Ben Villaflor

Benjamin Villaflor (born November 10, 1952) is a Filipino former professional boxer who competed from 1966 to 1976. He was a two-time WBA and The Ring super-featherweight champion, having held it from 1972 to 1973 and from 1973 to 1976.

Ben Villaflor
Statistics
Real nameBenjamin Villaflor
Weight(s)Super-featherweight
Height5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
NationalityFilipino
Born (1952-11-10) November 10, 1952
Negros Occidental, Philippines
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights68
Wins54
Wins by KO31
Losses6
Draws6

Professional boxing career

According to records, Villaflor began his career as a professional boxer when he was only thirteen years old, on October 1, 1966, beating Flash Javier by decision in four rounds. Most of Villaflor's early bouts' records were not well kept, therefore, although October 1, 1966 appears to have been the date of Villaflor's professional debut, this is not known with certainty, and neither is the location where the fight took place. Villaflor ran a record of twelve wins without a loss, with eight knockouts before he suffered his first loss, against Roger Boy Pedrano, by an eight-round decision in a fight apparently held on July 1, 1967, at the Philippines.

After winning his next fight, he faced Pedrano and again lost by decision, in another fight without much documented data.

Villaflor had his first documented fight on February 1, 1968, at Manila. Villaflor and Rod Sario had a technical draw (tie) after four rounds. Villaflor would have a total of seven draws in his professional boxing career, a relatively large number in that category.

Although Villaflor won nine, lost two and drew two of his next thirteen bouts, his fighting in the Philippines exclusively represented a problem for him to become known overseas. He began the 1970s by losing two ten-round decisions in a row, to Pedro Martinez on March 7, 1970, and to Alfredo Avila, six weeks later.

Villaflor won his next seventeen bouts, however, eleven of them by knockout. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, so he could get more exposure in the United States and the rest of the world. Villaflor liked Honolulu so much that he still lives in the Hawaiian city. He beat Rafael López by a first-round knockout, on April 13, 1971, in what represented both his first fight in Honolulu and also his first fight abroad. He also beat former world champion Raul Cruz, beaten by knockout in ten rounds, November 11, 1971.

On April 25, 1972, Villaflor was given his first opportunity at a world title, when faced with WBA and Lineal Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Marcano of Venezuela. Villaflor became world champion by defeating Marcano by a fifteen-round unanimous decision at Honolulu.[1]

Villaflor then engaged in a series of non-title bouts, including one against Roberto Durán world title challenger Jimmy Robertson, beaten by Villaflor by a ten-round decision on November 15 of that year. Prior to that, he had retained the title with a fifteen-round draw against Victor Echegaray, on September 25.

On March 12, 1973, Villaflor lost his title for the first time, being beaten on points by Japan's Kuniaki Shibata over fifteen rounds in Honolulu. But, after two knockout wins, Villaflor had a rematch with Shibata, also in Honolulu, and he recovered the WBA world Jr. Lightweight championship with a first-round knockout, on October 17, also at Honolulu.

Next for Villaflor was a widely expected fight across Asia, as he met Japan's top rated challenger, Apollo Yoshio, on March 14, 1974, at Toyama. The two boxers fought to a fifteen-round draw. After another non-title win, Villaflor met future world champion Yasutsune Uehara, on August 24 in Honolulu, knocking out Uehara in the second round. After that, Villaflor made his mainland United States debut, when he and perennial challenger Ray Lunny III fought to a six-round technical draw on November 14, a cut on Villaflor's head which had been caused by a headbutt being the determining factor for the fight to end with such result.

Villaflor retained the title twice more, then met Samuel Serrano for the first time, on April 13, 1976, in Honolulu, and the two combatants fought to a fifteen-round draw. The draw was so controversial that the WBA ordered an immediate rematch. After winning a non-title bout by knockout, Villaflor traveled to Puerto Rico for the rematch, held on November 16, at Hiram Bithorn stadium, in San Juan. Serrano outpointed Villaflor over fifteen rounds in what turned out to be Villaflor's last professional bout.

He is currently involved in managing other boxers' careers. Villaflor is the Sergeant At Arms for the Hawaii State Senate,[2] a position to which he is appointed by a vote of the Senate each year.

Professional boxing record
68 fights 56 wins 6 losses
By knockout 31 0
By decision 25 6
Draws 6
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round(s),
time		 Date Age Location Notes
68 Loss 56–6–6 Samuel Serrano UD 15 Oct 16, 1976 23 years, 341 days Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico Lost WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
67 Win 56–5–6 Rogelio Castaneda UD 10 Aug 31, 1976 23 years, 295 days Blaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
66 Draw 55–5–6 Samuel Serrano SD 15 Apr 13, 1976 23 years, 155 days Blaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
65 Win 55–5–5 Morito Kashiwaba KO 13 (15), 1:29 Jan 12, 1976 23 years, 63 days Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
64 Win 54–5–5 Hyun Chi Kim SD 15 Mar 13, 1975 22 years, 123 days Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines		 Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
63 Draw 53–5–5 Ray Lunny III TD 6 (10) Nov 14, 1974 22 years, 4 days Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
62 Win 53–5–4 Yasutsune Uehara KO 2 (15), 1:17 Aug 24, 1974 21 years, 287 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
61 Win 52–5–4 Takao Maruki TKO 7 (10), 0:47 Jul 19, 1974 21 years, 251 days Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
60 Draw 51–5–4 Apollo Yoshio SD 15 Mar 14, 1974 21 years, 124 days City Gymnasium, Toyama, Japan Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
59 Win 51–5–3 Kuniaki Shibata KO 1 (15), 1:56 Oct 17, 1973 20 years, 341 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Won WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
58 Win 50–5–3 Akihiro Kawasaki KO 3 (10), 2:20 Aug 21, 1973 20 years, 284 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
57 Win 49–5–3 Kenji Iwata KO 1 (10), 2:58 Jul 18, 1973 20 years, 250 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
56 Loss 48–5–3 Kuniaki Shibata UD 15 Mar 12, 1973 20 years, 122 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Lost WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
55 Win 48–4–3 Juan Collado UD 10 Jan 30, 1973 20 years, 81 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
54 Win 47–4–3 Jimmy Robertson UD 10 Nov 14, 1972 20 years, 4 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
53 Draw 46–4–3 Victor Federico Echegaray SD 15 Sep 5, 1972 19 years, 300 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
52 Win 46–4–2 Carlos Fernandez TKO 3 (10), 1:37 Jul 5, 1972 19 years, 167 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
51 Win 45–4–2 Alfredo Marcano UD 15 Apr 25, 1972 19 years, 167 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Won WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
50 Win 44–4–2 Jose Luis Lopez KO 2 (10), 2:21 Mar 7, 1972 19 years, 118 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
49 Win 43–4–2 Frankie Crawford TKO 1 (10), 2:52 Jan 25, 1972 19 years, 76 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
48 Win 42–4–2 Ray Vega KO 7 (10), 1:39 Dec 14, 1971 19 years, 34 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
47 Win 41–4–2 Raul Cruz TKO 8 (10), 1:42 Nov 16, 1971 19 years, 6 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
46 Win 40–4–2 Ricardo Garcia UD 10 Sep 28, 1971 18 years, 322 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
45 Win 39–4–2 Tadashi Okamoto KO 1 (10), 0:50 Sep 14, 1971 18 years, 308 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
44 Win 38–4–2 Manuel Mendoza UD 10 Aug 10, 1971 18 years, 273 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
43 Win 37–4–2 Memin Hernandez KO 1 (10), 1:27 Jul 6, 1971 18 years, 238 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
42 Win 36–4–2 Jesus Mariscal TKO 4 (10), 1:26 Jun 22, 1971 18 years, 224 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
41 Win 35–4–2 Delfino Camacho TKO 2 (10) Jun 8, 1971 18 years, 210 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
40 Win 34–4–2 Jose Luis Martinez KO 5 (10), 1:02 May 18, 1971 18 years, 189 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
39 Win 33–4–2 Memo Morales TKO 6 (10), 2:37 Apr 26, 1971 18 years, 167 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
38 Win 32–4–2 Rafael Lopez TKO 1 (10), 1:43 Apr 13, 1971 18 years, 154 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
37 Win 31–4–2 Arturo "Baby" Lorona PTS 10 Nov 14, 1970 18 years, 4 days Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
36 Win 30–4–2 Don Johnson TKO 7 (10) Sep 19, 1970 17 years, 313 days Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
35 Win 29–4–2 Tony Jumao As PTS 10 Jul 25, 1970 17 years, 257 days Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
34 Win 28–4–2 Willie Asuncion PTS 10 Jul 12, 1970 17 years, 244 days Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
33 Win 27–4–2 Ernie Cruz PTS 10 Jun 6, 1970 17 years, 208 days Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
32 Draw 26–4–2 Tony Jumao As TD 5 (10) Feb 28, 1970 17 years, 110 days Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
31 Win 26–4–1 Arturo Eracho PTS 10 Dec 20, 1969 17 years, 40 days Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
30 Win 25–4–1 Fil Del Mundo PTS 10 Oct 4, 1969 16 years, 328 days Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
29 Win 24–4–1 Marcial Macatangay Jr. KO 7 (10) Aug 20, 1969 16 years, 283 days Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
28 Win 23–4–1 Billy Cangas PTS 10 Jul 7, 1969 16 years, 239 days Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
27 Win 22–4–1 Boy Torno PTS 10 May 1, 1969 16 Philippines Uncertain of date
26 Win 21–4–1 Baby Paramount PTS 10 Mar 1, 1969 16 Philippines Date unknown
25 Win 20–4–1 Carlito Kid PTS 10 Feb 1, 1969 16 Philippines Date unknown
24 Loss 19–4–1 Ely Yares PTS 10 Jul 1, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
23 Win 19–3–1 Flash Barba KO 8 (?) Jun 1, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
22 Loss 18–3–1 Baby Paramount PTS 10 Apr 10, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
21 Win 18–2–1 Tanny Amancio KO 7 (10) Apr 1, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
20 Win 17–2–1 Ver Quizon PTS 10 Mar 1, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
19 Win 16–2–1 Rocky Villahermosa KO 5 (?) Feb 10, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
18 Draw 15–2–1 Blackie Olympia PTS 10 Jan 1, 1968 15 Philippines Date unknown
17 Win 15–2 Flash Barba PTS 10 Nov 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
16 Win 14–2 Boy Olayan PTS 8 Oct 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
15 Loss 13–2 Roger Boy Pedrano PTS 8 Sep 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
14 Win 13–1 Ben Aranas KO 8 (?) Aug 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
13 Loss 12–1 Roger Boy Pedrano PTS 8 Jul 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
12 Win 12–0 Little Pedring PTS 6 Jun 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
11 Win 11–0 Young Francisco KO 3 (?) May 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
10 Win 10–0 Luis Manuel PTS 6 Apr 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
9 Win 9–0 Matt Villa KO 3 (?) Mar 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
8 Win 8–0 Johnny Lozaga KO 6 (?) Feb 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
7 Win 7–0 Eddie Valdez PTS 6 Jan 1, 1967 14 Philippines Date unknown
6 Win 6–0 Joe Louis KO 1 (?) Dec 10, 1966 14 Philippines Date unknown
5 Win 5–0 Rocky Romeo KO 4 (?) Dec 1, 1966 14 Philippines Date unknown
4 Win 4–0 Pat Masong KO 4 (?) Nov 10, 1966 14 Philippines Date unknown
3 Win 3–0 Bob Rule PTS 4 Nov 1, 1966 13 Philippines Date unknown
2 Win 2–0 Little Timoteo KO 3 (?) Oct 10, 1966 13 Philippines Date unknown
1 Win 1–0 Flash Javier PTS 4 Oct 1, 1966 13 Zamboanga City, Philippines Date unknown

See also

References
  1. "Ben Villaflor - Lineal Jr. Lightweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-01-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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