Real Boxing Heroes IV: Pancho Villa

We all know plenty about a recent boxing hero from the Philippines who has transcended his sport be a national hero, but he wasn't the first little guy to be a phenomenal fighter from that country. Step forward Francisco Guilledo, better known as Pancho Villa, former World Flyweight champion and the next in the list of real boxing heroes.

Villa was born at the turn of the twentieth century in Negros Occidental, Philippines, to a poor family who tended to goats on the estate of a wealthy local. Pancho's father abandoned his family when the young Villa was just 6 months old. Pancho left Negros Occidental, travelling to lloilo City to work as a shoe shiner where he befriended a local boxer before moving on again to Manila to try his luck in the nations capital city. Remarkably, Pancho was only 11 years old when he left his home town, something pretty much unheard of in the 'West'.

It was in Manila where Pancho started to box in earnest, training with friends and beginning to spar with local amateur and professional boxers. Even as a small, wiry teenager barely weighing over 80 lbs, Pancho was creating a buzz around the earthy gyms of Manila, showing speed and punching power that belied his experience and tender years. Pancho, seeing a way out of the abject poverty he was born into, turned professional in Manila at the age of 18, quickly racking up eighteen fights in his first year as a professional, winning them all before dropping a four round decision to a local fighter. Pancho carried on fighting and winning in Manila, creating a real name for himself as a little guy with huge talent. Around this time Villa came to the attention of two prominent local boxing figures in Manila. American boxing promoter, Frank Churchill, and local businessman and boxing manager Paquito Villa who helped Pancho cut a swathe through the local fight scene. Both men are attributed with renaming Francisco Guilledo as 'Pancho Villa'. Some claim that Churchill named him in honour of the legendary Mexican revolutionary of the same name, whereas other sources suggest that his manager, Paquito, legally adopted his charge, subsequently renaming him Pancho. Within two years of turning professional, Villa had claimed the Philippine Flyweight title and enhanced his already burgeoning reputation.

With the Philippines being a US commonwealth in the first half of the twentieth century, Villa's fighting skills and connections with Frank Churchill brought about an invitation from legendary promoter Tex Rickard to come over and fight in America, an invitation that Pancho readily accepted. It was here that Villa started to face an outstanding calibre of fighter, meeting legendary names like Abe Goldstein and Frankie Genaro whom he battled to 'no decisions'. Pancho eventually landed a shot at Johnny Buff for the American Flyweight championship. This fight saw Pancho hit the big time, knocking out Buff in the 11th round. Villa made some defences of his title, beating his old foe Goldstein at MSG before losing to another former opponent in Frankie Genaro in a hotly disputed decision. The loss didn't stop Villa, who was then dealt a fair hand by the boxing Gods.

After a few routine victories across America, Villa was matched with the incomparable Jimmy Wilde for the then vacant World Flyweight title. Wilde, who was still considered the champion had been in retirement for a couple of years before returning to the ring to defend his lineal title. The American champion and recent conqueror of Villa, Frankie Genaro, was originally scheduled to face Wilde but, considering the controversy following his victory over the Filipino warrior, and the realisation from promoters that the growing popularity of Villa would make more financial sense, it was Pancho who got the shot at the title and immortality.

In front in 20,000 screaming fans at the Polo Ground, New York City, Pancho called on everything he had learned in the tough, humid Manila gyms and subsequent US campaign to relentlessly hammer Wilde to defeat in seven rounds. In beating wilde, he not only became World Flyweight champion and the Philippines first ever World champion, he became a national hero and beacon of hope and prosperity to a country gripped by poverty.

Following his victory, Villa fought all over America, before heading home to the Philippines as the returning hero. He visited many parts of his country, offering encouragement and inspiration to a generation of Filipinos. He was honoured with a parade and reception at the presidential palace in Manila. A true hero national hero had emerged. Villa fought a couple of times back in the Philippines picking up some routine victories before heading back to America to take on the emerging great Jimmy McLarnin in what would ultimately be Pancho's last fight.

The non-title fight in California was made for July 7th 1925 and in the days leading up to the fight, Villa was struck down by an ulcerated tooth. On the morning of the fight, and with a face swollen and sore, Villa had his tooth removed by a local dentist. Despite the obvious pain and discomfort, Pancho showed incredible bravery and went ahead with the fight. He promptly spent the vast majority of the battle using one had to protect his mouth, losing clearly on points. In the days after the fight, Villa began to suffer more problems and had some more teeth removed after an infection was discovered. The infection eventually led to Ludwig's angina, a potentially fatal infection that resulted from his earlier ulcerated tooth. Although rushed into surgery, Villa fell into a coma and died on July 14th 1925, he was not yet 24 years old.

So where does Pancho Villa fit into a series on boxing heroes? Well, he may not have defied the Nazi's like Young Perez or Max Schmeling, he was not a decorated war hero like Barney Ross, but there is something incredibly inspirational about his journey. My eldest son is not far off 11 years old, but to suggest he could leave home at that age to start work in another city and then eventually leave his home country to start another, dangerous profession, is nigh on unthinkable. This is exactly what Villa did, and did with amazing success. His path is a well trodden one, a guy rising from poor and humble beginnings to become champion of the world, but Villa is something different seeing as he gave genuine and tangible hope to a county that was riddled with corruption and poverty. The fact he died so young also, sadly, adds to his legend. Like Salvador Sanchez 50 years later, Villa was taken at a cruel age, robbing him and the rest of the world of his prime fighting years.

Where does he rank in terms of other Filipino legends? Guys like Manny Pacquiao, 'Flash' Elorde, Ceferino Garcia are legends in their own right, but Villa must hold a special place in the nations heart. Is he the greatest Filipino ever? Well, he would certainly be favourite to beat Pacquiao at Flyweight, where Manny suffered his early losses, but I guess we will never know how they truly compare due to the untimely nature of Pancho's death. He will certainly go down as a top 3 Flyweight of all time, and I wouldn't argue too much with anyone who had him number 1.

A small man but a massive heart.

Fantastic stuff mate, I wouldn't be me if I didn't pick you up on this line though :

"it was Pancho who got the shot at the title and immorality."

Union Cane wrote:Fantastic stuff mate, I wouldn't be me if I didn't pick you up on this line though :

"it was Pancho who got the shot at the title and immorality."

Good one, buddy.

Great stuff mate cheers. I couldn't rank Villa as the greatest flywieght of all time. Wylde stands head and shoulders above the rest imo. I would put him in the mix with Pascual Perez, Frankie Genaro, Miguel Canto, Benny Lynch and Ricardo Lopez. I could put they lot in any order.

SugarRayRussell (PBK) wrote:Great stuff mate cheers. I couldn't rank Villa as the greatest flywieght of all time. Wylde stands head and shoulders above the rest imo. I would put him in the mix with Pascual Perez, Frankie Genaro, Miguel Canto, Benny Lynch and Ricardo Lopez. I could put they lot in any order.

Thanks Kev. I agree to be honest, I think Wilde has to be number one but you have all the right names there and Villa is up there with them all.

Another cracker, thanks Tino!

Lopez a flyweight?

I know he never fought at the weight but you need to rank him as a flyweight if you are ranking the greats. I would do the same with Calderon. I'm a big fan of the lower weights but there is to many of them.

Union Cane wrote:Lopez a flyweight?

Not technically, but he did win a title at Light-Flyweight and the weight between them are so small I am also happy to rank him alongside other Flyweights.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Another cracker, thanks Tino!

Thanks buddy.

Always look forward to these threads, interesting and informative and nice personal touch to it, cheers.

two_tone wrote:Always look forward to these threads, interesting and informative and nice personal touch to it, cheers.

You're welcome mate.

Thanks.

Pancho was commemorated in song by the band Sun Kil Moon :

sun kil moon - pancho villa:

sun kil moon - pancho villa - lyrics:

Good work again, Union.

They are quite moving lyrics really.

I thought so.

Haven't heard the song myself (not allowed noises at work!) so apologies if it's not very good.

Union Cane wrote:
Haven't heard the song myself (not allowed noises at work!) so apologies if it's not very good.

Likewise. I shall rush home with a skip in my step to listen to it later.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

Union Cane wrote:
Haven't heard the song myself (not allowed noises at work!) so apologies if it's not very good.

Likewise. I shall rush home with a skip in my step to listen to it later.

Headphones?

Confusing myself now, they also did a song called "Salvador Sanchez", and those appear to be the lyrics to that as well.

sun kil moon - salvador sanchez:

Although without being able to listen to them I don't know.

SugarRayRussell (PBK) wrote:
Headphones?

Nice idea Kev but my boss, although a decent enough chap, probably wouldn't take to kindly to me watching music videos at work!

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

SugarRayRussell (PBK) wrote:
Headphones?

Nice idea Kev but my boss, although a decent enough chap, probably wouldn't take to kindly to me watching music videos at work!

This guy who still works for me but he used to be my apprentice. We were on a job and he disappeared. I was looking for him for about 10 minutes then I looked in the van and he was having a tug watching porn on his phone! I was raging he had only been back from lunch for about 10 minutes. I nearly sacked him.

Only 'nearly'??!?!

TopHat24/7 wrote:Only 'nearly'??!?!

He was and still is a good worker. He was only in his first year as an apprentice so he got off with it.

He didn't quite "get off" from what you said...

<hotdog><snowball>

I can't believe my hard work has degenerated so quickly to Kev's mate having a jostle in the back of a van.

Poor old Pancho.

One of the best things I've ever read on here. You just can't make this stuff up.



Your articles pretty good aswell Tina.......

Will read this properly when I get home tina as work has been a bit hectic, but 24 responses for a boxing heroes thread! Really do have to do my next colour line greats thread about Amir Khan and hope nobody notices.