Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pablo Dano: Unbreakable


PhilBoxing.com




Boxing history remembers its champions—the ones who held gold, who stood at the top of their division, whose names were recorded into record books. But some of the toughest, most remarkable fighters never got that full recognition.

Pablo Dano was one of those fighters.

He wasn’t just tough— he was unbreakable.

In a career spanning nearly 20 years and over 200 fights, Dano fought the best of his era, men who would go on to become world champions and Hall of Famers. And through every battle, in every ring he stepped into he was never knocked out.


Source: From the Collection of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society and Hall of Fame

Made in the Philippines

Born July 12, 1908, in Bato, Leyte, Philippines, Pablo Dano grew up in a world where boxing wasn’t just a sport—it was a way out. Like many young men from the islands, he saw the fight game as a path to something bigger. At 16 years old, he turned pro, throwing himself into the ring for the first time in 1924.

For the first few years, he fought in the Philippines, sharpening his skills against local contenders. But he wasn’t meant to stay in one place. In 1927, at just 19 years old, he made the trip to America, where the real proving grounds awaited.

Dano arrived at the perfect time. The 1920s and ’30s saw an explosion of Filipino talent in American boxing rings. Fans loved them—these smaller, relentless warriors who never stopped throwing punches, never backed down, never seemed to tire. Dano fit right in.

No Fear

If you want to understand just how tough Pablo Dano was, just look at the names on his record. He fought an absolute murderer’s row of elite competition, taking on champions and future Hall of Famers across multiple weight divisions. Speedy Dado, Johnny McCoy, Corporal Izzy Schwartz, Newsboy Brown, Peppy Sanchez, Midget Wolgast, Juan Zurita, Chalky Wright, Lou Salica, Baby Arizmendi, Manuel Ortiz, Tony Marino, Little Pancho— the list goes on and on.

These were the best fighters of his era. And none of them— not one— could stop him.

That’s what makes Dano special. He fought in an era where staying on your feet wasn’t guaranteed. Fighters back then weren’t protected by modern matchmaking. If you were good, you fought the best— constantly. You didn’t get padded records, tune-up fights, or soft opponents. If you had a weakness, it got exposed. If you couldn’t take a punch, you wouldn’t last. Pablo Dano lasted.


Credit: Credit: TESSA Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library

Close But No Cigar

For all his toughness, for all his incredible endurance, a world championship always remained out of reach. He fought in an era where title opportunities were scarce, and promoters often made sure belts stayed with certain fighters.

But he did have one moment of glory.

On March 26, 1935, Dano faced off against fellow Filipino fighter Young Tommy for the California State World Bantamweight Title. At the time, regional championships like this were a big deal—especially for fighters who weren’t getting shots at the major world titles.

The NBA refused to recognize the fight as a world championship, but the promoter Dick Donald billed it as a world title fight anyway, with the “Daro Belt” presented by Bud Taylor (Source: Boxrec.com).

Dano fought with the same relentless pressure that had made him a fan favorite. In the eighth round, he broke Young Tommy down and stopped him.

It wasn’t an NBA-sanctioned world title, but it was proof—if proof was ever needed—that Pablo Dano was a champion in his own right.

Two months later, Dano defended his belt against another Filipino great Diosdado Posadas, popularly known as Speedy Dado.


Credit: San Francisco News-Call Bulletin (Photo Morgue, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)

Dano Recognized as Bantamweight Champ

The San Pedro Pilot (May 22, 1935) reported:

“LOS ANGELES, May 22 (P).-In the eyes of the California state athletic commission, Pablo Dano, squint sized Filipino battler, was the bantamweight champion of the world today.
“Dano punched out a ten-round decision last night over a fellow-countryman, Speedy Dado, in a bout accorded titular prestige by the California commission but not by the National Boxing association.
“Referee Jack Kennedy awarded the winner seven rounds, gave one to Dado and called two even. Three weeks ago the pair fought a vicious draw.”



Source: San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 8
Number 64, 22 May 1935

The Final Rounds

By the 1940s, after nearly two decades in the fight game, time finally caught up to him. He had his last fight on April 8, 1941, going six rounds against Billy Banks. He lost a decision that night, but by then, he had nothing left to prove.

His final record?

114 wins, 57 losses, 39 draws, 37 knockouts.

But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

The real number that defines Pablo Dano’s career is this… Zero.

Zero times knocked out.

Zero times broken.

Pablo Dano passed away on November 23, 1994, at 86 years old.

He never had a world championship belt around his waist. He never got the headlines that champions like Midget Wolgast or Manuel Ortiz received.

But the fighters who stepped into the ring with him— the ones who saw him bob and weave, felt his pressure, his power, his refusal to quit— they knew the truth.

And now, so do we.

Sources and Acknowledgements:

• Special thanks for their kind assistance to Christina Moretta (Photo Curator, Acting Manager) and Lisa Palella (Library Technical Assistant II) at the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
• Banner Photo of Pablo Dano is from the Collection of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society
• All photos and references in this article are properly attributed and comply with the U.S. Fair Use Doctrine




Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 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.