Ángel Espada

Ángel Luis "Cholo" Espada Mangual (born February 2, 1948) is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer. He was the WBA's world Welterweight champion in 1975-76.[1][2] A music lover, Espada also organized, during the late 1970s, a salsa orchestra.

Ángel Luis Espada Mangual
Statistics
Nickname(s)Cholo
Weight(s)Welterweight
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
NationalityPuerto Rico
Born (1948-02-02) February 2, 1948
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Stanceorthodox
Boxing record
Total fights59
Wins44
Wins by KO27
Losses11
Draws4

Biography

Early career

Espada began his professional boxing career on March 11, 1967, with a defeat at the hands of future Antonio Cervantes world title challenger Josue Marquez, on a six-round decision, at San Juan. His next two fights were declared draws (ties). Both were against Luis Vinales.

After another defeat and a draw (both against Chris Fernandez), Espada got his first win. On April 1, 1968, he knocked out Linfer Contreras in the first round in San Juan. After one more win, he fought outside Puerto Rico for the first time, losing on points after six rounds to future Roberto Durán world title challenger Jimmy Robertson, on September 27, 1969, at Los Angeles, California.

His next fight would be against Bobby Joe Hughes, April 9, 1969 in San Juan. Hughes was disqualified for using illegal tactics during the fight, and this victory marked the beginning of a fifteen fight winning streak for Espada. On November 7 of 1970, the streak was stopped by Matt Donovan, who beat him on points over ten rounds. Shortly after, Espada would beat former Emile Griffith world title challenger Manuel Gonzalez and lose to former world champion Eddie Perkins, both times, on points after ten rounds.

Between 1972 and 1975, Espada posted twelve wins in a row, including a victory over perennial world title challenger Armando Muniz, and a win in Panama. He was beaten by Luis Acosta in Caracas by decision in ten rounds to stop that winning streak, but he avenged the defeat against Acosta with a ten-round win over him in a rematch held in San Juan.

Champion

Espada became a world champion in a situation that could be described by some as bizarre: the undisputed world Welterweight champion of the era, José Nápoles, was to fight Carlos Monzón for the world's Middleweight title. The WBC kept recognizing Nápoles as their world Welterweight champion, but the WBA, feeling that Espada deserved a chance at Nápoles' crown, decided to strip Nápoles of the world championship because Nápoles went ahead as planned and fought Monzon. Thus, on June 28, 1975, Espada became the WBA's world Welterweight champion, and Puerto Rico's fourth world boxing champion in history, by outpointing the well known Canadian, Clyde Gray, over fifteen rounds in San Juan. Coincidentally, Espada won his world title the same day that Alfredo Escalera won the WBC world Junior Lightweight championship at a fight that took place in Japan; this was the first time two Puerto Ricans became world champions the same day and as a consequence, Puerto Rico, a country that had only produced two world boxing champions in its history, doubled their number of champions in one day with Espada and Escalera's victories.[3] (In Spanish)

He retained the title with a fifteen-round decision over Johnny Gant, and won a non-title fight with an eighth-round knockout over Alfonzo Hayman.

On July 17, 1976, Espada fought what would have been the start of a Mexican boxing tour. Espada, looking forward to meeting Miguel Campanino, was instead faced with a boxer who had a record of 16-5 and who was named José Cuevas. Cuevas lifted the WBA world Welterweight title away from Espada with a second-round knockout. [4] They would fight again twice, with Cuevas retaining the title by ten and eleven-round knockouts.

Retirement from the Ring

Towards the end of his career, Espada, realizing his best days as a boxer had probably passed him by, announced on the Vea magazine that he was putting together a salsa orchestra. The "Cholo Espada orchestra" had some success in Puerto Rico, appearing on television shows constantly during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Espada lost his last important fight, against Thomas Hearns, by a knockout in round four at the Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit, on March 2 of 1980. He then retired for a short period of time. Espada wanted to retire as a winner, however, and, after one year of inactivity, he made a one fight comeback, knocking out Julio Alfonso in four rounds, on December 10, 1981, in San Juan.

After retiring from boxing, Espada became a boxing trainer, and he has remained in that position ever since. Espada had a record of 44 wins, 11 losses and 3 draws, with 27 wins by knockout.


Professional boxing record

59 fights 44 wins 11 losses
By knockout 27 4
By decision 16 7
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 4
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
59 Win 44–11–4 Julio Alfonso KO 4 (?) Dec 10, 1981 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
58 Loss 43–11–4 Thomas Hearns TKO 4 (12) Mar 2, 1980 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. For vacant USBA welterweight title
57 Loss 43–10–4 Pipino Cuevas TKO 10 (15) Dec 8, 1979 Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. For WBA welterweight title
56 Win 43–9–4 Fitzroy Edward KO 5 (?) Jun 16, 1979 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
55 Win 42–9–4 Sam Hailstock KO 9 (10) Feb 18, 1979 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
54 Win 41–9–4 Kevin Moefield KO 4 (10) Oct 28, 1978 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
53 Win 40–9–4 Nikita Tarhocker KO 2 (10) Sep 9, 1978 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
52 Loss 39–9–4 Pipino Cuevas RTD 11 (15) Nov 19, 1977 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico For WBA welterweight title
51 Win 39–8–4 Ray Hammond UD 10 Aug 27, 1977 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
50 Win 38–8–4 John Morgan KO 2 (?) May 21, 1977 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
49 Win 37–8–4 Augustin Estrada KO 4 (?) Sep 10, 1976 Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
48 Loss 36–8–4 Pipino Cuevas TKO 2 (15) Jul 17, 1976 Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Lost WBA welterweight title
47 Win 36–7–4 Alfonso Hayman TKO 8 (10) Apr 27, 1976 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
46 Win 35–7–4 Johnny Gant UD 15 Oct 11, 1975 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBA welterweight title
45 Win 34–7–4 Clyde Gray UD 15 Jun 28, 1975 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico Won vacant WBA welterweight title
44 Win 33–7–4 Luis Acosta PTS 10 Apr 12, 1975 San Juan, Puerto Rico
43 Loss 32–7–4 Luis Acosta PTS 10 Mar 15, 1975 El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela
42 Win 32–6–4 Hector Rivas KO 2 (?) Nov 15, 1974 San Juan, Puerto Rico
41 Win 31–6–4 Armando Muñíz PTS 10 Jul 29, 1974 San Juan, Puerto Rico
40 Win 30–6–4 Dave Oropeza KO 4 (10) May 10, 1974 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
39 Win 29–6–4 Alvin Anderson KO 2 (10) Apr 15, 1974 San Juan, Puerto Rico
38 Win 28–6–4 Mario Saurennann PTS 10 Nov 19, 1973 San Juan, Puerto Rico
37 Win 27–6–4 Prince Jimmy Hamm KO 1 (12) Sep 8, 1973 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Won vacant WBA Fedelatin welterweight title
36 Win 26–6–4 Al Cook TKO 3 (10) Jul 14, 1973 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
35 Win 25–6–4 Jack Tillman UD 10 May 29, 1973 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
34 Win 24–6–4 Roscoe Bell PTS 10 Feb 15, 1973 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
33 Win 23–6–4 Roscoe Bell KO 2 (10) Jan 16, 1973 Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
32 Win 22–6–4 Felipe Cariaco KO 9 (10) Dec 12, 1972 San Juan, Puerto Rico
31 Win 21–6–4 Alfonso Aguirre TKO 3 (10) Oct 24, 1972 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
30 Loss 20–6–4 Dario Hidalgo SD 10 Jun 12, 1972 Felt Forum, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
29 Loss 20–5–4 Eddie Perkins UD 10 Oct 19, 1971 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
28 Win 20–4–4 Manuel Gonzalez PTS 10 Aug 28, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico
27 Win 19–4–4 Dino Del Cid KO 3 (?) Jul 10, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico
26 Win 18–4–4 Edmundo Leite MD 10 Apr 12, 1971 Felt Forum, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Loss 17–4–4 Matt Donovan MD 10 Nov 7, 1970 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
24 Win 17–3–4 Jose Gabino KO 3 (10) Oct 10, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
23 Win 16–3–4 Julio Cruz KO 2 (?) Aug 5, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
22 Win 15–3–4 Frankie Lewis KO 6 (?) May 10, 1970 Ponce, Puerto Rico
21 Win 14–3–4 Juan Ramos KO 5 (?) Mar 28, 1970 Ponce, Puerto Rico
20 Win 13–3–4 Raul Rodriguez KO 2 (10) Mar 21, 1970 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
19 Win 12–3–4 Frankie Lewis PTS 10 Feb 27, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
18 Win 11–3–4 Frank Steele PTS 10 Feb 7, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
17 Win 10–3–4 Fate Davis PTS 10 Dec 12, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
16 Win 9–3–4 Jerry Graci PTS 10 Nov 2, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico Exact date unknown
15 Win 8–3–4 Roland Pryor PTS 10 Nov 1, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
14 Win 7–3–4 Claude Soumel PTS 8 Sep 27, 1969 La Cancha Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico
13 Win 6–3–4 Ingemar Jones KO 4 (?) Aug 2, 1969 La Cancha Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico
12 Win 5–3–4 Roscoe Bell KO 2 (8) Jul 21, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
11 Win 4–3–4 Enrique Paz TKO 5 (8) Jun 7, 1969 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
10 Win 3–3–4 Bobby Joe Hughes DQ 6 (?) Apr 19, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
9 Loss 2–3–4 Jimmy Robertson PTS 6 Sep 27, 1968 Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
8 Win 2–2–4 Embijao Carrion KO 3 (?) Apr 15, 1968 Country Club Arena, San Juan, Puerto Rico
7 Win 1–2–4 Linfer Contreras KO 1 (6) Apr 1, 1968 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
6 Draw 0–2–4 Chris Fernandez PTS 6 Jan 10, 1968 San Juan, Puerto Rico
5 Loss 0–2–3 Chris Fernandez PTS 6 Jul 10, 1967 San Juan, Puerto Rico
4 Draw 0–1–3 Luis Vinales PTS 6 Jun 4, 1967 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
3 Draw 0–1–2 Luis Vinales PTS 6 Apr 8, 1967 Cancha Pepin Cestero, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
2 Loss 0–1–1 Josue Marquez PTS 6 Feb 11, 1967 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1 Draw 0–0–1 Andres Matta PTS 6 Aug 20, 1966 San Juan, Puerto Rico

See also

References

  1. "Welterweight Champions". Archived from the original on 2006-10-20.
  2. Nat Fleischer and Sam Andre. An Illustrated History of Boxing. p. 281.
  3. "Ángel "Cholo" Espada: Sencillo y humilde". 14 December 2013.
  4. "Cuevas Scores KO in 2nd, Wins Welter Crown", Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1976, p. III-4
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