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Philippines, 23 Nov 2024 |
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Francisco Guilledo: A World Champion Forever By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Mon, 15 Jul 2024  Art of Boxing: Courtesy of Rodolfo “Jun” Aquino. July 14, 2024 San Francisco, CA: Today, we bow our heads and remember Francisco Guilledo—known to the world as Pancho Villa—a champion in both title and spirit. It has been ninety-nine years since his untimely death on July 14, 1925, just ten days after his last fight against Jimmy McLarnin. Yet, the memory remains of the bravest Filipino who captured our hearts and imaginations through the Sweet Science of Bruising. 
We owe a debt of gratitude, one we can never fully repay, to Francisco Villaruel Guilledo—the original "Little Brown Fighting Doll" worthy of induction into any hall of fame. His God-given talent was matched by his unrelenting drive to win in and out of the squared circle. We honor his achievements as Asia's first boxing world titlist and the only Filipino to wear the American flyweight crown—heroic sporting deeds that became a guiding light for the Filipino people. 
His mortal remains rest at Manila North Cemetery, where his grave (as depicted above in 1926) has been recently restored to its original design by friends, family, and well-wishers of the great boxing champion. Born on August 1, 1901 during the Philippine-American War, the former pastor de cabras (goat herder) and lustrabotas (bootblack) from La Carlota, Negros Occidental, transcended boxing as we know it. Standing only 5 feet 1 inch and weighing less than 114 pounds, he looked up to fighters like Eustaquio Duarte, Francisco Labra, and his fistic idol Gaudencio “Kid Dencio” Cabanela. He honed his craft and developed a unique cross-armed defense, devastating double left hooks (liver-to-head) made possible by his scientific footwork with the help of an American soldier named Rufe Turner—“Master of the Educated Elbow” —a fighter, sparring partner, and resident instructor at the Olympic Stadium. Under the auspices of promoter Francis Aglar Churchill and the matchmakers and managers, the Tait brothers (Stewart and Edwin), Guilledo took on all comers at the Olympic Stadium in Santa Cruz, Manila. His meteoric rise in the Philippines from 1919 to 1922 saw him lose only three matches while capturing two local and regional titles. After dominating the competition against imported Australian, Chinese, and American fighters, he took his talents to the United States, mesmerizing fight fans on both the East and West Coasts. Initially, Frank Churchill had difficulty securing fights for his charge in the U.S. The American press and public were lukewarm in recognizing his talent but eventually appreciated the Filipino whirlwind after a series of stellar bouts in New Jersey. On August 2, 1922, at Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the 112 and 118-pound Philippine and Oriental belt holder decisively won a six-round match against former Scottish champion Johnny Hepburn. On the same card, his stablemate, Elino Flores, knocked out Eddie Clifford in three rounds. Both Filipino fighters reportedly received multiple standing ovations. 
On September 14, 1922, Guilledo knocked out Johnny Buff in eleven rounds to win the American flyweight title, cementing his status as a boxing star in the United States. His crowning glory came on June 18, 1923, at New York's Polo Grounds, where he faced world flyweight champion Jimmy Wilde. He peppered Wilde with hooks and straights, relentlessly taking the fight to the Welsh kingpin. By the seventh round, Wilde was battered and finally succumbed by knockout. After the fight, Guilledo consoled his vanquished foe in the dressing room. 
Recognized as top Filipino boxer by Jack Fiske and Hermie Rivera in their article "The Best Of A Nation: The All-Time Top 10 Of The Philippine. The Bible of Boxing, The Ring, August 1994 (From the Collection of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society) For the record, here are Francisco Guilledo’s highest honors and achievements: • Flyweight and Bantamweight champion of the Philippines and the Orient (circa 1919-1922) • Ranked #1 Flyweight of the 20th Century (along with Miguel Canto) by the Associated Press in 1999 • The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame (1961) • International Boxing Hall of Fame (1994) • West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame (OCTOBER 15, 2017) • His official record stands at 79 wins (25 KO), 5 losses, 4 draws, 2 no-contest (20 No Decisions) (CyberBoxingZone.com) • He has never been knocked out Attached below, please find the heartfelt tribute featured on The Philippine Republic, the premier authority on anything Filipino almost a century ago. 
The Philippine Republic (Vol. 2, No. 8, August, 1925 Washington, D.C.) Writers of sports news on American newspapers have almost without exception paid tribute to Pancho Villa in death. The Filipino flyweight boxing champion was popular with American newspaper writers almost from the moment he first appeared in an American ring. They liked him because he fought hard, because he gave them "a run for their money." Boxing fans always like men of action, and Villa in the ring was all action, lightning-fast action. Pancho Villa is dead today because he chose to risk his life rather than disappoint his friends who had traveled long distances to see him fight Jimmy McLarnin at Oakland, California on July 4, and because he could not bear to see Tommy Simpson, an American friend, promoter of the Villa-McLarnin contest, lose a large sum of money. For several days previous to the fight Villa suffered from a badly ulcerated tooth. On the day before the fight one of his teeth had been extracted, but the poison remained, and both his dentist and surgeon advised Villa not to enter the ring. Villa entered the ring with the entire side of his face badly swollen. Many believed Pancho have should have received a draw or better, but a draw at least. However, it could not be denied that the Filipino champion was not his old self. McLarnin was awarded the decision, although this did not affect Villa's title as world Flyweight champion, because McLarnin could not make flyweight. Villa received many stiff punches on his sore face, and the effect was to spread the poison to the muscles of his throat. An operation became necessary. "Paralysis of the respiratory organs caused death." stated Dr. Charles E. Hoffman, the operating surgeon, "and this was brought on by a general toxemia resulting from spread of infection from the abscessed tooth." Sister Mary Veronica, superintendent of St. Mary's Hospital said: "Mr. Villa proved himself quite a patient by helping the attendants with everything.” Soon after the anesthetic was applied the doctor found it difficult for him to receive it, owing to the unusually swollen throat. When he began sinking we rushed for the priest and Mr. Villa died a short time after. When Frank Churchill, Villa's manager, was notified of the boxer's death, he collapsed. Just before the bout started on July 4, Manager Churchill had issued the following statement: "I am issuing this statement before the contest in justice to the gamest little man I ever knew. Thursday evening the right side of Villa’s face began to swell and he never slept a wink all night. His jaw stiffened and he was unable to take any nourishment but liquids. "Last evening the surgeon stated it would be impossible for Pancho to fight and the only chance would be to cut the gums which had grown over the teeth and extract the wisdom tooth. This was done. "Villa is not himself; not half himself. But he insisted upon going through with the fight because he said people came from all over the country to see him and he will not disappoint them. He further realized that Tommy Simpson would be put to a loss of thousands as the contest could not be postponed. "Therefore, under the greatest handicap I have ever seen a fighter knowingly enter the ring, Villa insisted upon going in and doing his best under the circumstances." The Philippine Republic (Vol. 2, No. 8, August, 1925 Washington, D.C.) Villa will be remembered wherever he fought for his exhibitions of good sportsmanship in the ring as well as for his cleverness and speed. The humanity in his makeup was never more strikingly revealed than in his famous contest with Jimmy Wilde of England, the bout in which he won his title of world flyweight champion. In the seventh round Wilde was all in, a badly defeated man. Realizing he had his opponent hopelessly beaten, Villa repeatedly looked appealingly at Wilde's seconds, hoping they would take their beaten man from the ring. But Wilde would not go down until he was knocked down and he would not stay down until he was knocked out. The truth is Wilde came near losing his life. He was unconscious for more than an hour after the fight. Not knowing this, Villa had gone to Wilde's dressing room to console him. Villa crossed over to the table where his vanquished opponent was stretched and started to speak as he reached out to take his hand. "How do you feel, Jimmy: you— and then he saw that Jimmy was still unconscious. "Jimmy,” he asked, as he looked up with a startled, questioning glance to the faces about him. "Jimmy-isn't he all right?" As he turned he found Mrs. Wilde standing beside him. "Oh, Mrs. Wilde, I am sorry I did not want to hurt Jimmy this way," he said in real distress. Mrs. Wilde nodded to him bravely and tried, apparently, to say something reassuring but the words wouldn't come. This was too much for the little Filipino boy and he broke into a little sob and tears came to his eyes. He cried quite unashamed and dried his eyes with his cap. Many days later, after he had fully recovered. Wilde said: "I want to add another word about Villa, he proved one of the cleanest and best opponents I ever met. He has the title and it is in the hands of a man who can box and fight better than the American and English experts have believed. He deserves all the credit and money he will earn as holder of the title.” Mrs. Wilde added: "Villa was genuinely sorry for Jimmy, as he told me he was. You can't fool a woman about matters like that, and I know he meant every word when he told me how much he regretted Jimmy had insisted upon being knocked out." Commenting on Villa’s meteoric career, the New York American said: “A little flyweight champion, with the courage, honor, chivalry and politeness of a gentleman of the old school, has passed on. His gloves hang up for good, but the ring will always remember the generous-hearted Villa.” Notes: • We are indebted to Mr. Rodolfo “Jun” Aquino, Rick Farris, Dan Hanley and our friends at the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame for the display of Pancho Villa’s painting • Attached photos and likeness of Francisco Guilledo are in the public domain and courtesy of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society and are re-reprinted for non-commercial use • The predominant reference for this article was published in The Philippine Republic (Vol. 2, No. 8, August, 1925– Washington, D.C.) and is in the public domain. It is re-published here and is compliance with the United States Fair Use Doctrine • The Ring Magazine’s likeness of Pancho Villa by Ed Hughes is in the public domain (The Ring, September 1925) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.  |
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