José Basora
Encyclopedia
José Basora, born February 8, 1918, in Lajas, Puerto Rico
, was a professional boxer
. He was married to Emilia Rivera de Jesus for 44 years and had two children (Maria and Jose) and lived in New York City-the Bronx. Basora's wife died in 1988. José Basora died on January 4, 1993.
José Basora fought professionally for thirteen years. His career spanned three decades, starting in 1939 and ending in 1952.
On March 2, 1941, Basora met famed Cuba
n boxer Kid Tunero, losing for the first time in his career. Tunero, who had 101 previous fights, defeated Basora in a ten round decision in Havana, Cuba. Basora's next four fights were splits (two wins and two losses) before a New York meeting with Holman Williams
on September 29 of 1941. Basora lost to Williams in a six round decision. On January 9, 1942, he and Williams met again, with Williams once again winning by decision after six rounds.
Basora became a highly heralded boxer on the night of May 12, 1942, when he held Jake LaMotta
to a ten round draw in New York,NY. Basora and LaMotta met again on June 16, with Basora beating LaMotta by decision in ten rounds. On September 17, Basora met future world Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles
; Basora was stopped by Charles in five rounds, suffering his first professional defeat by knockout.
Basora promptly returned to winning: victorious in eight of his next nine fights, with one draw. Then, on June 17, 1943, he fought Andy Holland in West Springfield, Massachusetts
, with their bout declared a no contest
. Heavy rain
fell that day and, as the contest was held in an outdoor arena, the rain made visibility very difficult for the contestants.
On August 9, Basora avenged his previous defeats at the hands of Holman Williams by outpointing him over eight rounds in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. On September 17 he and LaMotta fought for a third time, with LaMotta winning by a ten round decision. Almost one month later, on October 15, Basora defeated Fritzie Zivic
, another world champion boxer, by a unanimous decision in Detroit, Michigan
. Zivic had come into their encounter with 175 previous fights, of which he had won 131.
José Basora won three more fights, then he lost a fourth rematch against Holman Williams, being outpointed by his arch-rival on April 10, 1944 over ten rounds, at San Francisco, California
. Basora then reeled off a streak of three more wins before meeting Williams for a fifth time. Williams and Basora drew over ten rounds on October 2 in Philadelphia. Basora soon returned to the ring, beating another heralded contender of the era, Al Jonson, over ten rounds by decision on October 30.
His next fight has been described by boxing historians as Basora's finest moment (an opinion that has been argued as other boxing historians claim that his win over LaMotta should be held as Basora's best moment). Regardless, Basora met Sugar Ray Robinson
for the first time on May 14, 1945, holding the man considered by many to be boxing's all time best fighter to a ten round draw in Philadelphia. On August 10, 1945 Basora took on LaMotta for the fourth time. LaMotta stopped Basora in the ninth round.
Basora made his Puerto Rico
debut on January 29, 1946, when he outpointed Carlos Perez after ten rounds. Basora held six consecutive bouts in San Juan
, enriching an already existing fan base in the island country. On March 17, he beat Mario Raul Ochoa in ten rounds by decision for the "Middleweight championship of the Antilles" . Basora and Ochoa had an immediate rematch, without Basora's newly won belt at stake, on July 4, at San Juan, and Basora won by a third round knockout.
On June 10, 1947, Basora met popular fighter Bobby Richardson at Youngstown, Ohio
, outpointing Richardson over ten rounds. Just seventeen days later, Basora returned to Detroit, where he faced Tommy Yarosz, a top ranked fighter of the time. Basora lost by a ten round decision. Fans at the fight protested the decision. The fight, however, took a rather dramatic turn after it was over, as Basora collapsed in his dressing room and required hospital
ization. He was diagnosed with fainting due to blows to the head that he had received against Yarosz.
Only four months later, Basora returned to the ring. After a win, he faced Holman Williams for the sixth time, on November 3 in San Juan. Basora outpointed Williams over ten rounds. Basora made two more fights, and he then met Williams for a seventh time, on March 3, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. Basora beat Williams by a fourth round knockout when Williams suffered a cut to his mouth.
On March 2, 1949, Basora met Henry Brimm, who was 23-8-3 coming into their bout, held at Coral Gables, Florida
. Basora outpointed Brimm over ten rounds. By that time, Basora had been ranked as the world's top Middleweight challenger for some period. Basora defeated Brimm again, by a ten round decision, on May 4 at New York.
After winning one fight and losing another one, Basora got his first try at a world title, when he faced Sugar Ray Robinson in their rematch, for Robinson's Pennsylvania
's world Middleweight title (the bout was recognized as a world championship fight only by the Pennsylvania state athletic commission), on August 25, 1950 in Scranton
. This fight was historic, because Robinson established a record for the quickest knockout in a world title bout, defeating Basora only 50 seconds after the bout started. This record stood for 38 years.
Basora went on boxing for two more years. Well past his prime, however, he lost five of his next six bouts, including one against Holly Mims and another one against Rocky Marciano
rival, Harry Matthews. After losing by a ten round decision to Frenchman
Robert Villemain
, Basora retired permanently from boxing. His loss to Villemain took place on June 16, 1952, in Brooklyn.
Basora had a record of 77 wins, 20 losses and 7 draws, with one no-contest and 44 knockout wins in 105 bouts.
Lajas, Puerto Rico
Lajas is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in southwestern region, south of San Germán and Sabana Grande; east of Cabo Rojo; and west of Guánica. Lajas is spread over 11 wards and Lajas Pueblo...
, was a professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He was married to Emilia Rivera de Jesus for 44 years and had two children (Maria and Jose) and lived in New York City-the Bronx. Basora's wife died in 1988. José Basora died on January 4, 1993.
José Basora fought professionally for thirteen years. His career spanned three decades, starting in 1939 and ending in 1952.
Boxing career
Basora began fighting as a professional on January 7, 1939, with a first round knockout over Artie Baker. He had three fights in one month, all victories. The first blemish to appear on his record was a four round draw (tie), against Joe Bologna on February 17, 1939. Basora then had a streak of 25 wins in a row with eleven consecutive knockouts.On March 2, 1941, Basora met famed Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n boxer Kid Tunero, losing for the first time in his career. Tunero, who had 101 previous fights, defeated Basora in a ten round decision in Havana, Cuba. Basora's next four fights were splits (two wins and two losses) before a New York meeting with Holman Williams
Holman Williams
Holman Williams was a world welterweight boxing contender.-Boxing career:Williams began boxing as an amateur in 1928 as a bantamweight and had a successful 38-bout career...
on September 29 of 1941. Basora lost to Williams in a six round decision. On January 9, 1942, he and Williams met again, with Williams once again winning by decision after six rounds.
Basora became a highly heralded boxer on the night of May 12, 1942, when he held Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
to a ten round draw in New York,NY. Basora and LaMotta met again on June 16, with Basora beating LaMotta by decision in ten rounds. On September 17, Basora met future world Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Mack Charles was an African-American professional boxer and former world heavyweight champion. He holds wins over numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles retired with a record of 93 wins, 25 losses and 1 draw.-Career:He was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia,...
; Basora was stopped by Charles in five rounds, suffering his first professional defeat by knockout.
Basora promptly returned to winning: victorious in eight of his next nine fights, with one draw. Then, on June 17, 1943, he fought Andy Holland in West Springfield, Massachusetts
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
, with their bout declared a no contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
. Heavy rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
fell that day and, as the contest was held in an outdoor arena, the rain made visibility very difficult for the contestants.
On August 9, Basora avenged his previous defeats at the hands of Holman Williams by outpointing him over eight rounds in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. On September 17 he and LaMotta fought for a third time, with LaMotta winning by a ten round decision. Almost one month later, on October 15, Basora defeated Fritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic , born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivcich , was an American boxer.-Biography:...
, another world champion boxer, by a unanimous decision in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Zivic had come into their encounter with 175 previous fights, of which he had won 131.
José Basora won three more fights, then he lost a fourth rematch against Holman Williams, being outpointed by his arch-rival on April 10, 1944 over ten rounds, at San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Basora then reeled off a streak of three more wins before meeting Williams for a fifth time. Williams and Basora drew over ten rounds on October 2 in Philadelphia. Basora soon returned to the ring, beating another heralded contender of the era, Al Jonson, over ten rounds by decision on October 30.
His next fight has been described by boxing historians as Basora's finest moment (an opinion that has been argued as other boxing historians claim that his win over LaMotta should be held as Basora's best moment). Regardless, Basora met Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight...
for the first time on May 14, 1945, holding the man considered by many to be boxing's all time best fighter to a ten round draw in Philadelphia. On August 10, 1945 Basora took on LaMotta for the fourth time. LaMotta stopped Basora in the ninth round.
Basora made his Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
debut on January 29, 1946, when he outpointed Carlos Perez after ten rounds. Basora held six consecutive bouts in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, enriching an already existing fan base in the island country. On March 17, he beat Mario Raul Ochoa in ten rounds by decision for the "Middleweight championship of the Antilles" . Basora and Ochoa had an immediate rematch, without Basora's newly won belt at stake, on July 4, at San Juan, and Basora won by a third round knockout.
On June 10, 1947, Basora met popular fighter Bobby Richardson at Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, outpointing Richardson over ten rounds. Just seventeen days later, Basora returned to Detroit, where he faced Tommy Yarosz, a top ranked fighter of the time. Basora lost by a ten round decision. Fans at the fight protested the decision. The fight, however, took a rather dramatic turn after it was over, as Basora collapsed in his dressing room and required hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
ization. He was diagnosed with fainting due to blows to the head that he had received against Yarosz.
Only four months later, Basora returned to the ring. After a win, he faced Holman Williams for the sixth time, on November 3 in San Juan. Basora outpointed Williams over ten rounds. Basora made two more fights, and he then met Williams for a seventh time, on March 3, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. Basora beat Williams by a fourth round knockout when Williams suffered a cut to his mouth.
On March 2, 1949, Basora met Henry Brimm, who was 23-8-3 coming into their bout, held at Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
. Basora outpointed Brimm over ten rounds. By that time, Basora had been ranked as the world's top Middleweight challenger for some period. Basora defeated Brimm again, by a ten round decision, on May 4 at New York.
After winning one fight and losing another one, Basora got his first try at a world title, when he faced Sugar Ray Robinson in their rematch, for Robinson's Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's world Middleweight title (the bout was recognized as a world championship fight only by the Pennsylvania state athletic commission), on August 25, 1950 in Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. This fight was historic, because Robinson established a record for the quickest knockout in a world title bout, defeating Basora only 50 seconds after the bout started. This record stood for 38 years.
Basora went on boxing for two more years. Well past his prime, however, he lost five of his next six bouts, including one against Holly Mims and another one against Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
rival, Harry Matthews. After losing by a ten round decision to Frenchman
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Robert Villemain
Robert Villemain
Robert Villemain was a French boxer. Villemain defeated Hall of Famers Kid Gavilan and Jake LaMotta during his career, and lost his Pennsylvania middleweight title to Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950....
, Basora retired permanently from boxing. His loss to Villemain took place on June 16, 1952, in Brooklyn.
Basora had a record of 77 wins, 20 losses and 7 draws, with one no-contest and 44 knockout wins in 105 bouts.
External links
- http://forum.boxrec.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=103823