Paolo Roberto

Last updated
Paolo Roberto
Paolo Roberto in August 2013.jpg
Born
Paolo Antonio Roberto

(1969-02-03) 3 February 1969 (age 55)
Stockholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
Statistics
Weight(s) Welterweight
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins28
Wins by KO13
Losses4
Draws1
No contests0

Paolo Roberto (born 3 February 1969) is a Swedish actor, television presenter, restauranteur and ex-boxer of partial Italian descent. During his boxing career he held several titles. He has starred in several movies and hosted several television programs, including as host of the cooking show Primo Paolo. His acting debut was in Stockholmsnatt, where he starred himself in a dramatization of his early life.

Contents

Boxing career

Roberto was born in Upplands Väsby, Stockholms län. He started to compete professionally at the age of 24, but had earlier competed in kickboxing where he became Swedish champion, and before that Taekwondo where he became Nordic champion and repeated Swedish champion. He was known for fighting a lot in the street. [1]

He started off his career with four consecutive victories before running into trouble. After fighting a six-round draw against Roy Dehara he came back to the ring to be stopped in the second round against John Duckworth. His coach said in a post fight interview that Paolo refused to give up and that's probably why the referee stopped the fight. When asked about the incident Paolo simply said if he would give up in a street fight he would die. After his first loss he won fifteen straight fights before taking on the WBC light middleweight champion Javier Castillejo to whom he lost in the fifth round by referee stoppage. Roberto was behind on all scorecards at the time the fight was stopped. [2]

Roberto then moved up in weight to challenge fellow countryman Armand Krajnc [3] for his WBO middle weight title. In between those fights he had four wins. In the fight against Krajnc Roberto had the champion rocking on his feet in the opening round. A right hook stunned his opponent and he had to cover up against the ropes. Then later on in the fight Krajnc finally figured out his opponent and outboxed the smaller challenger. [4]

Roberto then went back to his original weight class welterweight where after three fights he won the vacant WBC International Welterweight title against Raul Eduardo Bejarano. He then vacated his belt to fight for the WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title against Wayne Martell. Roberto dominated the fight and was winning when in the tenth round Martell's cut above his eye had gotten so bad the ring doctor decided he had had enough. In his first defense of his WBO title Roberto got knocked out in the second round against Sebastian Andres Lujan. [2] He never fought professionally again. [2]

All of Roberto's boxing matches took place outside of Sweden, including his championship fights, which were held in Åland, because pro boxing has been banned in Sweden since 1969. [5]

Outside boxing

He was a participant in the first season of Let's Dance, the Swedish version of Dancing with the Stars . [6]

He married Lena Arrelöv on 31 December 2003. The couple have one son, Enzo Antonio Roberto, born in 2004, and one daughter, Elisa Roberto, born in 2007. Roberto and Arrelöv divorced in 2012. His early life is dramatized in the 1987 Swedish movie Stockholmsnatt. He is featured in some chapters of Stieg Larsson's The Girl Who Played with Fire and played himself in the film based on the book. [7] [8]

Roberto has also talked openly of his conversion experience, which happened on a visit to St. Peter's in Rome. Wishing to approach the image of St. Michael the Archangel (the great "fighter" of the Heavenly Host), he was told he was not allowed in that roped off area. He asked, "Well, why can those people go in?" "They are going to confession," the guard replied. He thought of the empty life he had lived to his present, and told the guard, "Well, I'm going to confession, too." After over an hour with the priest, he said he felt renewed. The girl he had travelled to Rome with is now his wife, Lena Arrelöv. Roberto recounted this episode of his life to Marcus Grodi on the "Journey Home" show of EWTN. [9]

Scandals

In 2017, Roberto was criticized in the press for allegedly making sexist jokes on social media, one of which was in connection with Metoo. [10] After criticism from, among others, Gudrun Schyman, Roberto defended himself with the fact that it was a joke and sexually-abusive acts are truly terrible. [11]

In May 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of buying sex from a young woman from another European country. The strike was made in an apartment in central Stockholm in a police operation. Roberto confirmed the sex purchase during a television interview. In connection, he was dismissed from his program manager assignments on TV4 and dropped by the company representing his selling of Italian Food range Paolos. [12] [13] [14]

Professional boxing record

Professional record breakdown
33 matches28 wins4 losses
By knockout133
By decision151
Draws1
ResultRecordOpponentMethodStadiumDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss28–4–1 Flag of Argentina.svg Sebastián Andrés Luján KOBaltic Hall, Mariehamn, Finland4 October 200321:22 Flag of Finland.svg Mariehamn, FinlandLoses WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
Win28–3–1 Flag of the United States.svg Wayne MartellTKO (cuts)Kisahalli, Helsinki, Finland2 February 2003101:52 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki, FinlandWins WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
Win27–3–1 Flag of Argentina.svg Raul Eduardo BejaranoUDFinland16 November 2002123:00 Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki, FinlandWins WBC International welterweight title
Win26–3–1 Flag of France.svg David SarrailleTKODenmark, Odense Congress Center30 August 200222:02 Flag of Denmark.svg Odense, Denmark
Win25–3–1 Flag of Hungary.svg Gyorgy BugyikTKOGubbio, Umbria, Italy6 June 200221:59 Flag of Italy.svg Gubbio, Italy
Win24–3–1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ron PasekKOCirkusbygningen, Copenhagen, Denmark6 April 200232:45 Flag of Denmark.svg Copenhagen, Denmark
Loss23–3–1 Flag of Sweden.svg Armand Krajnc UDHansehalle, Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany13 November 2001123:00 Flag of Germany.svg Lübeck, Germany For WBO middleweight title
Win23–2–1 Flag of Brazil.svg Luiz Augusto Dos SantosMDKisstadion, Budapest, Hungary6 June 200183:00 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary
Win22–2–1 Flag of Panama.svg Edwin MurilloKOEstrel Convention Center, Neukölln, Berlin, Germany10 October 200010:50 Flag of Germany.svg Berlin, Germany
Win21–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Anthony IvoryUDFTC Stadium, Budapest, Hungary28 August 200083:00 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary
Win20–2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Henry HughesTKOPreussag Arena, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany4 June 200021:51 Flag of Germany.svg Hannover, Germany
Loss19–2–1 Flag of Spain.svg Javier Castillejo TKOPabellon Europa, Leganes, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain19 September 199971:47 Flag of Spain.svg Madrid, Spain For WBC light middleweight title
Win19–1–1 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Stefan DimitrovTKOPlaza de Toros La Cubierta, Leganes, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain14 April 199960:32 Flag of Spain.svg Madrid, Spain
Win18–1–1 Flag of Mexico.svg Jesús MayorgaUD Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States13 February 199983:00 Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, USA
Win17–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David BaptisteTKOEverton Park Sports Centre, Liverpool, Merseyside, England19 December 199862:51 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Liverpool, England
Win16–1–1 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Djemal MehmedovTKOYork, Yorkshire, England26 September 199842:48 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg York, England
Win15–1–1 Flag of Italy.svg Armando BrigantiSDPesaro, Marche, Italy29 May 199883:00 Flag of Italy.svg Pesaro, Italy
Win14–1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Darryl RuffinUDBallys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States28 February 199883:00 Flag of the United States.svg New Jersey, USA
Win13–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren CovillPTSLee Valley Leisure Centre, Picketts Lock, London, England31 January 199863:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Win12–1–1 Flag of Ukraine.svg Viktor FesechkoPTSAlexandra Pavilion, Muswell Hill, London, England14 October 199783:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Win11–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Danny QuacoePTSSan Gennaro Vesuviano, Campania, Italy9 August 199783:00 Flag of Italy.svg San Gennaro Vesuviano, Italy
Win10–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve GoodwinPTSKelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland5 July 199763:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Glasgow, Scotland
Win9–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul KingPTSBrondby hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark24 January 199763:00 Flag of Denmark.svg Copenhagen, Denmark
Win8–1–1 Flag of Morocco.svg Habib Ben SalahTKOLe Caire, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France19 September 199652:02 Flag of France.svg Le Caire, France
Win7–1–1 Flag of Slovakia.svg Josef PresinskyUDWalsleben, Brandenburg, Germany16 June 199663:00 Flag of Germany.svg Brandenburg, Germany
Win6–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl WinstonPTSElephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England29 November 199543:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Win5–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ernie LoveridgePTSTown Hall, Battersea, London, England21 September 199543:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Loss4 – 1 – 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dusty MillerTKOYork Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England27 April 199522:28 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Draw4–0–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John DuckworthPTSPiccadilly, London, England7 November 199463:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Win4–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy DeharaKOYork Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England29 September 199412:00 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Win3–0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John HughesTKOTooting, London, England2 June 199410:21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, England
Win2–0 Flag of Hungary.svg Zoltan DanoPTSBudapest, Hungary27 February 199443:00 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary
Win1–0 Flag of Hungary.svg Laszlo MolnarTKOTurku, Finland18 December 199321:21 Flag of Finland.svg Turku, Finland

Minor titles held

Preceded by WBC International welterweight title
16 November 2002 – 2 February 2003
Vacates
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title
2 February 2003 – 4 October 2003
Succeeded by

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References

  1. "Paolo Roberto på Nolia: Respekt kan du bara få – inte ta". Nolia.se (in Swedish). 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Paolo Roberto". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  3. "Sportbladet granskar Paolo Roberto och Armand Krajnc inför kvällens titelfight – övertag för mästaren". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 3 November 2001. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  4. "Armand Krajnc vs. Paolo Roberto". Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  5. "Lujan Wins WBO Belt Against Roberto". Associated Press . 5 October 2003. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  6. "Kärleksparen i "Let's dance"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 13 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. "Paolo vill spela – sig själv". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  8. Persson, Magnus (14 September 2010). "Recension: Larsson, Stieg - Luftslottet som sprängdes". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 5 November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  9. Marcus Grodi, Paolo Roberto (15 November 2010). The Journey Home Show (Radio). EWTN. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  10. "Ilskan mot Paulo Roberto – efter skämtet". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 18 November 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  11. "Paolo Robertos svar på hårda kritiken av Gudrun Schyman". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 9 March 2017. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  12. "Paolo Roberto köpte sex – får sparken av TV4 • Rix FM avbryter". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 15 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  13. "Tv-profil erkänner sexköp". DN.SE (in Swedish). 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  14. "Livsmedelsvarumärket "Paolos" avbryter alla samarbeten med Paolo Roberto". PALOS.SE (in Swedish). 2020-05-16. Retrieved 2020-05-16.