Philippines, 09 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Punchers From the Past: Godfrey Stevens Gonzalez


PhilBoxing.com





GODFREY STEVENS GONZALEZ
Born 27 June 1938 Santiago, Chile
Died 20 August 2022 Canberra, Australia
Record: 82 fights, 69 wins (21 by KO/TKO), 10 losses 3 draws

First professional fight: 26 February 1960
Stevens father was English (resulting in Stevens nickname of Gringo) and his mother Chilean.
-His parents enrolled him in the club Mexico in Santiago when he was thirteen wanting him to learn how defend himself as the neighbourhood kids were constantly picking on him.
-He had his first amateur fight at the age of fourteen and continued boxing when he joined the Army. He also played basketball and ironically the broken nose he sported came not from boxing but from basketball
-He progressed well enough to be selected to fight in a tournament to qualify for the Chilean team for the 1959 Pan American Games but he was not successful and turned professional as a featherweight having his first paid fight in February 1960.
-He won the Chilean featherweight title in March 1963
-He was unbeaten in his first 33 fights (31-0-2) before losing to Panamanian Valentin Brown in August 1963 on a fourth round retirement brought about by cuts around both eyes.
- August 1964 Lost to Argentinian Carlos Canete on a twelfth round stoppage in a fight for the South American featherweight title at the Luna Park in Buenos Aires. Their respective records were Stevens 35-1-3 and Canete 30-1
-July 1965 lost for a second time to Canete in a challenge for the South American title again at the Luna Park and this time on points. Canete was rated No 2 by Ring Magazine.
-Between March 1966 and October1969 he compiled a record of 24 consecutive wins including winning and defending the South American featherweight title. He scored wins over good level opposition such as 22-2-2 Rosemiro dos Santos, 38-1-6 Raimundo de Jesus ,Miguel Angel Botta, Kid Pascaulito, Jose Smecca, Californian Bobby Valdez and Don Johnson.
- That run earned Stevens a shot at the WBA featherweight title held by Japanese boxer Shozo Saijo
- When Stevens met Saijo in Tokyo in February 1970 he was only the second Chilean to challenge for a world title. Arturo Godoy had twice challenged Joe Louis for the heavyweight title losing a split decision to Louis in February 1940 and being stopped in eight rounds in June 1940.
- There was no TV when Louis fought Godoy but when Stevens challenged Saijo it was shown live in Chile and anyone in Chile with a TV had a full house and the streets were empty as fans gathered around radios.
-There was no fairytale ending as Saijo won a wide unanimous decision.
- Stevens had planned to retire after the Saijo fight but financial pressure saw him fight on. He scored three wins but then lost his last five fights with Ruben Olivares, Eder Jofre and Alexis Arguello included in those he fought before retiring in 1977. But for a lack of power and a susceptibly to cuts he might well have given Chile its first world champion.
-After retirement his strong views on democracy led to him being considered too right wing by the Salvador Allende party and too left wing by the military government of Augusto Pinochet
-In 1986 he emigrated to Australia with his family and became a well respected member of the Chilean community there before dying in Canberra at the age of 84.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eric Armit.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • A TRIO OF MATCHUPS ADDED TO "CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH: A NIGHT OF BOXING" PRESENTED BY 555 MEDIA AND BASH BOXING
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SHAW SURGES AS CAPITO STUMBLES IN TITLE DEFENCE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Youth Men’s and Women’s High Performance Teams announced
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Jessie Villasin chess tournament on Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: San Diego Favorite Emanuel Navarrete Set to Reignite Mexico-Philippines Rivalry against Charly Suarez
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLARESSA SHIELDS vs. LANI DANIELS SATURDAY, JULY 26 * LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Unbeaten Anthony Velazquez pitched shutout at home in Springfield
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • TYSON FURY VOTED THE MOST ENTERTAINING BOXER IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BRITISH FANS
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Undefeated super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum preparing to ‘Make a big splash’ vs. Bek Melikuziev
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • SHAW SENDS A MESSAGE IN HUNT FOR UK OPEN GLORY | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • GM Antonio faces tough competition in ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
    , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing
    , Tue, 06 May 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.