Kid Azteca
| Kid Azteca | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Luis Villanueva Paramo |
| Nickname(s) | Kid Azteca |
| Rated at | Welterweight |
| Nationality |
 Mexican |
| Born |
June 21, 1913 Mexico City |
| Died | March 16, 2002 (aged 88) |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 252 |
| Wins | 192 |
| Wins by KO | 114 |
| Losses | 47 |
| Draws | 11 |
| No contests | 2 |
Luis Villanueva Paramo (June 21, 1913 – March 16, 2002) was a Mexican boxer best known as Kid Azteca. Villanueva boxed professionally from 1932 to 1961, making him one of a small number of fighters that fought during four decades. Archie Moore, George Foreman and Roberto Durán are three other fighters in that exclusive group.
Luis Villanueva was a native of "The Tough Neighborhood" of Tepito, one of the most notorious neighborhoods in Mexico City, famous among other things because several international famous Mexican boxers and wrestlers were born at that place, (hence the reason why it is called "Tough Neighborhood".
There's not much information available about of his personal life or his beginnings in before he became a pro. In fact, there's some discrepancy about the exact date of his debut. Some sources indicates he became Pro in 1926, other sources indicates his pro debut was July 25, 1930, but officially, it is recorded at 1932. The San Antonio Express reported in 1944 that Villanueva's passport's birth date was June 21, 1917, and not June 21, 1913. If this is true, he was only 13 when started his career.
He was a right-handed boxer. Luis Villanueva began fighting as "Kid Chino" in Laredo, Texas. "Chino" is a Mexican slang for "curly", and an allusion to his curled hair. It is not clear when his nickname changed, but it is possible it was due to his nationality, when fighting in Texas, in an effort to attract more attention over him. By 1927 he was widely known as Kid Azteca. His trainer at that date was James Fitten.
Kid Azteca began boxing on January 1, 1932. He knocked Carlos Garcia out in the first round, in Laredo, Texas. On March 3, and fighting only in his third fight, he beat former world champion Battling Shaw by a decision in ten, also in Laredo.
On June 15, Azteca made his Mexican debut, beating Luis Arizona by a ten round decision in Mexico City. However, on his next bout, lost for the first time, being knocked out in eight rounds by Tommy White on July 1.
On October 23, Azteca, having reeled off four straight victories, fought for a title for the first time. He beat David Velasco by a twelve round decision to obtain the national Welterweight title in Mexico City. Kid Azteca had eleven additional wins in a row, including a victory over Joe Glick, before he fought the future world Middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia on July 11, 1933 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. He beat Garcia, who would hold Henry Armstrong to a tie as world Middleweight champion, by a ten round decision. Azteca and Garcia held a rematch exactly fourteen days later, at the same location. On rematch, Kid Azteca knocked Garcia out in round eight.
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