Primo Carnera Virginia ham." His size earned him the nickname "The Ambling Alp". "Time" magazine called him "The Monster". 12 September 1928 was the date of Carnera's first professional fight, against Leon Sebilo, in Paris. Carnera won by knockout in round two. He won his first six bouts, then lost to Franz Diener by disqualification in round one at Leipzig. Then, he won seven more bouts in a row before meeting Young Stribling. He and Stribling exchanged disqualification wins, Carnera winning the first in four rounds, and Stribling winning the rematch in round seven. In Carnera's next bout he avenged his defeat
George Godfrey (boxer born 1897) won it a second time on 24 August 1931 in Toronto, Canada when he defeated Seal Harris, whom he knocked out in the 2nd round. He defended it three more times before losing to Obidiah "Obie" Walker on points in a 10-round fight held in Philadelphia on 9 October 1933. In the interim between the two titles, he fought Bearcat Wright for the "Black Heavyweight Championship" on 19 December 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia, but the 10-round fight was a draw. He was disqualified against future champion Primo Carnera in 1930. Many observers considered the 1930 Carnera fight to be fixed.