Tony Morelli Explained

Birth Name:	Antonio Giovanni Morelli
Birth Date:	16 May 1956
Nationality:	Canadian
Weight Class:	Light Heavyweight Cruiserweight
Years Active:	1979–1983

Antonio Giovanni Morelli (May 16, 1956 – April 19, 2015) was a Canadian professional kickboxer, stuntman, and actor.^[1]

Biography

Morelli was born in Lytton, British Columbia on May 16, 1956, and raised in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.^[2]

Originally trained as a boxer, he won a Gold Medal in the Light Heavyweight category at the 1979 Western Canada Summer Games in Saskatoon.

Kickboxing

Morelli became the World Kickboxing Association (WKA) Super Light Heavyweight Champion, after defeating Travis Everett on April 19, 1980 in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[3]

On March 4, 1982, he defeated debuting Maurice Smith by decision. Fourteen months later, he lost the title to Smith in the seventh round by KO.

Morelli was a member of the WKA World Team, along with Benny Urquidez, Don Wilson, and Graciela Casillas.^[4]

Morelli was the subject of a 1980 documentary, The Kickboxers, directed by Gary Bush.^[5]

Film career

Morelli's stunt career began in 1983, and took part in various film and television projects, including Walls, Airwolf, Legends of the Fall, The 6th Day, Smallville, , 2012, , Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Cabin in the Woods, Arrow and Godzilla.^[6] He was a primary stunt coordinator on the television series Wiseguy and The X-Files.

He played a henchman in the Sammo Hung-starring Hong Kong action comedy Paper Marriage (1988), which was filmed in Calgary.

Death

A longtime resident of Langley, British Columbia, Morelli died suddenly on April 19, 2015, aged 58. He was survived by his wife and children.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2015-05-18 . Langley stuntman and former world kickboxing champ remembered . 2024-04-28 . Langley Advance Times . en.
2. Web site: P36252 - Tony Morelli, 23-year old native of Chilliwack and Abbotsford and a gold medalist from the 1979 Western Canada Summer Games, up close and personal. Tony Morelli who trained and boxed out of the Fraser Valley Boxing Club (in Abbotsford) came home from the Western Canada Summer Games in Saskatoon with the light heavyweight gold medal. The victory boosted Morelli into rankings as the number three amateur light heavy in Canada. With the ranking boost came a shot at making Canada's Olympic boxing team in 1980. The irony of all Morelli's success was that, at the time of this photo, Morelli had achieved success without being able to win a fight in his own province, British Columbia. Meanwhile, outside the province, Morelli was chalking up some major victories and slowly catching the eye of top level officials in amateur boxing. The gold medal in Saskatoon went to Morelli when the 5'10 competitor put away a Saskatchewan fighter with a second round knockout. To accomplish this, Morelli was up at 6 o'clock every morning at his home in Langley, and out for four miles of road work before breakfast. After putting in eight hours as a carpet layer he would be off to the Cedar Park Fitness Centre in Clearbrook where his real training began. Morelli spent up to 90 minutes on "general exercises" such as push-ups and sit-ups "just warming up" before doing some heavy work on a universal gym. This routine was followed by ten rounds of sparring under the watchful eye of his coach. The day was capped off with another four miles of running before hitting the sack, usually between 10 and 11 p.m. In order for Morelli to make the Canadian Olympic team, he needed to win the B.C Golden Gloves qualifying him for the 1980 Canada Games. The winner in each weight class at that tournament would represent Canada at the Olympics. Image not published. The Reach - Gallery Museum Abbotsford . 2024-04-28 . thereach.pastperfectonline.com.
3. Web site: WKA World Kickboxing Super Light Heavyweight Title . 2024-04-28 . TitleHistories.com . en.
4. Web site: WKA History . 2024-04-28 . WKA International . en-US.
5. https://cinemacanada.athabascau.ca/index.php/cinema/article/viewFile/877/948
6. Web site: Tony Morelli. ProductionBeast. 16 September 2017.
7. Web site: UBCP/ACTRA Member Tony Morelli died unexpectedly on Sunday April 19, 2015 . UBCP/ACTRA . https://web.archive.org/web/20170115022142/https://www.ubcp.com/press-releases/2015/04/ubcpactra-member-tony-morelli-died-unexpectedly-on-sunday-april-19-2015/ . 19 September 2021 . 15 January 2017 . dead.