Thomas Americo
Thomas Americo | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 24, 1958 |
| Died | November 7, 1999 (aged 40) |
| Occupation | Boxer |
Thomas Americo (December 24, 1958 – September 7, 1999) was an East Timorese professional boxer. Americo won the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation's Super Lightweight title in only his second recorded professional fight, and in only his third fight, he became the first Indonesian (at the time, East Timor had not gained independence from Indonesia) fighter to challenge for a world title, when he fought World Boxing Council Super Lightweight (Junior Welterweight) champion of the world, Saoul Mamby. In becoming the first Indonesian to fight for a world title, Americo became also the first boxer from East Timor to do so.[1]
Professional boxing career
Thomas Americo began boxing professionally on April 19, 1980, taking on the far more experienced, Australian Eddie Buttoms, who had 60 wins, 13 losses and 7 draws (ties) but who was nearing the end of his own boxing career. This fight took place in
World Title challenge
Next, Americo challenged the world traveling, WBC world Super Lightweight champion Saoul Mamby. Mamby had fought in
Rest of career
Next, Americo faced another world-caliber fighter, former WBC world Super-Lightweight Champion, South Korean
Thomas Americo next faced a list of mostly unremarkable foes, with a combined record of 28-19-4 before retiring from boxing. The possible exception was Rocky Pirottina, who was 16-3-2 when he and Americo faced off on April 4, 1984, and who defeated Americo on points after ten rounds. During this part of his career, Americo went 4-3-1 with 1 knockout, this being against 0-1 Agus Sabara on October 6, 1986, dispatched by Americo in five rounds.
In his last fight, on June 29, 1987, Americo fought Bongguk Kendy for the Indonesian national Super-Lightweight title; Kendy was 2-1 coming in. Americo lost the bout by twelve round decision, retiring from boxing soon after.
He had a professional boxing record of 8 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, with 3 knockout wins.
Death
During the last days of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, which lasted from 1975 to 1999, acts of violence happened in the streets of Dili, Americo's hometown. Americo was a victim of one of these, being dragged from his car and shot dead by militia on September 7, 1999, shortly before East Timor gained its independence.[1]