Paulino Uzcudun
Encyclopedia
Paulino Uzcudun Eizmendi (3 May 1899 – 5 July 1985) was a Basque
heavyweight
boxer, who is considered to be the greatest heavyweight from Spain
. Uzkudun is another variation on the spelling of his last name. He was the youngest of 9 siblings. In his youth, he became an Aizkolari or traditional competitive Basque wood chopper. Uzcudun, known as Paulino in the United States
, was the European heavyweight champion, and he fought heavyweight champions Joe Louis
, Max Baer, Max Schmeling
(three times) and Primo Carnera
(twice) during his career. The former butcher—nicknamed "the Basque woodchopper
"—retired from boxing with a record of 50 wins (34 KOs), 17 losses and 3 draws.
Uzcudun was a very rugged boxer who fought out of a crouch. He had a powerful left hook, and fought the toughest heavyweights of his time. He was afforded only one opportunity at the world's heavyweight championship, but was outpointed in a fifteen round fight by Primo Carnera of Italy
on October 22, 1933.
Uzcudun also "retired" the famed Harry Wills
, when he stopped him in four rounds on July 13, 1927. The tough and durable Uzcudun was never knocked off his feet, or kayoed until his last professional fight. On December 13, 1935, Uzcudun made the mistake of coming out of retirement to meet Joe Louis. In the fourth round, Louis hit Uzcudun with a swift, powerful right uppercut that knocked him down causing the referee to stop the fight even though Paulino wanted to continue. His record was 50–17–3 with 34 knockouts.
In 1933–34, Uzcudun trained on the beach in Rocky Point, Long Island, New York. During a sparring session with Franklin Rosalia (1911–1972), who also summered in Rocky Point, Uzcudun received a punch that knocked him down flat. Some conjecture that this defeat led to his subsequent retirement having been demoralized by this incident.
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer, who is considered to be the greatest heavyweight from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Uzkudun is another variation on the spelling of his last name. He was the youngest of 9 siblings. In his youth, he became an Aizkolari or traditional competitive Basque wood chopper. Uzcudun, known as Paulino in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was the European heavyweight champion, and he fought heavyweight champions Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, Max Baer, Max Schmeling
Max Schmeling
Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in the late 1930s transcended boxing, and became worldwide social events because of their national associations...
(three times) and Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
(twice) during his career. The former butcher—nicknamed "the Basque woodchopper
Wood chopping
Woodchop or wood chopping is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years in several cultures. In wood chopping competitions, skilled contestants attempt to be the first to cut or saw through a log or other block of wood...
"—retired from boxing with a record of 50 wins (34 KOs), 17 losses and 3 draws.
Uzcudun was a very rugged boxer who fought out of a crouch. He had a powerful left hook, and fought the toughest heavyweights of his time. He was afforded only one opportunity at the world's heavyweight championship, but was outpointed in a fifteen round fight by Primo Carnera of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on October 22, 1933.
Uzcudun also "retired" the famed Harry Wills
Harry Wills
240px|rightHarry "The Black Panther" Wills was perhaps the most well known victim of the "color line" drawn by white heavyweight champions after the title reign of Jack Johnson...
, when he stopped him in four rounds on July 13, 1927. The tough and durable Uzcudun was never knocked off his feet, or kayoed until his last professional fight. On December 13, 1935, Uzcudun made the mistake of coming out of retirement to meet Joe Louis. In the fourth round, Louis hit Uzcudun with a swift, powerful right uppercut that knocked him down causing the referee to stop the fight even though Paulino wanted to continue. His record was 50–17–3 with 34 knockouts.
In 1933–34, Uzcudun trained on the beach in Rocky Point, Long Island, New York. During a sparring session with Franklin Rosalia (1911–1972), who also summered in Rocky Point, Uzcudun received a punch that knocked him down flat. Some conjecture that this defeat led to his subsequent retirement having been demoralized by this incident.