Kid Gavilán Explained

Kid Gavilán
Realname:Gerardo González[1]
Nickname:Kid Gavilán
The Cuban Hawk
Weight:
Birth Date:6 January 1926
Birth Place:Camaguey, Cuba
Death Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Style:Orthodox
Total:143
Wins:108
Losses:30
Draws:5
Ko:28

Gerardo González (January 6, 1926 – February 13, 2003), better known in the boxing world as Kid Gavilan, was a Cuban boxer.[2] [3] Gavilán was the former undisputed world welterweight champion from 1951 to 1954 having simultaneously held the NYSAC, WBA, and The Ring welterweight titles. The Boxing Writers Association of America named him Fighter of the Year in 1953. Gavilán was voted by The Ring magazine as the 26th greatest fighter of the last 80 years.[4] Gavilán was a 1966 inductee to The Ring magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame (disbanded in 1987), and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.[5]

Early career

Gavilan was managed by Yamil Chade, a boxing manager (based in Puerto Rico) who directed the careers of Wilfredo Gómez, Wilfred Benítez, Carlos De León and Félix Trinidad . He started as a professional boxer on the evening of June 5, 1943, when he beat Antonio Diaz by a decision in four rounds in Havana. His first 10 bouts were in Havana, and then he had one in Cienfuegos, but soon he returned to Havana for three more wins. After 14 bouts, he left Cuba for his first fight abroad, and he beat Julio César Jimenez by a decision in 10 rounds in his first of three consecutive fights in Mexico City. It was there that he suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Carlos Macalara by a decision. They had an immediate rematch, this time in Havana, and Gavilan avenged that loss, winning by decision too. Gavilan had a record of 25 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw already when he had his first fight on American soil. This happened on November 1, 1946, when he beat Johnny Ryan by a knockout in five rounds at New York City.

Move to the United States

He would split his time between the Eastern coast of the United States and Havana in 1947, a year in which he went 11-1-1 with 3 knockouts. However, by 1948 he had decided to stay in the United States indefinitely. That year, he met some very important fighters, like former world champion Ike Williams, who beat him by decision in ten, Tommy Bell, against whom Gavilan won by decision, Sugar Ray Robinson, who beat him by decision in ten, and Tony Pellone, with Gavilan obtaining a decision against Pellone.[6]

After beating Williams twice by decision, he met Robinson with Robinson's world Welterweight title on the line. He lost his first title try, when Robinson won a decision in 15 rounds. Back to the drawing board, he beat Rocky Castellani, the then lightweight world champion Beau Jack, and Laurent Dauthuille (the latter of whom fought Gavilan in Montreal, Quebec). All of them were beaten by decision in 10. In 1950, he went 10-4-1, beating Billy Graham, Sonny Horne, Robert Villemain, Eugene Hairston, and Tony Janiro among others.

World champion

In 1951 after beating Tommy Ciarlo twice, once in Caracas, Venezuela, and Hairston once again, he finally became a world champion when he beat Johnny Bratton for the world Welterweight title by a decision in 15 on May 18. He defended that title for the first time against Graham, winning by a decision, and promptly made four non-title bouts before the end of the year, including another win over Janiro and a draw in ten with Bratton.

In 1952 he defended the title with success against Bobby Dykes, Gil Turner, and with Graham in a third encounter between the two. All those fights were won by decision in 15. He also had five non-title bouts, including three that were a part of an Argentinian tour. His third fight with Graham was his first world title defense in Havana and his fight with Dykes marked the first time that a black man and a white man had a boxing fight in then-segregated Miami, Florida. In 1953, Gavilan retained the title by a knockout in ten against Chuck Davey, by a decision in 15 against Carmen Basilio and by a decision in 15 against Bratton. He had seven non-title bouts, losing to Danny Womber, but beating Ralph Tiger Jones. In 1954 Gavilan went up in weight. After two more points wins, he challenged world Middleweight champion Bobo Olson for the world title, but lost a decision in 15. Then, he went down in weight, and lost his world Welterweight championship, by a decision in 15 to Johnny Saxton. That same year, he appeared on a Telemundo Puerto Rico poster that promoted that country's first television transmission.

Personal life

Gavilan's wife, Leonor, gave birth to their daughters, Elena 1950,Victoria 1954, and son Gerardo in 1953.[7] After retiring from boxing Gavilán became one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was jailed under the Castro regime for preaching. In the 1980s he made a living selling sausages in Chicago.[8] [9]

Later career and retirement

From that point until 1958, when he retired, he had a career of ups and downs. He lost to Dykes, Jones, Eduardo Lausse, former world champion Tony DeMarco, Vince Martinez and Gaspar Ortega, but he also beat Ortega, Jones and Chico Vejar, among others. After losing to Yama Bahama by decision in ten on June 18, 1958, he never fought again, announcing his retirement on September 11 of that year. Gavilan was never knocked out in his professional career. He had a record of 107 wins, 30 losses and 6 draws, with one no contest and 27 wins by knockout in a career that spanned 143 professional fights.[10] [11]

Death

Gavilan died in Miami, Florida of a heart attack at age 77.[12]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
143Loss108–30–5Yama BahamaUD10Jun 18, 1958
142Win108–29–5Ralph JonesSD10Apr 4, 1958
141Loss107–29–5Ralph JonesSD10Feb 19, 1958
140Win107–28–5Walter ByarsUD10Nov 20, 1957
139Loss106–28–5Gaspar OrtegaSD12Oct 22, 1957
138Win106–27–5Gaspar OrtegaUD10Jul 31, 1957
137Loss105–27–5Vince MartinezPTS10Jun 17, 1957
136Loss105–26–5Del FlanaganUD10Apr 24, 1957
135Loss105–25–5Vince MartinezPTS10Feb 26, 1957
134Loss105–24–5Ramon FuentesSD10Dec 20, 1956
133Loss105–23–5Walter ByarsSD10Dec 4, 1956
132Win105–22–5Chico VejarUD10Nov 13, 1956
131Loss104–22–5Tony DeMarcoUD10Oct 13, 1956
130Win104–21–5Jimmy BeechamSD10Aug 28, 1956
129Draw103–21–5Louis TrochonPTS10May 12, 1956
128Win103–21–4Peter WatermanPTS10Apr 24, 1956
127Loss102–21–4Germinal BallarinPTS10Mar 29, 1956
126Loss102–20–4Peter WatermanPTS10Feb 7, 1956
125Loss102–19–4Dogomar MartinezPTS10Dec 3, 1955
124Loss102–18–4Eduardo LaussePTS12Sep 3, 1955
123Win102–17–4Juan Bautista BurguesKO 7 (10)Aug 13, 1955
122Win101–17–4Cirilo GilPTS10Jul 24, 1955
121Win100–17–4Luigi CemuliniKO3 (10)Jun 2, 1955
120Loss99–17–4Bobby DykesUD10Mar 16, 1955
119Loss99–16–4Hector ConstanceUD10Feb 23, 1955
118Win99–15–4Ernie DurandoSD10Feb 4, 1955
117Loss98–15–4Johnny SaxtonUD15Oct 20, 1954
116Loss98–14–4Bobo OlsonMD15Apr 2, 1954
115Win98–13–4Livio MinelliUD10Mar 8, 1954
114Win97–13–4Johnny CunninghamUD10Feb 23, 1954
113Win96–13–4Johnny BrattonUD15Nov 13, 1953
112Win95–13–4Carmen BasilioSD15Sep 18, 1953
111Win94–13–4Ralph JonesUD10Aug 26, 1953
110Win93–13–4Ramon FuentesUD10Jul 15, 1953
109Win92–13–4Italo ScortichiniUD10Jun 10, 1953
108Loss91–13–4Danny WomberUD10May 2, 1953
107Win91–12–4Livio MinelliSD10Apr 14, 1953
106Win90–12–4Chuck DaveyTKO10 (15)Feb 11, 1953
105Win89–12–4Vic CardellUD10Jan 21, 1953
104Win88–12–4Aman PeckUD10Jan 13, 1953
103Win87–12–4Billy GrahamUD15Oct 5, 1952
102Win86–12–4Eduardo LaussePTS10Sep 13, 1952
101Win85–12–4Rafael MerentinoTKO9 (12)Sep 6, 1952
100Win84–12–4Mario DiazMD10Aug 16, 1952
99Win83–12–4Gil TurnerTKO11 (15)Jul 7, 1952
98Win82–12–4Fritzie PrudenTKO6 (10)May 28, 1952
97Win81–12–4Ralph ZannelliUD10May 19, 1952
96Win80–12–4Don WilliamsSD10Feb 28, 1952
95Win79–12–4Bobby DykesSD15Feb 4, 1952
94Win78–12–4Walter CartierTKO10 (10)Dec 14, 1951
93Draw77–12–4Johnny BrattonPTS10Nov 28, 1951
92Win77–12–3Tony JaniroTKO4 (10)Nov 7, 1951
91Win76–12–3Bobby RosadoKO7 (10)Oct 4, 1951
90Win75–12–3Billy GrahamSD15Aug 29, 1951
89Win74–12–3Fritzie PrudenUD10Jul 16, 1951
88Win73–12–3Johnny BrattonUD15May 18, 1951
87Win72–12–3Aldo MinelliUD10Apr 20, 1951
86Win71–12–3Gene HairstonUD10Mar 30, 1951
85Win70–12–3Tommy CiarloTKO8 (10)Mar 10, 1951
84Win69–12–3Tommy CiarloPTS10Feb 19, 1951
83Win68–12–3Paddy YoungMD10Jan 26, 1951
82Win67–12–3Joe MiceliSD10Dec 22, 1950
81Win66–12–3Tony JaniroUD10Dec 4, 1950
80Win65–12–3Billy GrahamMD10Nov 17, 1950
79Loss64–12–3Gene HairstonSD10Oct 30, 1950
78Draw64–11–3Tommy CiarloPTS10Oct 23, 1950
77Win64–11–2Johnny GrecoKO6 (10)Aug 16, 1950
76Win63–11–2Phil BurtonPTS10Jul 13, 1950
75Win62–11–2Sonny HornePTS10Jul 3, 1950
74Win61–11–2Bobby MannPTS10Jun 19, 1950
73Win60–11–2Mike KoballaUD10Jun 8, 1950
72Win59–11–2Georgie SmallUD10May 26, 1950
71Loss58–11–2George CostnerMD10May 8, 1950
70Loss58–10–2Robert VillemainSD10Mar 20, 1950
69Win58–9–2Otis GrahamSD10Mar 6, 1950
68Loss57–9–2Billy GrahamSD10Feb 10, 1950
67Win57–8–2Bobby LeePTS10Dec 17, 1949
66Win56–8–2Laurent DauthuilleUD10Nov 21, 1949
65Loss55–8–2Lester FeltonSD10Oct 21, 1949
64Win55–7–2Beau JackUD10Oct 14, 1949
63Win54–7–2Rocky CastellaniUD10Sep 9, 1949
62Loss53–7–2Sugar Ray RobinsonUD15Jul 11, 1949
61Win53–6–2Cliff HartTKO2 (10)Jun 2, 1949
60Win52–6–2Al PriestUD10May 2, 1949
59Win51–6–2Ike WilliamsUD10Apr 1, 1949
58Win50–6–2Ike WilliamsMD10Jan 28, 1949
57Win49–6–2Abdeslam ben BukerPTS10Dec 11, 1948
56Win48–6–2Tony PelloneUD10Nov 12, 1948
55Win47–6–2Vinnie RossanoTKO6 (10)Oct 21, 1948
54Loss46–6–2Sugar Ray RobinsonUD10Sep 23, 1948
53Win46–5–2Buster TylerUD10Aug 12, 1948
52Win45–5–2Roman AlvarezUD10Jul 22, 1948
51Win44–5–2Rocco RossanoKO1 (10)May 28, 1948
50Win43–5–2Tommy BellSD10Apr 26, 1948
49Loss42–5–2Doug RatfordUD10Apr 13, 1948
48Loss42–4–2Ike WilliamsUD10Feb 27, 1948
47Win42–3–2Vinnie RossanoUD10Feb 13, 1948
46Win41–3–2Joe CurcioTKO2 (10)Jan 23, 1948
45Draw40–3–2Gene BurtonPTS10Jan 12, 1948
44Draw40–3–1Buster TylerPTS10Dec 29, 1947
43Win40–3Bee Bee WrightTKO10 (10)Nov 3, 1947
42Win39–3Billy NixonUD8Oct 23, 1947
41Win38–3Billy JustineUD8Sep 18, 1947
40Win37–3Charley MilanTKO1 (10)Sep 15, 1947
39Loss36–3Doug RatfordPTS10Sep 2, 1947
38Win36–2Bobby LeeUD10Aug 18, 1947
37Win35–2Charley WilliamsKO2 (10)Aug 11, 1947
36Win34–2Vince GambillKO2 (10)Apr 26, 1947
35Win33–2Nick MoranPTS10Mar 12, 1947
34Win32–2Baby CoullimberPTS10Feb 22, 1947
33Win31–2Jose Garvia AlvarezPTS10Feb 8, 1947
32Win30–2Julio PedrosoPTS10Jan 25, 1947
31Win29–2Johnny WilliamsPTS10Dec 13, 1946
30Win28–2Johnny WilliamsUD10Dec 2, 1946
29Win27–2Johnny RyanTKO5 (6)Nov 1, 1946
28Win26–2Hankin BarrowPTS10Sep 7, 1946
27Win25–2Jack LarrimoreKO3 (10)Aug 24, 1946
26Win24–2Hankin BarrowKO7 (10)Aug 3, 1946
25Win23–2Chico VaronaPTS10Jun 22, 1946
24Loss22–2Tony MarPTS10May 4, 1946
23Win22–1Santiago SosaPTS10Mar 9, 1946
22Win21–1Jose ZorillaKO4 (10)Mar 2, 1946
21Win20–1Kid BururuPTS10Feb 9, 1946
20Win19–1Kid BururuPTS10Jan 26, 1946
19Win18–1Johnny SuarezPTS10Nov 17, 1945
18Win17–1Carlos MalacaraPTS10Nov 3, 1945
17Loss16–1Carlos MalacaraPTS10Sep 25, 1945
16Win16–0Pedro OrtegaKO6 (10)Sep 8, 1945
15Win15–0Julio Cesar JimenezPTS10Aug 11, 1945
14Win14–0Joe PedrosoKO4 (12)Jul 7, 1945
13Win13–0Pedro OrtegaPTS10Jun 23, 1945
12Win12–0Julio Cesar JimenezPTS10May 26, 1945
11Win11–0Kid BeboKO4 (10)May 13, 1945
10Win10–0Santiago SosaKO9 (10)Apr 21, 1945
9Win9–0Joe PedrosoPTS10Mar 10, 1945
8Win8–0Bombon OrientalPTS10Feb 10, 1945
7Win7–0Miguel AcevedoPTS10Dec 23, 1944
6Win6–0Bombon OrientalPTS10Nov 25, 1944
5Win5–0Juan VillalbaTKO9 (10)Oct 1, 1944
4Win4–0Sergio PrietoTKO5 (6)Sep 11, 1943
3Win3–0Nanito Kid DustetPTS6Aug 7, 1943
2Win2–0Bartolo MolinaPTS4Jun 12, 1943
1Win1–0Antonio DiazPTS6Jun 5, 1943

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kid Gavilán . The Independent . December 2, 2013 . October 6, 2016.
  2. Web site: The Lineal Welterweight Champs. Cyber Boxing Zone.
  3. Web site: Mike Lewis . Obituary: Kid Gavilan | Sport . The Guardian . February 17, 2003 . October 6, 2016.
  4. Web site: Ring Magazine's 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. Andrew Eisele. About.com Sports. December 27, 2017. January 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170108035508/http://boxing.about.com/od/history/a/ring_80_best.htm. dead.
  5. Web site: Boxing Hall of Fame names first inductees.
  6. Web site: Songalia . Ryan . Classic Columns: Kid Gavilan - The Ring . Ringtv.com . June 20, 2014 . October 6, 2016.
  7. Web site: Jet - Google Books . April 15, 1954 . Johnson Publishing Company . October 6, 2016.
  8. Web site: Kid Gavilan, 77, Welterweight Champion in the Early 50s. New York Times. February 15, 2003. January 19, 2018. Richard. Goldstein.
  9. Book: Latino Athletes. Friedman, Ian C.. 2007. Orient Longman. 97–98. 9788125028956. January 19, 2018.
  10. Web site: Kid Gavilan . Telegraph . February 17, 2003 . October 6, 2016.
  11. Web site: Kid Gavilan, 77; Flashy Boxer Held World Welterweight Crown in '50s - latimes . Articles.latimes.com . November 10, 2012 . October 6, 2016.
  12. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/15/sports/kid-gavilan-77-welterweight-champion-in-the-early-50-s.html New York Times obituary for Kid Gavilan

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