世界拳击名人堂

Juan Zurita
Born : 1914 Guadalajara, Mexico
Ring Record : 114 - 2 - 21 (76 K.O)






Philadelphia's legendary Italian-American champion of champions Midget Wolgast and Mexico's legendary trail-blazing Juan Zurita, one of his country's earliest world ring kings, met five bitter and brawling times in 1935-36 - three times at Hollywood Legion Stadium, once at the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium and once in Mexico City.

It tells it better than anything perhaps about his Hall of Fame heart that, after losing to Wolgast by 10-round decisions in their first three battles, Zurita came on to kayo his nemesis in five rounds in their fourth match in Mexico City and beat him again by 10-round decision in their final tangle under the pepper trees in Hollywood.

Born in Guadalajara in 1914, Zurita always had amazing stamina and always refused to accept defeat - one of those typical hard-working never-say-die warriors of the hard-time '30 who was ready to fight anytime, anywhere, you name it put the money on the wood and get out of the way. He averaged a main event a month for eight years from 1936 through 1943 in a truly remarkable run that spanned a total of 14 years and 138 bouts.

Managed at the start of his pro career in 1933 by Jimmy Fitten, he was later guided by George Parnassus through his greatest championship years beginning in 1938 with his 12-round decision victory over Joe Conda in Mexico City for Mexico's lightweight championship. A natural featherweight at 5'3" and less than 126 pounds, he captured the world lightweight championship with a stunning 15-round upset decision over Sammy Angott at Hollywood May 9, 1944, in his 13th year as a professional, then lost it 3 years later on April 18, 1945, via a second round knockout by a young tiger Ike Williams in Mexico City. It was the final fight of Zurita's career, but what a run he had while it lasted. He was twice stopped by Henry Armstrong at the Olympic in 1936 and 1942, but along the way he had great victories over George Latka, Speedy Dado, Jimmy Hatcher, Carlos Miranda, Richie Lemos, Eddie Marcus, Vern Bybee, Aldo Spoldi, and Mike Belloise.

Of his 138 bouts, he won a total of 114 times-76 by KO and one by foul - with two draws and 21 defeats. Zurita, play it again, Sam, surely was Juan in a million.








Carlos Zarate
Bantamweight Champion
Born: May 23, 1951
Mexico



Class of "96"

He roared through his first 49 professional battles with 49 consecutive victories, 48 by knockout, 20 in two rounds or less.

Any more questions about killer-chiller bantamweight bomber Carlos Zarate going into the Hall of Fame?

Born in Tepito, Mexico, May 23, 1951, officially turning pro at 19 in 1970 (and probably long before that, although his earlier records were lost and never found), Zarate reigned three years as WBC 118-pound king, 1976 to 1979, and successfully defended his title nine times until losing it on a disputed 15-round decision to Lupe Pintor June 3, 1979, in Las Vegas.

Once upon a time, there was the great debate in LosAngeles as to which of the Killer Z's was the greater slugger; Alphonso Zamora or Zarate; when both were headlining quite frequently at the Great Western Forum, known then merely as the Fabulous Forum. Many suspected Zamora had the edge, but then the Killer Z's, who both specialized in sending their foes into ZZzz unconscious states, finally met head-to-headApri123, 1977, in the famous Inglewood ring before their usual full house of devoted and frenzied fans. Zamora went into the showdown with a 25-0 record and 25 consecutive knockouts. Zarate was 42-0 with 41 knockouts. Only Vic Ramirez had managed to last a full 10 rounds with Carlos. Nobody had gone the distance with Zamora, of course, and he was a slight favorite, perhaps because of his slightly more handsome profile. But all the arguments ended in a hurry. Wham-bam, Zarate by KO number 42 in four rounds, still the champ, still unbeaten at 43-0. The badly crushed Zamora on the other hand was never the same.

It was the crowning moment of Zarate's sensational career, and he remains very probably the most spectacular punching champion in the history of the division, also boasting knockouts over such impressive foes asAlberto Davila, Emilio Hernandez, Danny Batista and Juan Rodriguez.

In a bid for the super bantamweight title, he was stopped in five by Wilfredo Gomez in San Juan in 1978, three bouts prior to losing his own title to Pintor. But his overall record of 61-4 with 58 knockouts stands as the bantamweight achievement of a lifetime.



Jose "Pipino" Cuevas
Welterweight Champion
Born: December 27, 1957
Mexico City







It says on his birth certificate that he was born December 27, 1957, in Mexico City as Jose Isidro "Pipino" Cuevas Onuevas Gonzalez, but there was a time in the late '70s in Los Angeles that he was more simply identified as "Mr. Knockout." That was the Jose "Pipino" Cuevas who was WBA welterweight king from July 17, 1976, when he flattened poor Angel Espada in two dynamite rounds in Mexicali, to August 2, 1980, when he himself was defeated by the explosive hands of 22-year-old Hitman Vbmmy Hearns in Detroit.

For those four electric championship years, nobody was ever more feared and respected by opponents and idolized and worshipped more by fans than Mr. Knockout, as popular a warrior as ever produced in old Mexico.

What a run he had with his debilitating, devastating "cruise control crusher" of a left hook. He turned pro on January 15, 1972, with a fourth round KO of Jose Arias in Mexico City. Soon he had finished Miguel Rodriguez in 2, Pancho Tapis in 2, Raul Martinez in 1, Sergio Alejo in 4, Jose Figueroa in 3, Octavio Amparan in 7, Salvador Ruvalcaha in 1, Sugar Sanders in 1, Jose Pena in 1 and Sammy Garcia in 3.

And then he got hot. He successfully defended his welterweight title 11 times, mostly swift and sensational executions, especially a first-round flattening of New England contender Billy Backus before a stampeding SRO house May 20, 1978, at Los Angeles Sports Arena. His only style was all-out bombs-away.

"Cuevas is the most dangerous puncher I've ever seen in the welterweight division," veteran promoter-matchmaker Don Fraser said in 1979 when "Pipino" was at his peak riding the crest of his amazing knockout string. At that time, Fraser rated Cuevas ahead of all the rising young welters of the moment, including Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Wilfred Benitez.

And, well, it was so grand while it lasted, the dream of dreams come true for a kid who grew up with nine brothers and sisters all working in their father's modest butcher shop.

With his championship earnings, he eventually bought a string of six butcher shops of his own to manage and supervise. What he has always remembered most fondly was that initial two-round icing of Espada that made him king. "That was the proudest moment of my life," he once told former light-heavyweight champ-turned-writer Jose Torres. "It was something indescribable." And now at last it's also the indescribable Hall of Fame for Mr. Knockout.



Lloyd Marshall
Light Heavyweight Contender
Born: Ohio, 1919







It was the night of May 21, 1945; 51 years ago in Baltimore, a different time, a diA'erent era, a diA'erent mentality in America as young Archie Moore and Lloyd Marshall, in his up and down tough ninth year as a pro, battled for survival.

It was a time the African-American fighter got few breaks in the prize ring. The best were ducked by most headliners of the day. The best of the best mostly fought each other, and such was the way as Marshall went to war with Moore. If there had been pay-per-view TV or even much of any kind of television then, if things were the way they finally are now, the Marshall-Moore epic would doubtless be better remembered as one of the all-time thrillers.

Marshall knocked Archie, then the St. Louis rather than the San Diego Mongoose, down four times in the early rounds only to see Archie keep getting up to fire back, rallying to floor Marshall three times and cutting him over both eyes. Lloyd bled all over Baltimore, also from the nose and mouth as well as his eyebrows. Moore was finally awarded a 10-round split decision. That was the story of Lloyd Marshall's life in boxing. Vbugh, tough fights and close, close losses. He won 64 times as a pro, but he lost plenty, too, particularly at the end of a 15-year career that stretched from 1937 through 1951.

Many of the early losses are still doubted. It was a time when some of the best had to agree not to do their absolute bestjust to get a match and a meager payday that sometimes barely covered a week's meals.

So many great middleweights beating up on each other first vice and then versa so oRen then; Marshall, Moore, Ezzard Charles, Charley Burley, Jimmy Bivins, Shorty Hogue, Big Boy Hogue, Jack Chase, Eddie Booker, and on and on. Win-loss statistics are meaningless for that era.

Mainly, those who saw him, those who knew him and those who fought him are unanimous in insisting that Marshall belongs in any Hall of Fame. Ohio born in 1919, he won his first Golden Gloves title in Cleveland an 1934. He had Ezzard Charles on the canvas eight times and stopped him in eight rounds the first time they met in 1943, he was knocked out twice by the eventual heavyweight champ in two subsequent meetings. He defeated nine world champs, including Jake La Motta, Joey Maxim and Freddie Mills, but no cigar ... until tonight.




Sugar Ray Leonard
World Welterweight Champion, Jr. Middleweight Champion, Middleweight Champion, Light Heavyweight Champion
Born: May 17, 1956,
Wilmington, North Carolina

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Those wondrous old characters referred to as "veteran fistic experts" don't usually agree on much of anything. But at least one very firm belief most find they do share is that the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history was a fast-stepping and sweet-singing masterful combination boxer-puncher personality plus stylist named Sugar Ray. Some say Sugar Ray Robinson of the Furious Forties and Fabulous Fifties. Some say Sugar Ray Leonard of the Surging Seventies and Amazing Eighties. Either way, Sugar Ray II, the one names Leonard, the man who made the great Roberto Duran say "no mas," is the photo finish with anyone as the greatest to ever wear leather on his flashing fists.

He was born May 17, 1956, in Wilmington, North Carolina, one of seven children. It was apparent from his childhood and first day in a boxing gym that his everwear leather belonged on his flashing fists.

He barely turned 20 when he exploded upon the world scene as the gold medal junior welterweight champion of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. He won 145 of 150 amateur bouts before turning pro with an equal burst of skill and power just a few months after the Olympics with a six-round decision over Luis Vega on February 5, 1977 in Baltimore.

The rest soon became the stuff of legends. Super legends. He roared to 26 consecutive victories inside his first three years as a pro, capturing the world welterweight crown in his 26th fight via a spectacular 15th round knockout over the previously undefeated Wilfred Benitez, who suA'ered his first loss in 39 pro starts that history-turning night of November 30, 1979, in Las Vegas.

The one night of his life he let his heart overrule his head, he tried to turn toe-to-toe slugger in losing his welter crown via a close 15-round decision to Roberto Duran at his peak in June of 1980. He was then so quick and smart and clever with a masterful boxing display in the rematch that he made Duran quit in frustration on his feet in one of the game's most controversial surprises.

Before his first retirement in 1982 he collected a total of six world championships. He set new fistic standards both financially and artistically, and his victories, in particular, over Benitez, 'Ibmmy Hearns, Jose "Pipino" Cuevas and Marvelous Marvin Hagler as well as Duran have put him high above the pack on a mountaintop of his own. Even sweeter than sugar, never a doubt.








Gaspar "Indio" Ortega
Welterweight Contender
Born : October 21, 1935
Mexicali, Mexico
Living in : New Haven, CT
Height : 5'9 1/2" ; Weight : 147 lbs.
Nationality : Mexican
Ring Record : 140 - 39 - 6 (72 K.O.)
Managed : Nick Corby




Class of "95"

Gaspar "Indio" Ortega was born in Mexicali, Mexico but grew uo in Tijuana. His ancestor were zapotec Indians and therefor the name "Indio". He was one of 10 children and grew up dreaming that he would become a bull fighter. His mother quickly doused that dream and robably would have objected to Gaspar boxing, but he used her maiden name instead of the family name Benitez. That was done so his mother would not find out he was boxing, and a secret that lasted he became an idol of Mexico.

In his 15 years of boxing he was involved in 185 professional bouts, boxed against 9 world champions and became one of the most traveled boxers in the last half century. He was a welterweight contender in the 60' and the 70' and fought on national T.V. 44 times. He was one of the busiest fighters in boxing, and in 1962 and 1963, he boxed 22 bouts each of thse years and in 1964 he entered the ring on 29 occasions. In his only bid for the title he lost to Emile Griffith. He beat a lot of good fighters including Tony Demarco (2), Isaac Logart, Kid Gavilan, Benny "kid" Paret, and fellow inductee Johnny Gonsalves.

Early in his career, after his first fight at Madison Square Garden, write Gene Ward wrote, "He punched with dazzling speed, and his graceful movements were those of Jaguar. His coordination and reflexes were remarkable. When cornered or stung he had an uncanny way of leaping out of harms path, an almost instinctive sense, it seemed, for avoiding punches."

Today thirty years retirement Gaspar is still fighting, his latest opponent is cancer. Since his diagnosis early this year Gaspar has undergone to torrid regimen of radiation and chemotherapy that has hit him as hard as Griffith ever did, but naturally Gaspar keeps getting up.

Gaspar and his wife of 38 years, Ida, make their home in New Haven, CT. Gaspar is very proud of Ida's accomplishments. She dropped out of school to marry him and today she is the co-manager of a bank, They have three sons and one daughter. Their son Michael is an east coast boxing official.

Gaspar is counselor to drug addicts and inmates getting out of jail. He is a well known and respected member of his community. We welcome Gaspar "Indio" Ortega into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.



Jerry Quarry
Heavyweight Contender 60's and 70's
Born : May 15, 1945 Bakersfield, CA
Living in : Hemet, CA
Height : 6' ; Weight : 183 - 205 lbs.
Nationality : Irish - American
Ring Record : 60 - 8 4 (38 K.O.)
Managed By : Jack Quarry & Johnnie Flores






Jerry Quarry first put on a pair of boxing gloves when he was three years old. By the time he was eight, he had won the Jr. Golden Gloves – 45 lb. Championship. He continued in the amateurs until 1965 when he culminated a great career by winning the national Golden Gloves Boxing Championship. In doing so, he set a record that still stands, he won the title by knocking out five opponents.

Under the watchful eyes of his co-manager, his dad Jack Quarry, and the veteran fight manager Johnnie Flores, Jerry turned pro in May of 1965. He ran off 12 wins before Tony Dyle fought him to a draw. He also fought 2 draws with Tony Alongi. His first loss came in his 20th pro bout against the tough Eddie Machen. His loss was attributed to poor conditioning and at that time, Jerry promised himself that poor conditioning would never be the cause for another loss. He beat Joey Orbillo, Alex Miteff, Bill Daniels, Floyd Patterson, Buster Mathis, Brian London and Mack Foster. In 1973 he avenged his draw wit Tonny Doyyle by knocking him out in the 4th round.

Jerry lost a disputed 15 round split decision to Jimmy Ellis for the W.B.A. version of the heavyweight title that was stripped from Muhammad Ali.

Boxing Illustrated name Jerry the most popular professional boxer in the world in 1968, 1969, and in 1970 Jerry and Muhammad Ali shared the honor. He gave Muhammad Ali his chance for a comeback only to lose the fight via an eye cut. The cut took eighteen stitches to close. Most of his losses were attributed to cut eyes. The major fight Jerry had was against Ken Norton, losing that fight via a bad cut.

His last fight was a cruiserweight and although Jerry won the fight, it took eighty stitches to close the cuts on his face and eyes.

Jerry came along in an era of boxing that was considered the best of all time, and he was rated # 1 on three occasions. His younger brother Mike was from the same era, and was also rank in the top ten for several years in the light heavyweight division.

In 1994, Jerry along with his brother James founded a foundation for fighter who are afflicted with pugilistica dementia and need help with medical and financial matters.

Johnny Gonsalves
1947-48 National A.A.U. Champion
Lightweight Contender
Born : September 13, 1930 Oakland, CA
Living in : San Leandro, CA
Height : 5' 10" ; Weight : 135 lbs.
Nationality : Portugese - American
Ring Record : 57 - 20 - 3 (9 K.O.)
Managed by : Curly Mendonca

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Johnny Gonsalves was born in east Oakland in 1930. When Johnny was 9 years old they opened a gym across the street from where he lived. He started out by helping the trainers, but his interest turned to boxing and he was soon boxing with older kids in the gym. He was a natural and a quick learner. He got so good that in 1942, the gym lied about his age and entered him in the Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament. His maturity in the ring made him look 18 instead of his actual twelve years, he looked so good in fact that he won the Championship. Johnny was a top amateur for several years, winning 5 Golden Gloves titles and was the National A.A.U Champion in 1947 and 1948. He beat Gene Fulmer and Johnny Sazton in the amateurs, and closed his amateur career with over 300 bouts and very few losses.

With such an outstanding amateur record and reputation it was difficult to get him his first professional match. On September 29, 1948 at the "Real" age of 18, his first bout was with another "toughie" from Oakland, Chief Archie Whitewater, who had a 15 and 4 record (8 by K.O.). To no surprise to his followers Johnny won a 6 round decision and went on to win 14 in a row before losing a 10 round decision to the aging Bean Jack in a bout held in Oakland. In his 12th pro bout he held the great Maxie Docusen to a 10 round draw. In his first 14 bouts he beat Bobby Burgess, Lem Thomas, Alex Amador, Joey Barnum and Tony Chavez to name just a few. At the tender age of 20 he was ranked #1 in the world and stayed in the top ten for 11 of his 14 years in professional boxing. He was the California State Lightweight Champion and held wins over fighters like Tommy Campbell, Freddie "Babe" Herman, Rudy Cruz, Mario Trigo, Henry Davis, Paddy DeMarco, Wallcae Bud Smith, Lulu Perez, Cisco Andrade and many more, in a division that at that time had many great fighters. In 1960 just before retiring he lost to an up-and coming Gaspar Ortega (who is also being inducted this evening). In his first fight on national T.V. (in its infant stage) he beat the flashy Orlando Zulueta.

Johnny retired in 1961, started tending bar at the "Marina Lounge" until he bought it. He had a son and daughter from early marriege, a son born out of wedlock (Johnny Jr.) and has been married to his parent wife Barbara for 16 years. Barbara has been bedridden with multiple sclerosis for the past 2 years, and Johnny has taken care of her all this time. Johnny was a masterful boxer and although never a world champon, he is and has been a "champion" to his family and friends from the beginning. The World Boxing Hall of Fame is proud to induct Johnny Gonsalves to his rightful place in the Hall of Fame. Welcome champ!!



Johnny Saxton
Welterweight Champion 1945 - 1955 and 1956 - 1957
Born : July 4, 1930 Newark, NJ
Living in : New York
Height : 5' 8 1/2" ;
Weight : 142 - 153 lbs.
Nationality : African - American
Ring Record : 55 - 9 - 2 (21 K.O.)
Managed By : Frank "blinky" Palermo





In and around New York, in his heyday, Johnny Saxton was known as "The Fighting Orphan". Johnny never knew his parents and spent much of his youth at the Riverdale Orphanage, where he first got interested in boxing. His coach and mentor was a gentleman that Johnny always called "Mr. Phil Lee", who was the unofficial athletic director at Riverdale. Johnny was a quick learner, who didn't like getting hit even though he took a good punch. He learned everything that "Mr. Phil Lee" taught him. At 16, Johnny was sent to a foster home with a widowed Mrs. Hortense Pierson and her family. Johnny always claimed that living with the Piersons was the best thing that ever happened to him. During that same period "Mr. Lee" put Johnny in the hands of a well known Harlem trainer Bill Miller, so that Johnny could pick up the tricks of the trade. Johnny learned everything Miller taught him and he learned it well. Johnny was being noticed by all the New York boxing crowd as a real flashy newcomer. In his first year in the amateurs Johnny won the New York AAU Boxing Tournament and went all the way to the finals in the National Tourna- ment, losing to a classy little boxer from Oakland, CA, Johnny Gonsalves, who ironically is also being inducted into the world boxing hall of fame this evening. The following year he also ivent to the finals, losing to another classy boxer, Chuck Davey. Altogether Johnny had 35 amateur fights, losing only these two. When Johnny turned pro, Bill Miller all of a sudden had a partner in the management of Johnny Saxton, in the person of Frank "Blinky" Palermo. It's rumored that "Blinky" paid Bill $7500 for Johnny's contract. Pretty soon, Bill was completely out of the pic- ture and "Blinky" was in complete control. Johnny was a tremendous boxer and ran a streak of 41 victories, 1 loss and 1 draw in his first 43 bouts. The loss was to the rugged Gil Turner, whom he later stopped in the 10th round, and the draw was with Wallace "Bud" Smith. In Johnny's 49th pro fight he took the welterweight crown from the great Kid Gavilan on a 15-round decision in 1954. He lost his title to the rough, tough Tony DeMarco the following year, and won it back again in 1956, on a disputed 15-round decision over Carmen Basilio in a fight that 13 of the 20 Boxing writers at Ringside gave to Basilio. He unsuccessfully defended his championship in 1957, losing it in a 2nd round knockout to the same Carmen Basilio. Johnny Saxton retired from boxing in 1958.

Johnny married a couple of times and fathered a son, 3ohnny Jr. Out of boxing and with no nioney (after having earned over $250,000 in the ring) Johnny became despondent and his roller coaster life began to fall apart. He was arrested for house breaking with the proceeds ($5.20) of the burglary in his pocket. The judge asked Johnny "Where did your money go?" Saxton answered in a slurred, barely audible voice, "I didn't get much of it". "Why did you give up fighting'?" Saxton dropped his gaze to the tloor and responded "They didn't need me any more". Shortly after that incident Johnny Saxton tried to commit suicide and was committed to an insane asylum for a short period. Several years later he worked as a security guard at the Brownsville Commu- nity Center. Today he is suffering from Alzheimers and is too ill to attend this celebration ot Johnny's excellent involvement in the world of boxing.






Melio Bettina
World Lightheavyweight Champion 1965-66
1956 Olympic Light Middleweight Silver Medalist


Melio Bettina was a product of the Great Depression. His mother and father, both Italian immigrants, moved to Beacon, New York when he was one year old. He was the eldest of six children and left school in the sixth grade to help put food on the table. He pressed seams for a tailor at $4.25 per week. H says he was a rolypoly kid that others tried to beat up. As a result, he learned to run-fast. Born: May 3, 1936, Playa Ponce, Puerto Rico
Living in New York, NY
Height: 5'10"; Weight: 150 to 180 lbs
Nationality: American/Puerto Rican
Ring record: 41-3-1(29 KO)
Managed by: Cus D' Amato



Michael Spinks
1976 Olympic Middleweight Gold Medalist
Lt. Heavyweight Champion 1981 - 1985
Heavyweight Champion 1985
Born : July 13, 1956 St. Louis, MO
Living in : Wilmington, DE





Earliest Soxing Memory: "Winning my first national tournament in 1974 in Denver. Leon was always winning tournaments. I could never win anything before that. I beat five guys. They all went down in the first round. It was the biggest day of my life."

Prefight Feeling: "Nervous. I never wanted to go out there. 8ut on my walk to the ring, I left all my fears behind me."

Hardest Punchers I've Faced: Mike Tyson ("He knocked me silly. Paralyzed. He hit me in a good spot. It numbed my body."), Rufat Riskiev ("He beat me in Russia in 1979. He put me down with a straight right. I'd never been down before. But I came back and beat him in the Olympics.")

Toughest Opponents: Tyson, Luis Rodriguez (He was my second pro fight. It didn't matter how hard I hit him, he kept coming."), Eddie Davis ("He was really, really good. Leon fought both him and his brother Johnny in the amateurs, and said Eddie was better and stronger. Leon was right.")

Hobbies: Table tennis, listening to music, taking long car rides, camping.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Honey Vanilla

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Oatmeal with raisins

Favorite Music: Earth, Wind 8 Fire, Isley Brothers, Al Green,' War, Herbie Hancock

Favorite Movies: 1941 ("John Belushi cracks me up."), Stone Cold ("With Brian Bosworth. I really like it."), A Rage In Harlem ("I could watch that every boy:")

Favorite Soxer To Watch: Bernard Hopkins ("He's a good kid. I'd like to see him cash in on his talent.")

All-Time Favorile Fight: Ali-Frazier I, Leonard-Hearns I ("I predicted Ray would win. I lived with him and knew he was stronger than Hearns."), Leon Spinks-Ali I (I always believed in Leon.")

Closest Friend In Soxing: Marvin Stinson ("We met in the amateurs in 1975. He's a good- natured guy. We'll always be friends."), Leon, and Roger Stafford.

People I Most Admire: "Mentally strong people. People who believe in them- selves and never, never accept no for an answer. They don't let society dictate how their lives can be."

Most Treasured Possession: "The gift of life from God. No material gift can overshadow a spiritual gift."

Little-known Fact: "I really love to see people getting along and loving each other. I know I played a violent sport, but what makes me feel good is loving, sharing, caring. So much comes out of that sort of thing. It makes me feel good."







Benny Goldberg
Contender
Born: Dec. 25, 1921, Poland
Living in Los Angeles, CA
Height: 5'5"; Weight: 118 lbs
Nationality: Polish-Jew
Ring record: 32-2-1-1 (NC)
Managed by: Pete Riley


Class of "94"


Benny Goldberg a rough Jewish Southpaw from Detroit Michigan, via Warsaw Poland, was one of the classiest fighers in the Bantamweight Division. Ring records on Benny are not complete, (Benny tells us they omitted twelve of his winning bouts - and he has the clippings to prove it). The ring record book, the bible of boxing has Benny in a total of 37 bouts and a record of 33 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, a "no contest" with 14 of his wins via the "Kayo" route. His two losses were a ten round loss to Billy Miller in Benny's Hometown, Detroit and a 15 round split decision loss to the great Manuel Ortiz in his only bid for the title. Benny is very quick to remind us that he had previously beaten Ortiz on 2 occasions, one of which was Manuel's Pro Debut and the other a a ten round main event at the legion. Benny had earned the title shot with a string of 28 wins, and Manuel was the first man to beat him in the pros.

Benny, the youngest of the Goldberg family (2 brothers and 3 sisters) grew up in Detroit and didn't get interested in boxing until high school. It seems that Benny, the smallest in his gym class was always being asked to box with the P.E. Coach, and after a couple of weeks of beign teased by his coach, Benny decided to go ahead and put the gloves on and knocked out the coach. The coach decided that if Benny was that tough he should box amateur. Benny got so good that he went into the finals of the Detroit Golden Gloves, but had to pull out because of injuries sustained in an accident.

After a successful amateur career Benny turned pro and even without the twelve bouts that are missing in Benny's records he still fought the best and beat them. He won the Michigan State Bantamweight Championship from Charley Parham and beat the rugged Joey Archibald in a war effort promotion "Bomber for McArthur Boxing Show" for promoter Jack Lakin. Featured on the undercard were Pat Comisky, Lee Savold and Bill Poland, all top notch boxers, but the star of the show were Benny Goldberg, and referee Jack Dempsey.

Benny also beat Tony Olivera, the toy battleship, Luis Castillo, Lorenzo Zafora, Eli Galindo and closed out his career with a victory over Pedro Ramirez at the Hollywood Legion Stadium.

Benny and his wife of 53 years, Minette, have two grown children, a son Sam and a daughter Marilyn and five grandchildren. After his boxing career Benny went to work for the studios. He spent 10 years on "Ben Casey" and has worked on "Hill Street Blues", "Baretta" , and is presently working on producing a feature film.



Billy Soose
World Middleweight Champion 1941
Born: August 2, 1915, Farrell, PA
Living in Tafto, PA
Height: 6'1/2"; Weight: 155 to 170 lbs
Nationality: Hungarian
Ring record: 34-6-1 (13 KO)
Managed by: Paul Moss - Dick Powell

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Billy Soose started boxing at the tender age of fifteen and weighed ninety eight pounds. He won every Golden Glove Championship he entered, from the 112 lb. class, to the 160 lb. class. He fought amateur from 1930 to 1938, had 189 fights, plus exhibitions, 16 intercollegiate bouts, and won the Eastern Collegiate Championship in 1937. He entered Penn State on a Boxing Scholarship in 1935. He started out as a pre-med student but couldn't vanquish organic chemistry and therefore transferred to physical education the first semester of his Jr. year. In his sixteen collegiate bouts, Billy either knocked out or TKO'd all of his opponents. He holds all records at all colleges as to knockouts in two years. He was declared ineligible at Penn State in 1938, as he was declared a "professional." The excuse they offered Billy was that two or three Penn State opponents wouldn't participate in the State Championships if Billy fought on the team, because of the fact that Billy was a Golden Glove Champion. Because of Billy, the rule was passed in 1938, that Golden Gloves Champions could not compete intercollegiately. Billy left school after his first semester of his jr. year and turned professional. His managers were show biz people, screenwriter Paul Moss, and actor Dick Powell. Billy's first five bouts (all wins) were in Southern California, the first was a 3 round KO of Johnny Dean, on the Henry Armstrong - Baby Arizmendi undercard. He was presented a gruen watch as the "Best Fighter" of the night. Billy went undefeated in his first ten pro fights and then lost 2 fights back to back to Johnny Duca and the great Charley Burley (he had beaten Charley Burley in the amateurs and later beat Johnny Duca twice). He took a two thousand dollar fight with Al Quail, he hit Quail on the head and split the tendon of his middle knuckle and could never punch after that. With every right hand he would throw he would get a sharp pain from his arm to his neck. After an operation that removed scads of scar tissue out of the knuckle, he was never the same. He couldn't punish any of his opponents with the right and won most of his fights using the left. Remember, this was the same Billy Soose that had a better than 50% kayo ratio, but he was still winning! He beat four middleweight champions and drew with another. He won the middleweight championship in May of 1941 with a 15 round decision over Ken Overlin, after having beaten Tony Zale the previous year, Billy retired the Middleweight Crown in 1941, and fought three lightheavyweight fights, winning two and losing his last fight to the great Jimmy Bivens. He joined the Navy in '42 as a Chief Petty Officer in the Gene Tunney Program. Billy was promoted to Ensign in 1943 and spent 2 1/2 years in Alaska as Air and Ship Transportation officer. Billy was discharged in October 1945. Upon his discharge Billy was offered $100,000 by Mike Jacobs and Billy could name any three opponents he wanted. Billy told Mike that he felt he had reached his goals, that part of his life was over and his new goal was to be a successful businessman, and he's reached that pinnacle. Billy went back to Lake Wallenpaupack where he had his training camp and developed it into a resort, bar, hotel, restaurant, motels, cottages and a marina. In 1990 he sold more than four hundred acres and kept twenty acres around his house, back in the woods where the deer, turkeys and bear abound. He plays golf 3 or 4 days a week, reads and enjoys the area that has, as he puts it, comfortable living and healthful surroundings. Billy has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Jimmy Bivins
Middleweight - Light Heavyweight Contender (1940-1953)
Born: Dec. 6, 1919, Dry Branch, Georgia
Living in Cleveland, OH
Height: 5'9"; Weight: 175 to 180 lbs
Nationality: African American
Ring record: 86-25-1 (31 KO)
Managed by: Wilford "Whizbang" Center (1940-1942) Claud Shain (1942-1953)






Jimmy Bivins' family moved to Cleveland when Jimmy was 4. He was always a good student in school. He started boxing amateur in 1936 and in 1937 was the Cleveland Novice 126 lb Golden Gloves Title and went all the way to the finals of the National Golden Glove Tournament in San Francisco, losing a controversial decision. He turned pro in 1940 under the tutelage of his amateur mentor, "Whizbang" Carter. In his first year he beat such notables as Nate Bolden, Charley Burley, and Anton Christoforidis, who happened to also be the first man to beat Jimmy, after 19 consecutive wins. By 1942 Jimmy had moved up in weight often giving away as much as 35-40 lbs. a fight. By the end of '42 he had beaten 5 World Champions, ans was rated #1 Contender in both the Lightheavyweight and Heavyweight Division, something that had never been done before or since. He beat former Middleweight Champions Teddy Yaroz and Billy Soose, hometown rival and future 175 lbs. Champion Joey Maxim, stopped undefeated Joe Muscato, Tami Mauriella, Bob Pastor and Lightheavyweight Champion gus Lesnevich in a non-title bout. After the Lesnevich fight Gus's manager was quoted as saying, "We don't want to meet Bivins again, now or later, he is too good" and he held true to his word. Jimmy never got a title shot at Lesnevich or anyone else for that matter, "He was just too good!!" Jimmy trounced Ezzard Charles, flooring him 4 times for the "Duration" Lightheavyweight Title adn also beat NBA champ Anton Christoforidis a month later. In 1943 Jimmy and Tami Maurillo were matched for the "Duration" Heavyweight Championship in front of a packed house at Madison Sq. Garden. Frank Sinatra sang the National Anthem for his Pal Tami, but in the end it was Bivins' hand that was raised in victory.

After defeating Lloyd Marshall in front of 18,000 rain soaked fans at Cleveland stadium Jimmy announced that he would no longer fight as a Lightheavyweight, he was moving up to the Heavyweight Division. Jimmy went into the Army special services in 1944. Most people felt that when the war ended, Jose Louis would give Jimmy a shot at his title, but instead, chose to fight Tami Mauriello, a man, Jimmy had beaten twice. Jimmy went back to the ring wars in 1945 and in his first seven fights he won six and drew with Melio Betina including a 6 roudn knockout over the Great Archir Moore. In 1946 Jimmy lost a split decision to Jersey Joe Wollcott adn lost 2 more to Lee Q. Murray adn Ezzard Charles. He never seemed to get back to the greatness of the early forties, this is not to say he didn't have soem big wins or that he still wasn't a force in the Heavyweight Division, but he never reached the pre-1945 peak and there was no more talk of title shots. Jimmy was active and kept a topo ten rating until 1953. Jimmy retired in 1955 after 4 wins in a row which is uncommon with fighters. Jimmy's 86 wins, included victories over 8 World Champions, close losses to Jersey Joe Wolcott, Joe Louis and Harold Johnson, all that at only 5'9" and usually 175 to 180 lbs. When Jimmy retired he went ot work for a bakery as a driver salesman and when the firm closed he continued on with a major potato chip producer until he retired a few years back. Today, he runs a gym and trains fighters in Cleveland. Jimmy is a member of The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame and lives with his wife Elizabeth and daughter in Cleveland. Jimmy was inducted into The Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame in 1988. In accepting the "Integrity Award" from The Rochester Boxing Association Jimmy told the audience how he could have had a title shot if he had played ball with the "Mob" in New York, wherein his response was "Heck, I'm a fighter, not a ballplayer". That's Jimmy Bivins.



Jose Torres
World Lightheavyweight Champion 1965-66
1956 Olympic Light Middleweight Silver Medalist
Born: May 3, 1936, Playa Ponce, Puerto Rico
Living in New York, NY
Height: 5'10"; Weight: 150 to 180 lbs
Nationality: American/Puerto Rican
Ring record: 41-3-1(29 KO)
Managed by: Cus D' Amato





Jose Torres is one of those rare individuals who has done more outside the ring than he did in the ring, even though he retired with a record of 53-3-1, (39 by KO) and won the Lightheavyweight Championship of the World!!! There seems to be no end to this gentleman's talents.

Born in Playa Ponce, Puerto Rico, He took up boxing at 18, while serving in the U.S. Army. Jose became "All U.S. Army", "All U.S. Services" and in 1956 he represented the U. S. at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, He was a Silver Medalist in the Light - Middleweight Division. As good as he was, he still wasn't perfect, his over-all arnateur record was 40 wins and 1 loss. Jose turned pro in 1958 and was undefeated in his first 27 fights, although he was held to a draw in his 14th fight by the rugged Benny Paret. His first loss, was a 5th round KO by Cuban Florentino Fernandez in 1963, followed by another streak of 13 wins including a TKO win over Willie Pastrano for the Lightheavyweight Championship of the World. He defended his title 3 times before losing it to Dick Tigre, on a decision. He retired in 1969 after knocking out Charlie Green. Most boxers worry about what they're going to do after retirement, not Jose, he found this to be his opportunity to devote his time to other projects! In 1971 he wrote "Sting Like A Bee", the best selling novel about Muhammad Ali. From 1970 to 1978, he was a sooio-political columnist for the New York Post, becoming the first Hispanic to write a regular column for a major English Language newspaper in New York. In 1978 he was appointed Ombudsman for the City of New York, the first Hispanic to hold this position in the city. He was also the personal representative of the governor of Puerto Rico in the U.S. 1981 through 1983 he was Executive Asst. to Manhattan Borough President Andrew Stein. He was selected to serve as a Commissioner of the N.Y. State Athletic Commission from 1983 to 85, and was the chairman from 1985 to 1988. During 1988, he also found time to put out another book, the Mike Tyson story, "Fire & Fear." The book will become an H.B.O. rnovie later this year! From 1988 to 1992 Jose was special consultant for the Government of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico's Federal Affairs Administration in the U.S., focusing on issues affecting the Puerto Rican community in the U.S. Since 1993, Jose has been responsible for doing the "Color Commentary" in Spanish, for the "Tuesday Night Fights" on the U.S.A. Network, a live program which is seen thoughout Central and South America, as well as by Domestic Latinos in the U.S. He still finds time to continue his journalism and he is still the president of the "World Boxing Organization". With all that we have mentioned Jose still finds time to lecture all over the world on several topics including drug abuse prevention. He's been the keynote speaker at Penn. State, Harvard and Yale, on a variety of subjects, including sports and the socio political condition of the Latino community in the U.S. Jose always makes time for his family, his wife Ramona and their 4 children. The W.B.H.F. Acknowledges Jose Torres is a champion, both in and out of the ring!!!





Lionel Rose
World Bantamweight Champion 1968-69
Born: June 21, 1948, Drouin-Victoria, Australia
Living in Australia
Height: 5'6"; Weight: 117 to 130 lbs
Nationality: Aborigine
Ring record: 42-11 (12 KO)
Managed by: Jack Rennie



Australia is best known as the "Land Down Under", adn home of the koala bear and the kangaroo, but in boxing circles it is known as the country that gave us Lionel Rose. Rose was the "Rough - Tuff" little bantamweight that gave bantamweights around the world fits in the ring.

They say that Lionel was born with "A glove on his hand." Taught by his father from his toddler days, Lionel was a wide eyed pupil as Dad showed him the various punches and "counters" used by the professionals in the stadiums in teh big cities. As Lionel grew older he was taken to the Annual District Show and rodeo at Droven, the small country town in Victoria where he was born and raised. Highlight of the show was the boxing tent where Dad would put on the gloves adn challenge the boxers on the line-up to a fight for a prize offered by the promoter. Boxing was always the main topic of conversation at the Rose household and it quickly became Lionels ambition to win a World Championship. At 16 he became one of the youngest title holders in Australian Amateur Boxing History. 1964 was a disappointing year for the fighting Aborigine, as he lost in the finals of the olympic trials and missed a trip to Tokyo. He had the eventual winner Billy Booth on the canvas and many thought he deserved the win.



Paul Pender
World Middleweight Champion
1960-1962
Born: June 20, 1930
Living in Brookline, Mass
Height: 5'11"; Weight: 156 to 164 lbs
Nationality: Irish
Ring record: 40-6-2 (20 KO)
Managed by: Johnny Buckley






Paul Pender the two time Middleweight Champion of the World gives the word "homeboy" a new meaning. He grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, has worked in Brookline, most of his life and has lived in Brookline all his life. Paul was a football star in high school with a passion for boxing. He had to make a choice of accepting one of many football scholarships or stick with boxing. As we all know he chose the latter, and to this day, he still says he's never regretted it. 1949 the year he graduated from high school was the year Paul turned pro. In those early days he was known as a boxer with a punch, and kayoed 12 of his first 22 opponents. Injuries to his right hand forced him to retire in 1953. Paul still had the dream that all fighters have - to be the champ - so in 1954 he made a comeback and won 4 out 5 fights (the loss was by split decision to the great Gene Fullmer). In 1956 brittle hands forced him into another retirement, and it wasn't until after he knocked out an obnoxious drunk in a Boston tavern, without damaging his hand, that inspired him again to chase his dream! His second comeback started in 1958 and after his 23 months of inactivity Paul Pender hung up a string of 9 wins, - 5 of which were knockouts - and won the New England Middleweight Championship. On January 22, 1960 Paul was 5 to 1 underdog in his successful attempt to win the Middleweight Championship of the World from Sugar Ray Robinson. With both hands broken by the seventh round Pender outboxed the champ and won a split decision. In a rematch six months later Pender did it again. He successfully defended his title 3 times before losing it to Terry Downes on a cut eye on July 11, 1961 in London. In what turned out to be Penders last fight, he won back the title he so desperately had fought for his entire career, by decisioning Terry Downes In Boston.

This fighting machine led Tony DeMarco to say "He was the only man to beat Robinson twice in a row, that says enough." Miami based historian Hank Kaplan said, "Pender had very good boxing skills, He used them well."

After boxing, Paul worked as Athletic Director at Norfolk Correctional institution of Mass. and then was Asst. Athletic Director at the University of Mass. (Boston Campus) and from there, became assistant clerk of court at the Brookline Municipal Court, until his retirement. Pender, a Graduate of Boston State College is best remembered by the press, as the cocky boxer who used to razzle-dazzle them with an expansive vocabulary or humored them with verses of Shakespeare, and his articulate dissertations on ways he would in. It was an educated mans version of "Trash Talk."

Paul married his high school sweetheart Rose Anzivino in 1952 and they have three children, Paul Jr., Joyce, Roseann, and 5 grandchildren. At present the champ is involved in his biggest fight ever, against the dreaded disease, alzheimers. He still lives in Brookline and still enjoys a round of golf with his ex-cornerman, confidant, and best friend, Babe Wood. In a recent interview Paul stated "Everything I wanted - I accomplished, everything was perfect, I have no regrets."



Raul "Raton" Macias
World Bantamweight Champion
1955-1957
Born: June 28, 1934
Living in Mexico
Height: 5'31/2"; Weight: 117 to 127 lbs
Nationality: Mexican
Ring record: 32-6 (22 KO)
Managed by: Pete Hernandez (1953-1956), Luis Andrade - George Parnasus (1956 - 1959)





"Raton" Macias started boxing amateur at the age of 14, and people noticed the "Little Mouse" right away! His amateur career was highlighted as a member of the Mexican Olympic Boxing Team in 1952 and advancing to the semi finals.

He returned professional in April 1953 in a 10 round bout, beating the veteran Manuel Armenteros by decision. Macias was so respected and feared as an amateur that all of his professional bouts were main events. In only his fifth pro bout, he won the vacant Mexican bantamweight title with a twelve round decision over fellow countryman Roberto Couary in twelve rounds.

In 1954 he knocked out Billy Peacock in 7, beat Fili Nava in twelve (retaining his Mexican title and won the North American bantamweight title in a win over Nate Brooks. March 9 of '55, he won the vacant NBA bantamweight title from Chamrern Songkitrat by TKO in the 11th round in his first American fight. The bout was held in front of 5300 fans and drew $31,500 at the gate. In his 15th professional fight, Macias stunned the boxing world losing by a knockout to the man he had beaten the year before, California's Billy Peacock, in a non-title fight. In losing Macias sufferred a fractured jaw. His first fight after his Kayo loss to Peacock was a ten round win over Cecil Schoonmaker in Corpus Christi, followed by a 17 win streak that ended when he and Alphonse Halimi fought for the undisputed bantamweight Championship at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, on November 6, 1957. Halimi won a split decisoin with Judges Frankie Van and Dynamite Jackson scoring for him and referee Mushy Callahan scoring in favor of "Raton." Macias fought only five times after his loss to Halimi and won them all. He finally retired in 1962 with only two losses in 38 professional bouts.

During his career, Macias shattered all attendance records in Mexico and in the September '93 issue of Ring Magazine, he was ranked #8 in their column "The Best of a Nation -- Mexico". After his boxing career was over, Macias turned to acting. He presently trains boxers in Mexico. He was on the coaching squad of Mexico's 1984 Olympic Boxing Team. He lives in Mexico City where he is still a national hero!!



Vito Autuofermo
World Middleweight Champion,
1979-1980
Born: February 9, 1953, Bari, Italy
Living in New York
Height: 5'9"; Weight: 150 to 162lbs
Nationality: Italian
Ring record: 50-7-2 (21 KO)
Managed by: Tony Carione







It took Vito Antuofermo's uncle ten years to legally get Vito's family to America. In 1968 perseverance finally paid off and the Antuofermo's of Bari, Italy were transplanted to Brooklyn, New York

Vito, the second oldest of the Antuofermos got his first, taste of baxing after a fight in an empty lot with some kids from another neighborhood. During the fight, which he started at a "Block Part", the police came and as Vito tells it "I was a good fighter but a lousy runner". Vito got picked up and put in a squad car. The officer started asking Vito if he was a good fighter and after a lengthy conversation took Vito to the local P.A.L. Gym. Vito put his the gloves on (first time in his life) and a neighborhood kid tore him up. When Vito got back to his buddies, he explained what had happened and told his pals he was going back to the gym to learn how to box so he could whip the kid, that had just beat him up. One month later, at a P.A.L. boxing show in the local church, Vito got his chance for revenge and stopped the kid in the second round. By this time they had become friends and the kid was unaware of the vendetta Vito was carring. He soon found out!

In 1970 Vito became the 1970 New York novice 147 lb. Golden Glove Champion. The following year Vito went all the way to the final of the open division, losing to Eddie Gregory, (Eddie Mustafa Mohammad) a fighter he had beaten in the novice division.

In 1971 Vito was a spectator at a boxing show in Queens and was asked to fill in for a fighter that didn't show up. Vito won a four round decision and after that ran up a 19-fight win streak, before losing on a TKO to Harold EWestin on an eye cut. Vito's corner didn't have a "cut man" and they couldn't close a wound caused by a head butt in the second round. Needless to say Vito never fought again without a cut man.

Vito won another 19-in-a-row and in 1976 he won a 15 round decision over Eckhard Dagge in Berlin to win the European Jr. Middleweight Title. In 1979 Vito won a 15 round decision over the tough Hugo Corro to win the Middleweight Champion of the world. In November of that year Vito defended this title against "Marvelous Marvin" Hagler in what has been called "World War III." The bout ended in a draw with Vito retaining his Championship. In 1980 Vito lost his title to Allan Minter, and once against Hagler. All of Vito's losses were due to cuts. Vito retired on De. 7, 1981 and made a short cameback in 1984 winning 4 and losing 1. In his 59 bouts Vito beat some of the best in his division including Denny Moyer, Emile Griffith, Vinnie Curto and Bennie Briscoe.

Vito is presently appearing in the hit play "Tonny and Tina's Wedding" in New York. He plays the part of Tony's dapper and fun-loving father. The play runs seven nights a week andhas been a big success, with Vito receiving some rave reviews. He is also very visible in commercials, The Freshman and The Godfather. Vito Lives in New York with his wife Joan and their 4 children.

When asked would he do it over again, without hasitation his answer was,"Definitely."







Armando Muniz
Welterweight Contender, 1960's-70's
Born: May 3, 1947 Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico
Living in Riverside County, California
Height: 5'8"; Weight: 147lbs
Nationality: Mexican-American
Ring record: 52-14-1
Managed by: Jake Horn, Vic Weiss

Armando Muniz
Welterweight Contender, 1960's-70's
Born: May 3, 1947 Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico
Living in Riverside County, California
Height: 5'8"; Weight: 147lbs
Nationality: Mexican-American
Ring record: 52-14-1
Managed by: Jake Horn, Vic Weiss



Class of "93"

For as far back as he can remember, Armando Muniz had one bright, shinning ambition: to be a fighter. Not millionaire. Not a ballplayer. And certainly, not a boxer. A fighter.

Mando's late father, Sabino, was a fighter, befoe the responsibilities of providing for a large family took precedence over his ring career, and Mando himself, serving as big brother-protector of the eight Muniz children as the family followed the crops through northern Chihuahua and over into Texas, learned to fight early and often. But he wanted to fight in a ring. With gloves. With people looking on.

It was in El Paso, in the spring of 1961, that Mando made his move. At age 13, driven by visions of glory, he filled out an entry form that was printed in the local newspaper, and before you could say "muchacthito loco," was assigned a spot in the local Golden Gloves tournament.

"You're crazy" said papa Sabino, when he learned of his son's rash action. "Look at you! You have no equipment. No boxing shoes. No trunks. No mouthpiece. You're much to young. And you don't know the first thing about boxing!"

"No problema," his son replied. "i'm not going to be boxing; I'm going to be fighting. I have my tennis shoes. My shorts. My teeth are stong, so I don't need no mouthpiece. I'm as old as you were, when you started fighting. And you just haven't seen me; I can fight like hell."

And so it was that 13-year-old Armando Muniz (fudging a bit about his age, of course) was matched against a seasoned, 18-year-old amatuer named Tony Romero in the opeing round of the 1961 El Paso Golden Gloves.

We don't need to tell you who won that bout, but Mondo fought too hard to allow the referee to stop the fight. At the end of three rounds in which he had absorbed maybe a thousand punches, he was still charging in, firing punches, actually putting Tony Romero into retreat, captivating the crowd with his fighting spirit.

As good fortune would have it, a couple of Mando's schoolmates were at the Golden Gloves that night--were astounded to see him in the ring, and totally entranced by his performance. So the word was all over school the next day, and Mando's reputation - and course in life was set forever.

Mando was later to earn a wrestling scholarship at UCLA, get into amateur and pro boxing under the tuteledge of a fine man named Jack horn, cand ended up under the management of the enterprising Vic Weiss. He terrortized Southern California amatuer boxing ranks, represented the United States in the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico City (where he lost a ridiculous decision to a Mexican named Antonio Roldan, whom he later destroyed in two rounds when they met again as professionals), and established himself as one of the better welterweight boxers (make that fighters) of his time.

Who did he beat? A lot of very good ringmen: Boby "Boogaloo" Watts, Walter Charles, Gil King, Clyde Gray, Percy Pugh, Adolph Pruitt, Manuel Gonzalez, Thurman Durden, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez, Hedgemon Lewis Billy Lloyd, Zovek Barajas, and Pete Ranzany. He also beat the hell out of of the great Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles, with the world title on the line in Acapulco, Mexico, on the fateful date of March 30, 1975 - only to have Napoles declared the winner and still champion on the basis of an alleged foul that had occured nine rounds earlier.

Muniz came up short in three othe title tries (twice vs. Carlos Palomino, once vs. Napoles); but he never, ever failed to give the best he had within him, each time he entered the ring.

The kid from Chihuahua lives today in Riverside County with his lovely Yolanda, teaching Spanish at Rubidoux High School and dabbing in insurance and rel estate. He has come a long way from Chihuahua, and he's still moving up. He's the kind of guy who doesn't know how to quit...Just ask the kid in El Paso, named Tony Romero.



Bob Montgomery
World Lightweight Champion, 1943-47
Born: February 10, 1919 Sumter, South Carolina
Living in Philadelphia, PA
Height: 5'8"; Weight: 135
Nationality: African-American
Ring record: 75-19-3
Managed by: Frankie Thomas, Joe Gramby






Bobcat Bob. What a name for a fighter. And what a fighter he was!

Born in South Caroline, raised in Philadelphia, Bobcat Bob burst into the fistic scene in 1938 with five quick KO's in Atlantic city. He followed with 18 more wins - most by knockout, all in Atlantic City or Philadelphia.

It may have been an unexpected decision loss to Tommy Spiegel, in 1939; or maybe Manager Frankie Thomas had more clout than we realize today - but somehow, Montgomery managed to rach fistic maturity without coming under the benevolent guidance of the sisnister duo who seemed to muscle in on the management of all Philadelphia-area prospects in that place and time: Frank "Blinky" Palermo and his silent partner, Frank "Mr. Gray" Carbo.

Montgomery lost decisions to the first two world class fighters he met: Lew Jenkins and Sammy Angott, in the fall of 1940. But he learned from those losses, retrenched, and went on a rampage that resulted in his capturing the New York version of the world lightweight title, in 1943. Along the way he bested Nick Peters, Lew Jenkins in a return bout, Slugger White, Jimmy Garrison, Bobby Ruffin, Mxie Shapiro, Chester Rico, Lulu Constantino, and Roman Alvarez, among others.

Bob upset the popular Beau Jack for the 135-pound title in May of 1943; lost it back to him six months later; then beat Jack for the title a second time, in March of 1944.

Sandwiched between the title bouts with Beau Jack was a non-title bout that ranks as perhaps the high-water mark of Montgomery's career. On January 25, 1944, he met another young warrior in what fight fans reverently refer to as a "hometown natural." The upstart Ike Williams, from across the bridge in Trenton, New Jersey, and their pairing took on title-fight dimensions. Montgomery administered a frightful beating to his young rival, closing his eye early on and dropping him two or three times en route to a 12th-round KO. Williams claimed afterward that the eye injury was caused by a thumb, and he stalked his conqueror-neighbor for the next three years.

The Second Battle of Philadelphia was waged on August 4, 1947, with Williams winning in six rounds. Montgomery wasn't the same fighter after that loss, dropping six in a row before retiring from the ring in 1950.

Make no mistake: Bobcat Bob was a worthy champion, in an era of outstanding 135-pounders. In addition to those mentioned earlier, he numbered among his victims Fritzie Zivic, Petey Scalzo, Cecil Hudson, Nick Moran, Leo Rodak, Tony Pellone, Allie Stolz, Wesley Mouzon, Eddie Giosa, Joey Barnum, and Jesse Flores.

Let us welcome this great warrior on his triumphant return to Los Angeles!



Cornelius Boza-Edwards
World Super Featherweight Champion, 1981
Born: May 27, 1956 Kampala, Uganda
Living in Las Vegas
Height: 5'9"; Weight: 130
Nationality: African-British
Ring record: 44-6-1
Managed by: Mikey Duff






In any accounting of the most exciting fistic contests of the 1980's, the name of Cornelius Boza-Edwards looms large and often.

There was his gallant TKO loss to the great Alexis Argelllo, in his introduction to big time boxing in Atlantic City in August of 1980; his blood-baths with Bazooka Limon and rolando Navarette; and his two Fight-of-the-Year collisions with Hall of Famer Bobby Chacon, in 1981 and 1983.

Born in Uganda, taking the "Edwards" part of his name from the British benefactor who gave him his start in boxing, Boza-Edwards captured the hearts of British boxing fanciers as few pugilists ever have. Not only was he terrific, exiting fighter; he was (and still is) a gentleman in the ring, a true sportman, impeccable in his speech and in the way he carries himself. No other athlete of his generation so exemplified the British ideals of courage, genteel manner, and sportsmanship.

Boza-Edwards won the World Boxing Council 130-pound "super featherweight" title by besting Mexico's Bazooka Limon in a 15 round war in Stockton, California in 1981. His first defense was against former featherweight champ Bobby Chacon, and he seemingly ended the San Fernando Schoolboy's career with a tumultous, blood-drenched 13-round TKO in Las Vegas.

In retrospect, that fight may have taken more out of Boza-Edwards than it did Chacon. He lost the title to Filipino Rolando Navarette in a shocking upset just three months after beating Bobby. And though he fought on for five more years, he was never able to recapture the title-nor, for that matter, the razor-sharp "edge" that made him a champion.

In a classic boxing manifestation of "everything that goes around, comes around," Bobby Chacon outlasted Bazooka Limon for the WBC featherweight title in December of 1982. And his first defense was against Cornelius Boza-Edwards, in a brawl for the ages. Chacon won a 12-round decision in a bloody, multi-knockdown war.

At his best, Boza-Edwards was an agressive, Finely-tuned, hard hitting southpaw, possessed of a beautiful physique augmented by relentless conditioning. He was never, ever out of shape. Nor was he ever in a dull fight.

They still love him in Londo, but Cornelius chooses to live in his latest adopted hometown of Las Vegas, where he works for a major casino and trains boxers on the side. His prize potege', Kid Akeem, seemed headed for the world flyweight championship until an unfortunate head injury cut short his career.



Fabela Chavez
Featherweight/Lightweight Contender, 1940's - 50's
Born: October 15, 1929 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Living in Norwalk, CA
Height:5'6"; Weight: 126-142 lbs.
Nationality: Mexican-American
Ring record: 106-21-2
Managed by: George Parnassusi

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Fabulous Fabela, we called him in his fighting prime.

And anyone who saw him in action during those years (late Forties thru mid-Fifties) remembers why. He was a poised, baby-faced ball of fire with hands so fast they were just a blur. He had a certain electricity about him that brought huge crowds into Southern California areanas (Southwest Arena / Ocean Park / Hollywood Legion Stadium / Olympic Auditorium, even Gilmore Field and Wrigley Field) and entertained them in a manner that few boxeadors have ever equalled.

Born in Albuquerque, raised in East L.A., Alexander Chavez was hawking newspapers at the skid row corner of Sixth and Main Streets in Los Angeles one fateful day in 1942, when a man driving a long, dark sedan stopped nearby, recruiting volunteers for an amateur boxing card at the old Southwest Arena. It was the easiest three bucks the kid ever earned - and soon he was on his way, training at the Main Street Gym, hanging out with a classy young pro named Jimmy Doyle, boxing two or three times a week in local clubs. The fact that little Alexander was just 12 years of age, while the minimum age for boxers was 18, presented no big problem. He borrowed the draft card of an older kid named Rodrigo Fabela, and boxed under that name for several years - winning all but a handful of 248 amateur contests.

Eventually he bacame Fabela Chavez, in adn out of the ring. He turned pro in 1945, a few weeks before his sixteenth birthday.

The youngster's first loss as a pro was to another hot prospect named Art Aragon, in Las Vegas on October 3, 1945. Two weeks later he evened the score, beating Art in six rounds.

Early in his career, Fabela had the good fortune to come under the tutelege of a man who would remain his friend and benefactor for the next four decades - World Boxing Hall of Famer George Parnassus. Thus he also became the stablemate of another boxing legend: Hall of Famer Enrique Bonlanos.

Chavez beat two world champions (Harold Dade and Lauro Salas), but never had the opportunity to fight for a world title. Of his 10-round decision loss to the incomparable Willie Pep in 1952 he says, "I'm still looking for that guy."

The thing that distinguished every bout Fabela ever engaged in was excitement. He was never in a dull fight. And the rematch was usually just as good as the original. thus his (two amateur, two pro) series with Aragon; his three-fight series with Lauro Salas; his three with Bobby Jackson; and his six wars (three wins, three losses) with a punching machine named Alfredo Escobar.

Fabela married the one woman in his life, his beautiful Catalina, 47 years ago. They have raised four children, all now grown, of whom they are very proud.

Does Fabela chavez belong in our sport's Hall of Fame? Just ask the citizens of Carson, California, where for many years Fabela has been involved in youth work. Check out the name adorning one of the finest, cleanest, most modern athletic facilities to be found anywhere in the United States. It is called the City of Carson Fabela Chavez Boxing and Weightlifting Center. And the director of the center, the guy all the kids loko up to, is Fabela himself.



Nino Benvenuti
World Jr. Middleweight Champion, 1956-66
World Middleweight Champion
1967-70
Born: April 26, 1938 Trieste, Italy
Living in Italy
Height:5'11"; Weight: 152-160
Nationality: Italian
Ring record: 82-7-1
Managed by: Bruno Amaduzzi







One look tells you that Giovanni "Nino" Benvenuti was meant to be a star.

Born in the Italian seaport city of Trieste (on the Adriatic Sea, next door to Yugoslavia) in 1938, raised on the run in a country ravaged by war, he became street-smart and resourceful at an early age. He learned how to hustle, and he learned how to fight.

What's more, he learned how to look pretty - and how to please a crowd. Looking pretty came easy as easy to him as knocking down a plate of pasta. Tall and extraordinarilly handsome, even as a youngster he had about him a certain Valentino-like elegance. He might have become a movie star (and later, as champion, did accept some film roles) or an international soccer star (and did excel in that sport, as well) - but chose boxing instead.

Nino captured the hearts of his countrymen by winning the welterweight Gold Medal in the 1960 Olympic Games - in Rome, of course. (The Gold Medal in the lightweight class that year was won by a loquacious young American named Cassius Marcellus Clay.)

Turning pro in 1961, Benvenuti won 65 in a row before dropping a disputed decision (and the junior middleweight title) to Ki-Soo Kim in Seoul, Korea, in 1966. He came back to defeat Emile Griffith for the middleweight title in 1967, then lost and won again in two encore meetings with griffith within the next 11 months.

Style-wise, Nino was an uptight, orthodox boxer-puncher with fast hands, a spearing left jab, and good power in his right hand. He made good use of his height and reach, and was difficult to hit with a solid shot.

So who did he beat? Well, just about all of the good 150-to 160-pounders of his time: Gaspar Ortega, Isaac Logart, Jimmy Beecham, Tony Montano, Denny Moyer, Art Hernandez, Juan Carlos Duran, Sandro Mazzinghi (twice, with the junior middleweight title on the line both times), Don Fullmer, Fred Hernandez, Charley Austin, Luis Rodriguez, and Tom Bethea.

Five of Nino's eight losses came near the end of his 10-year pro career, when his skills began to erode. He lost his middleweight title to the great Carlos Monzon in 1970, and failed in a bid to win it back six months later.

Seldom has an athlete been so admired by an entire nation as has Nino Benvenuti, by his belle Italia. Let us welcome this handsome and elegant Man of Trieste to his rightful place in The Boxing's Hall of Fame!!!



Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos
Welterweight Champion, 1963-64
Born: December 2, 1941,
Matanzas, Cuba
Living in Mexico
Height: 5'5"; Weight: 126-135
Nationality: African-Cuban
Ring record: 54-7-4
Managed by: Cuco Conde






"What shall we name this little guy?" Jose'Ramos asked his wife, after she had given bith to their twenty-second child in Mantanzas, Cuba, on December 2, 1941.

"Ultiminio (Last One)," the long-suffering woman replied. And so it was that a future featherweight champion of the world got his name.

"You were lucky, Uliminio," one of the youngster's older brothers used to tell him. "They could have named you "No Mas."

The Last One grew up quick and plenty tough. He was fighting professionally before he turned 16, and only three draws and one loss via disqualification marred an otherwise perfect record in his first 45 contests.

Ramos was one of the great Cuban boxers (along with Luis Rodriguez, Doug Vaillant, Florentino Fernandez, Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles, Isaac Logart, Benny "Kid" Paret and Baby Luis, among others) who fled their homeland when Fidel Castro's Communist governmant banned professional sports in the early 1960's. Like Napoles and Luis, he relocated in Mexico City - and became a star.

At the time of his arrival in Mexico in 1961, Sugar (who took his nickname from the great Ray Robinson or from the cane fields of his native province - take your pick) was undefeated in 28 bouts, with 25 knockouts already to his credit. He just kept getting better, overpowering good fighters like Alfredo Urbina, Kid Anahuac, Eddie Garcia, Joe Rafiu King, Danny Valdez, Baby Vasquez, and Jose Luis Cruz, en route to a showdown with the great Davey Moore for the undisputed featherweight championship.

Moore vs Ramos was a ring classic, marred by a tragic ending. They met in Dodger Stadium on the evening of March 21, 1963, before a crowd of 26,142 paid a record $269,452.00. For 10 fierce rounds they bulgeoned each other, fighting with the desperation of predators in a primeval jungle. Moore was floored late in the 10th round, the back of his neck landing hard against the bottom strand of ring rope. The fight was stopped between rounds, and Moore lapsed into a coma. He died two days later.

Ramos held the title for a year and a half, defending successfully against Joe Rafiu King in Mexico City, Mitsunori in Seki in Tokyo, and Floyd Robinson in Accra, Ghana before losing via 12th-round TKO to the great Vicente Saldivar.

He moved up to the lightweight class and fought on spoadically for another eight years - but was never quite able to recapture the magic of his early career. He retired from boxing in 1972, having lost just seven times in 66 pro contests ageinst the best of his time.

Wilfredo Benitez
World Jr. Welterweight Champion, 1976-79
World Welterweight Champion, 1979
WBC Super Welterweight Champion, 1981-82
Born: September 12, 1958 Bronx, New YOrk
Living in New York
Height: 5'10"; Weight: 140-156
Nationality: Puerto Rican-American
Ringrecord: 51-6-1
Managed by: His Father






It all came easy for Wilfredo Benitez. Too easy, perhaps. He was a child prodigy, and then some.

At age 14, little Wilfredo was outclassing main event professionals in his father's makeshift gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dropping out of school and lying about his age, he turned pro at age 15 and went undefeated in his first 39 bouts, scoring 25 knockouts and picking up two world titles along the way. Those were undisputed titles, and he didn't win them from second-raters. He decisioned the great Antonio Cervantes for the junior welterweight crown on March 6, 1976 - five months after his 17th birthday; and did likewise to Hall of Famer Carlos Palomino, three years later, for the undisputed welterweight title.

Only a draw with smooth-boxing Harld Weston marred Benitez' sparkling record during his first six years of boxing. He breezed past good fighters like Tony Petronelli, Mel Dennis, Bruce Curry, and Randy Shields. With success came easy money; and the money was invested in flashy things; clothes, cars jewelry (with emphasis on gold chains) - and of course women. Flashy women. Success also transformed the kid's natural cockiness into a certain arrogance, and with the arrogance came disregard for the personal dicipline that boxing demands of even its most talented performers.

The first loss of Wilfredo's career occured on November 30, 1979, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, when Sugar Ray Leonard surged from behind to stop him with just six seconds remaining in the 15th and final round of a scintillating contest. There was very little to choose between the brilliant young 147 pounders that night, and Ray's slight edge probably lay in superior conditioning.

Benitez lusted for a rematch with Leonard, but was denied the opportunity as Ray defended his title against Dave (Boy) Green and then began his celebrated series with Roberto Duran.

Wilfredo moved up to junior middleweight (Jose Suliman's World Boxing Coiuncil calls it "super welterweight") class in 1981, easily winning the WBC title by stopping Britain's Maurice Hope. After successful defenses against Carlos Santos and Roberto Duran, he lost the crown via close decision to Thomas Hearns in 1982.

The Kid from the Bronx didn't exactly hang around to become anybody's punching bag, but things were never quite the same after that loss to Hearns. He won seven bouts, lost four over the next four years, drifting into retirement after K.O. losses to Matthew Hilton and Carlos Herrera in 1986.

Of Course, Wilfredo wishes today that he had stayed in school longer and spent his money more wisely; but what ex-fighter doesn't?

It was a great run, and great fun while it lasted, for the cocky kid who became champion of the entire world at age 17.









Frank Klaus (The Pittsburgh Bearcat)
World Middleweight Champion, 1913
Born: December 30, 1887,
Pittsburgh, PA
Died: February 8, 1948, Pittsburgh, PA
Height: 5'71/2"; Weight: 150-160
Nationality: German - American
Ring record: 49-4-2 + 34 No Decision
Managed by: George Engel




Class of "92"

Frank Klaus came along at a time that has been called The Golden Age of Middleweights, when the 160 pound division was peopled by the likes of Stanley Ketchel, Jack "Twin" Sullivan, Sam Langford, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Jimmy Gardner, Leo Houch, Jack Dillion, Billy Papke, Eddie McGoorty, Jeff Smith, Les Darey, and Georges Carpentier.

Klaus beat most of 'em - battling to a No Decision - draw with the great Ketchel in 1911. A 12 - round decision win over Sullivan the same year, and a 20 over Dillon in 1912. He beat Carpentier via disqualification in Dieppe on June 24, 1912, when the Orchid Man's manager, Francois Descamps, scrambled into the ring in the middle of the 19th round of a scheduled 20-rounder to save his man from a sure knockout.

On March 5, 1913, Klaus won the world middleweight title when Billy Papke fouled out in the 15th round of their scheduled 20-rounder to determine Ketchel's successor. He held the title just seven months before losing in a shocking upset to the only man ever to knock him out during his 10-year pro career, George Chip.

What kind of guy was this fellow Klaus? We get a clue from newspaper accounts of the time he knocked out two guys in one night.

The date was May 15, 1909; the city was Philadelphia, and the opponent was an opportunistic Englishman named Harry Mansfield. Klaus landed a solid left hook to the body in the second round, and Mansfield fell to the floor and was counted out. Mansfield's manager cried "Foul!" and much of the crowd sided with him.

The promoter, Jack McGuigan, tried to smooth things over but was shouted down by the unruly crowd. Over his own manager's protests, Klaus told McGuigan, "If they really think I hit this Limey low, tell'em I'll fight any man in the house. For free!"

The legendary Sam Langford, then in his fighting prime, was in the house that night. So were Philadelphia Jacklackburn, Brokklyn Tommy Sullivan, and heavyweight Jim Smith, known as the Brooklyn Plumber.

It was and a few minutes late he was in the ring, stripped down and ready for action, six inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than the stocky Klaus.

The fight was furious, while it lasted. And it only lasted about one minute. Look again, this time well above the belt line, and the Brooklyn Plumber went down and out, with a couple of cracked ribs.

And then, in an action that proved forever that he had true grit, he yelled down to Promoter McGuigan: "Does anybody else want to try it?" There were no takers.

Frank Klaus left us 44 years ago, at age 61; but his legend is alive and well. Frank's son, Frank Klaus, Jr., is an avid boxing buff in Southern California and will be on hand Nov. 7 to acknowledge out trite to his great warrior of boxing's bygone era.



Frankie Garcia
Featherweight Champion, 1920's
Born: April 9, 1899
Died: February 1, 1982
Height: 5'6"; Weight: 126
Nationality: Mexican - American
Ring record: Unknown - Said to have had 365 fights
Managed by: DeWitt Van Court and others






There aren't a lot of people around today who saw Frankie Garcia in action in a boxing ring. There is no accounting of his career in The Ring Record Book, but we were able to piece together this much about him:

Frankie was born April 9, 1989, in El Paso, Texas, Full name: Francisco Dominguez de Garcia. His family moved to Los Angeles shortly after his birth, and it was in the City of Angels that the youngster got his start in boxing as The Fighting Newsboy. One of his early sparring partners was an irish kid named Jimmy Doolittle - later to earn lasting fame as an air combat hero and leader of the famous B-25 bombing raid on World War II.

In his Who's Who in the World Friendship Temple of Fame, WBHF founder Everett L. Sanders quotes sports, columnist Johnny Brannigan: "For 12 long years Garcia beat the best of them. The king of the featherweights, Johnny Kilbane, would not give Garcia a chance at the title...

A hustling promoter in Houston, Texas, decided to hold a featherweight title bout. The best featherweight in the west was Garcia. The greatest in the east was that wonderful boxing machine, Charlie Beecher. For 12 rounds it was Garcia's murderous punches thrown at Beecher with Beecher managing to deflect the blows, Garcia was declared the winner and new champion (Apparently, the title claim was not widely recognized - ED).

Garcia is said to have participated in 365 professional fights. He made Bob Ripley's "Believe it or Not" by flooring Toughy Murray 19 times in one round in a bout in Houston, in 1921.

Prior to his death in 1982, Frankie and wife Elsie lived for many years in Gardena, CA where the proud ex-featherweight managed and trained boxers and authored a sports column for the local newspaper.

Frankie is well remembered by his friends in the Golden State Boxers Association (of which he once President) and the Cauliflower Alley Club.


George Latka
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Bio soon


Harold Johnson
World Lightweight Champion 1961-63
Born: August 9, 1928, Philadelphia, PA
Living in Philadelphia, PA
Height: 5'9 1/2"; Weight: 160
Nationality: African- American
Ring record: 76-11
Managed by: Tommy Loughrey, Pete Moran, Pat Olivieri, Clarence Davison, Clint Davison, George Gainford






It is easy to make a case for Harold Johnson as the best lightweight ever to campaign in the heavyweight division. The only heavyweight ever to defeat him was Jersey Joe early in his career. Meanwhile, Harold whupped on Arturo Godoy, Jimmy Bivins, Henry Hall (three times), Clarence Henry, Ezzard Charles, Nino Valdes (with greatest ease). Marty Marshall, Wayne Bethea, Eddie Machen and big-hitting Bob Satterfield (twice). In his own wright class he defeated Bert Lytell, Chuck Hunter, Leonard Morrow, Jimmy Slade, Paul Andrews, Sonny Ray, Henry Hank, Hank Casey, and Eddie Jones among others.

It is part of the legacy of Harold Johnson that in spite of his record as one of the greatest lightheavyweight boxers of all time, he is remembered as much for his failures as for his accomplishments.

First, there was the Archie Moore thing. the Old Mongoose tagged Harold with his first loss (after 24 easy victories), 1949. They were to meet four more times over the next five years, with Archie winning three-including a dramatic come-from-behind stoppage in 14 rounds on August 11, 1954, just when Harold appeared to have thoroughly defeated his ancient foe.

then there was the clebrated loss to Jersy Joe Walcott, in 1950 - noteworthy because Walcott had stopped Harold's father, Phil Johnson, in 1936 in the same city (Philadelphia) and in the same round (round three).

And of course, there was the controversial "poison orange" episode when Johnson was upset by little-known Julio Maderos-blaming his lethargic performance on the effects of his having eaten a "doctored" orange that was handed to him by a mysterious strange shortly before the bout.

Aside from those strange happeings, and periods of inactivity complicated by managerial problems, Harold Johnson was a damn-near perfect boxer. A Magnificent physical specimen, he was a thorough professional in the ring: an intelligent, enormously talented "thinking man's fighter" who boxed with cool precision and punched with power.

Harold didn't get his second shot at the 175 pound title until 1961, when at age 33 he turned in a flawless performance in taking out Jesse Bowdry in nine rounds. He held the title for 28 months, defending successfully against Von clay, Eddie Cotton, Doug Jons, and Gustav Scholz, before dropping 15 round split decision to Hall of Famer Willie Pastrano in 1963.

Harold still lives in his native Philadelphia, where he is revered a one of the City of Brotherly Love's all-time great athletic heroes.



Kid Azteca (Luis Villanueva Paramo)
Joureyman Welterweight Contender, 1930's-50's.
Born: June 21, 1913, Mexico City
Living in Mexico City
Height: 5'6"; Weight: 132-142
Nationality: Mexican
Ring record: 196 wins (79 by KO) 39 losses + 50 unrecorded fights
Managed by: Julio Montes, Jimmy Fitten






All over Mexico, for the past 30 years, old men have been swilling free cervezas by passing themselves off as "the real Kid Azteca." We are quite certain that the hombre we honor tonight is the real McCoy - er, Azteca.

It is no exaggeration to say that Kid Azteca is a ring legend. It is also quite accurate to say that our Selection Committee voted him into the Hall of Fame more in recognition of his legend - and his longevity as a professional fighter - than for his ring ability.

Shrouded in legend, the Kid Azteca story goes like this: Born Luis Villanueva Paramo in Tepito, June 21, 1913. Began fighting professionally, as "Kid Chino," in 1929. Boxed throughout Mexico and in various foreign counties over the next 32 years - always in shape, always willing to give it his best, winning most of the time, losing a few bad calls to home-town boys but not complaining, always competitive, always very professional, in and out of the ring.

Nobody, including the Kid himself, knows just how many times he entered a boxing ring to fight for money. But if we may assume that if he fought once a month in peak years, (it was much more often then that) for 32 years, it totals 384 fights.

This much is certain: the Kid fought often, and he fought hard. He fought whenever and wherever he could throw up a ring - in arenas, ballrooms, ballparks, bull rings, open plazas, cantinas - even in dirt-floor barns, with no ring ropes, where the undercard consisted of fights to the death between game roosters.

Was the Kid a world class fighter in his prime years? Well, he decisioned Hall of Famer Ceferino Garcia in Los Angeles, on July 11, 1933; and knocked him out in a rematch, 14 days later! He registered wins over the great Fritzie Zivic, World Champ Izzy Janazzo, and Contenders Al Manfredo, young Peter Jackson, and Baby Joe Gans. He also went up against Rodolfo Casanova, Sammy Angott, and Jackie Wilson.

But the essence of the Kid Azteca legend is found in Mexico. Every major city, many small pueblos, and even a few ejidos have seen him display his fistic talents. Generations of boxing fans saw him, cheered him, loved him.

The man was still shuffling from town to town, taking on all comers, before hanging up his gloves at age 46 (some admirers insist he must have been much older), in 1958.

To put it in perspective: Kid Azteca is the Satchel Paige, or George Foreman, of Latin America. He pretty much dropped out of sight after his retirement from the ring, 34 years ago. Or did he? Is he still showing up in those remote Mexican Villages, demonstrating to young vats how its done?

Have we found the Real Aztec? Let us look into his eyes, and listen to his voice, and decide for ourselves.



Marvin Hagler
World Middleweight Champion 1980-87
Born: May 23,1954
Newark, N.J.
Living in Milan, Italy
Height: 5'9 1/2"; Weight: 160
Nationality: African- American
Ring record: 63-3-2
Managed by: Goody Petronelli, Pat Petronelli






On anybody's list of all-time great middlewright boxers, the rock-hard southpaws from Brockton, Mass. (yes, Rocky Marciano's home town) has to rank right up there with the very best ones.

In 14 years as a professional fighter, Marvelous Marvin was never stopped inside the scheduled distance; was knocked off his feet only once (a shove by Juan Roldan that was ruled a knockdown by an out-of-position referee); and scored return-bout kayoes over the two of the three men (Bobby Watts and Willie "The Work" Monroe) numbering people like Sugar Ray Seales, Sugar Hart, Alan Minter, Vito Antuofermo, Mustafa Hamsho, Tony Sibson, Juan Roldan, Thomas Hearns, and John "The Beast" Mugabi among his kayo victims.

Hagler won the undisputed world middleweight by dismantaling Britain's Alan Minter at Wembley Stadium on September 27, 1980. He reigned as champion of the 160 pound division for slmost seven years before losing a close, bitter, long-to-be-disputed decision toi Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas on April 6, 1987. He quit the ring in disgust after that controversial loss, turning down numerous big-money comeback offers while pursuing a career as an international action-filn star (to date he has had roles in four movies, none of them big hits; but his [performances have been sound and he is satisfied with his progress).

For a man named "Marvin" to go to court to add the preface Marvelous to his name would appear, on the surface, to be an act of pomposity.

Marvin Hagler is not a pompus man. But there has always been a certain marvelous quality about him: and his incorporation of that term into his nom de guerre was simply an affirmation of what press and public had been saying about him for years.

Marvin was handled throughout his career by the Petronelli brothers, Goody and Pat, of Brockton. He grossed about $40 million in ring earnings over his 14 year career, and managed to save and invest enough of it to provide lasting financial security fr himself and his family.

Always a physical fitness buff, the former champ is as rock-solid today as when he was the scrourge of the world's middleweights.

He remains a marvelous warrior. And a marvelous man, indeed.

Sean O'Grady
World Lightweight Champion, 1981
Born: February 10, 1959
Living in Oklahoma City
Height: 5'101/2"; Weight: 118-135
Nationality: Irish-American
Ring record: 136-16-1 + 1 no contest
Managed by: His parents: Pat & Jeannie O'Grady






If ever a man was born to the prize ring, it was Sean O'Grady.

While other kids were learning to tie their shoes, ride bicycles, and spell "potato," a young Sean was busy sweeping out gyms, setting up rings, stitching eyebrows – and developing a knockout punch in either hand. At dozens of shows at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds in the mid-Seventies, father Pat did the promoting, mother Jeannie the publicity and the printing, sister Colleen was the cashier, sister Rosie the usherette – while Sean, after setting up the ring, wrapping hands, and working the corners of the some of the prelim kids, would fight the main event, almost always scoring a quick knockout.

After a brief but spectacular amateur career, Sean turned pro on Jan 21, 1975 – three weeks shy of his 16th birthday. He took out one David Tymes in less than a round, and went on to register 29 straight victories (26 of them knockouts, with 14 coming in the first round) in his first year as a professional.

He was known as "Little Green Machine," and everything he hit with his right hand went down and stayed down.

Then two weeks after his 17th birthday (and still a year away from being old enough to box legally in California), Sean the Proud was matched with the great Danny "Little Red" Lopez at the Inglewood Forum. He did remarkably well for three rounds, rocking Lopez on several occasions. But Little Red got to him in the fourth, and the bout was stopped at the end of that round.

O'Grady stormed back to win his next 44 in a row, scoring 40 kayoes. His victims included Eliseo Estrada, Joe Medrano, David Vasquez, Jose Olivares, Romeo Anaya, Shig Fukuyama, Beau Jayness, and Arturo Leon.

Sean lost his first world title bid, against Scotland's Jim Watt, via eye-cut TKO in Glasgow in 1980. He came back to beat Hilmer Kently for the World Boxing Assocation title, but had it stripped away when his father-manager refused to agree to a "mandatory" title defense against an unknown, WBA-picked challenger named Claude Noel.

The little Irishman never got his career back on track after that fiasco, never got another shot at a real title, and retired from the ring in 1983, at age 24, following a shocking upset loss to an inept clubfighter named John Verderossa.

Sean's father, of course, was the wild and colorful Texas-Oklahoma Irishman, Pat O'Grady, who for over four decades cut a wide swath across American boxing as a world class promoter/manager/trainer/publicist/columnist/ radio-TV broadcaster/ ring announcer/cut man/and driving force behind an ill-fated entry in boxing's alphabet-soup sweepstakes, the WAA (World Athletic Association), which was notable for it's recognition of most of the fighters in Pat's loosely-knit stable as "world champions."

And Sean's mother, the perfect counterbalance to her wild and crazy-acting husband, was one of boxing's leading ladies – beautiful Jeanie O'Grady, in her own right a skilled practicioner in just about every facet of the ring art shy of working the corners.

The "Little Green Machine," still a young man at 34 but with his ring career just a memory, is living proof that not all former boxing champs wind up broke. He dabbles in real estate, does public relations work, and is the "color commentator" on USA Cable Network's weekly boxing shows.



Tippy Larkin
World Junior Welterweight Champion, 1946 - 47
Born: Nov. 11, 1917, Garfield, N.J.
Died: 1992
Height: 5'7"; Weight: 130-145
Nationality: Italian - American
Ring record: 136-16-1 + 1 no contest
Managed by: Angelo Pucci






Tippy Larkin, the Garfield Gunner, had every attribute of a great fighter save one - the solid chin.

Tippy could box like nobody else this side of Willie Pep. He could move, and he punched pretty good, and he had the heart of a champion. He was pretty in the ring, in the manner of a Sugar Ray Robinson or Lionel Rose.

But he had a glass jaw, and there was no cure for it.

Did Larkin have ability? He beat champion-to-be Freddie "Red" Cochrane, five times out of five; Freddie Archer, three times out of three; Willie Joyce, three out of three; Nick Moran, two out of two. He also beat Chester Rico, Lulu Costantino, Ruby Kessler, Allie Stolz, and Billy Graham. He won the junior welterweight title by out pointing Willie Joyce in 1946 and defended it once before giving it up (nobody paid much attention to "junior" titles in those days).

Tippy was short-circuited 10 times in his 154-bout career; but until his last year of competition, no bums got to him. The list of guys who stopped him includes the names Lew Jenkins, Al "Bummy" Davis, Beau Jack, Henry Armstrong, Charley Fusari (twice) and Ike Williams.

The first fight with Fusari, on Feb. 14, 1947, was vintage Tippy Larkin. Fusari went into the fight undefeated in 47 bouts, with a long string of crushing knockouts in his wake. A crowd of 18,494 jammed Madison Square Garden to see him step up in class against Larkin. The Irvington (N.J.) milkman brought along his big punch, dropping Larkin once in the first round, once in the second, once in the seventh, and twice in the ninth. But between knockdowns, Tippy boxed his ears off! Time after time, the veteran battled back from the brink of oblivion to rattle Fusari with popping left jabs and rapid-fire combinations. When Fusari's firepower finally prevailed, the ovation given both warriors resounded throughout the boxing world. They had given their all.

The best postscript on Larkin's career came from veteran trainer Ray Arcel, in 1985: "If Tippy'd had Carmen Basilio's chin, he'd still be the champion today."



Willie "Young" Stribling
Heavyweight Contender, 1920's - 30's
Born: Dec. 26, 1904,
Bainbridge, Georgia
Died: October 2, 1933
Height: 5'111/2"; Weight: 118-186
Nationality: European - American
Ring record: 222-12-14
Managed by: His parents: Ma & Pa Stribling

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The problem with the young Stribling story is that it is just a little too far-fetched, even for the movies.

William Lawrence Stribling, AKA the King of the Canebrakes, AKA The Pride of the South, was born to a family of traveling circus acrobats during a brief stop in Bainbridge, GA on the day after Christmas, 1904. He was part of a trapeze act at age six, the star of the show by age 12, and a professional prize fighter at age 16.

Over the next 13 years the pale Southerner crisscrossed the country, taking bouts whenever and wherever he could find them. He fought professionally in every division from bantamweight to heavyweight, averaging one fight every 14 days. For 13 years! Sometimes Willie was accompanied by his parents, known affectionately to the nation's press as Ma and Pa Stribling; sometimes he traveled alone. He never ducked an opponent, never failed to show up for a scheduled appearance. It is said that on more than one occasion he would roar into some tanktown on his big Harley for a few minutes before fight time, strip down and do his number, pick up his pay, then roar off again into the night, alone or with some local bimbo clinging to his backside. Did Young Stribling get around? Well, let's examine early 1925 as an example. He started off the year by going 10 rounds no-decision with Hugh Walker on Jan. 12 in Miami (many states, including Florida, did not license boxing in those days). Boxing was legal, but fights were billed as "exhibitions," and any contest that did not end in a knockout went into the record books as ND, or no-decision). On January 14, the town was St. Petersburg and the opponent was Mike Wallace, another 10-round no-decision. Jan. 21 in Grand Rapids, Michigan: Jimmy Delaney, 10 rounds, no-decision. Feb. 2 in Columbus, Georgia: Joe Burke, K03. Feb. 20 in Savannah: Ted Jamieson, KO6. Feb. 27 in Milwaukee. And so it went, month after month. Stribling fought 33 times that year, racking up 15 knockouts,8 wins by decision, and 7 no-decisions. Included among the victories was a 10-round decision over the great Tommy Loughran, on Mar. 28 in San Francisco. Winning a world title was never a particular obsession for Young Stribling. He was the ultimate "traveling man," and the responsibilities that go with being champion may have cramped his style. He did engage in two world title bouts, losing by decision to the great Paul Berlenback in a bid for the lightheavyweight title in New York City, in 1926; and being stopped in the 15th round by Max Schmeling (his only kayo loss in 286 fights) in Cleveland, on July 3, 1931.

Along the way, the youthful King of the Canebrakes registered wins over Red Herring, Tommy Loughran, Jimmy Slattery, Johnny Risko, Big Boy Peterson,Chuck Wiggins, Phil Scott, K.O. Christner, Tuffy Griffiths, even Primo Carnera.

At age 28, he was in peak form when he outboxed Hall of Famer Maxie Rosenbloom on September 22, 1933 in Houston, Primo Carnera had just won the heavyweight title by knocking out Jack Sharkey, and Stribling seemed a likely bet to outspeed the lumbering Italian if he could just get him into the ring again.

Then came the shocking news from Macon, Georgia: Willie "Young" Stribling, one of the busiest and best fighters of all time, was killed in a high-speed motorcycle accident, just 10 days after his great win over







Alexis Arguello
World Featherweight Champion,
1974 - 77
World Super Featherweight Champion, 1978 - 80
World Lightweight Champion, 1981 - 83
Born : April 19, 1952 Minagua, Nicaragua
Living in : Florida
Ring Record : 80 - 6
Height: 5'10" ; Weight : 118 - 140
Nationality : Nicaraguan
Managed By : Himself



Class of "91"

Life isn't always fair. Especially in boxing.

The rings of the world are populated by young men (and now women, as well) who have chosen boxing as their ticket to a potentially better station in life. All have courage. Others have, in varying degrees, the necessary speed, strength, punch, intelligence, and physical coordination.

And then there is Alexis Arguello, who was blessed with an abundance of all of those attributes - along with matinee-idol good looks and that rarest of human gifts: one-in-a- millions, knock - 'em - dead charisma. To know him is to love and admire him, the world over!

Alexis turned to professional boxing out of economic necessity at age 16, in l 968. He blitzed everything in sight, scoring 29 knockouts in winning 34 of his first 36 bouts before losing via grossly unfair decision to Panamanian Ernesto Marcel (in Panama City of course) in a bid for the latter's WBA featherweight title in 1974. He then ran off 25 wins in a row before dropping an unpopular decision to Vilomar Fernandez in New York, in 1978; and after that another 15 in a row before running into his nemesis, Aaron Pryor, in 1982.

Along the way, the Nicaraguan master kayoed the great Ruben Olivares for the feather- weight crown; destroyed Alfredo Escalera for super featherweight honors; and decisioned Jim Watt in London for the WBC lightweight title. Amoung his 65 knockout victims: Kid Pascualito and Famoso Gomez, in Managua; Jose Legra, Enrique Garcia, and Art Hafey, in Masaya; Salvador Torres, Bobby Chacon, and Ruben Castillo, in Los Angeles; Bazooka Limon, in New York; Cornelius Boza-Edwards and Ray "Boom-Boom' Mancini, in Atlantic City; and Billy Costello in Reno.

Outside the ring, Arguello didn't fare as well. As his country's greatest – ever athletic hero, he was a favorite of former Nicaraguan President Samoza. That did not endear him to the Communist rebel Sandanistas, who confiscated all of the champion's property – real estate, automobiles, jewelry, clothing – even his family pets – when they swept into power.

Alexis was able to assemble a second, smaller fortune before his retirement from the ring in 1986. And one thing he has, that the Sandanistas and their successors could never touch, is personal dignity. It shines through in every situation, and will surely be on display when this elegant man from Managua is assigned his niche among the greats of his sport in the World Boxing Hall of Fame.



Bobby Chacon
World Featherweight Champion,
1974 - 75
World Super Featherweight Champion, 1982 - 84
Born : November 18, 1951 No. Hollywood, CA
Living in : Arizona
RIng Record : 60 - 8 - 1
Height : 5'5" ; Weight : 126 -135
Nationality : Hispanic - American
Managed By : Joe Ponce, Frans Ginn, Deborah Chacon

no pic



The reason Bobby Chacon's life story has never been made into a movie is because it's just too far-fetched, even for Hollywood.

We called him "Schoolboy" Bobby when he turned pro back in '72, for his youthful appearance and Sp ";-kl """. personality. He got into boxing at the urging of his sweetheart. a lovely Chinese-Irish girl named Valorie Ginn.

Within a matter of months, Bobby went from jobless, gang-banging Pacoima Street punk to the top of the charts, both inside and outside the ring.

Turning pro on April 17, 1972, the Schoolboy registered 26 wins (23 by Kayo) in his first 27 bouts. Along the way he whupped on Tury Pineda (KO 5), Irish Frankie Crawford (W 10), Chucho Castillo (KO 10), and Danny "Little Ped" Lopez (KO 9). He stopped Venezuela's Alfredo Marcano in nine rounds to win the WBC featherweight title on September 7, 1974, and followed with an easy (KO 2) defense against Jesus "Papelero" Estrada.

At that point in his life Bobby had it all: the world title. a beautiful wife (having married Valorie) and family, a little ranch in Sylmar, plenty of ready cash – and invitations like he couldn't believe. And then he tumbleci over the edge.

Never one to allow an unpleasant activity like training to interfere with having fun, Chacon fired his veteran discoverer-manager-trainer Joe Ponce (just like they do in the movies!) shortly affer becoming champion. Predictably. he then showed up for a title defense against the great Ruben Olivares sadly overweight, under-trained, and out-of-shape...and Ruben made him an ex-champ, ex-hero in less than two rounds.

The next seven years were tough ones for the old Schoolboy. Beaten and humiliated, he moved quietly out of the L.A. area, relocating in Northern California. Between lapses into alcohol and drug abuse, he fought stubbornly for another shot at the title he had once treated so carelessly. Something was missing off the old fastball, but he managed to keep winning – sometimes on little more than heart alone.

Valorie pleaded with him to quit fighting, and her tragic suicide in 1982 was blamed at least in part on his decision to fight on.

Bobby's first bid to regain the title ended in a bloody technical draw with Bazooka Limon, in l 979, Six months later he was battered by the great Alexis Arguello, in a second attempt. Cornelius Boza-Edwards turned back his third challenge, in 1981. But still he fought on.

The Schoolboy finally realized his dream, outlasting old rival Bazooka Limon to take the WBC super featherweight title before a national TV audience in the 1982 Fight of the Year. Five months later he came from behind to outslug Boza-Edwards in boxing's 1983 Fight of the Year.

After an unsuccessful attempt to win the world lightweight crown from a heavier Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini in 1984. Chacon ran off five straight wins and then announced his retirement. To the end, he did it his way!

Carlos Chavez
World Featherweight Champion,
1940's -1950's
Born : July 1922 Los Angeles
Died : August 8, 1990 Los Angeles
Ring Record : 122 - 33 - 10
Height : 5'4" ; Weight : 118 - 140
Nationality : Hispanic-American
Managed By : Johnny Forbes, Gig Rooney






The election of Carlos Chavez to The World Boxing Hall of Fame is tinged with sadness. The enshrinement will be posthumous; the durable little ' perennial contender' died tragically while resisting a robbery-mugging on the sidewalk near his Los Angeles home on August 8th of last year. He was 68 years old when he dieci.

If Carlos Chavez' murder was a case of being 'in the wrong place, at the wrong time' – it was nothing new for him. In his ring career he engaged in the 16 bouts against world champions (Manuel Ortiz/Lou Salica/Harold Dade/Lauro Salas/Willie Pep/Jimmy Carter/ Paddy De Marco/Tony DeMarco) and won half of them – but never with a title on the line.

Carlos did not have the classic boxer's physique. He was short even for a featherweight (though he thickened into welterweight proportions, late in his career), with stubby arms and legs and a thick trunk. But oh, what a professional! He had the moves, the skills, the conditioning, the sense of timing, the innate ring intelligence – and, behind it, the heart of a true warrior.

internationally, Carlos is probably best remembered for his epic five-bout series with all- tirne bantamweight great Manuel Ortiz. They met twice as bantamweights in 1941 at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. The first fight was a draw, and Ortiz took a 10-round decision five weeks later. They met again at the Legion in a non-title 10-rounder in 1944, with Ortiz again winning a disputed decision. With their partisan supporters dividing the city into near-civil war camps, the two Mexican-American battled once more, in l946: a 15 round draw on March l9, and a controversial decision for Chavez on Oct. 22.

Though both men continued to campaign professionally in and around L.A. for another decade, they did not fight each other again; they had become friends and 'drinking buddies,' and did not wish to hit one another any more!

Carlos met just about everybody who was anybody in or near his weight class during his 17 years as a pro-beating most of them, losing occasionally, but always comporting himself with dignity and courage: Mario Trigo / Tony Olivera / Art Aragon / Jesse Flores / John L. Davis / Eddie Chavez / Maxie Docusen / Paulino Montes / Cisco Andrade – you name 'em, he fought 'em.

The Chavez tradition lives on in California boxing today in Carlos' nephew, Vince Delgado, an outstanding featherweight of a few years back who now rates as one of the state's top referees..



John Henry Lewis
World Lightweight Champion, 1935 - 39
Born : July 1922 Los ANgeles
Died :April 18, 1974 Berkeley, CA
Ring Record : 103 - 8 - 6
Height : 5'11" ; Weight : 140 - 180
Nationality : Afro -American
Managed By : Ernie ira, Larry White, Frank Schuler






All the casual boxing fan may have heard about John Henry Lewis is that he was a reigning lightheavyweight cahmpion, blasted into retirement by Joe Louis back in 1939.

John Henry was a pal of Joe's, the story goes, and the Brown Bomber dispatched him early so as to minimize the pain.

Yes, those were the facts. But there's a lot more to the story than that. And John Henry Lewis, underrated in his own time and almost forgotten by all but the most knowledgeable boxing aficionados today, was one of the most accomplished 175 - pound fighting men ever to draw on a glove.

Consider the facts: John Henry was a pro at age 14. He went undefeated through his first 27 fights. He won the lightheavyweight title from the very capable Bob Olin in 1935 and defended it su









ccessfully five times before retiring from the ring four years later, at age 24, In 117 bouts he lost ju."t seven times, and was never stopped inside the scheduled distance until that fateful meeting with the much bigger, prime-time Joe Louis.

The few existing films of Lewis in action show a smooth ring technician: a stand-up, orthodox boxer with fast hands and good power (as attested by his 60 knockout victories).

So, why isn't he remembered as a superstar? Well, John Henry was a quiet young man. He did his job and did it well – but he wasn't spectacular – and he was black. While boxing has a better "civil rights record" than any sport other than track and field, it is a fact that in Lewis' time, black fighters often received less than equitable recognition frorn promoters, news media, and the public.

In his meteoric career John Henry beat a lot of good fighters, including Jimmy Braddock, Tiger Jack Fox, Reds Barry, Bob Godwin, Red Burman, Al Ettore, Johnny Risko, Elmer "Violent" Ray, and Jimmy Adamick. His title defenses were against Jock McAvoy (W 15) in New York; Len Harvey (W 15) in London; Bob Olin (KO 8) in St. Louis; Emilio Martinez (KO 4) in Minneapolis; and Al Gainer (W 15) in New York.

Just when and why Lewis' vision began to go bad is a matter of some debate. But it is a fact that he fought Maxie Rosenbloom five times (winning two decisions, losing three) between 1933 and 1935; and, like all the rest of Slapie Maxie's opponents, he frequently rammed his eye into Rosenbloom's thurnbs.

By John Henry's own admission, he entered the ring against Joe Louis with his eyesight already seriously imaired. He was the undisputed champion of the world in his weight class – but had little rnoney, and was going blind. It is a fact that he and Joe were close personal friends; and ring legend has it that the stricken John Henry begged Louis for the title shot that would bring him one big, final payday. The match was made, and on January 25, 1939, a crowd of 17338 paid 102,015 at New York's Madison Square Garden to watch 15- 1 favorite Joe Louis defeat his friend in just two minutes, 29 seconds.

John Henry Louis never fought again



Lou Nova
Heavyweight Contender, 1930's - 1040's
Born : March 16, 1915
Living in : Las Vegas, NV
Ring Record : 49 - 9 - 5
Height : 6'2" ; Weight : 200
Nationality : German - Irish American
Managed By : Ray Carlin






Boxing people have never know just what to make of Lou Nova. But then, neither has anyone else -- including Lou himself.

Here is a guy who was born the son of a pianist, grandson of a renouned music conductor. He attended the University of California at Davis on a football scholarship, took up boxing as a means of staying in shape during the off-season, and emerged as the National AAU and International Amateur heavyweight champion in 1935.

Fist fighting appealed to Lou economically during those Depression days, and he turned pro to seek the proverbial pot of gold in 1936. He went undefeated in his first 20 starts, beating people like Abe Simon, Bob Nestell, and Lee Pamage, battling to a draw decision with Bob Pastor. After blowing a decision to Maxie Rosenbloom, he began to take the game seriously – decisioning Tommy Farr and knocking out Gunnar Barlund and the great Max Baer. among others.

Nova suddenly found himself ranked high among the contenders for a shot at Joe Louis and the heavyweight championship of the world. All he had to do was get by the toughest, dirtiest aley-fighter of all time -- "Two - Ton" Tony Galento, in Philadelphia on September 15, 1939.

Lou could easily have outboxed the barrel-like Galento, but decided instead to go knuckle-and skull with the New Jersey, Italian and beat him on his own terms. It was a big mistake. The referee lost all control of the fight, allowing Two-Ton-Tony to butt, heel, gouge. and hit low at will. Nova fought gamelv and well, but eventually his eyes were closed, his lips were butten through his teeth, and the protective cup around his groin was dented beyond repair. The bloodbath was halted in the 14th round and Galento was declared the winner Nova stayed out of the ring for over a year, and was never quite the same fighter affer that foulest of beatings.

Lou came back to knock out Baer a second time, and put up a good fight before bowing to Joe Louis in six rounds. But somewhere along the way, he began to attract more attention for his "extracurricular' activities than for his boxing.

Extracurricular activities? Well, Lou became a practitioner of yoga -- sometimes meditating during training, and once granting an interview to a startled reporter while standing on his head.

When his ring career began to come unglued in 1945, Lou didn't hang around to become anybody's stepping-stone. Not necessarily in this order. he became: a sports columnist / movie actor / broadway stage actor (' Guys and Dolls," "Happiest Millionaire") / master of ceremonies / serious lecturer on a variety of topics / nightclub comedian / and tongue-in-cheek candidate (Utopian Party) for the presidency of the United States. Anything else? Well, Lou knows his Shakespeare; and is undoubtedly the toughest man ever to give a poetry recital at Carnegie Hall. Now how's that for a varied career?

Sweet Lou has been in ill health this year, and as this program went to the printer, there was some doubt as to whether he would be able to attend our 12th Annual Banquet of Champions.

We know Lou will be with us in spirit -- and, if he is unable to join us on October 25th, he will surely know that the hearts of all those who attend the banquet will be with him on his night of shining honor.



Ray Lunny
Lightweight Contender, 1940's
Born : June 6, 1919 San Fransisco, CA
Living in : Northern Cailfornia
Ring Record : 32 - 4 - 3
Height : 5'7" ; Weight : 126 - 133
Nationality : Irish-American
Managed by : Dutch Meyers, Joey Fox





Ray Lunny's election to the World Boxing Hall of Fame's inner circle may have come as a surprise to some people – after all, he never won a world title, and his career was abbreviated by World War II – but for sure, the surprise was a pleasant one.

Lunny is a third generation San Franciscan, born 'South – of – Market, ' as the saying goes, in the city's famed Mission District. As an undersized kid in a tough neighborhood, he learned to fight early and well, as a means of survival.

After a brilliant amateur career, Lunny turned pro in 1938 and sailed through his first 31 bouts undefeated. A club fighter named Chief Evening Thunder held him to a draw at the Hollywood Legion in his 10th pro outing, but Ray cooled the Chief in five rounds in a rematct i.

ihe competition got tougher in 1940-41, but Lunny continued to win, beating Georgie Hansford, Vern Bybee (twice), Jose Gallardo (twice), Toby Vigil, Eddie Marcus, Richie Fontaine, and Honey Mellody.

In his 32nd bout, the Pride.of the Mission dropped a 1Dround decision to Hall of Famer Chalky Wright. He fought a draw with Georgie Latka in San Francisco a week a or Pearl Harbor, then whipped Latka over 10 rounds in Hollywood a month later. He lost to Hall of Farner Richie Lemos, but came back to beat Richie in a return.

On May 26, 1942, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. Unable to train properly while in the military, he lost two of three bouts (knocking out Al Citrino, losing to Lulu Constantino and Willie Joyce)during WWII.

Affer the war, Lunny went into serious training for his return to the ring. But he was the type of boxer who excelled on craft and quickness – and some of that quickness had leff him.

'One day my managers, Joey Fox and Dutch Meyers, called me in for a conference,' Ra " recalls. 'They told me I had no future in boxing – that they could see in my gym workouts that the things I used to do instinctively, I was thinking before doing; and in that split-second of indecision, I was getting hit with punches that I would have easily avoided four years earlier. I took their advice and hung up the gloves, and I've never regretted that decision.'

Ray's son, Ray Lunny III, followed his father into the ring and enjoyed considerable success – battling to a draw with the great junior lightweight champion Ben Villaflor in 1974, and losing on cuts in a title bid against another fine champion, Alfredo Escalera, two years later.

Recently retired from a career in sales management, the old Pride of the Mission is still trim and athletic in his 73rd year, and still much-loved in the city of his birth.

Alberto "Baby" Arezmandi
World Featherweight Champion,
1934-36
Born: March 17, 1914 Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
Died: December 31, 1963 Los Angeles, California
Height 5'5"; Weight 110-140
Nationality: Mexican
Ring record: (70-26-13)* *Partial Record: early record incomplete
Managed by Cal Working




Class of "90"

The quintessential Mexican Boxeador of his era...best remembered for his stirring five-fight series (2 wins, 3 losses) vs. the great Henry Armstong...turned pro at age 13, fought in every weight class from flyweight through welterweight...beat Mike Belloise for 126-pound title, lost it to Armstrong...scored wins over Kid Pancho, Speedy Dado, Newsboy Brown, Young Tommy, Chalky Wright, Baby Breese, abd Georgie Latka; drew with Lou Ambers and Sammy Angott.


Charles "Sonny" Liston
World Heavyweight Champion, 1962-64
Born: May 8, 1932 St. Francis County, Arkansas
Died: December 30, 1970 Las Vegas, Nevada
Height: 6'1"; Weight: 218
Nationality: Afro-American
Ring record: 50-4
Managed by: Jack Nilon and others





During his reign as heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston was thought by many to be the greatest ever...lost much pretige in two defeats at the hands of Muhammad Ali... like Mike Tyson a generation later, Sonny threw every punch with "ad intentions"...learned to box while in prison...won the title by stopping Floyd Patterson in one round, lost it to Ali in an enormous upset.


Primo Carnera
World Heavyweight Champion, 1933-34
Born: October 26, 1906 Sequals, Italy
Height 6'6"; Weight 265
Nationality: Italian
Ring record: 88-14
Managed by: Leon See, Lousi Soreci, Billy Duffy





Known as the Ambling Alp, Primo was performing as a circus gladiator-strongman when discovered by entreprenuer Leon See...biggest and strongest of all the heavyweight champions...kayoed Jack Sharkey for the title in 1933, lost it to Max Baer a year later...though many of his early victories were repotedly "tank jobs," DaPreem was a sound, competent ringman...went back to Italy broke and despondent in 1936, but returned to the U.S. for a successful pro wrestling career in the 1950's.


Randy Turpin
World Middleweight Champion, 1951
Born: June 7, 1925 Leamington, Warwickshire, England
Died: May 17, 1966 Leamington, Warwickshire, England
Nationality: Afro-English
Ring record: 66-8-1
Managed by: George Middleton





Randolph Adolphus Turpin was little-known outside his native England when he stunned the boxing world by beating the great Sugar Ray Robinson for the middleweight crown in the final bout of Sugar Ray's famed "European Summer Tour," in 1951...almost beat Ray a second time, in a rematch two months later, but lost via TKO in 10...continued to box professionally for another 13 years, but never regained his championship form...was found in his car, dead of gunshot wounds, on May 17, 1966.


Theodore "Tiger" Flowers
World Middleweight Champion, 1926
Born: August 5, 1895 Camille, Georgia
Died: November 16, 1927 New York, New York
Height: 5'10"; Weight:160
Nationality: Afro-American
Ring record: 133-15-7
Managed by: Walk Miller





The stalwart Georgia Deacon was a deserving champion in an era of great middleweights...fought 36 times in 1924, 31 times the following year, losing only four...took the middleweight crown from one Hall of Famer (Harry Greb), lost it to another (Mickey Ealker)...fought'em all, including Sam Langford, Jamaica Kid, Fireman Jim flynn, Jack Delaney, Jock Malone, Mike McTigue, and Maxie Rosenbloom...died tragically, at age 32, while undergoing "routine" eye surgery.


 


Albert Wright (Chalky)
World Featherweight Champion,
1941-42
Born : February 10, 1912, Durango, Mexico
Died : August 12, 1957, Los Angeles, California.
Height : 5'7" ; Weight : 126
Nationality : Afro-Mexican-American
Ring Record : 148-39-16
Managed by : Eddie Walker

no pic
  Class of "89"

To label Chalky Wright an enigma would be an understatement in the extreme.

For starters, he was an ebony-skinned black kid, born in Mexico. His mastery of the Spanish language caught L.A. by surprise, as did his preference for tamales over chitterlings.

After a seven-year apprenticeship in Southern California prelim ranks, Chalky burst onto the world fistic scene in 1935 with K.O. losses to Baby Arizmendi (Mexico City) and Pablo Dano (Watsonville).

But then he settled down and battled the best on better-than-even terms over the next 13 years. He went knuckle-and skull with everyone from Kid Ponce to Cecil Payne to Henry Armstrong to Sal Bartolo to Richie Lemos to Willie Pep, Phil Terranova, Lulu Constantino, Willie Joyce, Enrique Bolanos, Jackie Wilson, and Larry Cisneros.

Chalky won the 126-pound title by stopping Joey Archibald in 1941, and lost it to the incomparable Willie Pep, in 1942.

It is a measure of Wright's prowess that Willie Pep rates him to this day as "the toughest man I ever fought."



Billy Graham
"Uncrowned" Welterweight Champion, 1951
Born: September 9, 1922 New York City, New York
Living in New York
Height: 5'8"; Weight 127-147
Nationality: Irish-American
Ring record: 102-15-9
Managed by: Irving Cohen


 

Irish Billy Graham! What a splendid boxer he was!

In 14 years and 126 professional fights, the quiet-spoken New Yorker was never beaten inside the scheduled distance, and was never knocked off his feet.

Graham is one of the greatest fighters not to have won a world title.

He outboxed the great Kid Gavilan in a non-title bout in 1950, abd repeated on August 29, 1951 with Gavilan's welterweight title on the line. But when the decision-by all accounts, one of the worst in New Yorks boxing History-was announced, it went to the Cuban Keed.

Billy came up short in another title attempt against Gavilan the following year, in Havana.

But look at the guys Billy handed boxing lessons to: Tony Pellone! Ruby Kessler! Terry Young! Paddy Young! Rocky Castelleni! Carmen Basilio! Joey Giardello! And yes, even Art Aragon!

Graham still lives in the city of his birth, and serves on the New York Athletic Commission.



Carlos Palomino
World welterweight Champion, 1976-79
Born : August 10, 1949 San Luis, Mexico
Living in Santa Monica, California
Height: 5'9" ; weight: 147
Nationality: Mexican American
Ring record: 38-3-3
Managed by: Jackie McCoy

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When it comes to rgs-to-riches stories, no other field of endeavor can even come close to the sort of boxing.

Take Carlos Palomino, as an extreme example. In 1959, he was a shoeshine boy, scrapping for American nickels on the streets of Tijuana. Fast-forward to 1969: he was an amateur boxer in the U.S Army.

In 1979, he was welterweight champion of the world, working on a string of seven successful title defense after having won the title with a lights-out, one punch KO of John Stracey in London, 1976

In 1989, he is the handsome and articulate strat of stage and mivie screen, independently wealthy and almost too good-looking to be considered for the role of a boxeador!

When Palomino squared off against ouw own Armando Muniz in defense of his 147-pound crown in 1977 (they met again, the following year) it marked the first-ever title fight invloving two college graduates.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame, King Carlos!



Ceferino Garcia
World Middleweight Champion, 1939-40
Born : August 26, 1906 Manila, Philippines
Died : January 1, 1981 San Diego, California
Height : 5'7" ; Weight : 154
Nationality : Filipino
Ring Record : 95-26-9
Managed by : Jesus Cortez, George parnassus




 

Which came first: the bolo punch, or Ceferino Garcia? It is an issue that may never be resolved – unless you go along with the easy consensus that it was Ceferino who brought the windmill-like bolo onto the fistic scene in the early Thirties.

Ceferino's own story will suffice: he claimed that he perfected the wide-arc, right-hand bolo while cutting sugar cane with a machete in his native Philippines.

In any event, the colorful islander came to California as a young pro in 1932 and fought 'em all from Jimmy Britt to Freddie Steele, from Jimmy Duffy to Young Corbett III, from Kid Azteca to King Tut. And that was only the beginning. He also met Barney Ross, Bep Van Klaveren, Glen Lee, Lloyd Marshall, Steve Belloise, Billy Soose, and a hundred other good ones during his storied career.

After two unsuccessful bids (vs. Ross and Henry Armstrong) for the Welterweight title, he K.O.'d the great Fred Apostoli for the middleweight crown in 1939. After successful defenses against Glen Lee (K.O. 13) and Armstrong (Draw 10), he lost the title to Ken Overlin in 1940.



Freddie Steele
World Middleweight Champion, 1936-38
Born : December 18, 1912 Tacoma, Washington
Height : 5'10 1/2" Weight ; Weight : 160
Nationality : Irish American
Ring Record : 119-5-8
Managed by : Dave Miller


 

Boxing's storied middleweight division has seen more than its share of tough, game fighters and great punchers.

But no 160-pounder in history has ever surpassed Tacoma's Freddie Steele, in any of those categories.

Steele was tough-on-tough. Hit him with your best shot, and he'd just smile, pound his fists together, and keep on coming right at you.

Could he punch? Most definitely. He just might have been the hardest-hitting 160-pounder ever to draw on a glove.

In two fights against Steele, the great Ceferino Garcia never made it through the second round. Freddie also zapped Joe Glic (K.O 1), and Ken (overlin K.O. 4) while losing just five of his 133 fights as a pro.

The handsome lad from the Great Northwest won the NBA-NewYork version of the world middleweight title by decisioning Babe Risko in Seattle on July 11, 1936. After successful defense vs. Gorilla Jones, Frankie Battlaglia, Ken Overlin, and Carmen Barth, he lost the title to Al Hostak in 1938.



Jackie "Kid" Berg (Judah Bergman)
World Junior Welterweight Champion, 1930-32
Born: June 28, 1909 London, England
Living in England
Height: 5'9"; Weight: 140
Nationality: Hebrew-British
Ring record: 157-26-9
Managed by: Harry Levine, Frank Jacobs, Sid Gold


 

Still kicking hard after 80 years on this particular planet and 192 bouts in the prize ring, Jackie "Kid" Berg has promised to fly in from London to join us for his enshrinement in the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

The ring career of the jaunty Britisher known as the "Whitechapel Whirlwind" spanned 21 years: 1924 to 1945. He was on a three-fight winning streak (and six of seven, with five KO victories) when he finally decided to hanf'em up.

Though not noted as an exceptional puncher, Berg nonetheless registered 57 KO wubs during his career. He stopped another of tonight's Electees, L>A>'s Mushy Callahan in 10 rounds in London on February 18, 1930, to capture the latter's world junior welterweight (140) pound title.

Jackie came up short iub two lightweight title challenges against the great Tony Canzoneri, but registered wins over Andre Routis, Kid Chocolate, Billy Petrolle, Joe Glick, Buster Brown, and Tippy Larkin.

Even the bon vivant, the Kid remains today one of his country's most renowned athletic heroes.



James J. Braddock "The Cinderella Man"
World Heavyweight Champion, 1935-37
Born : June 7, 1906 New York City, N>Y>
Died : North Bergen, N.J., 1974
Height : 6'4" ; Weight : 167-197
Nationality : Irish American
Ring Record : 51-25-6
Managed by : Joe Gould


 

James J. Braddock, Heavyweight Champion of the World. The Cinderella Man.

The New Jersey Irishman came off the relief rolls in 1934 to score stunning wins over Corn Griffin, John Henry Lewis, and Ark Lasky that qualified him for a shot at Playboy Max Baer's heavyweighht title.

In the upset of the century, Cinderella Jim outpointed Baer over 15 rounds at the old Long Island Bowl on June 13, 1935, to capture the most prized title in all of sports. Then he went back and repaid every cent of public money his family had drawn while on welfare!

Two years and one week after winning the title, Braddock got around to defending it. And he taught Joe Louis a great lesson.

No, Jimmy didn't beat Louis, or even come close. But he showed him how to go out like a champion.

It is boxing legend - based in truth, in this case – that Manager Joe Gould looked into the eyes of the bruised, battered, exhausted Barddock after seven rounds and said ' I'm going to stop the fight".

"If you do," Jimmy mumbled through busted lips and gritted teeth,"I'll never speak to you again."

Against his better judgement, Gould allowed Cinderella Jim to answer the bell for the eighth (and final) round.

To his dying day, Joe Louis loved the man from whom he had won the title.

"Jimmy Braddock," said the Brown bomber, "showed me what it means to a man, to be Champion of the World.

Jess Willard
World Heavyweight Champion, 1915-19
Born : December 29, 1881 Pottawotamie City, Kansas
Died : December 15, 1968 Los Angeles, California
Height : 6'6" ; Weight: 245
Ring Record : 28-6-1
Managed by : Tom Jones


 

In another time and place, Jess Willard might have become one of America's all-time favorite athletic heroes.

But then ol' Jess never was very much the hero type.

He was a big, earnest farm boy off the plains of Pottawotamie, Kansas, who emerged as the ultimate product of boxing's infamous White Hope era and ascended to the heavyweight throne by stopping the great Jack Johnson in 26 rounds in Havana in 1915.

By most contemporary accounts, the fight was completely on the up-and-up. An aged (37-year-old) champion was beaten by a younger, stronger, much larger man.

But rumors surfaced that Johnson had "taken a dive" and Willard's reputation was besmirched forever.

Four years after winning the title, Willard finally got around to defending it - against ring legend Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1919, in Toledo.

After three rounds of the gamest fighting ever seen in any ring, Big Jess Willard, down seven times, eyes closed, jaw broken, teeth missing, ribs cracked - said he couldn't come out for the next round.

And they called him a quitter!

Big Jess lived out his final years in the Los Angeles area - still the misunderstood outcast, but much-loved and respected by all who knew him.



Johnny Dundee (Giuseppe Carrora)
World Featherweight Champion,
1923-24
Born : November 22, 1893 Sciacca, Sicily, Italy
Died : April 22, 1965 East Orange, N. J.
Height : 5'41/2" ; Weight : 120-30
Nationality : Italian American
Ring Record : 230-69-33
Managed by : Scotty onteith, Jimmy Johnsto


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In 1911, his second year as a pro, Johnny Dundee entered the ring 47 times. That's almost one fight per week!(For the record, he won 38 of those bouts, with three"no decision", one draw and five decision losses.)

The gritty little "Scotch Wop" went on to engage in 337 contests during a ring career that spanned 22 years.

It was not until his eleventh year of fighting that Johnny got a shot at a world title – and he made the most of it, wiining the junior lightweight crown from the legendary George (K.O) Channer via 5th round disqualification.

Who did Dundee beat? Only the best of his era – starting with the great Benny Leonard (three times). Also Joe Shugrue, Charley White, Joe River, Rocky Kansas. Leach Cross, Ever Hammer, Lew Tendler, Pal Moran, Jimmy Goodrich and Richie Mitchell, among others.

Johnny won two world two world titles withina five-month period in 1923, beating Eugene Criqui for the featherweight crown and regaining the junior lightweight title from Jack Bernstein.



Ken Norton
World Heavyweight Champion, 1978
Born : August 9, 1943 Jacksonville, Illinois
Living in Los Angeles
Height: 6'3" ; weight: 210
Nationality: Afro-America
Ring record: 42-71-1
Managed by: Bob Biron


 

Fighters come in all shapes and sizes
Ken Norton came in perfect shape - king size

Of the 42 men who have laid claim to the worl heavyweight championship, only Max Baer and Mike Weaver could rival Norton in impressiveness of physique. In his prime he was six-foot-three, 210 pounds of sculpted muscle and bone.

Ken took up boxing in the U.S. Marines, after establishing himself as an all-around high school and college athelete in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Managed by a syndicateof San Diego businessmen, Ken established himself as a solid contender in the early Seventies. But it wasn't until March 31, 1973, that he gained internatianal fame - breaking the great Muhammad Ali's jaw en route to a 12-round decision former champion.

Norton was proclaimed champion by the World Boxing Counsil in 1978, but lost a great 15-rounder to Larry Holmes in his first defense of the title.

Ken is still mending from extensive, near-fatal injuries suffered in an auto accident five years ago.



Mushy Callahan (Vincent Morris Scheer)
World Junior Welterweight CHampion, 1925-30
Born : November 3, 1905 New York City, N.Y.
Died : June 16, 1986 Los Angeles, California
Height : 5'8" ; Weight : 142-197
Nationality : Hebrew-American
Ring Record : 47-14-4
Managed by : Eddie Sears


 

Morris Scheer was one of those tough Jewish kids of a bygone era who learned to fight with his fists in order to preserve"territorial rights" to a preffered street corner against challenges from rival newsboys.

Born in New York City, the youngster got his start in boxing in Southern California and spent the rest of his life here.

In keeping with the custom of the time (i.e., early Twenties), Morris choose a tough Irish name for his ring personna. (Consider if you're going to see a prize fight, are you more likely to plunk down your cash to see Morris Scheer, or Mushy Callahan?)

Never noted as a big puncher, Mushy nonetheless was one of the top ringmen of his day. He won Junior Welter title by outpointing Red Herring at Vernon in 1925, and defended it several times before losing to Jackie "Kid" Berg in London in 1939.

Following his retirement frm the ring in 1932, Mushy served as a Southern California boxing official for many years.

He passed away in Los Angeles on June 16, 1986.



Sammy Angott (Samual Engotti)
World Lightweight Champion,, 1940-44
Born : January 17, 1915 Washington, Pennsylvania
Died: Clevelend, OH, 1980
Height: 5'7"; weight: 135
Nationality: Italian American
Ring record: 97-27-8
Managed by: Charlie Jones


 

In an era of great lightweight boxers, Sammy Angott was one of the very best.

He wasn't a big puncher, and he wasn't a slick boxer; but he could bring it to you, for three days and nights or until somebody quit - and it damn sure wasn't going to be Sammy

Angott won the 135 pound title by outhustling the erratic Lew Jenkins, in 1941

After wins over Bob Montgomery, Allie Stolz, Aldo spoldi, and a narrow loss to Sugar Ray Robinson in a nontitle bout, he "retired" from the ring in 1942.

But the came came out of the world for a second time on October 27, 1943, beating Slugger White in 15 rounds at the old Hollywood Legion Stadium.

He dropped the title to Juan Zurita six months later, but continued fighting through 1950.

Slammi' Sammy passed away in Cleveland on October 22, 1980, at age 65



Tony Demarco (Leonardo Liotta)
World Welterweight Champion, 1955
Born: January 14, 1932 Boston, Massachusetts
Living in: Weymouth, Massachusetts
Height:5'5 1/2"; Weight: 147
Nationality: Italian-American
Ring record: 58-12-1
Managed by: Coogie McFarland, Angelo Pucci, Bobby Agrippino

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It is Tony DeMarco's destiny that while he was one of the great welterweights of all time, a legendary puncher and now, a Hall of Famer- he is best remembered by the boxing public for two great fights in which he was the loser.

Nobody who witnessed, in person or on TV, Tony's title defense against Carmen Basilio on June 10, 1955, will ever forget the savagery of that fight. For almost 12 full rounds, the two battlers fought with unequaled fury. Basilio came back from the brink of destruction to prevail in the Fight of the Decade.

DeMarco rebounded with a one-round demolition of Chico Vejar, but failed-again in 12 rounds, in another ring classic - in a bid to win back the title from Basilio.

Fighting mostly in and around his hometown of Boston, Tony outslugged most of the stellar 147 pounders of his day: Kid Gavilan, Vince Martinez, Arthur Persely, Pat Manzi, and Gaspar Ortega, to name a few.

He won the title by knocking out Johnny Saxton on April 1, 1955.



Vicente Saldivar
World Featherweight Champion, 1964-70
Born: May 3, 1943 Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality: Mexican
Ring record: 38-3
Managed by: Adolfo Perez


 

Vicente Saldivar, during his long reign as featherweight champion (1964-70, including a two-year "early retirement"), epitomized everything a champion should be.

He traveled far, defending his title regularly and convincingly against all comers.

In the ring, Saldivar was busy, sawed-off southpaw with the heart of a lion. He fought agressively, but with great economy of movement - perhaps the most accurate puncher the 126-pound division has ever seen.

For the first nine years of his fabled career, Vicente's ring record was almost perfect. Aside from a loss via disqualification to Emiro Durgel in 1962, the little champ from Mexico City was undefeated, untied and just about unbeatable when he announced his reitrement from the ring in 1967.

He had won the title by knocking out the great Sugar Ramos, and had defended successfully against Raul Rojas, Howard Winstone (three times),

Floyd Robertson, and Mitsunori Seki (twice).

Saldivar returned to the ring in 1969, missing a bit from the fastball, but still good enough to reclaim his world title. He retired a second and finel time in 1973.