Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza was a Panamanian boxer who held the WBA and lineal featherweight championship from 1978 to 1985, having defended the title against 18 different contenders, more than any other boxer in featherweight history. His cousin, Rafael Pedroza, was a world champion also, in the junior bantamweight division, although Rafael's reign as world champion was short-lived. Eusebio Pedroza died one day before his 63rd birthday.
Biography
Pedroza started out as a professional boxer on December 1, 1973, with a four-round knockout win over Julio Garcia. His first 15 bouts were all in Panama. He went 14-1 over that span of fights, including a win over Jacinto Fuentes, a boxer who would later draw and lose to Wilfredo Gómez. His one defeat over that period of his career came to Alfonso Pérez by a knockout in three.For fight number 16, Pedroza went to Mexicali, Mexico, in the last week of March 1976 to challenge WBA world bantamweight champion Alfonso Zamora for the world title. In his first championship try, Pedroza suffered his second loss, being knocked out in two rounds. After returning to Panama, he beat Pablo Jimenez by a decision in ten, then lost to Oscar Arnal in Venezuela by a knockout in six. He would not lose again for nine years.
Pedroza won three fights in 1977, two by knockout, and then, in April 1978, the WBA featherweight champion, Cecilio Lastra of Spain, travelled to Panama to defend his title on April 18 against Pedroza, who knocked him out in round 13 to become the new WBA featherweight champion.
Pedroza, during the next seven years, travelled the world to defend his title. Among 18 fighters Pedroza defended the title against were Enrique Solis in Puerto Rico, in a 15-round decision win, former world champion Royal Kobayashi, knocked out in 14, Sa Wang Kim, knocked out in 8, former three-time world champion and fellow Hall of Famer Rubén Olivares, who lasted 12, Johnny Aba, who lost in 11, future world junior lightweight champion Rocky Lockridge, who went the distance with Pedroza in New Jersey and in Italy but lost by decision both times, Carlos Piñango, knocked out in seven, Juan Laporte by decision, Jose Caba in Italy, also by decision, and Bernard Taylor in North Carolina by the way of draw. He also defended in his home country many times during that span, including a decision win over countryman and former WBA world Bantamweight champion Jorge Lujan, and became a household name in Latin America, his face appearing on the cover and posters of Ring En Español and Guantes magazines multiple times. Pedroza finally lost his title in England, being defeated by Ireland's Barry McGuigan in London in a 15-round decision.
During Pedroza's reign, talks surfaced of a unification bout against World Boxing Council and lineal featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez. These hopes were dashed when Sanchez died in an automobile accident in 1982. By virtue of his win over LaPorte, who succeeded Sanchez as WBC champion, Pedroza was recognized as the new lineal featherweight champion.
Between 1986 and 1992, Pedroza tried various comebacks, going 3–2 in total on those comeback attempts.
He retired with a record of 42 wins, 6 losses and one draw, with one no contest, and 25 wins by knockout. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
Pedroza was one of a few whose fights inspired young Mike Tyson.
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 49 | Loss | Mauro Gutierrez | SD | 10 | 21 Nov 1992 | Holy Redeemer HS Gymnasium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | ||
| 48 | Win | 41–5–1 | Tomas Quinones | KO | 3 | 14 Mar 1992 | Espace Piscine, Antibes, France | |
| 47 | Win | 40–5–1 | Jorge Romero | UD | 10 | 15 Dec 1991 | Convention Center, Miami Beach Florida, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 39–5–1 | Tomas Rodriguez | UD | 10 | 25 Oct 1991 | Mahi Temple Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 45 | Loss | 38–5–1 | Edgar Castro | SD | 10 | 9 Aug 1986 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 44 | Loss | 38–4–1 | Barry McGuigan | UD | 15 | 8 Jun 1985 | Loftus Road Stadium, Shepherd's Bush, London, United Kingdom | Lost WBA and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 43 | Win | 38–3–1 | Jorge Lujan | UD | 15 | 2 Feb 1985 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 42 | Win | 37–3–1 | Gerald Hayes | TKO | 10 | 23 Jun 1984 | Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, Panama | |
| 41 | Win | 36–3–1 | Angel Mayor | UD | 15 | 27 May 1984 | Hotel del Lago Casino, Maracaibo, Venezuela | Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 40 | Win | 35–3–1 | Jose Caba | UD | 15 | 24 Oct 1983 | Palasport, Saint-Vincent, Italy | Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 39 | Win | 34–3–1 | Rocky Lockridge | UD | 15 | 24 Apr 1983 | San Remo, Italy | Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 38 | Draw | 33–3–1 | Bernard Taylor | SD | 15 | 16 Oct 1982 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | Retained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 37 | 33–3 | Rudy Alpizar | NC | 2 | 17 Jul 1982 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | ||
| 36 | Win | 33–3 | Juan Laporte | UD | 15 | 24 Jan 1982 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 35 | Win | 32–3 | Bashew Sibaca | KO | 5 | 5 Dec 1981 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 34 | Win | 31–3 | Carlos Pinango | KO | 7 | 1 Aug 1981 | El Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Patrick Ford | KO | 13 | 14 Feb 1981 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 32 | Win | 29–3 | Raul Silva | KO | 5 | 17 Jan 1981 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 31 | Win | 28–3 | Rocky Lockridge | SD | 15 | 4 Oct 1980 | Legends Resort & Country Club, Vernon Township, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 30 | Win | 27–3 | Sa Wang Kim | KO | 8 | 20 Jul 1980 | Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 29 | Win | 26–3 | Juan Domingo Malvarez | KO | 9 | 29 Mar 1980 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Spider Nemoto | UD | 15 | 22 Jan 1980 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 27 | Win | 24–3 | Johnny Aba | TKO | 11 | 17 Nov 1979 | Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Rubén Olivares | TKO | 12 | 21 Jul 1979 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 25 | Win | 22–3 | Hector Carrasquilla | TKO | 11 | 7 Apr 1979 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 21–3 | Royal Kobayashi | RTD | 13 | 9 Jan 1979 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 23 | Win | 20–3 | Enrique Solis | UD | 15 | 27 Nov 1978 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 22 | Win | 19–3 | Ernesto Herrera | TKO | 12 | 2 Jul 1978 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Retained WBA featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 18–3 | Cecilio Lastra | TKO | 13 | 15 Apr 1978 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | Won WBA featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 17–3 | Rodolfo Francis | TKO | 7 | 26 Nov 1977 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 19 | Win | 16–3 | Reynaldo Hidalgo | TKO | 9 | 14 May 1977 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 18 | Win | 15–3 | Jose Santana | UD | 10 | 2 Apr 1977 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 17 | Loss | 14–3 | Oscar Arnal | KO | 6 | 11 Jul 1976 | Caracas, Venezuela | |
| 16 | Loss | 14–2 | Alfonso Zamora | KO | 2 | 3 Apr 1976 | Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Mexico | For WBA Bantamweight title |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Orlando Amores | TKO | 9 | 15 Nov 1975 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Guillermo Almengot | TKO | 7 | 19 Jul 1975 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Marcos Britton | KO | 4 | 26 Apr 1975 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Benicio Sosa | UD | 10 | 21 Mar 1975 | Feria de San Jose, David, Panama | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Ernesto Mathias | UD | 10 | 22 Feb 1975 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 10 | Loss | 9–1 | Alfonso Pérez | KO | 3 | 18 Jan 1975 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Senen Rios | TKO | 6 | 14 Sep 1974 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Vicente Worrel Jr | KO | 1 | 20 Jul 1974 | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Ernesto Davis | KO | 1 | 14 Jun 1974 | Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ricardo Vega | TKO | 2 | 4 May 1974 | Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Jacinto Fuentes | PTS | 4 | 30 Mar 1974 | Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Loitolier Chacon | KO | 1 | 2 Mar 1974 | Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jorge Bernal | PTS | 4 | 8 Feb 1974 | Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jose Santana | UD | 4 | 22 Dec 1973 | Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Julio Garcia | TKO | 4 | 1 Dec 1973 | Gimnasio Escuela Normal, Santiago de Veraguas, Panama | Professional Debut |