Eladio Valdés
Eladio "Black Bill" Valdés (July 1905 – May 14, 1933) was a Cuban boxer of the 1920s.
| Black Bill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Eladio Valdés |
| Nickname(s) | Black Bill |
| Weight(s) | Flyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 3.5 in (1.61 m) |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Born | July 1, 1905 |
| Died | May 13, 1933 (aged 27) Harlem, New York |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 165 |
| Wins | 125 |
| Wins by KO | 22 |
| Losses | 24 |
| Draws | 13 |
| No contests | 3 |
Small of stature at 5 feet, 3.5 inches and weighing between 109–115 pounds, he was managed by Luis "Pincho" Gutiérrez and trained by Moe Fleischer. He made his first official appearance on September 11, 1920 (at age 15) in a fight in Havana, his native city, where he defeated Diego Blanco in the fourth round.
Valdés continued to fight throughout the 1920s, dividing his fights between Havana and New York City. Although he was neither large nor a power hitter, he was known for throwing opponents off guard by attacking with agility and angled punches.[1][2]
Cuban flyweight and light flyweight champion, 1921-3
On November 6, 1921, he was proclaimed Cuban Flyweight Champion after his defeat of Dixie Lewis, and presented with a belt that month. On May 7, 1923, in Havana, he defeated Genaro Pino for the Light Flyweight Championship of Cuba in 12 rounds.[1]
Challenging for the world flyweight championship, 1930
On March 21, 1930, he unsuccessfully challenged Midget Wolgast for a version of the World Flyweight Title at Madison Square Garden.[2]
During his career, he defeated opponents such as Johnny McCoy, Willie Davies, "Corporal" Izzy Schwartz, Sammy Bienfield, the French boxer Eugène Huat, Happy Atherton, Genaro Pino, Marty Gold, Bobby Green, Henry Catena, Pinky Silverberg, and Benny Marks. Plagued by alcoholism and boxing-related blindness, Valdés committed suicide while in Harlem, New York, on May 14, 1933.[3]
References
- "Black Bill". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- "Eladio Valdes". BoxRec. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- Menéndez, Elio; Ortega, Victor Joaquín (1980). Kid Chocolate, "el boxeo soy yo--". Havana: Editorial ORBE. OCLC 011865953.
External links
- Profile at Cyber boxing zone
- Photograph of Valdés with Kid Chocolate, from the Cuban Photograph Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Cuban Heritage Collection.