Baby Arizmendi
Encyclopedia
Alberto "Baby" Arizmendi (March 17, 1914 – December 31, 1963) was a professional boxer and featherweight
world title holder. He also competed in the bantamweight
and welterweight
divisions. Arizmendi is famous for being the youngest boxer to turn pro. Arizmendi turned pro at the age of 13.
title. With victories over such names as Fidel LaBarba, Baby established himself as a worthy contender for the featherweight
crown.
On September 16, 1932, at the age of 19, he defeated reigning NBA World featherweight champion Tommy Paul
in a ten round non-title fight, dropping him once in the process. The NBA world title was not at stake because Paul came in over the weight limit. After that win, Arizmendi requested that the NBA recognize his status as champion. In support of his claim to the NBA title, the California boxing commission gave him the opportunity to fight for their world title.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HfkaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YEsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3508,2474870&dq=arizmendi+baby&hl=en The following month, Arizmendi defeated Newsboy Brown
to claim the California World Featherweight Title. He retained his title with a draw against Varias Milling then defended it against Archie Bell
and Speedy Dado
. He lost the title to NBA World featherweight champion Freddie Miller
in a 10-round unification bout. However, Arizmendi didn't give up, as he rematched Miller later that year and defeated him in a non-title fight. In his following bouts, Arizmendi won 9 and lost 2. On August 30, 1934, he defeated Mike Belloise for the New York
state featherweight crown. After the win, Arizmendi attempted to secure a third fight with NBA champion Miller in a title bout, however, Miller refused to face him.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=exUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5yEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4115,608155&dq=arizmendi+baby&hl=en
On November 4, 1934, he defeated Henry Armstrong
in their first of five meetings, winning almost every round despite suffering a broken wrist in the second round. He defeated Armstrong once again on January 2, 1935, to claim the California-Mexican
World featherweight title. Following those victories, he defeated future world title holder Chalky Wright
by fourth round knockout. During the next year and a half, Arizmendi posted a record of 9 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws (including a second win over Wright). He subsequently lost the California-Mexico World title in his third bout with Armstrong. In his following 7 fights, Arizmendi combined wins and losses before facing Armstrong for a fourth time. Despite losing the fight on points, Arizmendi ended Armstrong's 27 fight knockout streak by going the distance with him. In his following 6 fights, Arizmendi won 5 and had a draw against reigning world lightweight champion Lou Ambers
. His last bout with Armstrong was his last shot for a World title, where he dropped a grueling 10-round decision for the World Welterweight
title. He continued boxing up until 1942, with occasional bouts with Lou Ambers
, Sammy Angott
, and George Latka, but never again went for a title. After retiring from boxing, Arizmendi would serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II
. He died of natural causes in a veterans hospital at the age of 48. Arizmendi was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 2004.
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
world title holder. He also competed in the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
and welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
divisions. Arizmendi is famous for being the youngest boxer to turn pro. Arizmendi turned pro at the age of 13.
Pro career
Baby used a charging, bruising style, making him a very strong two-fisted fighter. He won his first title in November 1931 when he won the Mexican bantamweightBantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
title. With victories over such names as Fidel LaBarba, Baby established himself as a worthy contender for the featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
crown.
On September 16, 1932, at the age of 19, he defeated reigning NBA World featherweight champion Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul was an a former world featherweight boxing champion from Buffalo, NY. He was inducted into the first class of Buffalo’s Ring No. 44 Boxing Hall of Fame and in 2003 to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He won the world featherweight championship in May 1932, defeating Johnny Pena...
in a ten round non-title fight, dropping him once in the process. The NBA world title was not at stake because Paul came in over the weight limit. After that win, Arizmendi requested that the NBA recognize his status as champion. In support of his claim to the NBA title, the California boxing commission gave him the opportunity to fight for their world title.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HfkaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YEsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3508,2474870&dq=arizmendi+baby&hl=en The following month, Arizmendi defeated Newsboy Brown
Newsboy Brown
David Montrose, better known as Newsboy Brown, was an American boxer.As part of the inaugural card for the famous Olympic Auditorium, he defeated Frankie Grandetta by points. Brown had two famous bouts against Corporal Izzy Schwartz. Brown beat him in 1925 but lost in a title bout to Corporal Izzy...
to claim the California World Featherweight Title. He retained his title with a draw against Varias Milling then defended it against Archie Bell
Archie Bell
Archie Lee Bell is an African-American solo singer and former lead singer of Archie Bell & the Drells.-Background:...
and Speedy Dado
Speedy Dado
Diosdado Posadas , better known as Speedy Dado, was a Filipino boxer.Dado began his boxing career in 1926. He was undefeated until he met Newsboy Brown in 1928 for the California version of the world flyweight title. Brown defeated him by knockout in the sixth round...
. He lost the title to NBA World featherweight champion Freddie Miller
Freddie Miller (boxer)
Freddie Miller was an American boxer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Freddie Miller was one of the very best featherweight boxers of the 1930s, and was named to Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years....
in a 10-round unification bout. However, Arizmendi didn't give up, as he rematched Miller later that year and defeated him in a non-title fight. In his following bouts, Arizmendi won 9 and lost 2. On August 30, 1934, he defeated Mike Belloise for the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state featherweight crown. After the win, Arizmendi attempted to secure a third fight with NBA champion Miller in a title bout, however, Miller refused to face him.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=exUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5yEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4115,608155&dq=arizmendi+baby&hl=en
On November 4, 1934, he defeated Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
in their first of five meetings, winning almost every round despite suffering a broken wrist in the second round. He defeated Armstrong once again on January 2, 1935, to claim the California-Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
World featherweight title. Following those victories, he defeated future world title holder Chalky Wright
Chalky Wright
Albert "Chalky" Wright was a black American featherweight boxer who fought from 1928 to 1948. His career record was 160 wins , 43 losses and 18 draws. In 2003, Wright made The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.-Biography:Wright was born in Durango, Mexico...
by fourth round knockout. During the next year and a half, Arizmendi posted a record of 9 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws (including a second win over Wright). He subsequently lost the California-Mexico World title in his third bout with Armstrong. In his following 7 fights, Arizmendi combined wins and losses before facing Armstrong for a fourth time. Despite losing the fight on points, Arizmendi ended Armstrong's 27 fight knockout streak by going the distance with him. In his following 6 fights, Arizmendi won 5 and had a draw against reigning world lightweight champion Lou Ambers
Lou Ambers
Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio , aka Lou Ambers, was a lightweight boxer who fought from 1932 to 1941.Managed by Al Weill and trained by Charley Goldman, the "Herkimer Hurricane", as he was known, began his career losing only once in more than three years when he faced future hall of fame lightweight...
. His last bout with Armstrong was his last shot for a World title, where he dropped a grueling 10-round decision for the World Welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
title. He continued boxing up until 1942, with occasional bouts with Lou Ambers
Lou Ambers
Luigi Giuseppe d'Ambrosio , aka Lou Ambers, was a lightweight boxer who fought from 1932 to 1941.Managed by Al Weill and trained by Charley Goldman, the "Herkimer Hurricane", as he was known, began his career losing only once in more than three years when he faced future hall of fame lightweight...
, Sammy Angott
Sammy Angott
Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...
, and George Latka, but never again went for a title. After retiring from boxing, Arizmendi would serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He died of natural causes in a veterans hospital at the age of 48. Arizmendi was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 2004.