Gogea Mitu
| Gogea Mitu | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) |
Giant of Mârşani Goliath of Romania |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 2.36 m (7.7 ft) |
| Nationality |
 Romanian |
| Born |
July 14, 1914 Mârșani, Romania |
| Died | June 22, 1936 (aged 21) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 11 |
| Wins | 8 |
| Wins by KO | 8 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 5 |
Gogea Mitu (b. Gogu Ştefănescu - Dumitru Goagă on July 14, 1914 in Mârșani – died June 22, 1936 in Bucharest) was a Romanian boxer and the tallest Romanian in history (followed by Ghiţă Mureşan). Gogea Mitu is also listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest professional boxer.[1]
Biography
He was born in Mârșani, near Craiova in 1914, the first of eleven children, his mother being only 16[2] when she delivered him. Mitu became world famous because of his enormous stature, at the age of 20 he was 2.42 metres (7.9 ft) tall, had a weight of 183 kilograms (403 lb) and had a foot size of 38 centimetres (15 in).[2] Because of these characteristics he was very sought after by doctors and scientists who wanted to know the reason for his gigantism and by people who wanted to profit from his stature. It was said that he was highly intelligent; despite not going to school, he learned to read by himself at the age of three, as he had the stature of a five — six year old child.[2] By age 17 he had become so famous that a circus owner from Prague offered him a job, to be presented as a human rarity.[2] He also presented shows at the Globus Circus in Monaco. His circus career was brief, but very fortuitous, because he was spotted by the successful Italian boxer and talent scout Umberto Lancia, who taught Mitu how to box and later became his manager.[2] Gogea Mitu went to Paris to attend the famous Paris School for Boxing and after graduating he started his boxing career. He also had a brother named Tudorel, who had the same gigantism as Gogea, but he died at the age of seven or 21 when he was 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) tall.[3]
Gogea Mitu had a back width of 1.05 metres (3.4 ft) and for lunch he used to consume 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of bread, 25 eggs, 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of fried chicken, two litres of milk, 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of sweets, a litre of ţuică and half a litre of wine.[4] His suits were made out of 7.5 metres (25 ft) of fabric and his bed was 3.5 metres (11 ft) long and 2 metres (6.6 ft) wide.
Boxing career
His first boxing match took place on the Venus Stadium in Bucharest and his opponent was the experienced Italian boxer Severio Gizzo. Mitu won by knockout in round five.[2] His second fight was against former Romanian heavyweight champion Dumitru Pavelescu, which Mitu won again by knockout in the first round. The only losses in his fighting career were against the former world champion Primo Carnera and the American boxer George Godfrey. After these matches his manager Umberto Lancia directed him to more important tournaments in Europe (in Prague and Paris) where Mitu fought the German—French boxer Bergman and the fight ended in a draw. This was Mitu's last fight as a professional boxer.[2]
Professional record
| 8 Wins (8 knockouts), 2 Losses, 1 Draws, 5 No contests | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Draw | 2-1-1 1 NC |
 Bergman |
PTS | 6 (6) | 1936-01-02 |  Paris |
|
| NC | 2-1 1 NC |
 Giuseppe Sanga |
NC | 2 | 1935-12-13 | Palais des Sports, Paris |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2-1 | Dumitru Pavelescu |
KO | 1 (10) | 1935-10-27 | Gibb Hall, Bucharest |
A couple of punches to the head and Pavelescu is KO. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 1-1 |  George Godfrey |
KO | 4 (?) | 1935-06-?? | Bucharest |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1-0 | Saverio Grizzo |
KO | 1 (6) | 1935-06-07 | Stadionul Venus, Bucharest |
Grizzo was on floor twice for a 9 count, the 3rd time he was KO. |
Death
Returning from Istanbul to Bucharest by train, he caught a cold and his manager suggested that before going home to Mârșani, he should remain in Bucharest for a few days to get better, but his condition got so bad that he was taken to Filantropia Hospital, where he eventually died by tuberculosis in 1936.[2]
References
- ↑ Donald McFarlan, David A. Boeh, Norris Dewar McWhirter (1990). Guinness Book of World Records 1990 (28 ed.). Sterling. p. 464. ISBN 9780806957906. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "GIGANTUL ROMÂNIEI". Venera Dumitrescu-Staia (in romanian). Agero magazine. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
- ↑ "Morti misterioase. Un urias cu pumni de otel : Gogea Mitu". Livia Ileana Baja (in romanian). Pagini romanesti. 2009-01-30.
- ↑ "Cine a fost Gogea Mitu?" (in romanian). editie.ro. 2005-04-11. Retrieved 2009-01-30.