Panama Al Brown
| Panama Al Brown | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Alfonso Teofilo Brown |
| Nickname(s) | Panama Al Brown; Kid Theophilo |
| Rated at | Flyweight, Bantamweight |
| Nationality |
 Panamanian
|
| Born | July 5, 1902 Colón |
| Died | April 11, 1951 (aged 48) New York City, United States |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 161 |
| Wins | 129 |
| Wins by KO | 59 |
| Losses | 19 |
| Draws | 13 |
Alfonso Teofilo Brown (1902–1951), better known as Panama Al Brown, was a bantamweight boxer from Panama who made history by becoming boxing's first Hispanic world champion. Brown was a native of the city of Colón.
Brown fought during the early 20th century, a period in which boxing records were not well kept. He is said to have fought professionally 164 times. He stood about six feet tall, an extraordinary height for a bantamweight/featherweight. His long arms contributed greatly to his success in the ring.
Alfonso Teofilo Brown born in the City of Colón, in the Caribbean coast of Panama. His first real exposure to boxing came when he saw American soldiers boxing when he was a young adult clerk for the United States Shipping Board at the Panama Canal Zone.
Brown turned pro in 1922 under the guidance of manager Dave Lumiansky. His first fight took place on March 19, 1922, when he beat Jose Moreno by a decision in six at Colon. By his seventh fight, December 13 of that same year, he beat Sailor Patchett by a fifteen round decision, to earn the Isthmus Flyweight title.
On September 22, 1923, he had his first fight abroad, drawing (tying) in four rounds with Johnny Breslin, at New York. He very quickly established a presence upon relocating to New York in 1923.
His rise was rapid; a year after his move to New York, The Ring magazine rated him the third best flyweight in the world; two years later, the sixth best bantamweight.
Brown began campaigning extensively across the United States before he suffered his first loss, at the hands of Jimmy Russo on December 6, 1924, by decision in twelve. He would later avenge that defeat, and he beat Davey Abad and Willie LaMorte before being disqualified in the first round against Frankie Murray on July 11, 1926. Despite that setback, he kept on campaigning successfully and, on November 10 of that year, he knocked out Antoine Merlo in his Paris debut.
He enjoyed Paris so much that he decided to stay there for the rest of his life. He became a hugely popular boxer in France, and fought on the European continent 40 times between 1929 and 1934. Over the next three years, he beat several fighters there, including former world champion Eugene Criqui.
During his time in France, he joined Josephine Baker's La Revue Nègre as a tap-dancer. His lover Jean Cocteau helped him.
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