In the dead of night near the Mustang brothel in Nevada, a shot rang out. Frightened visitors to the establishment immediately called the police. Arriving outfit found the famous boxer Oscar Bonavena lying in the blood. Sport tells the story of a favorite of all Argentina, whose funeral was attended by 150,000 people.
Bonavena loved money. Therefore, at some point he decided that he should earn more. Oscar abandoned promoters and turned to the mafia. The Conforte family agreed to beat out fat contracts for the fighter. Bonavena's career went uphill, he began to receive more status rivals.
The duel with Muhammad Ali in 1970 became special. The boxers fought 15 rounds and only in the last one did the legendary American manage to break the Argentinean. Oscar was knocked down three times. Ali won by technical knockout.
src=»/wp-content/uploads/fa5f4453d2a56eed809f72f8f767bb40.jpg» />
Oscar fought for the championship title several times, but he was constantly on the verge of victory. Bonavena even competed in the Candidates Tournament after being stripped of Ali's belt. The boxing legend was then punished for boycotting the draft into the US Army. However, here, in the decisive duel, the Argentine lost. career Oscar was no longer considered a contender for titles. Bonavena did not officially announce his retirement from the sport. However, he understood that the «sunset» was inevitably approaching. The boxer was afraid of this moment for very good reasons.
Bonavena's contract with the Conforte couple meant that Joe and Sally help him only during his career. Completion meant the complete cessation of funding. However, Oscar is already accustomed to a luxurious life. Then a terribly risky plan arose in his head.
Betrayed by a patron
To stay with the money, Oscar decided to recapture Sally from Joe. Needless to say, the destruction of the mafia family is not the smartest decision? Surprisingly, the boxer managed to realize his plan. He was not even embarrassed by the age difference. Sally was 25 years older than Bonavena!At first, they managed to hide the relationship from Joe. When Oscar finally grew bolder, he came with Sally to a social event and introduced her as a lover. Of course, Joe could not forgive such a betrayal.
«
"My biggest mistake in life is related to Bonavena. When we first met, we went to my house, although we could have gone to any bar or restaurant. That's where he met Sally,» Joe recalled.
Oscar was shot at the entrance to the Mustang on May 22, 1976. The bodyguard Rossi Brymer became the performer, who hit the boxer right in the heart with the first shot. Bonavena died before the ambulance arrived, he was only 33 years old.
Joe Conforte was an incredibly powerful man in Nevada. Many courts and corrupt policemen obeyed him. Therefore, the customer managed to avoid prison. Only Brymer, who pulled the trigger, was charged. The bodyguard assured the court that he was not going to shoot, but only wanted to scare. Of course, Joe was not without influence. The bodyguard was sentenced to 15 years for negligent murder, but was released three years later for exemplary behavior.
Despite the betrayal, the affair did not separate the Conforte family. After the murder of the boxer, they did not part, continuing to do business together. In 1980, they were accused of tax evasion, after which Joe and Sally had to flee to Brazil. Most of the property and finances of the couple were arrested. They even declared themselves bankrupt.
Bonavena's body after death was taken from the USA to Argentina. 150 thousand people came to say goodbye to the idol at the Luna Park stadium in Buenos Aires. He was buried in the cemetery of La Chacarita. Also, near the arena, where Oscar started boxing, a commemorative statue was erected.