Philippines, 09 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Punchers from the Past: Jose (Joe) Medel


PhilBoxing.com





JOSE (JOE) MEDEL
Born 19 March 1938 Mexico City
Died 31 January 2001
Record: 108 fights, 69 wins (44 by KO/TKO) 31 losses, 8 draws

First professional fight: 0n this seventeenth birthday 19 March 1955 (lost on a third round kayo)
Last Fight: 9 June 1974

In a nineteen year career:

Beat: Dwight Hawkins, Jose “Toluco” Lopez, Danny Kid*, Eloy Sanchez*, Manny Elias, Herman Marquez*, Mitsunori Seki*, Haruo Sakamoto, Ignacio Pina, Sadao Yaoita*, Edmundo Esparza, Fighting Harada** , Manuel Barrios, Walter McGowan*, Jesus Pimental* and Evan Armstrong.

Lost to: Jose Becerra**, Boots Monroe, Danny Kid*, Ignacio Pina, Eloy Sanchez*, Eder Jofre**, Manuel Barrios, Chucho Castillo**, Efren Torres **, Lionel Rose **, Ruben Olivares **, Kazuyoshi Kanazawa *, Royal Kobayashi*

Drew with: Manuel Barrios,

** Past/future world champions

*World title challengers
Highlights/ Notes:
-His win in October 1958 over Ross Padilla was Medel’s first fight outside Mexico.
-On 1 August 1959 he outpointed Jose “Toluco” Lopez to win the Mexican bantamweight title. Lopez, a charismatic and exciting fighter, was idolised in Mexico. Medel’s popularity plummeted with Mexican boxing fans for beating their idol. He defeated Lopez again in November 1960 which only served to cement his unpopular status. He had ten fights in Japan and was more popular in Japan than he was back in Mexico.. When Joe died former NABA bantam champion Raul Macias said that Joe’s death would sadden Mexican fans but Japanese fans would feel the loss even deeper.
-18 August 1960 Medal lost on a tenth round kayo against unbeaten Eder Jofre in a NABA title eliminator. A fight Jofre described as the hardest of his career. This fight is rated as one of the greatest bantamweight fights of all time. After seven brutal rounds Jofre was beginning to tire and Medel won the eighth and ninth rounds. At the end of the ninth round Jofre recalled “ I was very tired and I even told my father that I wouldn't be able to go back to the tenth round". "Then he told me that Medel was dead and that I would win the fight." Jofre knocked Medel out in the tenth round and went on to win the world title and knocked Medel in six rounds in a title defence.
- Medel had his first fight in Japan in August 1961knocking out future world featherweight title challenger Mitsunori Seki
-He scored two more win in Japan and on September 1963 in Tokyo he faced future world flyweight and bantamweight champion Fighting Harada. Again, this was total war with Harada launching ferocious attacks in round after round walking through Medel’s punches trying to overwhelm Medel. In the sixth a right from Medel shook Harada and he was knocked down three times and the fight was stopped. Medel was the first boxer to knockdown Harada and the only other time Harada was beaten inside the distance was in his last professional fight in 1970. Beating Harada led to Medel becoming a huge favourite in Japan. In January 1967 Medel challenged Harada for the world bantamweight title but lost on points.
-After 89 fights in 18 years most of them at the top level and many of the early ones ferocious wars in the cockpit of the famed Arena Coliseo time caught up with Joe. His career tailed off from 1967 onwards and after a run of five losses in his last six fights he retired. His record is a veritable who’s who of a golden age of bantamweight boxing. Thankfully he looked after his money sensibly and had a happy retirement before dying of cancer at the age of 62.


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.