Hall of Fame Friday: Kid Gavilan

A profile from RING magazine of an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. This week: Kid Gavilan.

THE RING magazine features a thumbnail biography of a ring great who has received the ultimate honor: induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y.

KID GAVILAN
Birthdate: Jan. 6, 1926
Date of death: Camaguey, Cuba
Nickname: Feb. 13, 2003
Weight class: Welterweight
Professional record: 107-30-6 (28 knockouts)
Titles: World welterweight (May 18, 1951-Oct. 20, 1954)
Best performances: Carmen Basilio (W 15), Ike Williams (W 10, W 10), Beau Jack (W 10), Ray Robinson (L 15), Johnny Bratton (W 15, W 15), Billy Graham (W 10, W 15, W 15), Gil Turner (KO 11), Walter Cartier (KO 10), Chuck Davey (KO 10), Tony Janiro (W 10, KO 4).
Year of IBHOF induction: 1990
Background: One of the most popular fighters of the early years of TV boxing, eventually appearing in 34 televised bouts … Born Gerardo Gonzalez, he began boxing at the age of 12 and turned pro at 16, on June 5, 1943 … Named after a Havana café called El Gavilan (the hawk), which was owned by his first manager, Fernando Balido … Developed a flamboyant, crowd-pleasing style that featured the bolo punch, a looping uppercut that mimicked the motion of a machete cutting sugar cane ... Was on the wrong end of a close decision in his first title challenge, losing a 15-round decision to reigning welterweight champ Sugar Ray Robinson in July ’49 … Captured the vacant welterweight title on May 18, 1951 with a 15-round decision of Johnny Bratton … Made seven successful defenses of the 147-pound crown while also maintaining a busy schedule of non-title fights … Knockout of local favorite Gil Turner in Philadelphia in July ’52 set an attendance record (39,025) for a welterweight title fight that lasted until the 1980 Roberto Duran-Ray Leonard bout in Montreal … Challenged Bobo Olson for the middleweight title in August ’54, losing a 15-round decision … Lost welterweight title to mob-controlled Johnny Saxton by a highly controversial decision on Oct. 20, 1954. Nineteen of 21 writers at ringside gave the fight to Gavilan … Fought in 10 different countries before retiring in ’58 … Never knocked out in 143 pro bouts .. Returned to Cuba after his fighting days were over, but lost his 39-acre ranch, home, cars and other real estate when Fidel Castro came to power … Eventually returned to the United States, where he lived out the rest of his days on the edge of poverty.