Daniel Ponce de León is a Mexican

Mexican people

Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....

 professional Boxer

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...

 in the Featherweight

Featherweight

Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...

 division and was a member of the 2000 Mexican Olympics team

Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics

- Gold:* Soraya Jiménez — Weightlifting, Women's 58 kg- Silver:* Noé Hernández — Athletics, Men's 20 km Walk* Fernando Platas — Diving, Men's Springboard- Bronze:* Joel Sánchez — Athletics, Men's 50 km walk...

. He is the current WBC Latino

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...

 Featherweight

Featherweight

Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...

 Champion and former WBO World

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...

 Super Bantamweight

Super Bantamweight

Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms....

 Champion.

"Ponce" is not a nickname

Nickname

A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....

, as a casual observer might believe; Ponce de León is Daniel's given surname

Surname

A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...

. He currently resides in Huntington Park, California

Huntington Park, California

Huntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 58,114, down from 61,348 at the 2000 census.- History :...

.

Early life

Daniel is a Tarahumara

Tarahumara

The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability...

 Amerindian, raised in the Sierra Madre Occidental

Sierra Madre Occidental

The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...

 mountain range. Out of five brothers he was the only one to survive, due to the harsh conditions and the poverty his tribe lived in.

Amateur career

Daniel was a Mexican National Amateur champion and a bronze medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games

1999 Pan American Games

The 1999 Pan American Games, officially the XIII Pan American Games or the 13th Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event that was held from July 23-August 8, 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Approximately 5,000 athletes from 42 nations participated at the games. The 1999...

. Ponce de León would then go onto represent Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics

- Gold:* Soraya Jiménez — Weightlifting, Women's 58 kg- Silver:* Noé Hernández — Athletics, Men's 20 km Walk* Fernando Platas — Diving, Men's Springboard- Bronze:* Joel Sánchez — Athletics, Men's 50 km walk...

.

Professional career

Ponce de León's 21 consecutive Knockout wins to start his career is a world record.

WBO Super Bantamweight Champion

On October 29, 2005 he defeated Sod Kokietgym by unanimous decision, handing Looknongyangtoy his first career loss. He has defended his WBO

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...

 Super Bantamweight

Super Bantamweight

Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms....

 Championship eight times against Gerson Guerrero, Reynaldo Lopez, Sod Kokietgym twice, Al Seeger

Al Seeger

Al Seeger , nicknamed "The Quiet Storm", is a boxer from the United States.- Background :Al Seeger was born in on January 23, 1980 to Bonnie and Al Seeger. He spent most of his younger years traveling abroad with the family...

, Gerry Peñalosa

Gerry Peñalosa

Geronimo Peñalosa , more commonly known as Gerry Peñalosa, is a retired Filipino professional boxer....

, Rey Bautista

Rey Bautista

Reynaldo Bautista , more commonly known as Boom Boom Bautista, is a Filipino professional boxer, currently residing in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.- Early life :...

 and Eduardo Escobedo. Ponce de León's first loss was a unanimous decision loss to Celestino Caballero

Celestino Caballero

Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero is a professional boxer from Panama. He is the former undisputed Super Bantamweight WBA & IBF and Super Champion for the WBA. On October 14th, 2011, Celestino became the new WBA Featherweight champion of the world after beating Jonathan Barros at Luna Park, Argentina...

 on February 17, 2005.

Ponce de León retained his title against Eduardo Escobedo on December 8, 2007 via unanimous decision, as part of the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather, Jr.–Ricky Hatton

Ricky Hatton

Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....

 fight. On June 7, 2008 Ponce de León was defeated by technical knockout in the first round by Juan Manuel López

Juan Manuel López (boxer)

Juan Manuel "Juanma" López Rivera is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, Lopez represented Puerto Rico at numerous international tournaments including the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Summer Olympics. López's professional career...

, losing his WBO

World Boxing Organization

The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...

 Super Bantamweight

Super Bantamweight

Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms....

 title.

De León was the headliner of a sold out Golden Boy show and inched closer to another world title shot by knocking out Puerto Rican, Orlando Cruz. Daniel defeated Cornelius Lock on May 1, 2010 the undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley

Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley

Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley was a boxing welterweight non-title superfight, in which Mayweather won by unanimous decision with two judges scoring it 119–109 and one judge scoring it 118–110. The bout was held on May 1, 2010, before a "sellout" crowd of 15,117 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in...

 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on HBO PPV to retain his WBC Latino featherweight title.
He will be on the Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora undercard

Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora

Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora is a boxing light middleweight superfight at Los Angeles, California on the weekend of the Mexican Independence Day.-Build-up:...

.

On March 5, 2011, De Leon moved up to the Super Featherweight division to face undefeated prospect Adrien Broner

Adrien Broner

Adrien Broner is an American Junior Lightweight boxer, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Adrien has been featured in the top ten of the Ring Magazine rankings for the Junior Lightweight division.-Professional career:2008...

. The fight was expected to be a showcase bout for the younger and larger Broner, however, De Leon proved to be more competitive than anticipated as Broner was awarded a highly disputed ten round unanimous decision.

Professional record

|- style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%;"
|align="center" colspan=8|41 Wins (34 knockouts), 4 Losses, 0 Draw
|- style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%;"
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-align=center
|Loss || 41-4-0 ||align=left|  Yuriorkis Gamboa
||| 8 (12) || ||align=left| Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Loss || 41-3-0 ||align=left|  Adrien Broner

Adrien Broner

Adrien Broner is an American Junior Lightweight boxer, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Adrien has been featured in the top ten of the Ring Magazine rankings for the Junior Lightweight division.-Professional career:2008...

||| 10(10)|| ||align=left| Honda Center, Anaheim, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 41-2-0 ||align=left|  Sergio Manuel Medina
| || 7 (2:59) || ||align=left| Estadio Beto Avila, Veracruz, Veracruz

Veracruz, Veracruz

Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...

, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 40-2-0 ||align=left|  Antonio Escalante

Antonio Escalante

Antonio Escalante is a Mexican professional boxer in the Featherweight division.-Pro career:...

||| 3 (2:40) || ||align=left| Staples Center

Staples Center

Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...

, Los Angeles, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 39-2-0 ||align=left|  Cornelius Lock

Cornelius Lock

Cornelius Eugene Lock is a professional boxer in the Lightweight division and is the former WBO NABO Featherweight Champion.-Pro career:...

||| 10 (10) || ||align=left| MGM Grand

MGM Grand Las Vegas

The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...

, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 38-2-0 ||align=left|  Orlando Cruz
||| 3 (2:37) || ||align=left| Auditorio Plaza Condesa, Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 37-2-0 ||align=left|  Roinet Caballero
||| 12 (12) || ||align=left| Arena Roberto Durán, Panama City, Panama
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 36-2-0 ||align=left|  Marlon Aguilar
||| 12 (12) || ||align=left| Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 35-2-0 ||align=left|  Damian Marchiano
||| 4 (1:41) || ||align=left| Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Loss || 34-2-0 ||align=left|  Juan Manuel López

Juan Manuel López (boxer)

Juan Manuel "Juanma" López Rivera is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, Lopez represented Puerto Rico at numerous international tournaments including the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Summer Olympics. López's professional career...

||| 1 (2:25) || ||align=left| Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 34-1-0 ||align=left|  Eduardo Escobedo

Eduardo Escobedo

Eduardo Felipe Escobedo Mateo is a Mexican professional boxer in the Super Featherweight division and is the current WBC Silver Super Featherweight Champion.-WBO Super Bantamweight Championship:...

||| 12 (12) || ||align=left| MGM Grand

MGM Grand Las Vegas

The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...

, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 33-1-0 ||align=left|  Reynaldo Lopez
||| 5 (2:39) || ||align=left| Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 32-1-0 ||align=left|  Rey Bautista

Rey Bautista

Reynaldo Bautista , more commonly known as Boom Boom Bautista, is a Filipino professional boxer, currently residing in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.- Early life :...

||| 1 (2:30) || ||align=left| Arco Arena, Sacramento, California
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 31-1-0 ||align=left|  Gerry Penalosa

Gerry Peñalosa

Geronimo Peñalosa , more commonly known as Gerry Peñalosa, is a retired Filipino professional boxer....

||| 12 (12) || ||align=left| Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 30-1-0 ||align=left|  Al Seeger

Al Seeger

Al Seeger , nicknamed "The Quiet Storm", is a boxer from the United States.- Background :Al Seeger was born in on January 23, 1980 to Bonnie and Al Seeger. He spent most of his younger years traveling abroad with the family...

||| 8 (1:43) || ||align=left| Convention Center, El Paso, Texas
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 29-1-0 ||align=left|  Sod Kokietgym
||| 1 (0:52) || ||align=left| MGM Grand

MGM Grand Las Vegas

The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...

, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 28-1-0 ||align=left|  Gerson Guerrero
||| 2 (1:50) || ||align=left| Home Depot Center, Carson, California
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 27-1-0 ||align=left|  Sod Kokietgym
||| 12 (12) || ||align=left| Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 26-1-0 ||align=left|  Phillip Payne
||| 7 (0:57) || ||align=left| Show Palace, Oceanside, California
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 25-1-0 ||align=left|  Ricardo Barajas
||| 2 (2:13) || ||align=left| Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Loss || 24-1-0 ||align=left|  Celestino Caballero

Celestino Caballero

Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero is a professional boxer from Panama. He is the former undisputed Super Bantamweight WBA & IBF and Super Champion for the WBA. On October 14th, 2011, Celestino became the new WBA Featherweight champion of the world after beating Jonathan Barros at Luna Park, Argentina...

||| 12 (12) || ||align=left| The Avalon, Hollywood, California
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 24-0-0 ||align=left|  Julio Gamboa
||| 4 (2:04) || ||align=left| Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 23-0-0 ||align=left|  Emmanuel Lucero

Emmanuel Lucero

-Professional career:Emmanuel Lucero is a current Mexican professional Super Featherweight boxer at thirty three years old he is best known for his fight against Manny Pacquiao for the IBF super bantamweight title on 26 July 2003 at the Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California...

||| 3 (2:51) || ||align=left| County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win || 22-0-0 ||align=left|  Carlos Contreras
||| 10 (10) || ||align=left| Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas
|align=left|
|-align=center

External links

• Daniel Ponce de León's biography (Golden Boy Promotions Inc. official site)