An Italian 1959 amateur featherweight champion and 1960 amateur lightweight champion, Sandro Lopopolo was considered as a hometown favorite for the lightweight Olympic title in 1960 at Rome. At the Olympics, after four easy wins in the early rounds, Lopopolo defeated the Argentine Abel Laudonio by split decision in the semifinals to face Pole Kazimierz Paździor in the final. But the experienced Pole dominated the final and won the gold medal by a majority decision. Lopopolo turned professional in early 1961 and had a long and successful professional career. Fighting in the light-welterweight category most of his professional career, Lopopolo won the Italian light-welterweight titles in 1963 and 1965 and held the World light-welterweight title from April 1966 to April 1967. Lopopolo also fought for the European light-welterweight title in 1970 and 1972 and European welterweight title in 1972, but did not win. Lopopolo finished his professional career in 1973 with a record of 58 wins (KO 20), 10 losses and 7 draws.
Italy