Kid Azteca
Encyclopedia
Luis Villanueva Paramo (June 21, 1913 - March 16, 2002) was a Mexican boxer best known as Kid Azteca. Villanueva boxed professionally from 1932 to 1961, making him one of a small number of fighters that fought for four decades. Archie Moore
and George Foreman
are two other fighters in that exclusive group.
, one of the most notorious neighborhoods in Mexico City
, famous among other things because several international famous Mexican boxers and wrestlers were born at that place, (hence the reason why it is called "Tough Neighborhood".
There's not much information available about of his personal life or his beginnings in before he became a Pro. In fact, there's some discrepancy about the exact date of his debut. Some sources indicates he became Pro in 1926, other sources indicates his pro debut was July 25, 1930, but officially, it is recorded at 1932. The San Antonio Express reported in 1944 that Villanueva's passport's birth date was June 21, 1917, and not June 21, 1913. If this is true, he was only 13 when started his career.
He was a right-handed boxer. Luis Villanueva began fighting as "Kid Chino" in Laredo, Texas. "Chino" is a Mexican slang for "curly", and an allusion to his curled hair. It is not clear when his nickname changed, but it is possible it was due to his nationality, when fighting in Texas, in an effort to attract more attention over him. By 1927 he was widely known as Kid Azteca. His trainer at that date was James Fitten.
by a decision in ten, also in Laredo.
On June 15, Azteca made his Mexican debut, beating Luis Arizona by a ten round decision in Mexico City. However, on his next bout, lost for the first time, being knocked out in eight rounds by Tommy White on July 1.
On October 23, Azteca, having reeled off four straight victories, fought for a title for the first time. He beat David Velasco by a twelve round decision to obtain the national Welterweight title in Mexico City. Kid Azteca had eleven additional wins in a row, including a victory over Joe Glick, before he fought the future world Middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia
on July 11, 1933 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. He beat Garcia, who would hold Henry Armstrong
to a tie as world Middleweight champion, by a ten round decision. Azteca and Garcia held a rematch exactly fourteen days later, at the same location. On rematch, Kid Azteca knocked Garcia out in round eight.
On June 5, 1934, Azteca fought Young Peter Jackson (named after a Puerto Rican Heavyweight contender of the 19th century), beating Jackson on points after ten rounds. On July 21, he confronted Baby Joe Gans, another popular fighter of that time, outpointing Gans over ten rounds.
Azteca gradually became a national hero in Mexico after his victory over Garcia. By the time he beat Gans, he was widely regarded as Mexico's most popular fighter of his time. He fought Cocoa Kid, a top rated challenger twice in one week at the beginning of 1935: On January 19, the pair would tie over ten rounds. On January 26, Azteca prevailed on points. On his next bout, he defeated Izzy Jannazzo
, another ranked fighter of the time, by a decision in ten on March 2.
Kid Azteca had twelve more bouts, including a successful defense of his Mexican Welterweight title, before he met Rodolfo Casanova
(who had lost to Sixto Escobar
for the world's Bantamweight title) on May 16, 1936. Azteca lost to Casanova by a ten round decision. In his next fight, July 17 of that year, Kid Azteca faced Ceferino Garcia for the third time, losing by knockout in round five.
Azteca proceeded to win twenty seven of his next thirty one bouts, before meeting future world Welterweight champion Fritzie Zivic
on November 24, 1939, losing a decision over ten rounds to Zivic in Houston, Texas.
On December 13, 1940, Azteca and Bobby Pacho
, who challenged for a world championship one time, fought to a ten round tie in San Antonio, Texas. Next came two more bouts with Cocoa Kid. These bouts once again took place ten days apart from each other. On January 1, 1941, Azteca won by ten round decision, and on January 11, the two rivals fought to a 10 round no contest
.
Azteca lived for a year in Argentina, where he made six fights, five of them in Buenos Aires. Azteca's debut in that South American country came on April 11, 1943, when he knocked Sebastian Romanos out in round nine.
On November 6, 1944, Azteca had a fourth fight with Ceferino Garcia, being defeated by decision in ten at Mexico City. Despite having a five fight losing streak and having lived in Argentina for a year, however, Azteca still held the Mexican Welterweight championship.
Azteca lost to Zivic two more times, both by decision, before actually beating him in their fourth encounter. This took place on February 15, 1947 in Mexico City, and Azteca was able to knock Zivic out in the fifth round. On March 19, Azteca fought Vincente Villavincencio in an unsuccessful bid to conquer the Mexican Middleweight title, being knocked out in round six. He beat Villavincencio in two subsequent fights, both times by decision over ten rounds.
On June 26, 1950, Azteca fought former world Lightweight champion Sammy Angott
, losing to the American boxer by points after ten rounds.
With the advent of the television era during the 50's, Azteca's popularity in Mexico grew more than ever before. Most of his fights were televised, and boxing fans across the country could then watch him fight from their family rooms. Although Kid Azteca spent the rest of his career fighting mostly unknown fighters, his fights drew high ratings for Televisa
, Mexico's only public television company at the time.
On February 3, 1961, Azteca knocked out Alfonso Macalara in the first round at Veracruz
. This would turn out to be his last professional fight, and Azteca was able to reach a milestone in this bout: making his 200th professional fight, he became a member of the exclusive group to fight at least two hundred bouts. He had already become a member of the also exclusive group of fighters that boxed during four decades, when he knocked Adrian Medieta in three rounds on July 12, 1960 in Pachuca
. He retired a little after this date.
He died on March 16, 2002.
Archie Moore
Archie Moore, born Archibald Lee Wright , was light heavyweight world boxing champion who had one of the longest professional careers in the history of that sport....
and George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
are two other fighters in that exclusive group.
Background
Luis Villanueva was a native of "The Tough Neighborhood" of TepitoTepito
Tepito is a barrio located in Colonia Morelos in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City bordered by Avenida del Trabajo, Paseo de la Reforma, Eje 1 and Eje 2. Most of the neighborhood is taken up by the colorful tianguis or open-air market. Tepito’s economy has been linked to tianguis or traditional...
, one of the most notorious neighborhoods in 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...
, famous among other things because several international famous Mexican boxers and wrestlers were born at that place, (hence the reason why it is called "Tough Neighborhood".
There's not much information available about of his personal life or his beginnings in before he became a Pro. In fact, there's some discrepancy about the exact date of his debut. Some sources indicates he became Pro in 1926, other sources indicates his pro debut was July 25, 1930, but officially, it is recorded at 1932. The San Antonio Express reported in 1944 that Villanueva's passport's birth date was June 21, 1917, and not June 21, 1913. If this is true, he was only 13 when started his career.
He was a right-handed boxer. Luis Villanueva began fighting as "Kid Chino" in Laredo, Texas. "Chino" is a Mexican slang for "curly", and an allusion to his curled hair. It is not clear when his nickname changed, but it is possible it was due to his nationality, when fighting in Texas, in an effort to attract more attention over him. By 1927 he was widely known as Kid Azteca. His trainer at that date was James Fitten.
Boxing career
Kid Azteca began boxing on January 1, 1932. He knocked Carlos Garcia out in the first round, in Laredo, Texas. On March 3, and fighting only in his third fight, he beat former world champion Battling ShawBattling Shaw
Jose Flores Perez, was a Mexican boxer better known as Battling Shaw or Benny Kid Roy. He was the first Mexican to become world champion.- Professional career :...
by a decision in ten, also in Laredo.
On June 15, Azteca made his Mexican debut, beating Luis Arizona by a ten round decision in Mexico City. However, on his next bout, lost for the first time, being knocked out in eight rounds by Tommy White on July 1.
On October 23, Azteca, having reeled off four straight victories, fought for a title for the first time. He beat David Velasco by a twelve round decision to obtain the national Welterweight title in Mexico City. Kid Azteca had eleven additional wins in a row, including a victory over Joe Glick, before he fought the future world Middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia
Ceferino Garcia
Ceferino Garcia was a champion boxer born in Naval, Biliran, Philippines. His number of victories are the most ever achieved by a Filipino boxer. He's also the only boxer from the Philippines ever to become world champion at middleweight. He was managed, during the final years of his career by...
on July 11, 1933 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. He beat Garcia, who would hold Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
to a tie as world Middleweight champion, by a ten round decision. Azteca and Garcia held a rematch exactly fourteen days later, at the same location. On rematch, Kid Azteca knocked Garcia out in round eight.
On June 5, 1934, Azteca fought Young Peter Jackson (named after a Puerto Rican Heavyweight contender of the 19th century), beating Jackson on points after ten rounds. On July 21, he confronted Baby Joe Gans, another popular fighter of that time, outpointing Gans over ten rounds.
Azteca gradually became a national hero in Mexico after his victory over Garcia. By the time he beat Gans, he was widely regarded as Mexico's most popular fighter of his time. He fought Cocoa Kid, a top rated challenger twice in one week at the beginning of 1935: On January 19, the pair would tie over ten rounds. On January 26, Azteca prevailed on points. On his next bout, he defeated Izzy Jannazzo
Izzy Jannazzo
Anthony "Izzy" Jannazzo was an American professional boxer who fought in the Welterweight Division...
, another ranked fighter of the time, by a decision in ten on March 2.
Kid Azteca had twelve more bouts, including a successful defense of his Mexican Welterweight title, before he met Rodolfo Casanova
Rodolfo Casanova
Rodolfo Casanova was a Mexican boxer in the Featherweight division. He was also the first Mexican to fight a Puerto Rican in the Mexico – Puerto Rico boxing rivalry.-Early life:...
(who had lost to Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Competing in the bantamweight division, he became Puerto Rico's first world champion....
for the world's Bantamweight title) on May 16, 1936. Azteca lost to Casanova by a ten round decision. In his next fight, July 17 of that year, Kid Azteca faced Ceferino Garcia for the third time, losing by knockout in round five.
Azteca proceeded to win twenty seven of his next thirty one bouts, before meeting future world Welterweight champion Fritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic , born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivcich , was an American boxer.-Biography:...
on November 24, 1939, losing a decision over ten rounds to Zivic in Houston, Texas.
On December 13, 1940, Azteca and Bobby Pacho
Bobby Pacho
Robert Pacho was an Mexican-American professional boxer from Yuma, Arizona. After Bert Colima's career was over, Pacho was Mexican fans most popular boxer.-Early life:...
, who challenged for a world championship one time, fought to a ten round tie in San Antonio, Texas. Next came two more bouts with Cocoa Kid. These bouts once again took place ten days apart from each other. On January 1, 1941, Azteca won by ten round decision, and on January 11, the two rivals fought to a 10 round no contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
.
Azteca lived for a year in Argentina, where he made six fights, five of them in Buenos Aires. Azteca's debut in that South American country came on April 11, 1943, when he knocked Sebastian Romanos out in round nine.
On November 6, 1944, Azteca had a fourth fight with Ceferino Garcia, being defeated by decision in ten at Mexico City. Despite having a five fight losing streak and having lived in Argentina for a year, however, Azteca still held the Mexican Welterweight championship.
Azteca lost to Zivic two more times, both by decision, before actually beating him in their fourth encounter. This took place on February 15, 1947 in Mexico City, and Azteca was able to knock Zivic out in the fifth round. On March 19, Azteca fought Vincente Villavincencio in an unsuccessful bid to conquer the Mexican Middleweight title, being knocked out in round six. He beat Villavincencio in two subsequent fights, both times by decision over ten rounds.
On June 26, 1950, Azteca fought former world Lightweight champion Sammy Angott
Sammy Angott
Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...
, losing to the American boxer by points after ten rounds.
With the advent of the television era during the 50's, Azteca's popularity in Mexico grew more than ever before. Most of his fights were televised, and boxing fans across the country could then watch him fight from their family rooms. Although Kid Azteca spent the rest of his career fighting mostly unknown fighters, his fights drew high ratings for Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
, Mexico's only public television company at the time.
On February 3, 1961, Azteca knocked out Alfonso Macalara in the first round at Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. This would turn out to be his last professional fight, and Azteca was able to reach a milestone in this bout: making his 200th professional fight, he became a member of the exclusive group to fight at least two hundred bouts. He had already become a member of the also exclusive group of fighters that boxed during four decades, when he knocked Adrian Medieta in three rounds on July 12, 1960 in Pachuca
Pachuca
Pachuca, formally Pachuca de Soto is the capital of the Mexican state of Hidalgo. It is located in the south-central part of the state. Pachuca de Soto is also the name of the municipality of which the city serves as municipal seat...
. He retired a little after this date.
He died on March 16, 2002.
Success
- In 1933, Kid Azteca obtained the Mexican Welterweight title.
- Azteca was still remembered by his fans some twenty years after his last fight, the Spanish boxing publication Ring En EspañolRing En EspañolThe Ring En Español was a Spanish version of boxing publication The Ring magazine. Ring En Español was published from 1977 to 1985. Originally published from Caracas, it moved in 1981 to Miami, to Editorial America , the same editorial house that oversaw the production of Cosmopolitans Spanish...
featuring him many times on magazine articles.
- Azteca had 156 wins, 44 losses and 8 ties as a professional boxer, with 84 knockout wins. His knockouts made him a member of the exclusive group of fighters that won 50 or more fights by knockout through their careers, and it also constituted a knockout record for HispanicHispanicHispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
fighters, until Julio César ChávezJulio César ChávezJulio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
broke it forty years later.