Eusebio Pedroza

Eusebio Pedroza was one of the most accomplished boxers of his generation. With a professional career that spanned over 18 years, Pedroza fought a total of 49 times, winning 41 of those fights, with 25 wins coming via knockout. The Panamanian native also had one world title win and a record 18 successful title defenses.

Pedroza's professional boxing debut was on December 1, 1973, at the age of 17. He defeated Julio Garcia via 4th round TKO, the first of many victories early in his career. He went on to win eight more consecutive fights, five via stoppage, before his first world title shot against Alfonso Zamora for the WBA title on April 3, 1976. Unfortunately, Pedroza lost that fight via 2nd round KO.

However, Pedroza did not give up. On April 15, 1978, he won the WBA featherweight title from Cecilio Lastra via 13th round TKO in what would be a career-highlight win. He successfully defended the title 18 times, including wins against Bashew Sibaca (December 5, 1981) and Rocky Lockridge (April 24, 1983). The latter was for both the WBA and The Ring featherweight titles, further cementing Pedroza's place as one of boxing's all-time greats.

Despite numerous successful title defenses, Pedroza suffered setbacks in his career that fueled his motivation to continue fighting. He suffered his first loss against Alfonso Pérez via 3rd round KO on January 18, 1975. He was stopped three times and lost three times via decision, with two of those losses coming in title bouts.

Pedroza's last professional fight was on November 21, 1992, at the age of 36. He lost via 10 round split-decision to Mauro Gutierrez, finishing his career with a record of 41-6-1.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements in and out of the ring, Eusebio Pedroza was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1999, cementing his status as one of the all-time greats in boxing history.

Eusebio Pedroza was known for his entertaining fights and noteworthy victories, including wins over Hall-of-Famer Ruben Olivares, Gerald Hayes, Raul Silva, Carlos Pinango, Sa Wang Kim, and Johnny Aba. He was a fierce competitor who always gave his best and was never afraid to take on the toughest challenges, whether it was in a non-title or title fight.

Pedroza was particularly well-known for his punching power, with 25 of his 41 wins coming via knockout. He was also an expert in the ring, with a technical style that allowed him to see and take advantage of his opponents' weaknesses. His excellent defense and quick reflexes made him a difficult opponent to beat, and one that was respected by his peers.

Eusebio Pedroza remains a legend of the sport, both in his native Panama and around the world. His career was marked by perseverance, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest boxers of all time, and a true master of his craft.

Eusebio Pedroza Fight Record