Kid Chocolate Explained

Kid Chocolate
Realname:Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo
Nickname:The Cuban Bon Bon
Height:1.68m (05.51feet)
Reach:165cm (65inches)
Weight:Super Featherweight
Birth Date:January 6, 1910
Birth Place:Cerro, Havana, Cuba
Death Place:Cuba
Style:Orthodox
Total:152
Wins:136
Ko:51
Losses:10
Draws:6

Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo (January 6, 1910 – August 8, 1988), better known as Kid Chocolate, was a Cuban boxer who enjoyed great success both in the boxing ring and outside it during the 1930s. Chocolate boxed professionally between 1927 and 1938. His record was 136 wins, 10 losses and 6 draws, 51 wins coming by knockout and one no-decision bout, also making Ring magazine's list of boxers with 50 or more career knockout wins. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1991.

Biography

Career

Early years

Sardiñas, also nicknamed The Cuban Bon Bon, learned how to fight by watching old fight films in Cuba. He later sparred with boxers such as Benny Leonard and Jack Johnson, all world champions, before beginning an amateur boxing career. Sardiñas had no fear and would actively engage in fights outside the ring with anyone who wanted it.

His professional boxing debut, officially, occurred on March 3, 1928, when he knocked out Juan Sarriá Rodríguez aka 'Kid Sotolongo' via first-round KO of a scheduled 6 round bout after having fought and won 3 semi-professional bouts from October 1927 to February 1928.[1] [2]

Taking the World Jr. Lightweight Championship

After going up in weight class to the Junior Lightweight division, he started 1931 by winning four fights in a row. Then, on July 15, his dream of becoming Cuba's first world boxing champion finally came true, as he knocked out the defending world Junior Lightweight champion Benny Bass in seven rounds to take the world title.[3] Five non-title wins followed, including a first-round knockout in a rematch with Scalfaro. He finished the year by going up in weight once again, and challenging world Lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri, losing by a decision in 15 in his first attempt to gain the Lightweight crown.

He started 1932 by winning his first eight bouts, including a world title defense in Havana against Davie Abad, beaten in 15 by decision. Then, he faced "Kid" Berg in a rematch, losing again, this time by decision in 15. He engaged in seven more bouts, including two decision wins over Johnny Farr, before fighting Lew Feldman on October 13. The fight was recognized as a world Featherweight title bout, but only by the New York state athletic commission. Chocolate won by a knockout in 12 rounds, gaining the New York World title.

He defended that world title twice, including a third fight with LaBarba, before relinquishing it while in the middle of a European boxing tour that took him to Madrid, Barcelona and Paris. He won all of his fights on that tour by decision. Upon returning to America, he lost by a knockout in two in a rematch with Canzoneri.

Losing the World Jr. Lightweight Title to Frankie Klick

Before a crowd of 4,000, the Kid lost the World Jr. Lightweight boxing championship to Frankie Klick, on December 25, 1933, at the Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a seventh-round technical knockout. The Ludington Daily News, wrote "The flashy Cuban "bon bon" (Chocolate) was bereft of the title in the seventh round of a scheduled fifteen round Christmas Day bout by a whistling right smash to the chin and all he got in exchange was the second knockout of his career although the latest was of the technical variety." The bout had been fairly close until the seventh with Chocolate showing stamina and style.[4] The seventh round had gone two minutes and fifty-eight seconds when the knockout occurred. "The Cuban waged a fast, aggressive fight in the early rounds that gave him a temporary lead." Chocolate had landed rights "to the head and body." Kid Chocolate may have been suffering from the knockout he had received from Tony Canzoneri only a month previously. Chocolate retained his featherweight championship at least in the state of New York.[5] After that fight, it was revealed that he was suffering from syphilis.

Later years

He retired shortly thereafter, but came back in 1934. He won 47 of his next 50 bouts. He never received another world title attempt and felt abandoned by boxing's elite. He retired again in 1938.

Kid Chocolate enjoyed the city's nightlife. However, when he stepped out of boxing, he went back to Cuba and lived a quieter life.

Legacy

From 1959, Chocolate's fame in Cuba was overlooked by Fidel Castro and his revolutionary forces, and he almost became a forgotten champion. But, by the late 1970s, Chocolate's achievements were finally recognized by the Cuban government, who gave him a small pension. Chocolate died in his own home – bought for his mother when he was champion – in 1988.

He was the inspiration for the character Chocolate Drop in Clifford Odets' play Golden Boy.[6]

Former WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin, an American of Cuban descent, carries the nickname "Kid Chocolate" in honor of Sardiñas.

The highly acclaimed greatest pound for pound boxer of all time Sugar Ray Robinson was a big fan of Kid Chocolate and incorporated a lot of Chocolate's boxing style into his own: "Sugar Ray Robinson was a great admirer of Kid Chocolate," said Fausto Miranda, a former Cuban journalist who covered many of Chocolate's fights. Sugar Ray Robinson, went on record saying that he had never seen anyone box like Kid Chocolate before. Robinson studied the Chocolate style and incorporated much of his slick movement and graceful flair into his own boxing style. Robinson in many ways was a combination of his boxing idols Joe Louis and Kid Chocolate. He mixed the concentration, masterful combinations and power punching of Louis with the stylish movement and balance of Chocolate.[7]

Montalvo was also the cousin of the lesser known flyweight contender Eladio 'Black Bill' Valdés.[8]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
152Draw136–10–6Nicky JeromePTS10Dec 18, 1938
151Win136–10–5Fillo EchevarriaPTS10Mar 20, 1938
150Win135–10–5Johnny MirabellaKO4 (10)Dec 23, 1937
149Win134–10–5Young ChappiePTS10Nov 6, 1937
148Win133–10–5Phil BakerPTS10Sep 5, 1937
147Win132–10–5Johnny DeFoeUD10Aug 19, 1937
146Win131–10–5Jimmy TramberiaKO3 (10)Aug 16, 1937
145Win130–10–5Joe MarcientePTS10Aug 13, 1937
144Win129–10–5Charley GomerPTS10Aug 2, 1937
143Draw128–10–5Orville DrouillardPTS8Jul 27, 1937
142Win128–10–4Young ChappiePTS8Jul 20, 1937
141Win127–10–4Charley GomerPTS8Jun 7, 1937
140Win126–10–4Joe MarcientePTS8Jul 2, 1937
139Win125–10–4Al GilletteTKO4 (10)Jun 18, 1937
138Win124–10–4Young ChappiePTS8Jun 15, 1937
137Win123–10–4Al ReidPTS10Jun 2, 1937
136Win122–10–4Henry HookPTS10May 25, 1937
135Win121–10–4Frankie AnselmPTS10Apr 9, 1937
134Win120–10–4Allie TedescoPTS8Mar 27, 1937
133Win119–10–4Joe WoodsKO1 (8)Mar 18, 1937
132Draw118–10–4Bernie FriedkinPTS8Mar 9, 1937
131Win118–10–3Jimmy LancasterPTS6Feb 27, 1937
130Win117–10–3Johnny MirabellaPTS8Jan 28, 1937
129Win116–10–3Tony PaganoTKO4 (8)Jan 19, 1937
128Win115–10–3Johnny EricksonTKO5 (10)Jan 13, 1937
127Win114–10–3Joe LaFauciPTS8Jan 7, 1937
126Win113–10–3Al GillettePTS8Dec 26, 1936
125Win112–10–3Johnny EricksonPTS8Dec 19, 1936
124Loss111–10–3Phil BakerUD10Dec 7, 1935
123Win111–9–3Jose SantosPTS10Sep 19, 1936
122Win110–9–3Joey BrownPTS10Jul 18, 1936
121Win109–9–3Johnny EricksonPTS10Jun 20, 1937
120Win108–9–3Lew FeldmanPTS10May 30, 1936
119Win107–9–3Andy MartinPTS10Feb 1, 1936
118Win106–9–3Pelon GuerraKO3 (10)Nov 30, 1935
117Win105–9–3Kid JacksonKO7 (10)Sep 3, 1935
116Win104–9–3Pete NeboPTS10Jul 4, 1935
115Loss103–9–3Simon ChavezPTS10Mar 17, 1935
114Win103–8–3Cliff BoykinKO5 (10)Jan 19, 1935
113Win102–8–3Jerry MazzaPTS10Nov 5, 1934
112Win101–8–3Andre SarillaKO7 (10)Aug 17, 1934
111Win100–8–3Buster BrownPTS8Jul 31, 1934
110Loss99–8–3Petey HayesUD10Jul 11, 1935
109Win99–7–3Johnny EricksonPTS10Jul 6, 1935
108Win98–7–3Frankie MarchesePTS10Jun 28, 1934
107Win97–7–3Emil PalusoTKO7 (10)May 29, 1934
106Draw96–7–3Tommy PaulPTS10May 22, 1934
105Win96–7–2Pete NeboPTS10May 11, 1934
104Draw95–7–2Bobby GrayPTS10Apr 24, 1934
103Win95–7–1Frankie WallacePTS10Apr 16, 1934
102Loss94–7–1TKO7 (15)Dec 25, 1933
101Win94–6–1Frankie WallacePTS10Dec 4, 1933
100Loss93–6–1Tony CanzoneriKO2 (10)Nov 24, 1933
99Win93–5–1Joe GhnoulyMD10Nov 1, 1933
98Win92–5–1Nic BensaTKO10 (10)Sep 29, 1933
97Win91–5–1Frans MachtensPTS10Aug 2, 1933
96Win90–5–1Nic BensaPTS10Jul 15, 1933
95Win89–5–1Seaman Tommy WatsonUD15May 19, 1933
94Win88–5–1Johnny FarrUD10May 1, 1933
93Win87–5–1Fidel LaBarbaMD15Dec 9, 1932
92Win86–5–1Johnny AlbaPTS6Nov 29, 1932
91Win85–5–1Eddie ReillyPTS10Nov 21, 1932
90Win84–5–1Pete NeboPTS10Nov 14, 1932
89Win83–5–1Lew FeldmanKO12 (15)Oct 13, 1932
88Win82–5–1Johnny FarrPTS10Oct 4, 1932
87Win81–5–1Frank FarielloPTS6Sep 15, 1932
86Win80–5–1Steve SmithUD10Sep 6, 1932
85Win79–5–1Frankie MarcheseKO4 (6)Sep 1, 1932
84Win78–5–1Johnny FarrPTS10Aug 10, 1932
83Win77–5–1Eddie SheaUD10Aug 4, 1932
82Loss76–5–1Jack 'Kid' BergMD15Jul 18, 1932
81Win76–4–1Johnny FarrUD10Jun 22, 1932
80Win75–4–1Roger BernardPTS10Jun 16, 1932
79Win74–4–1Mike SarkoPTS10Jun 6, 1932
78Win73–4–1Lew FeldmanUD15Jun 1, 1932
77Win72–4–1Steve SmithPTS10May 26, 1932
76Win71–4–1Mike SarkoPTS10May 16, 1932
75Win70–4–1Davey AbadPTS15Apr 10, 1932
74Win69–4–1Dominick PetronePTS10Mar 6, 1932
73Win68–4–1Maxie LeinerKO1 (10)Nov 30, 1932
72Loss67–4–1Tony CanzoneriSD15Nov 20, 1931
71Win67–3–1Lew FeldmanUD10Nov 2, 1931
70Win66–3–1Buck OlivaKO2 (10)Oct 26, 1931
69Win65–3–1Al 'Rube' GoldbergTKO3 (10)Oct 21, 1931
68Win64–3–1Steve SmithPTS10Oct 12, 1931
67Win63–3–1Joey ScalfaroTKO1 (10)Oct 1, 1931
66Win62–3–1Benny BassTKO7 (10)Jul 15, 1931
65Win61–3–1Harry SankeyPTS10Jun 29, 1931
64Win60–3–1Maxie LeinerPTS10Jun 17, 1931
63Win59–3–1Steve SmithPTS10Jun 12, 1931
62Win58–3–1George GoldbergTKO7 (10)May 29, 1931
61Loss57–3–1Battling BattalinoUD15Dec 12, 1930
60Loss57–2–1Fidel LaBarbaUD10Nov 3, 1930
59Win57–1–1Mickey DoyleKO1 (10)Oct 27, 1930
58Win56–1–1Benny NaborsKO1 (10)Oct 16, 1930
57Loss55–1–1Jack 'Kid' BergSD10Aug 7, 1930
56Win55–0–1Luigi QuadriniPTS10Jul 15, 1930
55Win54–0–1Vic BurroneKO3 (10)Jul 10, 1930
54Win53–0–1Dominick PetroneTKO6 (10)Jul 2, 1930
53Win52–0–1Johnny EricksonPTS10Apr 28, 1930
52Win51–0–1Al RidgewayTKO2 (10)Mar 21, 1930
51Win50–0–1Benny HallPTS10Mar 5, 1930
50Win49–0–1Vic BurronePTS10Feb 23, 1930
49Win48–0–1Johnny LawsonKO2 (10)Dec 21, 1929
48Win47–0–1Dominick PetronePTS10Dec 18, 1929
47Win46–0–1Herman SilverbergKO1 (10)Dec 10, 1929
46Win45–0–1Eddie O'DowdKO2 (10)Nov 27, 1929
45Win44–0–1Jim El ZairdPTS10Nov 19, 1929
44Win43–0–1Johnny EricksonPTS10Nov 9, 1929
43Win42–0–1Al SingerSD12Aug 29, 1929
42Win41–0–1Tommy LorenzoTKO6 (10)Aug 7, 1929
41Win40–0–1Steve SmithUD10Jul 30, 1929
40Win39–0–1Milton CohenPTS10Jul 19, 1929
39Win38–0–1Ignacio FernandezPTS10Jul 10, 1929
38Win37–0–1Jackie JohnstonKO1 (10)Jun 24, 1929
37Win36–0–1Terry RothTKO3 (10)Jun 18, 1929
36Win35–0–1Gregorio VidalSD10Jun 5, 1929
35Win34–0–1Fidel LaBarbaMD10May 22, 1929
34Win33–0–1Steve SmithUD10May 7, 1929
33Win32–0–1Tommy RyanKO1 (10)Apr 29, 1929
32Win31–0–1Vic BurroneUD10Apr 22, 1929
31Win30–0–1Bushy GrahamDQ7 (15)Apr 12, 1929
30Win29–0–1Johnny VaccaTKO9 (10)Mar 22, 1929
29Win28–0–1Al RackowKO4 (10)Mar 18, 1929
28Win27–0–1Phil O'DowdKO1 (10)Mar 9, 1929
27Win26–0–1Chick SuggsUD10Dec 24, 1929
26Win25–0–1Pancho DencioTKO2 (10)Dec 22, 1928
25Win24–0–1Emil PalusoTKO8 (10)Dec 17, 1928
24Win23–0–1Johnny HelsteinPTS10Dec 10, 1928
23Draw22–0–1Joey ScalfaroPTS10Nov 30, 1928
22Win22–0Pinky MayTKO6 (10)Nov 24, 1928
21Win21–0Jackie SchweitzerKO6 (10)Nov 19, 1928
20Win20–0Pinky SilverbergPTS8Nov 8, 1928
19Win19–0Frisco GrandeTKO4 (10)Nov 3, 1928
18Win18–0Joey RossKO1 (10)Oct 29, 1928
17Win17–0Eddie O'DowdPTS10Oct 10, 1928
16Win16–0Johnny EricksonPTS10Oct 1, 1928
15Win15–0Sammy TischPTS10sep 17, 1928
14Win14–0Mike CastleTKO3 (10)Aug 31, 1928
13Win13–0Nick MercerKO3 (8)Aug 25, 1928
12Win12–0Johnny GreenKO6 (10)Aug 15, 1928
11Win11–0Nick DeSalvoPTS8Jul 25, 1928
10Win10–0Eddie EnosTKO3 (8)Jul 11, 1928
9Win9–0Pablo BlancoKO5 (10)Jun 16, 1928
8Win8–0Jose 'Joe' CastilloPTS6Jun 4, 1928
7Win7–0Kid SaguitaTKO5 (10)May 14, 1928
6Win6–0Clemente 'Remache' MoralesTKO4 (10)Apr 7, 1928
5Win5–0Angel DiazKO7 (10)Mar 10, 1928
4Win4–0Kid SotolongoKO1 (6)Mar 3, 1928
3Win3–0Johnny CruzKO5 (6)Feb 11, 1928
2Win2–0Jose 'Joe' CastilloPTS6Dec 17, 1927
1Win1–0Johnny CruzUD6Oct 22, 1927

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BoxRec: Login .
  2. Web site: BoxRec: Login .
  3. Web site: Kid Chocolate - Lineal Jr. Lightweight Champion. The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  4. "Young Frankie Klick Holds Junior Lightweight Title", Ludington Daily News, Ludington, Michigan, pg. 6, 26 December 1933
  5. "Frankie Klick Takes Junior Lightweight Crown", Belvidere Daily Republican, Belvidere, Illinois, pg. 6, 26 December 1933
  6. Web site: Kid Chocolate . 6 January 2010 .
  7. Web site: Kid Chocolate, The Cuban Bon Bon…"A living, breathing boxing instruction book.". 2023-08-09.
  8. Web site: The Tale of Willie and Bill - an All-Time Great Boxing Rivalry . 30 May 2022 .