Antonio Cervantes
Antonio Cervantes aka Kid Pambelé (born December 23, 1945) is a Colombian boxing trainer and former two time world Jr. Welterweight champion. He successfully defended the title 16 times. Cervantes fought 21 world title fights, keeping the 140 pounds title for almost 8 years.[1] Cervantes, who is Afro-Colombian, was born in Palenque, also known as the first site of a slave rebellion in the Americas. Cervantes used to sell contraband cigarettes and shine shoes as a child to survive.
Antonio Cervantes | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | Antonio Cervantes Reyes |
Nickname(s) | Kid Pambelé |
Weight(s) | Light Welterweight |
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Nationality | ![]() |
Born | San Basilio de Palenque, Bolívar, Colombia | December 23, 1945
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 106 |
Wins | 91 |
Wins by KO | 45 |
Losses | 12 |
Draws | 3 |
In 2002, Cervantes was chosen for the Ring Magazine's list of 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years.[2] Boxrec also ranked him the 50th greatest pound for pound boxer of all time.[3]
Boxing career
He met boxing trainer Carmelo Prada, who helped shape his style. Cervantes only had three amateur bouts, winning two and losing one. On January 31, 1964, Cervantes entered the boxing ring as a professional for the first time, beating Juan Martínez by decision in six rounds. His first 32 bouts as a professional were in Colombia, and he won 27, lost 4 and drew one of them. Realizing his pupil needed publicity outside Colombia, Prada then moved with Cervantes to Venezuela, where, on November 25, 1968, he knocked out Orlando Ruiz in the first round for his first fight abroad. He followed that win with a ten rounds decision over Nestor Rojas in the very short time of only three days later.
On December 23 of that year, he suffered his first knockout defeat when Cruz Marcano, a fringe contender of the time, beat him in four rounds in Caracas.
He won five and lost two in 1969, splitting his fights between Colombia and Venezuela, and losing a ten-round decision to Antonio Gómez, former world champion.
He won two more in 1970, then he and Prada moved, this time to Los Angeles. In California, he began by beating Jose Rodriguez by a knockout in the first round in San Jose, and on December 17, he beat Rodolfo Gato González, a very famous Mexican boxer of the time, by knockout in round eight. After this and a 1971 win over Argentine Enrique Jana, Cervantes was ranked as a Jr. Welterweight by the WBA. On December 11 of that year, he had his first world title try, against Nicolino Locche, in Buenos Aires. Cervantes lost a 15-round decision that time, however.
Winning the world light welterweight title
After winning three fights in 1972, Cervantes, who had by then returned to Colombia, had another world title try: Alfonso 'Peppermint' Frazer, who had dethroned Locche of the world title, gave Cervantes a chance on October 28 at Panama City. Cervantes knocked Frazer out in round ten and became the world light welterweight champion for the first time.[4]
Cervantes immediately became a national hero in Colombia, and many enterprises made him their spokesman in the coffee producing country, most notably Sanyo, whose name the popular champion advertised on his clothing and fight trunks.
Cervantes made nine defenses, including a knockout in nine of Locche in a rematch, a knockout in five of Frazer, also in a rematch, a 15-round split decision win over Josue Marquez in Puerto Rico (in the first world title bout ever held at Roberto Clemente Coliseum; most of the nine thousand in attendance scored the fight for Cervantes[5]) and a 15-round decision against future world Lightweight champion Esteban De Jesús. But on March 6, 1976, at San Juan, he lost a 15-round decision and the world title to 17-year-old Puerto Rican Wilfred Benítez, who with that became boxing's youngest champion ever.[6]
Cervantes won five more fights in a row, including a win over Saoul Mamby, before fighting for the world title again. After Benitez had left the Jr. welterweight belt vacant, Cervantes regained it on June 25, 1977, with a five-round knockout over Carlos Maria Gimenez, again in Venezuela. His second reign as world champion took him to such places as Thailand, Botswana and South Korea, among others. He retained the title six times, beating the likes of Adrian Marrero and Miguel Montilla (twice). By this time, there was much talk about a superfight with world Lightweight champion Roberto Durán, who was coming up in weight. Duran decided to challenge Sugar Ray Leonard instead, however, and Cervantes vs. Duran never materialized.
On August 2, 1980, Cervantes dropped his next title challenger, Aaron Pryor, to the canvas in the first round. Pryor recovered, however, and beat Cervantes by a knockout in round four. This turned out to be Cervantes' last world title fight. He fought two times more for the FECARBOX WBC title, winning both fights shortly before retiring in 1980.
However, Cervantes came out of retirement due to financial problems and went on boxing until 1983, winning four fights and dropping his last one, a ten-round decision loss to Danny Sanchez on December 9, 1983, at Miami.
Retirement
In retirement, his life was almost as public as it was during his boxing career: In 1985, for example, he and a female passenger in one of the boats Cervantes owned, suffered a water accident, and the passenger almost drowned, but Cervantes was able to save her life. A movie has been made about a fictional boxer called Milton Ollivera (who comes from Colombia) who goes through a majority of the things Cervantes went through throughout his life.
Cervantes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2000, he was declared by the Colombian Boxing Federation and National Association of Professional Boxing as Colombia's Fighter of the Century. For that award, the WBA issued him a special, commemorative belt.
Cervantes' nickname, Kid Pambelé, became almost as famous as Cervantes himself: as a matter of a fact, many fans called him only Pambelé or Pambe (the name of a song by Carlos Vives about him).
Professional boxing record
80 fights | 67 wins | 12 losses |
By knockout | 37 | 2 |
By decision | 30 | 10 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80 | Loss | 67–12–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 9 Dec 1983 | ![]() |
|
79 | Win | 67–11–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 11 (12) | 30 Jul 1983 | ![]() |
Retained WBC FECARBOX title |
78 | Win | 66–11–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 12 | 26 Mar 1983 | ![]() |
Won WBC FECARBOX title |
77 | Win | 65–11–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 2 Apr 1982 | ![]() |
|
76 | Win | 64–11–1 | ![]() |
KO | 9 (10) | 4 Dec 1981 | ![]() |
|
75 | Loss | 63–11–1 | ![]() |
KO | 4 (15) | 2 Aug 1980 | ![]() |
Lost WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
74 | Win | 63–10–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (15) | 29 Mar 1980 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
73 | Win | 62–10–1 | ![]() |
SD | 15 | 25 Aug 1979 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
72 | Win | 61–10–1 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | 18 Jan 1979 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
71 | Win | 60–10–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (15) | 26 Aug 1978 | ![]() |
Retained WBA light welterweight title |
70 | Win | 59–10–1 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (15) | 28 Apr 1978 | ![]() |
Retained WBA light welterweight title |
69 | Win | 58–10–1 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (10) | 18 Mar 1978 | ![]() |
|
68 | Win | 57–10–1 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | 5 Nov 1977 | ![]() |
Retained WBA light welterweight title |
67 | Win | 56–10–1 | ![]() |
RTD | 5 (15) | 25 Jun 1977 | ![]() |
Won vacant WBA light welterweight title |
66 | Win | 55–10–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 19 Mar 1977 | ![]() |
|
65 | Win | 54–10–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 13 Nov 1976 | ![]() |
|
64 | Win | 53–10–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (10) | 16 Oct 1976 | ![]() |
|
63 | Win | 52–10–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10) | 17 Jul 1976 | ![]() |
|
62 | Win | 51–10–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10) | 23 May 1976 | ![]() |
|
61 | Loss | 50–10–1 | ![]() |
SD | 15 | 6 Mar 1976 | ![]() |
Lost WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
60 | Win | 50–9–1 | ![]() |
RTD | 7 (15) | 15 Nov 1975 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
59 | Win | 49–9–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (10) | 20 Sep 1975 | ![]() |
|
58 | Win | 48–9–1 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | 17 May 1975 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
57 | Win | 47–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (10) | 15 Mar 1975 | ![]() |
|
56 | Win | 46–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 8 (15) | 26 Oct 1974 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
55 | Win | 45–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (15) | 27 Jul 1974 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
54 | Win | 44–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 4 (10) | 8 Jun 1974 | ![]() |
|
53 | Win | 43–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (15) | 2 Mar 1974 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
52 | Win | 42–9–1 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | 5 Dec 1973 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
51 | Win | 41–9–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (15) | 8 Sep 1973 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
50 | Win | 40–9–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (10) | 20 Jul 1973 | ![]() |
|
49 | Win | 39–9–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (15) | 19 May 1973 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
48 | Win | 38–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10) | 28 Apr 1973 | ![]() |
|
47 | Win | 37–9–1 | ![]() |
RTD | 9 (15) | 17 Mar 1973 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
46 | Win | 36–9–1 | ![]() |
SD | 15 | 15 Feb 1973 | ![]() |
Retained WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
45 | Win | 35–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 10 (15) | 28 Oct 1972 | ![]() |
Won WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
44 | Win | 34–9–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 19 Aug 1972 | ![]() |
|
43 | Win | 33–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 8 (10) | 26 Apr 1972 | ![]() |
|
42 | Win | 32–9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10) | 10 Mar 1972 | ![]() |
|
41 | Loss | 31–9–1 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | 11 Dec 1971 | ![]() |
For WBA and The Ring light welterweight titles |
40 | Win | 31–8–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 18 Oct 1971 | ![]() |
|
39 | Win | 30–8–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 10 Jul 1971 | ![]() |
|
38 | Win | 29–8–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 28 May 1971 | ![]() |
|
37 | Win | 28–8–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (10) | 18 Feb 1971 | ![]() |
|
36 | Win | 27–8–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (10) | 17 Dec 1970 | ![]() |
|
35 | Win | 26–8–1 | ![]() |
KO | 8 (10) | 6 Nov 1970 | ![]() |
|
34 | Win | 25–8–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10) | 23 Mar 1970 | ![]() |
|
33 | Win | 24–8–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 20 Feb 1970 | ![]() |
|
32 | Loss | 23–8–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 10 Nov 1969 | ![]() |
|
31 | Win | 23–7–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (10) | 15 Aug 1969 | ![]() |
|
30 | Loss | 22–7–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 21 Jul 1969 | ![]() |
|
29 | Win | 22–6–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 4 Jun 1969 | ![]() |
|
28 | Win | 21–6–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (10) | 15 Apr 1969 | ![]() |
|
27 | Win | 20–6–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10) | 9 Feb 1969 | ![]() |
|
26 | Loss | 19–6–1 | ![]() |
KO | 4 (10) | 20 Dec 1968 | ![]() |
|
25 | Win | 19–5–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1(10) | 25 Nov 1968 | ![]() |
|
24 | Win | 18–5–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 31 Aug 1968 | ![]() |
|
23 | Win | 17–5–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 21 Jan 1968 | ![]() |
|
22 | Win | 16–5–1 | ![]() |
KO | 5 (10) | 5 Aug 1967 | ![]() |
|
21 | Loss | 15–5–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 19 Jun 1967 | ![]() |
|
20 | Win | 15–4–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 3 Jun 1967 | ![]() |
|
19 | Win | 14–4–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 20 May 1967 | ![]() |
|
18 | Loss | 13–4–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 2 Apr 1967 | ![]() |
|
17 | Loss | 13–3–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 3 Feb 1967 | ![]() |
|
16 | Loss | 13–2–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 6 Nov 1966 | ![]() |
|
15 | Loss | 13–1–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 23 Sep 1966 | ![]() |
|
14 | Draw | 13–0–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 29 Jul 1966 | ![]() |
|
13 | Win | 13–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 24 Jun 1966 | ![]() |
|
12 | Win | 12–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 24 May 1966 | ![]() |
|
11 | Win | 11–0 | ![]() |
KO | 7 (8) | 10 May 1966 | ![]() |
|
10 | Win | 10–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 29 Apr 1966 | ![]() |
|
9 | Win | 9–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 19 Mar 1966 | ![]() |
|
8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (6) | 19 Jan 1966 | ![]() |
|
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 2 Oct 1965 | ![]() |
|
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 20 Jun 1964 | ![]() |
|
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 5 May 1964 | ![]() |
|
4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (6) | 21 Apr 1964 | ![]() |
|
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 20 Mar 1964 | ![]() |
|
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 28 Feb 1964 | ![]() |
|
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 31 Jan 1964 | ![]() |
Professional Debut |
See also
- List of light welterweight boxing champions
- List of WBA world champions
References
- "BoxRec - Antonio Cervantes". boxrec.com.
- Eisele, Andrew (2003). "Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers". About.com. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
- Boxrec all time p4p rankings
- "Antonio Cervantes - Lineal Junior Welterweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
- "Antonio Cervantes vs. Josue Marquez - BoxRec". boxrec.com.
- https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2230186-ranking-the-most-unbreakable-records-in-boxing#slide1
External links
- International Boxing Hall of Fame Bio
- Boxing record for Antonio Cervantes from BoxRec
- Antonio Cervantes - CBZ Profile
Sporting positions | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Alfonso Frazer |
WBA Junior Welterweight Champion 28 Oct 1972 – 6 Mar 1976 |
Succeeded by Wilfred Benítez |
Lineal Light Welterweight Champion October 28, 1972 - March 6, 1976 | ||
Vacant Title last held by Wilfred Benítez |
WBA Junior Welterweight Champion 25 June 1977 – 2 August 1980 |
Succeeded by Aaron Pryor |