Ben Villaflor
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Villaflor is a former boxer
who was the WBA
world junior lightweight (now called super featherweight) champion during the 1970s.
s before he suffered his first loss, against Roger Boy Pedrano, by an eight round decision in a fight apparently held on July 1, 1967, at the Philippines.
After winning his next fight, he faced Pedrano and again lost by decision, in another fight without much documented data.
Villaflor had his first documented fight on February 1, 1968, at Manila
. Villaflor and Rod Sario had a technical draw (tie)
after four rounds. Villaflor would have a total of seven draws in his professional boxing career, a relatively large number in that category.
Although Villaflor won nine, lost two and drew two of his next thirteen bouts, his fighting in the Philippines exclusively represented a problem for him to become known overseas. He began the 1970s by losing two ten-round decisions in a row, to Pedro Martinez on March 7, 1970 and to Alfredo Avila, six weeks later.
Villaflor won his next seventeen bouts, however, eleven of them by knockout. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii
, so he could get more exposure in the United States and the rest of the world. Villaflor liked Honolulu so much that he still lives in the Hawaii
an city. He beat Rafael López by a first-round knockout, on April 13, 1971, in what represented both his first fight in Honolulu and also his first fight abroad. He also beat former world champion Raul Cruz, beaten by knockout in ten rounds, November 11, 1971.
On April 25, 1972, Villaflor was given his first opportunity at a world title, when faced with WBA world Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Marcano
of Venezuela
. Villaflor became world champion by defeating Marcano by a fifteen-round unanimous decision at Honolulu.
Villaflor then engaged in a series of non-title bouts, including one against Roberto Durán
world title challenger Jimmy Robertson, beaten by Villaflor by a ten round decision on November 15 of that year. Prior to that, he had retained the title with a fifteen round draw against Victor Echegaray, on September 25.
On March 12, 1973, Villaflor lost his title for the first time, being beaten on points by Japan's Kuniaki Shibata
over fifteen rounds in Honolulu. But, after two knockout wins, Villaflor had a rematch with Shibata, also in Honolulu, and he recovered the WBA world Jr. Lightweight championship with a first-round knockout, on October 17, also at Honolulu.
Next for Villaflor was a widely expected fight across Asia,as he met Japan's top rated challenger, Apollo Yoshio, on March 14, 1974, at Toyama
. The two boxers fought to a fifteen-round draw. After another non-title win, Villaflor met future world champion Yasutsune Uehara
, on August 24 in Honolulu, knocking out Uehara in the second round. After that, Villaflor made his mainland United States debut, when he and perennial challenger Ray Lunny III fought to a six round technical draw on November 14, a cut on Villaflor's head which had been caused by a headbutt being the determining factor for the fight to end with such result.
Villaflor retained the title twice more, then met Samuel Serrano
for the first time, on April 13, 1976, in Honolulu, and the two combatants fought to a fifteen round draw. The draw was so controversial that the WBA ordered an immediate rematch. After winning a non title bout by knockout, Villaflor traveled to Puerto Rico
for the rematch, held on November 16, at Hiram Bithorn
stadium
, in San Juan
. Serrano outpointed Villaflor over fifteen rounds in what turned out to be Villaflor's last professional bout.
He is currently involved in managing other boxers' careers. Villaflor has also recently worked as a serjant-at-arms or security guard in the Hawaii State legislature and in currently a co-defendant in a law suit stemming form his unlawful arrest and alleged assault on Mitch Kahle, a protester against the Legislature's violation of the First Amendment doctrine of the Separation of Church and State. Kahle was acquitted of all charges against him on April 29, 2010, and is currently pursuing legal action against everyone involved in his arrest, both in their official capacities and as private persons.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who was the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
world junior lightweight (now called super featherweight) champion during the 1970s.
Professional boxing career
According to records, Villaflor began his career as a professional boxer when he was only thirteen years old, on October 1, 1966, beating Flash Javier by decision in four rounds. Most of Villaflor's early bouts' records were not well kept, therefore, although October 1, 1966 appears to have been the date of Villaflor's professional debut, this is not known with certainty, and neither is the location where the fight took place. Villaflor ran a record of twelve wins without a loss, with eight knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
s before he suffered his first loss, against Roger Boy Pedrano, by an eight round decision in a fight apparently held on July 1, 1967, at the Philippines.
After winning his next fight, he faced Pedrano and again lost by decision, in another fight without much documented data.
Villaflor had his first documented fight on February 1, 1968, at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. Villaflor and Rod Sario had a technical draw (tie)
Technical decision
A technical decision is a term used in boxing when a fight has to be stopped because of a headbutt.In boxing fights, referees have to pay deep attention to the action going on between the fighters, especially when the two combatants are fighting close to each other...
after four rounds. Villaflor would have a total of seven draws in his professional boxing career, a relatively large number in that category.
Although Villaflor won nine, lost two and drew two of his next thirteen bouts, his fighting in the Philippines exclusively represented a problem for him to become known overseas. He began the 1970s by losing two ten-round decisions in a row, to Pedro Martinez on March 7, 1970 and to Alfredo Avila, six weeks later.
Villaflor won his next seventeen bouts, however, eleven of them by knockout. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, so he could get more exposure in the United States and the rest of the world. Villaflor liked Honolulu so much that he still lives in the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an city. He beat Rafael López by a first-round knockout, on April 13, 1971, in what represented both his first fight in Honolulu and also his first fight abroad. He also beat former world champion Raul Cruz, beaten by knockout in ten rounds, November 11, 1971.
On April 25, 1972, Villaflor was given his first opportunity at a world title, when faced with WBA world Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Marcano
Alfredo Marcano
Alfredo Marcano was a Venezuelan professional boxer. During his career, which spanned from 1966 to 1975, Marcano won the WBA World super featherweight title. Marcano challenged for the WBA title on July 29, 1971 against Hiroshi Kobayashi. The fight took place in Japan—the home country of the...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Villaflor became world champion by defeating Marcano by a fifteen-round unanimous decision at Honolulu.
Villaflor then engaged in a series of non-title bouts, including one against Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
world title challenger Jimmy Robertson, beaten by Villaflor by a ten round decision on November 15 of that year. Prior to that, he had retained the title with a fifteen round draw against Victor Echegaray, on September 25.
On March 12, 1973, Villaflor lost his title for the first time, being beaten on points by Japan's Kuniaki Shibata
Kuniaki Shibata
Kuniaki Shibata is a former Japanese professional boxer. He is a former WBC and WBA super featherweight champion.- Biography :...
over fifteen rounds in Honolulu. But, after two knockout wins, Villaflor had a rematch with Shibata, also in Honolulu, and he recovered the WBA world Jr. Lightweight championship with a first-round knockout, on October 17, also at Honolulu.
Next for Villaflor was a widely expected fight across Asia,as he met Japan's top rated challenger, Apollo Yoshio, on March 14, 1974, at Toyama
Toyama, Toyama
is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
. The two boxers fought to a fifteen-round draw. After another non-title win, Villaflor met future world champion Yasutsune Uehara
Yasutsune Uehara
Yasutsune Uehara is a former professional boxer and former WBA super featherweight champion. He is one of the few Japanese boxers to have won the world title fighting outside of Japan.- Biography :...
, on August 24 in Honolulu, knocking out Uehara in the second round. After that, Villaflor made his mainland United States debut, when he and perennial challenger Ray Lunny III fought to a six round technical draw on November 14, a cut on Villaflor's head which had been caused by a headbutt being the determining factor for the fight to end with such result.
Villaflor retained the title twice more, then met Samuel Serrano
Samuel Serrano
Samuel Serrano , nicknamed Sammy and El Torbellino, is a Puerto Rican who won boxing's world junior lightweight championship twice.-Early history:...
for the first time, on April 13, 1976, in Honolulu, and the two combatants fought to a fifteen round draw. The draw was so controversial that the WBA ordered an immediate rematch. After winning a non title bout by knockout, Villaflor traveled to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
for the rematch, held on November 16, at Hiram Bithorn
Hiram Bithorn
Hiram Gabriel Bithorn was a Puerto Rican right-handed pitcher who became the first baseball player from Puerto Rico to play Major League Baseball...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
, in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Serrano outpointed Villaflor over fifteen rounds in what turned out to be Villaflor's last professional bout.
He is currently involved in managing other boxers' careers. Villaflor has also recently worked as a serjant-at-arms or security guard in the Hawaii State legislature and in currently a co-defendant in a law suit stemming form his unlawful arrest and alleged assault on Mitch Kahle, a protester against the Legislature's violation of the First Amendment doctrine of the Separation of Church and State. Kahle was acquitted of all charges against him on April 29, 2010, and is currently pursuing legal action against everyone involved in his arrest, both in their official capacities and as private persons.