merlo Preciso via a 3 round KO. he would win it 2 more times in 4 more attempts as a heavyweight and 2 times as a light heavyweight champion during 1943 until 1946. One of his highlights of his boxing career was when he won the Vacant European Light heavyweight title against the German light heavyweight Champion Richard Vogt on April 1942 in Berlin, Germany.

Luigi was considered a handsome man among celebrities from that era. The actress Lana Turner described him as ´´the most beautiful statue of the Italian collection´´. He became locally famous during his boxing time, not only for his looks and boxing skills, but also thanks to his charisma and finesse with all the boxing journalists. During his boxing times he was a wealthy man, married to a rich woman from Milan and two kids. Unfortunately his name was completely forgotten after retirement, gambling was his weakness and he lost most of his fortune at the green tables in the Casino of San Remo.

The trilogy against Primo Carnera…

Musina was the only man who beat former World heavyweight Champion Primo Carnera 3 times in a row. Primo was attempting a comeback after a 7 1/2 year layoff. Prior to his fights Vs Musina, Carnera had 2 straight wins in a row via KO in 1945.

The first fight between Luigi Musina and Primo Carnera ended by TKO in round 7. Feeling disappointed, Carnera wanted to prove to himself that the fight with Musina was a fluke and attempted a rematch 4 months after their first encounter. Losing by points this time in a 8 round bout, Carnera felt he could still beat at least one time Musina.

On May 12, 1946 Carnera attempted his revenge in Luigi´s hometown, in front of a crowd of 20,000, losing by UD and retiring for good. Luigi Musina is definitely an unknown worldwide boxer, but a true legend in Italian boxing history.

Which leaves me to the million dollar question of: WHAT IF Lugi Musina had a better manager or promoter, like Primo Carnera had? He could’ve had been something else… or not? We will never know 100% but it does makes you wonder.

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