Valerio Nati


Valerio Nati is a former Italian professional boxer. He was the World Boxing Organization's world Super Bantamweight champion.

Professional career

Nati turned professional in 1978 under the management of Giorgio Bonetti. He won the Italian bantamweight title from Giuseppe Fossati in his 11th fight in 1979, and the vacant European Bantamweight title in a bout against Juan Francisco Rodríguez the following year.
Between 1981 and 1982, Nati defended his title five times in matches against Vicente Rodriguez, John Feeney, Jean-Jacques Souris, Luis De La Sagra, and Esteban Eguia. However, he struggled to get down to 118 lbs. for his fight with Fossati in 1982 and lost the title to his rival. A rematch with Fossati the following year was fought to a draw.
In 1983, Nati lost two matches for the European Boxing Union Featherweight title. The following year, Bonetti retired and Nati chose Umberto Branchini as his new manager. Between 1984 and 1987 Nati racked up 14 consecutive victories to get another shot at the European Featherweight title, which he won against Marc Amand in two rounds. After six more victories, he had a World Boxing Council Super Bantamweight title opportunity against Daniel Zaragoza, but was knocked out in the 5th round. He rebounded from the loss, challenging World Boxing Organization Super Bantamweight champion Kenny Mitchell and winning by disqualification. Nati lost in his first defense of the WBO title to Puerto Rican Orlando Fernandez, and eventually retired in 1991. From 2012 to 2014 he was a part of the World Series of Boxing Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder team that won the 2011–2012 World Championship in London.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
55WinEsteban Perez QuinonesTKO4 1991-08-17Boville Ernica, Italy
54Loss45–5–4Orlando FernandezTKO10 1990-05-12Palasport Roberta Serradimigni, Sassari, ItalyLost WBO super-bantamweight title
53Win45–4–4Kenny MitchellDQ4 1989-12-09Teramo, ItalyWon WBO super-bantamweight title
52Win44–4–4Ignacio MartinezTKO2 1989-09-29Forlì, Italy
51Win43–4–4Dean LynchTKO6 1989-05-12Lodi, Italy
50Loss42–4–4Daniel ZaragozaKO5 1988-11-26Palazzo dello sport, Forlì, ItalyFor WBC super-bantamweight title
49Win42–3–4Jose GallegosTKO5 1988-06-04Cagliari, Italy
48Win41–3–4Ricky WestKO2 1988-02-27Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
47Win40–3–4Jose HernandezTKO1 1987-11-22Trezzano sul Naviglio, Italy
46Win39–3–4Vincenzo LimatolaDQ7 1987-07-24Silvi, ItalyRetained European featherweight title
45Win38–3–4Carlos SeguraKO1 1987-05-22Jesi, Italy
44Win37–3–4Marc AmandTKO2 1987-03-13Forlì, ItalyWon vacant European featherweight title
43Win36–3–4Chris DiazTKO7 1986-10-10Carisport, Cesena, Italy
42Win35–3–4Sonny LongPTS8 1986-06-20Paris, France
41Win34–3–4John FarrellPTS8 1986-04-26Palazzo Dello Sport, Lucca, Italy
40Win33–3–4Steve CleakTKO4 1986-02-14Milan, Italy
39Win32–3–4Danny LeeTKO2 1985-12-26Modena, Italy
38Win31–3–4Rubén Darío PalacioPTS10 1985-10-12Carisport, Cesena, Italy
37Win30–3–4Luis de la SagraTKO3 1985-07-09Forlì, Italy
36Win29–3–4Billy HardyTKO4 1985-06-07Scandicci, Italy
35Win28–3–4Julio GarciaKO1 1985-04-12Forlì, Italy
34Win27–3–4Ley Umba SengiPTS8 1985-03-01Forlì, Italy
33Win26–3–4Maurizio LupinoPTS8 1984-10-06Carrara, Italy
32Win25–3–4Manuel SantosPTS8 1984-07-02Milan, Italy
31Win24–3–4Orlando MaldonadoTKO5 1984-05-26Mets Pavilion, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
30Win23–3–4Vicente FernandezTKO5 1984-04-13Milan, Italy
29Loss22–3–4Barry McGuiganKO6 1983-11-16King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.For vacant European featherweight title
28Loss22–2–4Loris SteccaPTS12 1983-08-05Camaiore, ItalyFor European featherweight title
27Draw22–1–4Richard SakaPTS8 1983-06-03Portoferraio, Italy
26Draw22–1–3Giuseppe FossatiPTS12 1983-02-24Bologna, ItalyFor European bantamweight title
25Win22–1–2Mariano GarcíaTKO1 1983-01-05Ischia, Italy
24Draw21–1–2Richard SakaPTS8 1982-11-10Sassari, Italy
23Loss21–1–1Giuseppe FossatiPTS12 1982-04-28Lignano Sabbiadoro, ItalyLost European bantamweight title
22Win21–0–1Esteban EguíaTKO5 1982-01-27Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole, ItalyRetained European bantamweight title
21Win20–0–1Luis de la SagraPTS12 1981-11-19Campobello di Mazara, ItalyRetained European bantamweight title
20Win19–0–1Jean Jacques SourisTKO2 1981-09-02Stintino, ItalyRetained European bantamweight title
19Win18–0–1John FeeneyPTS12 1981-06-17Cervia, ItalyRetained European bantamweight title
18Win17–0–1Vicente RodriguezKO5 1981-04-01Rome, ItalyRetained European bantamweight title
17Win16–0–1Dominique CesariPTS8 1981-02-14Sassari, Italy
16Win15–0–1Juan Francisco RodríguezPTS12 1980-12-03Forlì, ItalyWon vacant European bantamweight title
15Win14–0–1Antonio Luis FrancaTKO5 1980-08-06Silvi, Italy
14Win13–0–1Josias MelquiadesPTS8 1980-05-31Sassari, Italy
13Win12–0–1Franco BuglioneTKO3 1980-04-24Forlì, ItalyRetained Italian bantamweight title
12Win11–0–1Claudio TandaKO1 1980-03-15Forlì, Italy
11Win10–0–1Giuseppe FossatiUD12 1979-11-30Forlì, ItalyWon Italian bantamweight title
10Draw9–0–1Heleno FerreiraPTS8 1979-10-11Faenza, Italy
9Win9–0Luigi TessarinPTS8 1979-06-08Ravenna, Italy
8Win8–0Abdelkader EsmainPTS8 1979-04-14Forlì, Italy
7Win7–0Nessim ZebeliniPTS8 1978-12-26PalaDozza, Bologna, Italy
6Win6–0Salvatore LaconiTKO3 1978-11-03Forlì, Italy
5Win5–0Giulio GrecoKO5 1978-10-21Palazzo Dello Sport, Pesaro, Italy
4Win4–0Domenico PalumboTKO3 1978-07-19Municipal Stadium, Bellaria – Igea Marina, Italy
3Win3–0Antonio Luis FrancaTKO4 1978-07-06Lugo, Italy
2Win2–0Luigi ParavatiTKO2 1978-05-19Forlì, Italy
1Win1–0Domenico PalumboPTS6 1978-04-07Faenza, Italy