Miguel Canto

Last updated

Miguel Canto
Miguel Canto (cropped).JPG
Canto in 1975
Born
Miguel Angel Canto Solis

(1948-01-30) January 30, 1948 (age 76)
Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
Other namesEl Maestro
Statistics
Weight(s) Flyweight
Height5 ft 0+1⁄2 in (154 cm)
Reach63 in (160 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights74
Wins61
Wins by KO15
Losses9
Draws4

Miguel Angel Canto Solis (born January 30, 1948) is a Mexican former world boxing champion who held the WBC and Lineal flyweight titles.

Contents

Boxing life

Unlike many Mexican boxers, Canto was not a "slam-bang" type of boxer ("Slam-Bang" boxers are boxers whose fights are usually action-packed; Mexican boxers are usually stereotyped as "slam-bangers"). He used boxing techniques and knowledge instead of trying to score knockouts in most of his fights. Proof of this is that he only won fifteen fights by knockout, out of more than seventy professional bouts. He was a defensive expert, somewhat in the style of Willie Pep.

Canto began his professional boxing career on February 5, 1969. He became one of those rare cases in boxing, like Alexis Argüello, Henry Armstrong, Bernard Hopkins, Victor Luvi Callejas and Wilfredo Vazquez, where a boxer loses his first fight and goes on to become a world champion. He lost that day to Raul Hernandez, in Canto's hometown of Mérida, by a knockout in round three.

First win

His first win came against Pedro Martinez, on May 5, 1969, by a four round decision, also at Mérida. Canto lost his next fight, but a streak of seven undefeated fights (he went 5-0-2, with 2 knockouts during that streak), led him to fight Vicente Pool on May 27, 1970, for the Yucatán state Flyweight title. Canto won his first professional belt when he outpointed Pool over twelve rounds. In his first defense, he retained the crown, with a twelve round decision over Jose Luis Cetina. After losing his next bout, a ten round, non title bout against Tarcisio Gomez, on a decision, he went on to win 21 bouts in a row, including his first bout outside Mérida (a two round knockout of Pedro Martinez in Cansahcab, Mexico), and a win over Constantino Garcia on January 22, 1972, by twelve round decision, to claim the Mexican Flyweight title. On January 31, 1973, he fought to a ten round draw (tie) against perennial contender Ignacio Espinal.

After winning his next four fights, including a rematch victory over Tarcisio Gomez, he was given his first world title try, when he fought Betulio González in Maracaibo, Venezuela, for the WBA world Flyweight title. In what was also his first fight abroad, he was outpointed by the equally legendary Gonzalez, considered by many to be Venezuela's greatest fighter of all time, on August 4, 1973.

WBC World Flyweight Champion Reign

Canto won six more fights, including two Mexican title defenses, and on January 8, 1975, he faced WBC world Flyweight champion Shoji Oguma in Sendai. Canto defeated Oguma by a fifteen round decision to claim the WBC and vacant lineal flyweight titles. His dream of becoming a world champion finally realized, Canto was a busy champion, mixing several non-title bouts with his title defenses. In his next fight, he beat Espinal in a rematch by a ten round decision. In his first title defense, he avenged his loss to Betulio Gonzalez by a fifteen round decision. On August 23 of that year, he defeated OPBF champion Jiro Takada by 11th round TKO. Following that win, Canto faced Espinal for a third time and retained his title once again by a fifteen round decision. On May 15, 1976, he scored a win over former champion Susumu Hanagata. Canto eventually became a traveling world champion.

For his fifth title defense, he returned to Venezuela and defeated Gonzalez for the second time in their trilogy by a fifteen round decision. One month later, he retained the crown against Orlando Javierto, once again by fifteen round decision, in Los Angeles, California.

On April 24, 1977, he returned to Venezuela for a third time, retaining the title against Reyes Arnal by a fifteen round decision in Caracas. Two months later, he beat Kimio Furesawa by a fifteen round decision in Tokyo. [1] Then, he and Martin Vargas fought the first of their two bouts: on September 17, 1977, Canto outpointed Vargas in his hometown of Mérida.

It was Canto's turn to travel to Vargas' hometown of Santiago, Chile, for their rematch, held on November 30 of the same year. Canto once again retained the titles with a fifteen round decision.

In 1978, Canto retained his title three times, including two rematches with Shoji Oguma, both of them held in Japan, and another fifteen round points win over Facomrom Vibonchai, in a fight held at Houston, Texas.

By this time, Canto's name had become a household name all over Latin America, thanks in part to Ring En Español , which gave Canto's fights much coverage.

On February 10, 1979, he retained his titles for a division record fourteenth time against a future world champion, Antonio Avelar, by a fifteen round decision.

On March 18, his reign came to an end, when he lost a fifteen round decision to Chan Hee Park in South Korea. On September 9 of that same year, he tried to recover his titles from Park in a rematch, but, after fifteen rounds, the fight ended in a draw.

Canto's career took a downward spiral after that fight. He won his following three fights, including wins against Olympic Bronze medalist Orlando Maldonado of Puerto Rico and former champion Sung-Jun Kim. In his 70th career fight, he lost to future world champion Gabriel Bernal. Canto avenged his loss to Bernal in his next fight, but lost the remaining three fights of his career by knockout.

After his final loss to Rodolfo Ortega on July 24, 1982, Canto retired from boxing for good. He had a record of 61 wins, 9 losses and 4 draws (ties), with 15 knockout wins.

Professional boxing record

74 fights61 wins9 losses
By knockout155
By decision454
By disqualification10
Draws4
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
74Loss61–9–4Rodolfo OrtegaTKO9 (10)1982-07-24 Carte Clara Baseball Park, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
73Loss61–8–4Alfredo HernandezTKO7 (10)1981-10-31 Auditorio Municipal, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
72Loss61–7–4Candido TellezKO4 (10)1981-08-29Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
71Win61–6–4 Gabriel Bernal UD101981-06-06Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
70Loss60–6–4 Gabriel Bernal UD101981-03-29Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
69Win60–5–4 Kim Sung-jun UD101981-02-22Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
68Win59–5–4 Orlando Maldonado DQ6 (10)1980-10-18 Plaza Nuevo Progreso, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
67Win58–5–4Alfredo HernandezUD101980-08-16Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
66Draw57–5–4 Park Chan-hee MD151979-09-09 Jamsil Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaFor WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
65Loss57–5–3 Park Chan-hee UD151979-03-18Gudeok Gymnasium, Busan, South KoreaLost WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
64Win57–4–3 Antonio Avelar UD151979-02-10Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
63Win56–4–3Facomron VibonchaiSD151978-11-20 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
62Win55–4–3 Shoji Oguma UD151978-04-18 Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
61Win54–4–3 Shoji Oguma SD151978-01-04 City Sogo Gym, Koriyama, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
60Win53–4–3 Martín Vargas UD151977-11-30 Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile, ChileRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
59Win52–4–3 Martín Vargas UD151977-09-17Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
58Win51–4–3Kimio FuresawaUD151977-06-15Shinagawa Sports Land, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
57Win50–4–3Luis Reyes ArnalSD151977-04-24Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
56Win49–4–3Orlando JaviertoUD151976-11-19 Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
55Win48–4–3 Betulio González SD151976-10-03Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC, and The Ring flyweight titles
54Win47–4–3 Susumu Hanagata UD151976-05-15Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
53Win46–4–3Francisco MarquezUD101976-03-13Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico
52Win45–4–3Ignacio EspinalUD151975-12-13Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
51Win44–4–3Jiro TakadaTKO11 (15)1975-08-23Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
50Win43–4–3 Lupe Madera TKO9 (10)1975-07-18Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
49Win42–4–3 Betulio González SD151975-05-24Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo León, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
48Win41–4–3Ignacio EspinalSD101975-03-08Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
47Win40–4–3 Shoji Oguma MD151975-01-08Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai, JapanWon WBC and vacant The Ring flyweight titles
46Win39–4–3Ricardo DelgadoUD101974-10-25Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico
45Win38–4–3Alberto MoralesUD101974-08-17 Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico
44Win37–4–3Pablito JimenezSD101974-06-08Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
43Win36–4–3Manuel MontielUD121974-04-27Plaza de Toros, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
42Win35–4–3Tony MorenoTKO5 (10)1974-02-13Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
41Win34–4–3Lupe HernandezUD121973-11-17Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
40Loss33–4–3 Betulio González MD151973-08-04 Estadio Luis Aparicio, Maracaibo, VenezuelaFor vacant WBC flyweight title
39Win33–3–3Chamaco RodriguezKO5 (10)1973-06-29Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
38Win32–3–3Luis Enrique GarciaTKO7 (10)1973-05-10Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
37Win31–3–3Rudy BillonesUD101973-05-02Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
36Win30–3–3Tarcisio GomezKO2 (12)1973-03-24Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
35Draw29–3–3Ignacio EspinalMD101973-01-31Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
34Win29–3–2Alberto MoralesUD121972-11-18Plaza de Toros, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
33Win28–3–2Jose Antonio CorralTKO3 (10)1972-09-27Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
32Win27–3–2Jose Luis ValenciaUD101972-07-26Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
31Win26–3–2Ricardo DelgadoUD121972-05-20Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
30Win25–3–2Armando VillaTKO4 (10)1972-04-05Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
29Win24–3–2Jose VargasUD101972-03-15Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
28Win23–3–2Rocky GarciaUD121972-01-22Plaza de Toros, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoWon Mexico flyweight title
27Win22–3–2Luis Carlos UrrunagaUD101971-12-01Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
26Win21–3–2Alberto MoralesUD101971-10-20Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
25Win20–3–2Roberto AlvarezUD101971-09-01Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
24Win19–3–2Domingo LedezmaUD101971-07-28Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
23Win18–3–2Pedro LopezKO3 (8)1971-07-14Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
22Win17–3–2Mario GarciaKO10 (10)1971-06-02Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
21Win16–3–2Gavilan MartinezUD101971-05-14Tekax, Yucatán, Mexico
20Win15–3–2Jose Luis CetinaUD101971-04-29Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
19Win14–3–2Tigre BracamonteUD81971-04-04Tizimin, Yucatán, Mexico
18Win13–3–2Marcus GomezTKO6 (6)1971-03-17Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
17Win12–3–2Francisco MontalvoKO6 (8)1971-02-14Cansahcab, Yucatán, Mexico
16Win11–3–2Pedro MartinezKO2 (10)1971-01-21Cansahcab, Yucatán, Mexico
15Win10–3–2Jose MedranoUD101970-12-09Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
14Win9–3–2Arturo VelazquezUD101970-11-11Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
13Loss8–3–2Tarcisio GomezMD101970-10-14Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
12Win8–2–2Jose Luis CetinaUD121970-06-24Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
11Win7–2–2Vicente PoolUD121970-05-27Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
10Draw6–2–2Juan TorresMD101970-04-29Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
9Win6–2–1Alex BasilioKO8 (10)1970-04-08Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
8Win5–2–1Baby AlbornozTKO9 (10)1970-03-21Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
7Win4–2–1Vicente PoolUD101970-03-04Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
6Draw3–2–1Joe CalvarioMD101970-02-04Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
5Win3–2Rudy GranadosUD101970-01-21Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
4Win2–2Vicente PoolUD81969-12-06Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
3Loss1–2Pedro CarilloTKO4 (6)1969-08-13 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
2Win1–1Pedro MartinezUD41969-05-05Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
1Loss0–1Raul HernandezTKO3 (4)1969-02-05Mérida, Yucatán

Honours

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Canto Retains Boxing Title". The New York Times. June 16, 1977. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Duva, Canto, Saad Muhammad Enter Hall". International Boxing Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  3. ↑ "AP Fighters of the Century list". ESPN. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Rocky Garcia
 Mexican flyweight champion
January 22, 1972 – 1975
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Alberto Morales
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC flyweight champion
January 8, 1975 – March 18, 1979		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Venice Borkhorsor 		The Ring flyweight champion
January 8, 1975 – March 18, 1979
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