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Philippines, 19 Feb 2025 |
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Diosdado Posadas: Call me Speedy By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Tue, 18 Feb 2025  Some fighters had dynamite in their fists. Others had dazzling skills. But the rarest of them—the ones whose names linger long after they’re gone— had something more. They had game, and they had class. Speedy Dado had all of the above. Born Diosdado Posadas on December 25, 1906, in Manila, Philippines, he grew up in an era where boxing wasn’t just a sport. It was a means to go stateside, to a land where streets are paved with gold. For many aspiring Filipino fighters, boxing was a way to escape hardship armed with nothing but fists and determination. By 1926, he was already making waves in the Filipino boxing circuit. Shortly thereafter, he was bound for America, where the best fighters in the world awaited. Dado didn’t just survive in that world—he thrived in it. A Whirlwind He punched almost non-stop, his feet never still. He wasn’t the biggest nor the hardest puncher, but he outworked everyone he faced. And he fought everyone. From flyweight to featherweight, Dado took on some of the best fighters of his time. 
He squared off against legends like Baby Arizmendi, Panama Al Brown, Lou Salica, and Newsboy Brown— men whose names were filed in history books, men who held world titles. On February 10, 1931, he stepped into the ring at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles to fight Newsboy Brown for the California Bantamweight Championship. Brown was the favorite, but Dado never cared about the odds. His relentless pressure and speed overwhelmed Brown, earning him a decisive points victory. It was his finest hour. It was the kind of fight that should have launched him toward a world title shot. But boxing, as in life, isn’t always fair. A People’s Champion Dado’s reign as California Bantamweight Champion lasted only three weeks. On March 3, 1931, Brown got his rematch. This time, Dado wasn’t as lucky. After controlling the early rounds, he got caught— a hard shot in the third round sent him crashing to the canvas. Just like that, his time as California champion was over. It was a brutal reminder of how unforgiving the fight game could be. Dado didn’t have the luxury of picking his opponents like they do nowadays. He fought whoever was put in front him. He had fought the best, thrilled the crowds, and given the sport everything he had. But his body had taken its toll. That year, doctors had to remove one of his eyes, likely due to the countless wars he endured in the ring. By 1941, his stellar career was over. A Life after Boxing Long after his fighting days, Speedy Dado never really left the world of boxing. He worked at the Olympic Auditorium in LA, selling fight programs and magazines that previously featured his face and his exploits. He also became a trainer and cornerman in the world that had defined his life. Fans and fighters alike would stop and talk to him, knowing they were in the presence of a man who had once stood toe-to-toe with some of the best. 
Source: The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu. Hawaii • Wed. Feb. 24, 1943 • Page 6) In 1943, while working as a chauffeur for Hollywood actress Mae West, Dado got into a dispute with an undercover policeman at a Los Angeles café. Speedy confronted the plains-clothes officer Clyde Vickers and asked what he was doing carrying a gun. A struggle broke out, a gun went off, and Dado was shot in the back. He survived, but it was just another battle scar in a life full of them. 
On July 2, 1990, Dado passed away at the ripe old age of 83 in Manila, bringing to an end a life that was as thrilling as his fights. He never became a world champion, but he had his name in the limelight, even outshining most of his peers. “Call me Speedy,” he used to say. “It is an honor to meet you, Speedy, Sir,” I would have replied. Sources and Recommended Readings: • The Knockout (September 24, 1932) • The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu. Hawaii • Wed. Feb. 24, 1943 • Page 6) • All photos and references in this article comply with the US Fair Use Doctrine Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.  |
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