By Per Ake Persson

One of the best trainers in Italian boxing, Ottavio Tazzi, has passed away at the age of 84. Tazzi, born 1928, got into boxing as a kid but his own career derailed by World War II. Instead Tazzi began training fighters and over the years worked with the likes of Guido and Sandro Mazzinghi, Duilio Loi, Sandro Lopopolo and Italo Scortchini - all training at the famed Doria Gym in Milano.

Tazzi was also with the excellent Totip team headed by top promoter Umberto Branchini. Tazzi was the head coach and trained over the years the likes of Loris and Maurizio Stecca, Francesco Damiani, Valerio Nati, Vincenczo Nardiello, Miguel Cuello, Lorenzo Zanon, Rocky Mattioli, Kamel Bou Ali and Giacobbe Fragomeni and produced seven world champions. In 2005 Tazzi retired but remained close to boxing.

Special thanks to Michele Schiavone.