Willie Pastrano

Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano (November 27, 1935 – December 6, 1997) was an American professional boxer who held the unified world light heavyweight titles (WBA, WBC, The Ring) from 1963 until 1965, defending his titles three times before losing them to José Torres. He is the grandfather of New Orleans rapper Mr. Pastrano.

Willie Pastrano
Statistics
Real nameWilfred Raleigh Pastrano
Weight(s)Light heavyweight
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1935-11-27)November 27, 1935
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedDecember 6, 1997(1997-12-06) (aged 62)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights83
Wins62
Wins by KO14
Losses13
Draws8
No contests0

Early life

Pastrano was born in New Orleans. Pastrano's best friend, Ralph Dupas started training in boxing at a local gym. Pastrano, who weighed over 250 pounds, decided to start working out with his friend.

As Willie lost weight, he realized two things. First, he loved boxing. Second, he hated getting hit. So, Pastrano developed a style of boxing in which he hardly got hit, and in return, tried not to hurt his opponent as well.

Pastrano was already married as a teenager, and by 1962, he and his wife Faye had five children: John (born 1955), Donna (1957), Frank (1959), Nicholas (1960), and Angelo (1962).

Pro career

Pastrano began his career at the age of 16. He fought many heavyweights and outpointed heavyweight contenders Rex Layne, Brian London, and Tom McNeeley.

The talented Pastrano won the world light heavyweight championship when he outpointed the great Harold Johnson on a close 15-round decision. He successfully defended his crown by stopping Gregorio Peralta of Argentina on a TKO, and by coming back from a certain defeat on points to KO English challenger Terry Downes in 11 rounds in Manchester, England. Pastrano lost his crown when he was TKOed by José Torres in 10 rounds (the same fight where the ringside doctor asked if he knew where he was, leading to Pastrano's legendary line of "You're damn right I know where I am! I'm in Madison Square Garden getting the shit kicked out of me!"). In the Torres fight, Pastrano was knocked down for the only time in his career by a powerful left hook to the liver. Pastrano retired after that match and never fought again.

Managed by the legendary Angelo Dundee, Pastrano was a smooth, quick boxer with a great left hand. He was a stablemate of Cassius Clay and often sparred with the future champion early in Clay's career. His talent was dissipated by his aversion to training and a fondness for partying and carousing. His success was also limited by his lack of punching power, hence his record of only 14 knockout wins in his 84 fights. Nevertheless, he defeated most of the light heavyweight challengers of his generation. He also outpointed former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, and boxed a draw with the legendary Archie Moore. He retired with a record of 63 wins (14 by KO), 13 losses and 8 draws.

Perhaps in the high point of his career, Pastrano appeared on the cover of March 22, 1965 issue of Sports Illustrated with the caption reading "Light Heavyweight Willie Pastrano Ready to Defend His Title".

Life after boxing

After he retired from boxing, Pastrano became a spokesman for a local Miami, Florida milk company. On August 30, 1966 in the Milwaukee Sentinel, it was reported that Pastrano had been secretly training for a comeback, but an auto injury had sidelined it.[1]

In 1967, Pastrano became the official host of the Presidential Steak House in Miami Beach, Florida.

However, urged on by his good friend, singer Steve Alaimo, Pastrano embarked on a film career which spanned from 1967 to 1971.[2]

In 1964, Pastrano appeared on the Jackie Gleason Show.[2]

Pastrano's best regarded acting role was in the "B" motorcycle gang film, The Wild Rebels, which starred Steve Alaimo.

Pastrano said in a 1980 interview he was a heroin addict from 1966 to 1969.[3] In the same interview, he claimed to have robbed to support his drug addiction.

He became a drifter. Owen Thomas helped him out in his time of need. He worked as a host in a restaurant in Reno, Nevada; a chip runner in Las Vegas, and a bouncer in a strip-club in Miami[3]

His well-documented party life-style led to health problems, and Pastrano's film career ended. While living in Las Vegas in the early 1970s, he claimed to be training for a comeback when interviewed for the book, In This Corner.

Pastrano was reported to be boxing in Puerto Rico in 1972, but a fighter was using a name similar to the former champion, Willie Pastrana. Pastrano never made a comeback.

In 1980, Pastrano was the manager for pro-boxer, Chubby Johnson in New Orleans.[3]

After many years of failing health, Pastrano died of liver cancer on December 9, 1997 at the age of 62.[4]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
83 fights 62 wins 13 losses
By knockout 14 2
By decision 48 11
Draws 8
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
83 Loss 62–13–8 José Torres TKO 9 (15)
3:00
1965–03–30 Madison Square Garden,
New York City
Lost WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
82 Win 62–12–8 Terry Downes TKO 11 (15)
1:17
1964–11–30 Kings Hall,
Manchester, North West England
Retained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
81 Win 61–12–8 Gregorio Peralta TKO 5 (15)
3:00
1964–04–10 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans, Louisiana
Retained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
80 Win 60–12–8 Mike Holt PTS 10 1963–11–30 Rand Stadium,
Johannesburg, Gauteng
79 Loss 59–12–8 Gregorio Peralta UD 10 1963–09–20 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
78 Win 59–11–8 Ollie Wilson UD 10 1963–08–31 Jacksonville Coliseum,
Jacksonville, Florida
77 Win 58–11–8 Harold Johnson SD 15 1963–06–01 Las Vegas Convention Center,
Paradise, Nevada
Won WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
76 Win 57–11–8 Wayne Thornton MD 10 1963–05–04 Las Vegas Convention Center,
Paradise, Nevada
75 Draw 56–11–8 Wayne Thornton MD 10 1963–03–23 Madison Square Garden,
New York City
74 Loss 56–11–7 Wayne Thornton UD 10 1963–02–09 Madison Square Garden,
New York City
73 Win 56–10–7 Rodolfo Diaz SD 10 1962–09–08 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
72 Win 55–10–7 Billy Ryan UD 10 1962–06–25 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans, Louisiana
71 Draw 54–10–7 Archie Moore MD 10 1962–05–28 Los Angeles Sports Arena,
Los Angeles
70 Win 54–10–6 Tom McNeeley UD 10 1962–05–01 Boston Arena,
Boston
69 Draw 53–10–6 Lennart Risberg PTS 12 1961–08–06 Stockholm Olympic Stadium,
Stockholm, Södermanland
68 Loss 53–10–5 Jesse Bowdry UD 10 1960–12–27 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
67 Loss 53–9–5 Chic Calderwood PTS 10 1960–09–16 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow
66 Win 53–8–5 Sonny Ray UD 10 1960–06–01 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago, Illinois
65 Win 52–8–5 Alonzo Johnson UD 10 1960–05–06 Fairgrounds Coliseum,
Louisville, Kentucky
64 Win 51–8–5 George Kartalian RTD 6 (10) 1960–04–09 Bell Auditorium,
Augusta, Georgia
63 Win 50–8–5 Jerry Luedee UD 10 1960–01–20 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
62 Win 49–8–5 Charley Pavlis UD 10 1959–12–07 Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory,
Tampa, Florida
61 Win 48–8–5 Tom Davis TKO 3 (10) 1959–08–20 Knoxville, Tennessee
60 Loss 47–8–5 Alonzo Johnson UD 10 1959–07–24 Freedom Hall State Fairground,
Louisville, Kentucky
59 Loss 47–7–5 Joe Erskine PTS 10 1959–02–24 Wembley Stadium,
London
58 Loss 47–6–5 Brian London TKO 5 (10) 1958–09–30 Harringay Arena,
London
57 Win 47–5–5 Tommy Thompson KO 4 (10)
2:31
1958–08–25 City Auditorium,
Columbus, Georgia
56 Win 46–5–5 Franco Cavicchi PTS 10 1958–06–15 Sports Palace,
Bologna
55 Win 45–5–5 Joe Bygraves PTS 10 1958–04–21 Granby Halls,
Leicester
54 Win 44–5–5 Brian London PTS 10 1958–02–25 Harringay Arena,
London
53 Win 43–5–5 Willi Besmanoff UD 10 1957–11–27 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
52 Win 42–5–5 Dick Richardson PTS 10 1957–10–22 Harringay Arena,
London
51 Win 41–5–5 George Peyton TKO 8 (10) 1957–09–10 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
50 Loss 40–5–5 Roy Harris UD 10 1957–06–11 Houston
49 Win 40–4–5 Neal Welch UD 10 1957–05–14 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
48 Win 39–4–5 John Holman UD 10 1957–02–20 State Fairgrounds,
Louisville, Kentucky
47 Win 38–4–5 Charley Norkus UD 10 1956–12–26 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
46 Win 37–4–5 Pat McMurtry UD 10 1956–08–24 Lincoln Bowl,
Tacoma, Washington
45 Win 36–4–5 Chuck Spieser SD 10 1956–05–30 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans
44 Win 35–4–5 Johnny Arthur UD 10 1956–04–04 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans
43 Draw 34–4–5 Chuck Spieser PTS 10 1956–01–27 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
42 Win 34–4–4 Rex Layne UD 10 1955–12–19 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans
41 Win 33–4–4 Joey Rowan UD 10 1955–11–18 Madison Square Garden,
New York City
40 Win 32–4–4 Paddy Young UD 10 1955–10–03 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans
39 Win 31–4–4 Chuck Spieser UD 10 1955–07–27 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago
38 Win 30–4–4 Joey Maxim UD 10 1955–06–28 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans
37 Draw 29–4–4 Willie Troy PTS 10 1955–04–22 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago
36 Win 29–4–3 Al Andrews UD 10 1955–03–23 Chicago Stadium,
Chicago
35 Win 28–4–3 Tony Johnson UD 10 1955–03–01 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
34 Win 27–4–3 Bobby Dykes UD 10 1954–11–23 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
33 Win 26–4–3 Jackie LaBua SD 10 1954–09–14 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
32 Win 25–4–3 Jimmy Martinez PTS 10 1954–08–24 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
31 Win 24–4–3 Tommy Bazzano TKO 8 (10) 1954–08–09 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
30 Win 23–4–3 Tommy Hatcher KO 1 (10) 1954–06–18 Abba Temple Auditorium,
Mobile, Alabama
29 Win 22–4–3 Jacques Royer-Crecy UD 10 1954–04–12 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
28 Win 21–4–3 Jimmy Martinez UD 10 1954–03–29 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
27 Loss 20–4–3 Italo Scortichini SD 10 1953–11–30 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
26 Win 20–3–3 Elmer Beltz MD 8 1953–10–05 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
25 Draw 19–3–3 Elmer Beltz PTS 10 1953–09–22 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
24 Loss 19–3–2 Del Flanagan SD 8 1953–07–14 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
23 Loss 19–2–2 Johnny Cesario MD 8 1953–05–25 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
22 Win 19–1–2 Chato Hernandez UD 8 1953–04–06 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
21 Win 18–1–2 Roger Trevino UD 8 1953–03–16 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
20 Win 17–1–2 Chick Boucher TKO 3 (10)
1:08
1953–03–03 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
19 Win 16–1–2 Emerson Butcher UD 8 1953–02–24 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
18 Win 15–1–2 Alfredo LaGrutta UD 8 1953–01–26 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
17 Draw 14–1–2 Alvin Pellegrini MD 8 1952–12–15 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
16 Win 14–1–1 Alvin Boudreaux TKO 2 (6)
1:59
1952–11–24 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
15 Win 13–1–1 Alvin Pellegrini UD 6 1952–11–17 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
14 Win12–1–1 Lonnie Rylant KO 3 (6)
1:44
1952–10–14 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
13 Loss 11–1–1 Alvin Pellegrini PTS 6 1952–10–06 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
12 Win 11–0–1 Johnny Capitano PTS 6 1952–09–08 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
11 Win 10–0–1 Sonny Luciano PTS 8 1952–08–19 Miami Beach, Florida
10 Win 9–0–1 Sonny Luciano PTS 8 1952–08–05 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
9 Win 8–0–1 Jimmy Carter KO 4 (6)
1:00
1952–07–28 Sports Palace,
Pensacola, Florida
8 Win 7–0–1 Al McCoy KO 2 (6) 1952–07–22 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
7 Win 6–0–1 John Chaney PTS 6 1952–07–08 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
6 Win 5–0–1 Buzz Brown KO 2 (4)
2:56
1952–07–01 Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
5 Draw 4–0–1 Alvin Pellegrini PTS 4 1952–04–21 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
4 Win 4–0 Alvin Boudreaux PTS 4 1952–04–01 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
3 Win 3–0 Jimmy Conino PTS 4 1951–10–01 Coliseum Arena,
New Orleans
2 Win 2–0 Frankie Speed PTS 4 1951–09–17 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans
1 Win 1–0 Domingo Rivera PTS 4 1951–09–10 Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans

See also

  • List of light-heavyweight boxing champions

References

Achievements
Harold Johnson WBA light heavyweight champion
June 1, 1963 – March 30, 1965
Succeeded by
José Torres
WBC light heavyweight champion
June 1, 1963 – March 30, 1965
The Ring light heavyweight champion
June 1, 1963 – March 30, 1965
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