Ben Villaflor

Last updated
Ben Villaflor
Born
Benjamin Villaflor

(1952-11-10) November 10, 1952 (age 71)
Nationality Filipino
Statistics
Weight(s) Super-featherweight
Height5 ft 5+12 in (166 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights68
Wins54
Wins by KO31
Losses6
Draws6

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.

Contents

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 fights56 wins6 losses
By knockout310
By decision256
Draws6
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound(s),
time
DateAgeLocationNotes
68Loss56–6–6 Samuel Serrano UD15Oct 16, 197623 years, 341 daysHiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto RicoLost WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
67Win56–5–6Rogelio CastanedaUD10Aug 31, 197623 years, 295 daysBlaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
66Draw55–5–6 Samuel Serrano SD15Apr 13, 197623 years, 155 daysBlaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
65Win55–5–5Morito KashiwabaKO13 (15), 1:29Jan 12, 197623 years, 63 daysKorakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
64Win54–5–5Hyun Chi KimSD15Mar 13, 197522 years, 123 daysAraneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
63Draw53–5–5Ray Lunny IIITD6 (10)Nov 14, 197422 years, 4 daysCow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
62Win53–5–4 Yasutsune Uehara KO2 (15), 1:17Aug 24, 197421 years, 287 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
61Win52–5–4Takao MarukiTKO7 (10), 0:47Jul 19, 197421 years, 251 daysAraneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
60Draw51–5–4Apollo YoshioSD15Mar 14, 197421 years, 124 daysCity Gymnasium, Toyama, JapanRetained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
59Win51–5–3 Kuniaki Shibata KO1 (15), 1:56Oct 17, 197320 years, 341 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Won WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
58Win50–5–3Akihiro KawasakiKO3 (10), 2:20Aug 21, 197320 years, 284 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
57Win49–5–3Kenji IwataKO1 (10), 2:58Jul 18, 197320 years, 250 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
56Loss48–5–3 Kuniaki Shibata UD15Mar 12, 197320 years, 122 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Lost WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
55Win48–4–3Juan ColladoUD10Jan 30, 197320 years, 81 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
54Win47–4–3Jimmy RobertsonUD10Nov 14, 197220 years, 4 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
53Draw46–4–3Victor Federico EchegaraySD15Sep 5, 197219 years, 300 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Retained WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
52Win46–4–2Carlos FernandezTKO3 (10), 1:37Jul 5, 197219 years, 167 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
51Win45–4–2 Alfredo Marcano UD15Apr 25, 197219 years, 167 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Won WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles
50Win44–4–2Jose Luis LopezKO2 (10), 2:21Mar 7, 197219 years, 118 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
49Win43–4–2Frankie CrawfordTKO1 (10), 2:52Jan 25, 197219 years, 76 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
48Win42–4–2Ray VegaKO7 (10), 1:39Dec 14, 197119 years, 34 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
47Win41–4–2Raul CruzTKO8 (10), 1:42Nov 16, 197119 years, 6 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
46Win40–4–2Ricardo GarciaUD10Sep 28, 197118 years, 322 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
45Win39–4–2 Tadashi Okamoto KO1 (10), 0:50Sep 14, 197118 years, 308 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
44Win38–4–2Manuel MendozaUD10Aug 10, 197118 years, 273 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
43Win37–4–2Memin HernandezKO1 (10), 1:27Jul 6, 197118 years, 238 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
42Win36–4–2Jesus MariscalTKO4 (10), 1:26Jun 22, 197118 years, 224 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
41Win35–4–2Delfino CamachoTKO2 (10)Jun 8, 197118 years, 210 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
40Win34–4–2Jose Luis MartinezKO5 (10), 1:02May 18, 197118 years, 189 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
39Win33–4–2Memo MoralesTKO6 (10), 2:37Apr 26, 197118 years, 167 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
38Win32–4–2Rafael LopezTKO1 (10), 1:43Apr 13, 197118 years, 154 daysHonolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
37Win31–4–2Arturo "Baby" LoronaPTS10Nov 14, 197018 years, 4 daysQuezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
36Win30–4–2Don JohnsonTKO7 (10)Sep 19, 197017 years, 313 daysAraneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
35Win29–4–2Tony Jumao AsPTS10Jul 25, 197017 years, 257 daysAraneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
34Win28–4–2Willie AsuncionPTS10Jul 12, 197017 years, 244 daysManila, Metro Manila, Philippines
33Win27–4–2Ernie CruzPTS10Jun 6, 197017 years, 208 daysAraneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao,
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
32Draw26–4–2Tony Jumao AsTD5 (10)Feb 28, 197017 years, 110 daysRizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
31Win26–4–1Arturo ErachoPTS10Dec 20, 196917 years, 40 daysManila, Metro Manila, Philippines
30Win25–4–1Fil Del MundoPTS10Oct 4, 196916 years, 328 daysManila, Metro Manila, Philippines
29Win24–4–1Marcial Macatangay Jr.KO7 (10)Aug 20, 196916 years, 283 daysManila, Metro Manila, Philippines
28Win23–4–1Billy CangasPTS10Jul 7, 196916 years, 239 daysQuezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
27Win22–4–1Boy TornoPTS10May 1, 196916PhilippinesUncertain of date
26Win21–4–1Baby ParamountPTS10Mar 1, 196916PhilippinesDate unknown
25Win20–4–1Carlito KidPTS10Feb 1, 196916PhilippinesDate unknown
24Loss19–4–1Ely YaresPTS10Jul 1, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
23Win19–3–1Flash BarbaKO8 (?)Jun 1, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
22Loss18–3–1Baby ParamountPTS10Apr 10, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
21Win18–2–1Tanny AmancioKO7 (10)Apr 1, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
20Win17–2–1Ver QuizonPTS10Mar 1, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
19Win16–2–1Rocky VillahermosaKO5 (?)Feb 10, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
18Draw15–2–1Blackie OlympiaPTS10Jan 1, 196815PhilippinesDate unknown
17Win15–2Flash BarbaPTS10Nov 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
16Win14–2Boy OlayanPTS8Oct 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
15Loss13–2Roger Boy PedranoPTS8Sep 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
14Win13–1Ben AranasKO8 (?)Aug 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
13Loss12–1Roger Boy PedranoPTS8Jul 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
12Win12–0Little PedringPTS6Jun 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
11Win11–0Young FranciscoKO3 (?)May 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
10Win10–0Luis ManuelPTS6Apr 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
9Win9–0Matt VillaKO3 (?)Mar 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
8Win8–0Johnny LozagaKO6 (?)Feb 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
7Win7–0Eddie ValdezPTS6Jan 1, 196714PhilippinesDate unknown
6Win6–0Joe LouisKO1 (?)Dec 10, 196614PhilippinesDate unknown
5Win5–0Rocky RomeoKO4 (?)Dec 1, 196614PhilippinesDate unknown
4Win4–0Pat MasongKO4 (?)Nov 10, 196614PhilippinesDate unknown
3Win3–0Bob RulePTS4Nov 1, 196613PhilippinesDate unknown
2Win2–0Little TimoteoKO3 (?)Oct 10, 196613PhilippinesDate unknown
1Win1–0Flash JavierPTS4Oct 1, 196613Zamboanga City, PhilippinesDate unknown

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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)
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA super-featherweight champion
April 25, 1972 – March 12, 1973
Succeeded by
The Ring super-featherweight champion
April 25, 1972 – March 12, 1973
Preceded by
Kuniaki Shibata
WBA super-featherweight champion
October 17, 1973 – October 16, 1976
Succeeded by
The Ring super-featherweight champion
October 17, 1973 – October 16, 1976