Risto Luukkonen
Risto Luukkonen 
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| Data | |
| Birth Name | Risto Valter Luukkonen |
| Weight class | Flyweight |
| nationality |
 Finland
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| birthday | July 13, 1931 |
| place of birth | Tuusula |
| Date of death | August 13, 1967 |
| Place of death | Helsinki |
| Combat Statistics | |
| Struggles | 48 |
| Victories | 34 |
| Knockout victories | 10 |
| Defeats | 11 |
| draw | 3 |
| No value | 0 |
| Profile in the BoxRec database | |
Risto "Ripa" Valter Luukkonen (born July 13, 1931 in Tuusula , † August 13, 1967 in Helsinki ) was a Finnish boxer .
Lukkonen was part of the Finnish Olympic team from 1952 at the games in their own country . However, the flyweight Luukkonen failed in his first fight against the American Nate Brooks , who later secured the gold medal. He was also unsuccessful at the European Championships in 1955, but was able to win bronze at the Nordic Championships that same year. In 1957 he finally won gold in the class up to 51 kilograms at the Nordic Championships and then switched to the professionals.
Between 1955 and 1957 he was Finnish champion three times in the jersey of the capital city club Helsingin Nyrkkeilijöitä and played 21 international matches with the Finnish national team. He was able to win 14 fights.
In 1957, Luukkonen played his first professional fight at the age of 26, which he won in the fifth round. Two years after this debut, he fought against Young Martin from Spain for the EBU flyweight championship. At the Helsinki Olympic Stadium , he won a close match on points. 1961 Luukkonen lost his title to Salvatore Burruni (also on points). On December 9, 1963 Luukkonen received a new EBU title chance against Mimoun Ben Ali . Against the Spaniard it went over the full time of 15 rounds, but this time the winner was again Luukkonen, who was able to hold the title of European champion for the second time. The following year he defended his title with a controversial points win against Pierre Vetroff . Shortly afterwards, Luukkonen gave up his title. On April 22, 1966 he played his 48th and last professional fight, which he lost on points like his five other fights before.
Risto Luukkonen suddenly died of a heart attack a year later.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Luukkonen, Risto |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ripa |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Finnish boxer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 13, 1931 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Tuusula , Finland |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 13, 1967 |
| Place of death | Helsinki , Finland |