Bernabe Villacampo


Bernabe Villacampo was a Philippine boxer who took the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a fifteen round Unanimous Decision on October 19, 1969 against Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara at the Prefectural Gymnasium, in Osaka, Japan. Villacampo's business manager was Lope Sarreal Jr. A strong puncher, he knocked out opponents in 40% of the matches he won.

Early life and career

Villacampo started out as a vendor selling ice drops, rice puffs, and newspapers. Hawking newspapers and working as vendors were common part time professions for young boxers, and a frequent trade of American boxers in the early twentieth century. At 19, he started boxing as an amateur in tournaments representing his school, the University of Visayas, to supplement the paltry living he made as a vendor.
By the time he turned twenty in 1963, he was clearly competing as a professional. Between August 1962 and July 1965 he fought mostly in Cebu, Philippines, his hometown, or occasionally on the Philippine's big island, Luzon. He won fourteen of his first nineteen fights during this period.
Moving up in recognition and the level of his competition, he scored an upset sixth round knockout against Japanese boxer Katsuyoshi Takayama on November 6, 1967, in Okayama, Japan.
On May 15, 1968, he fought a twelve round draw for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation Flyweight Championship against Tsuyoshi Nakamura in Tokyo, Japan.

Attempt at the WBC World Flyweight Championship

On November 10, 1968, he made an unsuccessful attempt at the WBC Flyweight Championship against Chartchai Chionoi. He lost in a fifteen round Unanimous Decision in Bangkok, Thailand. Chionoi immediately announced his retirement after the win, his fourth title defense, stating, "I am tired of the fightgame and feel sick and unwell." Chionoi did not retire and fought on to win the title two more times before finally retiring in 1974. Chionoi survived his boxing career, though suffers from Parkinson's in his retirement.

Taking the WBA World Flyweight Championship

He took the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a fifteen round unanimous decision on October 19, 1969 against Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara at the Prefectural Gymnasium, in Osaka, Japan. He stunned the enthusiastic Japanese crowd in Osaka by claiming the title against the heavy hometown favorite.

Boxing while WBA Flyweight Champion

While still champion on December 14, 1969 he was defeated in a non-title fight by Masao Oba in a ten round unanimous decision in Tokyo, Japan.
On February 7, 1970, in a non-title fight in Manila he won a ten round unanimous decision against Raton Mojica of Nicaragua.

Losing the WBA World Flyweight Championship to Berkrerk Chartvanchai

In his first title defense, he lost the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a close fifteen round split decision on April 5, 1970 against Thai boxer Berkrerk Chartvanchai in Bangkok, Thailand. The loss dropped Villacampo to third in the World ratings. As the Philippines was and had been an American protectorate, many American papers covered Villacampo's loss, though in short paragraphs, with minimal detail. In a close bout, the Associated Press had the scoring 73-70 for Chartvanchai. Chartvanchai used primarily body punches and solid defense to take the title. He made Villicampo miss repeatedly and scored frequently with blows to the torso. In the eighth he opened a cut above Villacampo's eye that bothered his opponent throughout the remainder of the bout. One source noted "Villicampo...was the more aggressive but could not land telling blows." Many of Chartvanchai's best scoring punches were quick strikes to the torso after breaking out of clinches.

Losing to Betulio Gonzalez

On December 21, 1970, he entered a WBA Flyweight Title Elimination tournament. In one of his most important contests, he lost a Split Decision against future 3-time world champion Betulio Gonzalez of Venezuela in Caracas. Gonzalez was the Venezuelan Flyweight Champion at the time. Had Villacampo won the bout, he would probably have had the opportunity to meet Japanese Flyweight World Title Holder Masao Ohba for the title the following year.
On May 13, 1971, he outpointed Beaver Kajimoto in a ten round bout in Tokyo, Japan.

Boxing for the Philippine's Game and Amusement Board's Flyweight Title

On January 31, 1976, he lost to Rolando Navarette, in a second round TKO in Cebu, Philippines.
On June 24, 1977, he won the Philippines Games and Amusement Board's Flyweight Title by defeating Arnel Arrozal in a fourth round technical knockout in Manila.
On March 7, 1978 he won a fourth round knockout in an important bout against 1980 World Light Flyweight Champion Shigeo Nakajima in Tokyo, Japan.
On July 1, 1978 he fought a GAB Flyweight title fight to a twelve round draw against Julius Gonzaga at Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines. On August 28, 1978, he relinquished the GAB Flyweight Title, the equivalent of the Philippines National Flyweight Championship to Gonzaga against at Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines in a seventh of twelve round knockout.
After his fifth round knockout loss on November 24, 1979 to Danilo Inocian, at Cotabato del Sur, Philippines, he retired from boxing.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
65Loss39–21–5Danilo InocianKO4 24 Nov 1979General Santos, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines
64Loss34–20–5Netrnoi Sor VorasinghTKO5 15 Jul 1979Bangkok, Thailand
63Win39–19–5Suvan SilpayaKO41 Jun 1979Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
62Loss38–19–5Arnel ArrozalKO4 7 Apr 1979Pampanga, Philippines
61Loss38–18–5Billy AbatoTKO8 3 Dec 1978Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
60Loss38–17–5Julius GonzagaKO7 28 Aug 1978Davao City, Davao del Sur, PhilippinesLost Philippines GAB flyweight title
59Draw38–16–5Julius GonzagaPTS121 Jul 1978Davao City, Davao del Sur, PhilippinesRetained Philippines GAB flyweight title
58Win38–16–4Shigeo NakajimaKO4, 2:237 Mar 1978Tokyo, Japan
57Win37–16–4Chai Yong MuangsurinKO44 Feb 1978Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
56Win36–16–4Chai Yong MuangsurinTD2 11 Nov 1977Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
55Win35–16–4Arnel ArrozalTKO4 24 Jun 1977Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, PhilippinesWon vacant Philippines GAB flyweight title
54Win34–16–4Tony CoKO319 Feb 1977Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
53Win33–16–4Orlando JaviertoKO49 Oct 1976Cebu, Philippines
52Win32–16–4Franco TorregozaTKO425 Aug 1976Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
51Win31–16–4Ernie JunKO91 Aug 1976Cebu, PhilippinesUncertain of date
50Draw30–16–4Ben AldeguerPTS1010 Apr 1976Cebu, Philippines
49Loss30–16–3Ernie JunPTS101 Mar 1976Davao City, Davao del Sur, PhilippinesUncertain of date
48Loss30–15–3Rolando NavarreteTKO2 31 Jan 1976Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
47Win30–14–3Rey Naduma Jr.KO41 Dec 1975Cebu, PhilippinesUncertain of date
46Win29–14–3Eduardo TelloKO88 Sep 1971Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
45Loss28–14–3Octavio GómezUD1027 Jul 1971Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Mexico
44Win28–13–3Beaver KajimotoPTS1013 May 1971Tokyo, Japan
43Win27–13–3Kuniaki ShimadaKO3 11 Apr 1971Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
42Loss26–13–3César DecigaSD1020 Jan 1971Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
41Loss26–12–3Betulio GonzálezSD1221 Dec 1970Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
40Win26–11–3Baby CoronaTKO6, 2:0828 Aug 1970Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
39Win25–11–3Seiichi WatanukiKO8 27 Jun 1970Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
38Loss24–11–3Berkrerk ChartvanchaiSD155 Apr 1970Bangkok, ThailandLost WBA flyweight title
37Win24–10–3Eduardo MojicaUD107 Feb 1970Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
36Loss23–10–3Masao OhbaUD1014 Dec 1969Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
35Win23–9–3Hiroyuki EbiharaUD1519 Oct 1969Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanWon WBA flyweight title
34Win22–9–3Yuzo NarumiTKO4 23 Aug 1969Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
33Loss21–9–3Berkrerk ChartvanchaiPTS106 May 1969Bangkok, Thailand
32Win21–8–3Fernando AtzoriKO7 18 Jan 1969Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
31Loss20–8–3Chartchai ChionoiUD1510 Nov 1968Carusathiars Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandFor WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
30Win20–7–3Yuzo NarumiRTD6, 3:0024 Jun 1968Tokyo, Japan
29Draw19–7–3Takeshi NakamuraSD1215 May 1968Tokyo, JapanFor OPBF flyweight title
28Win19–7–2Al DiazPTS1010 Feb 1968Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines
27Win18–7–2Yoshio NakaneTKO6, 0:534 Dec 1967Tokyo, Japan
26Win17–7–2Katsuyoshi TakayamaKO6, 2:216 Nov 1967Prefectural Gymnasium, Okayama, Japan
25Win16–7–2Cho Dong-kiPTS1030 Sep 1967Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
24Win15–7–2Al DiazPTS1017 Apr 1967Cebu, Philippines
23Draw14–7–2Manuelo BalabaPTS1019 Feb 1967Besa Boxing Arena - Plaza Lawton, Manila, Philippines
22Loss14–7–1Ric MagramoTKO330 Sep 1966Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila, Philippines
21Loss14–6–1Manuelo BalabaPTS1025 Jun 1966Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
20Draw14–5–1Manuelo BalabaPTS1019 Feb 1966Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
19Win14–5Primo FamiroDQ10 31 Jul 1965Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
18Loss13–5Jet ParkerPTS1015 May 1965Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
17Win13–4Speedy HayaseTKO6 24 Apr 1965Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
16Loss12–4Jet ParkerMD106 Mar 1965Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
15Win12–3Little ParamountPTS1025 Nov 1964Cebu, Philippines
14Win11–3Rudy BillonesKO47 Nov 1964Philippines
13Win10–3Chosei YoshinoKO7 27 Jun 1964Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
12Win9–3Young BonniePTS102 May 1964Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
11Loss8–3Little ParamountPTS104 Apr 1964Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
10Win8–2Ric MagramoPTS101 Feb 1964Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
9Win7–2Tom RicoPTS1028 Dec 1963Philippines
8Loss6–2Primo FamiroPTS1021 Sep 1963Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
7Loss6–1Ric MagramoPTS1010 Aug 1963Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
6Win6–0Yoshio TanakaKO710 Jun 1963Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
5Win5–0Litte RufeKO620 Apr 1963Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
4Win4–0Yoshio TanakaPTS829 Dec 1962Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
3Win3–0Jol CañeteTKO43 Nov 1962Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
2Win2–0Eddie GonzalezTKO413 Oct 1962Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines
1Win1–0Arturo AcidoTKO3 25 Aug 1962Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines

Boxing achievements and honors

In another honor, Villacampo was named fighter of the month by the World Boxing Association in December 1969.