Eusebio Pedroza (March 2, 1956 – March 1, 2019) was a Panamanian boxer who held the WBA and lineal featherweight championship from 1978 to 1985, having defended the title against 18 different contenders, more than any other boxer in featherweight history.[1] His cousin, Rafael Pedroza, was a world champion also, in the junior bantamweight division, although Rafael's reign as world champion was short-lived. Eusebio Pedroza died one day before his 63rd birthday.[2]

Eusebio Pedroza
Born
Eusebio Pedroza Silva

(1956-03-02)March 2, 1956
Panama City, Panama
DiedMarch 1, 2019(2019-03-01) (aged 62)
Panama City, Panama
Other namesEl Alacrán
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Reach174 cm (69 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights49
Wins41
Wins by KO25
Losses6
Draws1
No contests1

Biography

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Pedroza started out as a professional boxer on December 1, 1973, with a four-round knockout win over Julio Garcia. His first 15 bouts were all in Panama. He went 14-1 over that span of fights, including a win over Jacinto Fuentes, a boxer who would later draw and lose to Wilfredo Gómez. His one defeat over that period of his career came to Alfonso Pérez by a knockout in three.

For fight number 16, Pedroza went to Mexicali, Mexico, in the last week of March 1976 to challenge WBA world bantamweight champion Alfonso Zamora for the world title. In his first championship try, Pedroza suffered his second loss, being knocked out in two rounds. After returning to Panama, he beat Pablo Jimenez by a decision in ten, then lost to Oscar Arnal in Venezuela by a knockout in six. He would not lose again for nine years.

Pedroza won three fights in 1977, two by knockout, and then, in April 1978, the WBA featherweight champion, Cecilio Lastra of Spain, travelled to Panama to defend his title on April 18 against Pedroza, who knocked him out in round 13 to become the new WBA featherweight champion.

Pedroza, during the next seven years, travelled the world to defend his title. Among 18 fighters Pedroza defended the title against were Enrique Solis in Puerto Rico, in a 15-round decision win, former world champion Royal Kobayashi (in Japan), knocked out in 14, Sa Wang Kim (in South Korea), knocked out in 8, former three-time world champion and fellow Hall of Famer Rubén Olivares, who lasted 12, Johnny Aba (in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea), who lost in 11, future world junior lightweight champion Rocky Lockridge, who went the distance with Pedroza in New Jersey and in Italy but lost by decision both times, Carlos Piñango (in Venezuela), knocked out in seven, Juan Laporte by decision, Jose Caba in Italy, also by decision, and Bernard Taylor in North Carolina by the way of draw. He also defended in his home country many times during that span, including a decision win over countryman and former WBA world Bantamweight champion Jorge Lujan, and became a household name in Latin America, his face appearing on the cover and posters of Ring En Español and Guantes magazines multiple times. Pedroza finally lost his title in England, being defeated by Ireland's Barry McGuigan in London in a 15-round decision.

During Pedroza's reign, talks surfaced of a unification bout against World Boxing Council and lineal featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez. These hopes were dashed when Sanchez died in an automobile accident in 1982. By virtue of his win over LaPorte, who succeeded Sanchez as WBC champion, Pedroza was recognized as the new lineal featherweight champion.

Between 1986 and 1992, Pedroza tried various comebacks, going 3–2 in total on those comeback attempts.

He retired with a record of 42 wins, 6 losses and one draw, with one no contest, and 25 wins by knockout. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

Pedroza was one of a few, whose fights inspired young Mike Tyson.[3]

Professional boxing record

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49 fights 41 wins 6 losses
By knockout 25 3
By decision 16 3
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
49 Loss 41–6–1 (1) Mauro Gutierrez SD 10 21 Nov 1992 Holy Redeemer HS Gymnasium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
48 Win 41–5–1 (1) Tomas Quinones KO 3 (8) 14 Mar 1992 Espace Piscine, Antibes, France
47 Win 40–5–1 (1) Jorge Romero UD 10 15 Dec 1991 Convention Center, Miami Beach Florida, U.S.
46 Win 39–5–1 (1) Tomas Rodriguez UD 10 25 Oct 1991 Mahi Temple Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
45 Loss 38–5–1 (1) Edgar Castro SD 10 9 Aug 1986 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
44 Loss 38–4–1 (1) Barry McGuigan UD 15 8 Jun 1985 Loftus Road Stadium, Shepherd's Bush, London, United Kingdom Lost WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
43 Win 38–3–1 (1) Jorge Lujan UD 15 2 Feb 1985 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
42 Win 37–3–1 (1) Gerald Hayes TKO 10 (10) 23 Jun 1984 Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, Panama
41 Win 36–3–1 (1) Angel Mayor UD 15 27 May 1984 Hotel del Lago Casino, Maracaibo, Venezuela Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
40 Win 35–3–1 (1) Jose Caba UD 15 24 Oct 1983 Palasport, Saint-Vincent, Italy Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
39 Win 34–3–1 (1) Rocky Lockridge UD 15 24 Apr 1983 San Remo, Italy Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
38 Draw 33–3–1 (1) Bernard Taylor SD 15 16 Oct 1982 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
37 NC 33–3 (1) Rudy Alpizar NC 2 (10) 17 Jul 1982 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
36 Win 33–3 Juan Laporte UD 15 24 Jan 1982 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained WBA featherweight title
35 Win 32–3 Bashew Sibaca KO 5 (15) 5 Dec 1981 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA featherweight title
34 Win 31–3 Carlos Pinango KO 7 (15) 1 Aug 1981 El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBA featherweight title
33 Win 30–3 Pat Ford KO 13 (15) 14 Feb 1981 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA featherweight title
32 Win 29–3 Raul Silva KO 5 (10) 17 Jan 1981 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
31 Win 28–3 Rocky Lockridge SD 15 4 Oct 1980 Legends Resort & Country Club, Vernon Township, New Jersey, U.S. Retained WBA featherweight title
30 Win 27–3 Sa Wang Kim KO 8 (15) 20 Jul 1980 Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea Retained WBA featherweight title
29 Win 26–3 Juan Domingo Malvarez KO 9 (15) 29 Mar 1980 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA featherweight title
28 Win 25–3 Spider Nemoto UD 15 22 Jan 1980 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBA featherweight title
27 Win 24–3 Johnny Aba TKO 11 (15) 17 Nov 1979 Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Retained WBA featherweight title
26 Win 23–3 Rubén Olivares TKO 12 (15) 21 Jul 1979 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. Retained WBA featherweight title
25 Win 22–3 Hector Carrasquilla TKO 11 (15) 7 Apr 1979 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA featherweight title
24 Win 21–3 Royal Kobayashi RTD 13 (15) 9 Jan 1979 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBA featherweight title
23 Win 20–3 Enrique Solis UD 15 27 Nov 1978 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBA featherweight title
22 Win 19–3 Ernesto Herrera TKO 12 (15) 2 Jul 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA featherweight title
21 Win 18–3 Cecilio Lastra TKO 13 (15) 15 Apr 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Won WBA featherweight title
20 Win 17–3 Rodolfo Francis TKO 7 (10) 26 Nov 1977 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
19 Win 16–3 Reynaldo Hidalgo TKO 9 (10) 14 May 1977 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
18 Win 15–3 Jose Santana UD 10 2 Apr 1977 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
17 Loss 14–3 Oscar Arnal KO 6 (10) 11 Jul 1976 Caracas, Venezuela
16 Loss 14–2 Alfonso Zamora KO 2 (15) 3 Apr 1976 Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Mexico For WBA Bantamweight title
15 Win 14–1 Orlando Amores TKO 9 (10) 15 Nov 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
14 Win 13–1 Guillermo Almengot TKO 7 (10) 19 Jul 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
13 Win 12–1 Marcos Britton KO 4 (10) 26 Apr 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
12 Win 11–1 Benicio Sosa UD 10 21 Mar 1975 Feria de San Jose, David, Panama
11 Win 10–1 Ernesto Mathias UD 10 22 Feb 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
10 Loss 9–1 Alfonso Pérez KO 3 (10) 18 Jan 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
9 Win 9–0 Senen Rios TKO 6 (10) 14 Sep 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
8 Win 8–0 Vicente Worrel Jr KO 1 (10) 20 Jul 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
7 Win 7–0 Ernesto Davis KO 1 (8) 14 Jun 1974 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
6 Win 6–0 Ricardo Vega TKO 2 (6) 4 May 1974 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
5 Win 5–0 Jacinto Fuentes PTS 4 30 Mar 1974 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
4 Win 4–0 Loitolier Chacon KO 1 (4) 2 Mar 1974 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
3 Win 3–0 Jorge Bernal PTS 4 8 Feb 1974 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
2 Win 2–0 Jose Santana UD 4 22 Dec 1973 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
1 Win 1–0 Julio Garcia TKO 4 (4) 1 Dec 1973 Gimnasio Escuela Normal, Santiago de Veraguas, Panama Professional Debut

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Eusebio Pedrosa, p. 668" (pdf). The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall Of Fame Official Record Book. International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Fallece el excampeón mundial de boxeo Eusebio Pedroza | la Prensa Panamá". March 2019.
  3. ^ Mike Tyson - 1987 Des Lynam Interview - part 2
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Achievements
Preceded by WBA featherweight Champion
April 15, 1978 - June 8, 1985
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Salvador Sánchez
The Ring featherweight champion
September 22, 1982 - June 8, 1985