Martín Coggi


Juan Martin Coggi is a former boxer from Argentina. A native of Santa Fe 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

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

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.
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

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.
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

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.
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

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

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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
82LossMichele PiccirilloUD121999-05-29Bari, ItalyFor WBU Welterweight title
81Win75–4–2Dezi FordUD101998-05-29Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
80Win74–4–2Silvio RojasPTS81998-03-21Club Acción, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Chaco, Argentina
79Win73–4–2Santiago AhumadaRTD1 1998-02-21Estadio Polideportivo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
78Win72–4–2Agustin GurrolaKO4 1997-09-06Centro de Educacion Física, Ranchos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
77Win71–4–2Alberto ZuluagaKO2 1996-12-14Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
76Loss70–4–2Frankie RandallUD121996-08-16Sociedad Alemana de Gimnasia de Villa Ballester, Jose Leon Suarez, ArgentinaLost WBA Light Welterweight title
75Win70–3–2Frankie RandallTD5 1996-01-13Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won WBA Light Welterweight title
74Win69–3–2Hiroyuki SakamotoUD101995-05-06Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
73Win68–3–2Ildemar Jose PaisanUD101995-04-08Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
72Loss67–3–2Frankie RandallUD1217 Sep 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA Light Welterweight title
71Win67–2–2Mario MoralesKO3 1994-04-17Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
70Win66–2–2Eder GonzalezTKO3 1994-03-18MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA Light Welterweight title
69Win65–2–2Eder GonzalezTKO7 1993-12-17Club Defensores de Villa Luján, San Miguel, Tucumán, ArgentinaRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
68Win64–2–2Guillermo CruzTKO10 1993-09-24Club Defensores de Villa Luján, San Miguel, Tucumán, ArgentinaRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
67Win63–2–2Jose Rafael BarbozaUD121993-08-13Club Atlético Lanús, Lanús, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
66Win62–2–2Hiroyuki YoshinoTKO5 1993-06-23Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
65Win61–2–2José Antonio RiveraTKO7 1993-04-10Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
64Win60–2–2Domingo MartínezKO31993-02-22Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
63Win59–2–2Morris EastTKO8 1993-01-12Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon WBA Light Welterweight title
62Win58–2–2Juan Alberto ContrerasKO8 1992-09-11Bella Vista, Buenos Aires, Argentina
61Win57–2–2Eduardo JaquezKO61992-08-14Buenos Aires, Argentina
60Win56–2–2Francisco BobadillaPTS101992-05-02Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
59Win55–2–2Julián RodriguezKO3 1992-04-03La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
58Win54–2–2Joseph AlexanderPTS101991-11-17Carpentras, France
57Win53–2–2Juan Alberto ContrerasKO101991-09-06Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
56Win52–2–2Fernando SeguraKO71991-07-27Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
55Win51–2–2Francisco CuestaPTS101991-06-29Estudios Canal 9 TV, Buenos Aires, Argentina
54Win50–2–2Ricardo EspinosaKO5 1991-04-13San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina
53Win49–2–2Dwayne SwiftPTS81991-03-07Palacio de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
52Win48–2–2Nestor GilPTS101990-12-21Cañuelas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
51Win47–2–2Alberto AlcarazTKO7 1990-12-01ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
50Win46–2–2Jorge TejadaPTS101990-11-10Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina
49Loss45–2–2Loreto GarzaMD121990-04-23Palais des Congrès Acropolis, Nice, FranceLost WBA Light Welterweight title
48Win45–1–2Danilo CabreraKO51990-04-23Nogent-sur-Marne, France
47Win44–1–2José Luis RamírezUD121990-03-24Ajaccio, FranceRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
46Win43–1–2Jesse WilliamsKO4 1989-12-30Amiens, France
45Win42–1–2Antonio OjedaPTS101989-10-14Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina
44Win41–1–2Omar AlegreTKO9 1989-09-22Córdoba, Argentina
43Win40–1–2Akinobu HiranakaUD121989-04-29Palazzo Dello Sport, Vasto, ItalyRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
42Win39–1–2Raul BiancoKO2 1989-02-25Villa Carlos Paz, Cordoba, Argentina
41Win38–1–2Harold BrazierUD121989-01-21Palazzo Dello Sport, Vasto, ItalyRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
40Win37–1–2Jorge TejadaPTS101988-12-02Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
39Win36–1–2Jorge TejadaPTS101988-10-14Guernica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
38Win35–1–2Osvaldo MaldonadoKO6 1988-08-12Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
37Win34–1–2Lee Sang-HoKO2 1988-05-07Roseto degli Abruzzi, ItalyRetained WBA Light Welterweight title
36Win33–1–2Mario ArayaKO6 1988-02-19Catamarca, Argentina
35Win32–1–2Patrizio OlivaKO3 1987-07-04Palazzo Dello Sport, Ribera, ItalyWon WBA Light Welterweight title
34Win31–1–2José MagarinoKO5 1987-04-04General Roca, Rio Negro, Argentina
33Win30–1–2Hugo HernandezKO3 1986-10-25Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon Argentina Light Welterweight Title
32Draw29–1–2Ramon ColladoPTS101986-07-19La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
31Win29–1–1Jose Luis SaldiviaKO2 1986-06-14Santa Maria, Cordoba, Argentina
30Win28–1–1Edecio Molina OrtizPTS101986-04-05Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
29Win27–1–1Sergio BritesKO5 1986-03-07Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
28Win26–1–1Ruben VerdunTD7 1985-10-26Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
27Win25–1–1Oscar SosaRTD7 1985-08-31Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
26Win24–1–1Miguel Angel PereyraTKO8 1985-08-03Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
25Draw23–1–1Ramon ColladoPTS101985-06-20Las Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina
24Win23–1Ramon JaraTKO7 1985-05-11Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
23Loss22–1Adolfo Omar Arce RossiPTS101985-03-09Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
22Win22–0Miguel Angel PereyraPTS101985-02-22Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
21Win21–0Marcelo VillagraPTS101984-11-11San Juan, Argentina
20Win20–0Ramon ColladoPTS101984-09-01Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
19Win19–0Pedro GutierrezKO1 1984-08-10La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
18Win18–0Ricardo EspinosaTKO2 1984-06-23Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
17Win17–0Ricardo EspinosaPTS101984-03-09Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
16Win16–0Marcelo VillagraPTS101984-02-10Las Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina
15Win15–0Romulo IbarraPTS101983-12-23Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
14Win14–0Anibal OzunaKO2 1983-12-07Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
13Win13–0Apolinario RomeroPTS101983-11-09Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
12Win12–0Anibal OzunaPTS101983-10-14La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
11Win11–0Sergio BritesKO2 1983-06-15Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
10Win10–0Apolinario RomeroPTS101983-05-18Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
9Win9–0Carlos FalloneKO7 1983-04-08José C. Paz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
8Win8–0Osvaldo ColrosKO1 1983-02-11Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
7Win7–0Norberto RamirezPTS81982-12-10Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
6Win6–0Carlos FalloneKO7 1982-11-12Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
5Win5–0Rogelio FlorentinKO2 1982-10-27Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
4Win4–0Felipe BaezTKO4 1982-09-10Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3Win3–0Raul GramascoKO2 1982-06-11Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2Win2–0Viterman SanchezPTS61982-05-07La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1Win1–0Horacio ValdezKO4 1982-04-02La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina