Alberto Dávila

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Alberto Dávila
Born
Albert Dávila

(1954-08-10) August 10, 1954 (age 70)
United States
Other namesAlberto
Statistics
Weight(s)Bantamweight
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Boxing record
Total fights67
Wins56
Wins by KO26
Losses10
No contests1

Albert "Alberto" Dávila (born August 10, 1954) is an American former

Kiko Bejines, in 1983. Trailing after 11 rounds, Dávila scored a knockout of Bejines to win the title, but Bejines died shortly afterward due to injuries suffered during the fight. Following one successful title defense, Dávila suffered back injuries, leading the WBC to strip him of his title. He later fought in two more world championship fights, losing both. Dávila is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame
.

Boxing career

Early life and career

Originally from Texas, and later

Mexican world champion, and lost by a 15-round decision.[5] At one point, he retired from boxing for a time, working as a beer delivery man.[3][10] Dávila was inactive for all of 1981, returning in early 1982 and going seven fights without a loss through April 1983.[4]

Kiko Bejines fight

In March 1983, Pintor suffered a motorcycle accident and was forced into a lengthy absence,

Los Angeles, and most of it was described by Associated Press sports writer Ken Peters as "uneventful".[10] Bejines held a lead on two of the three judges' scorecards at the end of 11 rounds (the third had the fight even), and Dávila rushed out of his corner and attacked Bejines right away in round 12.[10] With 25 seconds elapsed in the round, a right hand to Bejines' chin struck, followed by a pair of left hands and a right. Bejines fell to the floor and was counted out, giving Dávila the victory and WBC interim bantamweight championship.[12][13] Unconscious after the fight, Bejines was airlifted to a nearby hospital and revealed to be in critical condition.[14] He died as a result of his injuries.[13] Dávila stayed at the medical center where Bejines was into the late night hours following the fight,[15] and later said that he was "in mourning with (Bejines') family."[16]

WBC title reign

Pintor moved into the super bantamweight division,

technical knockout to retain his title. After the fight, he compared the rain to "holy water", saying "It revived me. It was a miracle."[19]

The WBC stated that Dávila would automatically give up his championship if he did not fight Pintor by August 15, 1984.

Miguel Lora, but in a sparring session two weeks before the fight date, Dávila injured his back. This led to a postponement.[21] Later, he worsened his injury while doing yardwork, leading to a yearlong absence from fighting. As a result, his belt was stripped by the WBC;[15] it was officially vacated in the WBC's rankings on March 23, 1985.[22]

Later career

In 1987, he attempted to become a world champion again by traveling to Colombia and challenging Lora, but he lost a 12-round decision.[15] He won a few fights after his loss to Lora, including a decision victory over Edel Geronimo in March 1987.[15][23]

His next fight came three months later against

Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California on November 3, 1987, against Mexico's Juan Estrada, Dávila suffered an accidental headbutt and was given the victory through a technical decision.[27]

The NABF bantamweight championship was later vacated by the federation due to Duarte's "inactivity".

no contest.[4][32]

Fighting style

Dávila was not considered a powerful puncher during his career,[10] with fewer than half his career wins coming by knockout.[4] Instead, he was thought of as a strong technical boxer. Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray called Dávila "a picture boxer", saying that he fought "with his brains instead of his face."[6] Murray credited Dávila's style to his childhood gym experience, when he discovered that he could avoid being punched if his opponent made the first move.[6] Scott Ostler, another Los Angeles Times columnist, wrote of Dávila, "There's nothing marketable about him, except for one thing. He can fight."[15] However, Dávila did attempt to gain support from Latino fans by fighting as Alberto Dávila, rather than using his given name, Albert.[3]

Later life and personal life

Following his career as a boxer, Dávila began to work as a trainer. However, he quit in 1995 after one of the fighters he trained,

Women's Soccer Championship-winning team.[32]

References

  1. ^ a b "Davila to fight for vacant title". Lodi News-Sentinel. United Press International. September 1, 1983. p. 16. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  2. ^ Collins, Nigel (August 26, 2015). "Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares: The next generation of Mexican greats?". ESPN. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Crowe, Jerry (November 12, 2007). "Davila recalls tragedy, but doesn't dwell on it". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "Alberto Davila". BoxRec. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Pintor Wins Decision To Keep Bantam Crown". The Press-Courier. Associated Press. December 20, 1980. p. 15. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Murray, Jim (November 18, 1977). "Portrait of an artist". The Bulletin. Los Angeles Times. p. 13. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  7. Leader-Post
    . Associated Press. February 27, 1978. p. 30. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  8. ^ Newman, Bruce (September 25, 1978). "Blood, Sweat and Cheers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Pintor surprised by verdict". The Lewiston Evening Journal. Associated Press. June 4, 1979. p. 18. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d Peters, Ken (September 7, 1983). "Saddened champion will never forget". The Lewiston Journal. Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  11. ^ "Sports People; Pintor Injured". The New York Times. March 11, 1983. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Alberto Davila v Kiko Bejines". BoxRec. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Ring Death Puzzles Experts". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. September 6, 1983. p. 22. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  14. ^ "Boxer critical after being knocked out in bantamweight title bout". Tri-City Herald. Associated Press. September 1, 1983. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d e Ostler, Scott (March 19, 1987). "About Only Thing Davila Has Going for Him Is He Can Fight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  16. ^ "Sports People; Davila in Mourning". The New York Times. September 7, 1983. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  17. ISBN 978-0-313-34383-4
    .
  18. Star-Banner
    . Associated Press. November 3, 1983. p. 7B. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  19. ^ a b "Davila, Garza Defend Titles On the Beach". The Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. May 28, 1984. p. 28. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  20. ^ "WBC threatening to strip titles from 2 champions". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. June 26, 1984. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  21. ^ "And Finally..." Herald-Journal. September 14, 1984. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  22. ^ "WBC Ratings". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. March 23, 1985. p. 13. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Kresal, Steve (March 24, 1987). "Davila Beats Geronimo in Unanimous Decision". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  24. ^ Springer, Steve (June 28, 1987). "Duarte Evens the Score in a Bittersweet Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  25. ^ a b "Title fight protest could be upheld". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. July 3, 1987. p. 22. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  26. ^ "Sports People; A Split Decision". The New York Times. July 18, 1987. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  27. ^ "Davila Is Butted, Awarded Decision". Los Angeles Times. November 4, 1987. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  28. ^ a b "Davila Will Fight Contreras Tonight". Los Angeles Times. April 21, 1988. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  29. ^ "Davila Wins a Decision Over Contreras in 12". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 1988. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  30. ^ "Lora defends title tonight". The Miami News. August 1, 1988. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  31. The Vindicator
    . Associated Press. August 2, 1988. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  32. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7864-3862-4
    . Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  33. ISBN 9781426990649
    . Retrieved April 1, 2013.
World boxing titles
Preceded by
WBC Bantamweight Champion

1 September 1983 – 23 March 1985
Vacated
Initially interim title 		Succeeded by
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