Canto Robledo Explained

Canto Robledo
Real Name:Canuto Cimental Robledo
Nickname:TNT/Nitroglicerina
Weight Class:Bantamweight
Nationality:Mexican-American
Birth Date:January 19, 1913
Birth Place:Tyrone, New Mexico, United States
Death Date:November 29, 1999
Death Place:Glendora, California, United States
Stance:Orthodox
Total:44
Wins:29
Ko:9
Losses:10
Draws:5

Canuto Cimental Robledo (January 19, 1913 – November 29, 1999) better known as Canto “TNT” Robledo (Robleto) was a Mexican-American professional boxer, trainer, & manager. Robledo was scheduled to face world bantamweight champion Panama Al Brown in late 1932 but during a tune up fight he was tragically left blind in both eyes. After retiring from boxing for a few years Robledo became best known as being the only licensed blind boxing trainer in the history of the sport. He trained both amateur and professional fighters by what he called his "sense of touch” technique.

Early life

Canto Robledo was born Canuto Cimental Robledo on January 19, 1913. He was born in Tyrone, New Mexico a small town known for its copper mining. He is the third child of seven from Felipe and Soledad Robledo who immigrated from Cienega De Escobar, Durango Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. Canto’s father worked at the mines but in 1921 copper prices dropped thus closing the mines and eventually the town. In 1922 at the age of nine Canto & his family moved west to California to find better opportunities eventually settling in Pasadena, California.

Canto attended Grover Cleveland Elementary and Washington Jr High School, the same schools where Jackie Robinson would later attend. He was an honor student and a superb athlete winning various awards in soccer & track, at age 13 he won the city championship in tennis. After completing the 9th grade Canto dropped out of school due to financial difficulties, he would work picking oranges from the nearby orange groves. He briefly trained boxing with his father for the sake of being able to defend himself, and in 1928 at Brookside Park after a scuffle with a bully a 15-year-old Canto was discovered by local Pasadena boxing promoter Morrie Cohan.

Boxing career

Robledo began his training at the Pasadena Arena which was owned and operated by his promoter Morrie Cohan. He would be trained in both the amateur and pro ranks by German Otto. After several months of rigorous training his first bout would take place at the Los Angeles Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament in 1927. The tournament was held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Robledo would go on to win his first bout by split decision and the remaining bouts in his weight class. After turning 16 years old he decided to turn pro and on June 29, 1929 he won his first professional fight which was held at the Main Street Athletic Club versus Johnny Gabucco.

Personal life

Robledo married his longtime love Concha Jimenez in 1932, they were a couple for over 60 years until her passing in 1988. They had four children: Gloria Robledo Romero, Raymond “Bobby” Robledo, Irene Robledo Tellez, and Joseph Canto Robledo.

Professional boxing record

Boxing Record
Date Opponent Result Place
1932-09-07 Hill Hernandez Won PTS Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-08-26 Rodolfo Teglia Draw Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-08-03 Lost PTS Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-07-27 Draw Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-05-04 Ros Dumaguilas Won PTS Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-04-22 Benny Gallup Won KO Stockton
1932-03-11 Young Tommy Lost PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1932-02-12 Young Tommy Lost TKO Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-12-11 Lost TKO Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-12-04 Young Sport Won PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-11-06 Won PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-10-01 Bobby Mars Won KO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1931-09-07 Sid Torres Won RTD Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach
1931-08-31 Sid Torres Won RTD Eastside Arena, Los Angeles
1931-07-15 Johnny Jones Won DQ Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-05-06 Joe Calder Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-04-29 Abie IsraelWon DQ Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-04-15 Abie Israel Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-03-21 Clever Sencio Won KO Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles
1931-02-07 Tony Atizado Won KO Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles
1931-01-23 Peppy Sanchez Won TKO Legion Stadium, Hollywood
1930-12-01 Young Sport Lost DQ Orange County A.C., Santa Ana
1930-10-31 Draw Legion Stadium, Hollywood
1930-09-04 Pete Sarmiento Lost TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-08-08 Lost PTS Legion Stadium, Hollywood
1930-06-12 Draw Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-05-29 Delos 'Kid' Williams Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-05-08 Pedro Villa Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-04-24 Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-04-15 Emil Jure Won PTS Orange Belt A.C., San Bernardino
1930-03-06 Johnny Jordan Lost DQ Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-02-06 Johnny Navarro Draw Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-01-16 Johnny Navarro Lost RTDPasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-01-02 Johnny Jordan Won TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-12-12 Young Sport Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-11-27 Young Sport Lost PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-10-31 Jess Gabuco Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-10-24 Mickey Erno Won TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-09-26 Faster Manalo Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-08-22 Jimmy Martinez Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-08-08 Jimmy Martinez Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-07-25 Johnny Gabucco Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-07-11 Regino Palmini Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-06-29 Johnny Gabucco Won PTS Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles

Awards & recognitions

References

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34]

Notes and References

  1. News: Graham . Fredrick . Muscle Bound . Pasadena Independent Star News . 28 June 1929.
  2. News: Staff Writer . Canto to Star in Main Event Thursday . Pasadena Independent Star News . 22 October 1929.
  3. News: Staff Writer . Canto Robleto Fights Tonight in Effort to Extend Winning Streak. Robleto Makes Initial Main Event Showing . Pasadena Star News . 31 October 1929.
  4. News: Staff Writer . Great Boxing Show Given at Arena. Every bout Exciting on Card Last Night. Canto has Arrived as Fighter . Pasadena Star News . 30 May 1930.
  5. News: Staff Writer . Canto Will Meet Dado. Flyweights will Battle in Main Event at Arena Tomorrow Night . Pasadena Independent Star News . June 12, 1930.
  6. News: Staff Writer . Robleto And Dado Fight To Draw. Local Boy Makes Great Showing at Arena . Pasadena Star News . 13 June 1930.
  7. News: Staff Writer . Wolgast Defeats Robleto Easily in Hollywood Go . The Los Angeles Times . 9 August 1930.
  8. News: Staff Writer . Robleto Awarded Decision in San Francisco . Oakland Tribune Sports . 5 December 1931.
  9. News: Staff Writer . Wolgast is Signed with Canto Robleto . The Oakland Tribune Sports . 6 December 1931.
  10. News: Piñeda . Mannie . ORV Mohler Memorial Honors Canto Robledo" . Pasadena Star News . November 1950.
  11. News: Piñeda . Mannie . Sportingly Yours: You Can See for Yourself Tonight . Pasadena Sports Scene . February 1951.
  12. News: Shafer . Bob . On an Undefeated Champion . Pasadena Star News . August 7, 1952.
  13. News: Shafer . Bob . Hail the Conquering Hero . Pasadena Star News . 25 April 1954.
  14. News: Santoreo . Al . To the Point: The Blind Man Who Teaches Boxing . Los Angeles Examiner . 17 June 1955.
  15. News: Piñeda . Mannie . Canto Honored by His Peers: Canto Robledo Honored at Boxing Writers Fete . Independent Star News . 26 September 1956.
  16. News: Smith . Robert . Canto Holds Benefit Dance for Unfortunate Kids . Independent Star news . 3 November 1956.
  17. News: Staff Writer . Finals Reached by Joe Robledo . Pasadena Independent Star News . 23 August 1958.
  18. News: Staff Writer . Robledo Wins Title . Pasadena Independent Star News . 30 August 1958.
  19. News: Piñeda . Mannie . Canto Robledo Slated for Top Honors at Fair . Pasadena Independent Star News . 14 September 1958.
  20. News: Staff Writer . Top Amateur Ring Card Slated at Muir Friday . Pasadena Independent Star News . 16 May 1959.
  21. News: Twombly . Wells . Unselfish Canto Dreams of Champ . Pasadena Independent Star News . 17 May 1959.
  22. News: Staff Writer . Man of Many Missions . Pasadena Independent Star News . 15 December 1959.
  23. News: Pickard . Don . Tragedy 'Cornered' Robledo, but He Came Back Swinging . Pasadena Independent Star News . 22 September 1964.
  24. News: Allan . John . Blind Trainer 'Sees' His Fighters . Los Angeles Times . 30 January 1966.
  25. News: O’Neill . William . A Man of Great Vision" . Boxing Illustrated . April 1968 . April 1968.
  26. News: Libman . Gary . Blind Boxing Instructor . Pasadena Independent Star News . 7 October 1973.
  27. News: Taub . Sam . Up and Down Old Broadway . The Ring Magazine . October 1974.
  28. News: González-Roth . Gloria . Canto Robledo: Warrior of the Ring . Q-Vo Magazine . 20 November 1980.
  29. News: Hamilton . Judith . Blind Trainer Builds Boxers In Backyard . 26 October 2020 . Los Times . 4 April 1985.
  30. News: Murray . Jim . Refuse To Fall in Line . The Los Angeles Times. 13 July 1986.
  31. News: Stephens . Eric . Boxing Legend Robledo Was Fixture on Local Scene . 26 October 2020 . Los Angeles Times . 30 November 1999.
  32. News: Day . Brian . Memorial to Pasadena boxing legend unveiled . 24 November 2020 . Los Angeles Times . 17 July 2010.
  33. Web site: Laurence . Todd . pashof 2017 inductees . Pasadena Black Pages . April 11, 2017.
  34. Book: Robledo . Joseph . Blood On The Canvas . 2018 . Golden Foothills Press . 9780996963251.