Franz Dorfer was born to a family of farmers, but learned to become a cheesemaker after school. After his military service in St. Pölten, he studied to become a gendarme in Mödling. Working in Vösendorf, next to Vienna, he become a member of the boxing club BC Schwarz Weiß in Vienna in 1972. Only one year later he won his first of four consecutive Austrian championship titles in light-middleweight. In the same four years (1973-76) he was also champion of Vienna. At the 1975 European championships he won the bronze medal after he won against Kalevi Kosunen and Ilya Ilyev (BUL), but lost in the semi-final against Wiesław Rudkowski, who later became champion. Up to 2012 this is the last medal won by any Austrian boxer at European championships. The following year Dorfer lost in the first round at the Olympics and turned professional after the Games. He fought 36 bouts (23 wins – 11 losses – 2 draws) between 1977 and 1986. Two of his 19 KO-wins came against Edip Secevic who later became WAA world champion. Dorfer, who was married and a father of two daughters, died at the beginning of 2012 only 61-years-old after a long illness.
Austria