Olli Mäki

Finnish boxer (1936–2019)

Olli Mäki

Mäki in 1958

Personal information

Full name

Olli Johan Oskari Mäki

Nationality

Finnish

Born

(1936-12-22)22 December 1936
Kokkola, Finland

Died

6 April 2019(2019-04-06) (aged 82)
Kirkkonummi, Finland

Sport

Boxing

Weight class

Featherweight, lightweight

Medal record

Representing Finland

European Amateur Championships
	1959 Lucerne	Lightweight
	1957 Prague	Lightweight

Olli Johan Oskari Mäki (22 December 1936 – 6 April 2019^[1]) was a Finnish boxer. As an amateur, he won the European lightweight title in 1959, having placed second in 1957. After being dropped from the 1960 Olympic team, he turned professional and fought until 1973 with a record of 28 victories, 14 losses and 8 draws. In August 1962 he was beaten in two rounds by Davey Moore for the World Featherweight Title, and in February 1964 he won the European Boxing Union light welterweight title against Conny Rudhof; he lost it to Rudhof in 1967.^[2]^[3] In retirement Mäki worked as a boxing coach and manager.

The 2016 film The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki is based on his life.

Mäki died after a long illness on 6 April 2019, aged 82.^[4] He had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.^[5]

References

^ Nyrkkeilijä Olli Mäki on kuollut (in Finnish)
^ Boxing record for Olli Mäki from BoxRec (registration required)
^ Olli Mäki. Nyrkkeily Museo
^ "Nyrkkeilijä Olli Mäki on kuollut" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
^ ""Esikuva ja ennen kaikkea hyvä isä" – Pekka Mäki tunteikkaana tänään kuolleen Olli Mäen jättämästä perinnöstä" (in Finnish). MTV. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.