Pertti Ilmari Purhonen (14 June 1942 – 5 February 2011) was a Finnish boxer who won a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics. Domestically he collected nine consecutive Finnish titles in lightweight (1960–61), light-welterweight (1962) and welterweight divisions (1963–68); he was also a Nordic champion in 1961, 1963 and 1967. In 1969 he turned professional, but retired the same year after winning his both bouts, one by knockout.[1] He then founded a non-profit organization Kriisipalveluyhdistys (Crisis Service) that trains workers how to behave in crisis situations.[2] During his last six years Purhonen suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He died in 2011, aged 68, three years after being inducted into the Finnish Boxing Hall of Fame.[3][4] He was buried in the Malmi Cemetery.
Personal information | ||||||||||||
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Born | 14 June 1942 Helsinki, Finland | |||||||||||
Died | 5 February 2011 (aged 68) Porvoo, Finland | |||||||||||
Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||
Weight | 60–70 kg (132–154 lb) | |||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||
Sport | Boxing | |||||||||||
Medal record
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References
edit- ^ Boxing record for Pertti Purhonen from BoxRec (registration required)
- ^ Siukonen, Markku (2001) Urheilukunniamme puolustajat – Suomen olympiaedustajat 1906–2000, pp. 257–58. Graface Jyväskylä. ISBN 951-98673-1-7
- ^ Pertti Purhonen. sports-reference.com
- ^ Olympiamitalisti Pertti "Purtsi" Purhonen on poissa. iltalehti.fi (6 February 2011)