Kid Gavilan

Kid Gavilán, born Gerardo González, had an illustrious professional boxing career that spanned over 15 years from 1943 to 1958. He had a total of 143 fights, with 108 wins, 30 losses, 5 draws, and 0 no-contests, leaving a formidable record in the ring. He won 29 of his fights via knockout and held three world title belts during his career, with a total of seven world title defenses.

Gavilán started his professional boxing career at the tender age of 17, defeating Antonio Diaz via a six-round PTS. Over the next 15 years, he fought and defeated many notable boxers, earning his place as a top-ranked boxer of his generation. In his prime, Gavilán was known for his unique style, combining power punches with a nimble footwork that often confounded his opponents.

Throughout his professional career, Gavilán fought in a total of three world title bouts, winning one and losing the other two. His first world-title fight was against Sugar Ray Robinson for the NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles. Though he lost that fight via a 15 round unanimous decision, he went on to win the NBA welterweight title from Johnny Bratton in May 1951 by defeating him via a 15 round unanimous decision

A few months later in August 1951, Gavilán became a unified welterweight world champion after beating Billy Graham via a 15 round split-decision, adding both the NYSAC and The Ring welterweight championship belts to his collection. In February 1953, he successfully defended all three of his belts against Chuck Davey, winning the fight via a 10th round TKO.

Gavilán was also known for his remarkable performances in some of his non-title fights against top boxers of the time. Notably, he defeated four Hall-of-Famers that include Carmen Basilio, Billy Graham, Beau Jack, and Ike Williams. He also vanquished Johnny Bratton, Gil Turner, and Rafael Merentino, among many other great champions.

Although Gavilán recorded an incredible 108 victories, he also recorded 30 losses, with three of those coming in title fights and the other 27 in non-title bouts. However, he was never stopped in his entire professional career, with all losses coming via a decision. Gavilán's first loss came early in his career against Carlos Malacara via a 10 round PTS, which ended his 16-fight win streak. He had an impressive overall career and is remembered as a crowd favorite with a remarkable boxing style.

In his retirement, Gavilán was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1990, enshrining his place among the greatest boxers of all time.

Kid Gavilán's legacy continues to live on and inspire young boxers worldwide. His unique fighting style, as well as his incredible overall record, remains a benchmark for many boxers to strive for. With his accolades and impressive career, Kid Gavilán will forever be remembered as an ambassador of the sport and an icon in the boxing world for years to come.

Kid Gavilán Fight Record