Yesterday former world champ Giovanni Parisi died in a car accident at the age of 41.

One of the greatest Italian boxers, Parisi won the featherweight gold medal at the 1988 Olympics. He turned pro the following year and won the WBO Lightweight title in 1993. Giovanni then challenged Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC Junior Welterweight crown in April of 1995 and took him the distance. Though Chavez won on the scorecards, Parisi went on to claim the WBO version of the title the following year and successfully defended it six times.

Parisi last fought in 2006. During his 17-year pro career, he accumulated 41 wins with 29 knockouts and only 5 losses and one draw.