José Legrá


José Adolfo Legrá Utría is a retired professional featherweight boxer. He is a former two time WBC World Featherweight Champion.

Professional career

In June 1960, Legrá turned professional in Cuba winning his first fight against Pedro Pinera which he won with a points decision over four rounds. Legrá drew his next fight and lost two after that and fought a total of 34 fights in Mexico and Cuba before departing for Spain in 1963 with a record of 27–5–2.

Move to Spain

His first fight in Spain was in October 1963 against Moroccan Lazaro ben Layachi, which he won by KO in the sixth of eight rounds. Legrá then went on a run of over sixty wins between 1963 and 1967 with just one defeat on points against Welshman Howard Winstone at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool in England.

European title

Legrá won his first title belt, the vacant European Featherweight title, in December 1967 with a third-round knockout win over France's Yves Desmarets. Legrá subsequently relinquished the title without a defence.

WBC World title

Legrá first opportunity to fight for a recognised world title belt came in July 1968 when he challenged Howard Winstone again, this time for his WBC Featherweight title. Legrá floored Winstone twice in the first round of the fight. The bout was subsequently halted because Winstone had a badly swollen left eye.
Legra lost his WBC featherweight title on 21 January 1969 after being defeated by French-Australian Johnny Famechon on points at the Albert Hall in London.

After Famechon

Legrá won two matches before losing by UD to Vicente Saldivar. Seven matches later Legrá would regain the EBU Featherweight title after beating Tommaso Galli on points. Legra would defend it five times before vacating it in 1972.

Regaining the WBC title and retirement

On 16 December 1972. Legrá fought Clemente Sanchez for the vacant Featherweight title, Sanchez was stripped of the title before the fight but the title was still on the line for Legrá. Legrá would TKO Sanchez in the tenth round to win.
Legrá lost the title in his very next fight to Brazilian Éder Jofre by Majority Decision. He would fight 3 matches after that, beating Jimmy Bell by points, losing to Alexis Arguello by KO and beating Daniel Valdez by points.
In April 2020, Legra, aged 77, contracted COVID-19.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
144LossAlexis ArgüelloTKO1 Nov 24, 1973 Estadio Roberto Clemente, Masaya, Nicaragua
143Win129–10–4Jimmy BellPTS10Aug 1, 1973Plaza de Toros del Coliseo Balear, Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain
142Loss128–10–4Éder JofreMD15May 5, 1973Ginasio Presidente Medici, Brasília, Distrito Federal, BrazilLost WBC featherweight title
141Win128–9–4Clemente SánchezTKO10 Dec 16, 1972 Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Won WBC featherweight title
140Win127–9–4Daniel VermandereUD15Oct 6, 1972Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, SpainRetained EBU featherweight title
139Loss126–9–4Jonathan DelePTS10Jun 21, 1972 Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
138Win126–8–4Tommy GlencrossSD15May 17, 1972Princes Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands, EnglandRetained EBU featherweight title
137Win125–8–4Evan ArmstrongUD15Feb 15, 1972Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, EnglandRetained EBU featherweight title
136Win124–8–4Ben Salah AbdesselemKO1 Jan 15, 1972Plaza de Toros, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
135Win123–8–4Marius CordierTKO3 Aug 26, 1971Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
134Win122–8–4Giovanni GirgentiKO9 Aug 14, 1971Plaza de Toros, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, SpainRetained EBU featherweight title
133Loss121–8–4Tahar Ben HassenKO4 May 21, 1971Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
132Win121–7–4David PesentiTKO8 May 8, 1971 Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
131Win120–7–4Marius CordierTKO3 Apr 15, 1971Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
130Win119–7–4Jimmy RevieUD15Jan 25, 1971Anglo-American Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London, EnglandRetained EBU featherweight title
129Win118–7–4Renato GalliPTS10Dec 26, 1970Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
128Win117–7–4Abel Cesar AlmarazKO4 Dec 12, 1970Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
127Win116–7–4Bruno MelissanoPTS10Nov 14, 1970Madrid, Spain
126Win115–7–4Ugo PoliPTS10Oct 24, 1970Pabellón Polideportivo del Real Madrid, Madrid, Spain
125Win114–7–4Tommaso GalliPTS15Jun 26, 1970Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, SpainWon EBU featherweight title
124Win113–7–4Domenico ChiloiroTKO7 May 22, 1970 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
123Win112–7–4Rolf KerstenTKO1 Apr 11, 1970Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
122Win111–7–4Jimmy BellPTS10Mar 5, 1970Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
121Win110–7–4Evan ArmstrongPTS10Feb 5, 1970Palacio de los Deportes, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
120Win109–7–4Miguel HerreraTKO2 Dec 11, 1969Palacio de los Deportes, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
119Win108–7–4Rey MillerKO2 Oct 24, 1969Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
118Loss107–7–4Vicente SaldivarUD10Jul 18, 1969Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
117Win107–6–4Domenico ScalcoTKO1 Jun 13, 1969Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
116Win106–6–4Vicente PinaKO4 May 30, 1969Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
115Loss105–6–4Johnny FamechonPTS15Jan 21, 1969Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, EnglandLost WBC featherweight title
114Win105–5–4Felix Said BramiKO1 Oct 28, 1968Palais des Sports, Paris, France
113Win104–5–4Bob AlloteyPTS10Oct 5, 1968Pabellón de La Casilla, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
112Win103–5–4Howard WinstoneTKO5 Jul 24, 1968Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, WalesWon WBC featherweight title
111Win102–5–4Fernando TavaresKO2 Jun 10, 1968 Plaza de Toros La Manzanera, Logrono, La Rioja, Spain
110Win101–5–4Klaus JacobyKO6 May 10, 1968Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
109Win100–5–4Joe TettehPTS10Apr 25, 1968Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
108Win99–5–4Ernesto MirandaTKO4 Mar 14, 1968Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
107Win98–5–4Ernesto MirandaPTS10Feb 2, 1968Pabellón de La Casilla, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
106Win97–5–4Yves DesmaretsTKO3 Dec 22, 1967 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Won vacant EBU featherweight title
105Win96–5–4Benito GallardoTKO3 Nov 9, 1967 Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
104Win95–5–4Paul RourrePTS10Sep 30, 1967Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
103Win94–5–4Fernando TavaresTKO7 Sep 2, 1967Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
102Win93–5–4Don JohnsonPTS10Jun 30, 1967Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
101Win92–5–4Jose Luis TorcidaPTS10Jun 24, 1967Leon, Castilla y León, Spain
100Win91–5–4Paul RourrePTS10Jun 10, 1967Velódromo de Anoeta, San Sebastián, País Vasco, Spain
99Win90–5–4Maurice TavantPTS10Jun 2, 1967Palacio de los Deportes, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
98Win89–5–4Mohamed Ben SaouitaTKO1 Apr 27, 1967Palacio de los Deportes, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
97Win88–5–4Ameur LaminePTS10Mar 18, 1967Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
96Win87–5–4Rafiu KingPTS10Mar 10, 1967Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
95Win86–5–4Salvatore GennatiempoTKO6 Feb 12, 1967 Malaga, Andalucía, Spain
94Win85–5–4Julian GonzalezPTS10Jan 21, 1967Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
93Win84–5–4Roger YounsiPTS10Jan 14, 1967Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
92Win83–5–4Mohamed Halimi LaroussiTKO3 Jan 8, 1967Estadio Insular, Las Palmas, Islas Canarias, Spain
91Win82–5–4Love AlloteyPTS12Dec 23, 1966Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
90Win81–5–4Jean De KeersKO1 Dec 2, 1966Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
89Win80–5–4Hector Omar OlivaTKO9 Nov 24, 1966 Palacio de los Deportes, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
88Win79–5–4Manuel CarvajalPTS10Nov 12, 1966Pabellón Municipal de Deportes, Gijon, Principado de Asturias, Spain
87Win78–5–4Roberto MarthonTKO2 Oct 27, 1966Pabellón de la Feria de Muestras, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
86Win77–5–4Luis SeguraTKO2 Oct 15, 1966Gimnasio Polideportivo, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
85Win76–5–4Raul TejeraTKO2 Oct 1, 1966Pabellón Municipal de Deportes, Gijon, Principado de Asturias, Spain
84Win75–5–4Julian GonzalezTKO7 Sep 2, 1966Campo del Gas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
83Win74–5–4Tommy ThompsonTKO1 Aug 20, 1966Velódromo de Anoeta, San Sebastian, País Vasco, Spain
82Win73–5–4Vincenzo PitardiTKO5 Aug 12, 1966Campo del Gas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
81Win72–5–4Celmiro RiosTKO3 Jul 29, 1966Plaza de Toros de Las Arenas, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
80Win71–5–4Jose RiveiroKO7 Jul 2, 1966Plaza de Toros de Buenavista, Oviedo, Principado de Asturias, Spain
79Win70–5–4Jose Luis TorcidaPTS10Jun 4, 1966 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
78Win69–5–4Angel ChineaPTS8May 21, 1966 Pabellón Velódromo, Mataro, Cataluña, Spain
77Win68–5–4Dris ben AmarTKO5 May 7, 1966 Frontón de Anoeta, San Sebastian, País Vasco, Spain
76Win67–5–4Cristobal GomezPTS8Apr 30, 1966Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta, Malaga, Andalucía, Spain
75Win66–5–4Hector Omar OlivaPTS8Apr 15, 1966 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
74Win65–5–4Jesus ZarcoPTS10Apr 3, 1966Santander, Cantabria, Spain
73Win64–5–4Oye TurpinTKO2 Mar 17, 1966Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
72Win63–5–4Antonio PaivaTKO7 Mar 3, 1966Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
71Win62–5–4Cristobal GomezPTS8Feb 13, 1966 Almeria, Andalucía, Spain
70Win61–5–4Juan RodriguezPTS8Jan 6, 1966Terraza Albéniz, Almeria, Andalucía, Spain
69Win60–5–4Manuel CalvoPTS8Dec 18, 1965Salamanca, Castilla y León, Spain
68Win59–5–4Manuel CalvoPTS8Nov 26, 1965 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
67Win58–5–4Ramon CasalPTS8Nov 12, 1965 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
66Win57–5–4Jose BisbalPTS8Oct 30, 1965Frontón de Anoeta, San Sebastian, País Vasco, Spain
65Win56–5–4Luis SeguraPTS8Sep 25, 1965Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain
64Win55–5–4Juan de LeonKO4 Sep 19, 1965 Frontón de Anoeta, San Sebastian, País Vasco, Spain
63Win54–5–4Tristano TartariniTKO1 Sep 5, 1965Campo de Futbol de Pedras Brancas, Carballo, Galicia, SpainStopped on cuts
62Win53–5–4Lope de PabloPTS8Aug 31, 1965Estudios de Prado del Rey, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
61Loss52–5–4Howard WinstonePTS10Jun 22, 1965Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire, England
60Win52–4–4Jose Caetano dos SantosPTS8Jun 2, 1965Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
59Win51–4–4Antonio PaivaPTS8Apr 2, 1965Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
58Win50–4–4Miguel CalderinPTS8Mar 13, 1965 Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
57Win49–4–4Domingo CabreraTKO8 Mar 6, 1965 Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
56Win48–4–4Mario SitriPTS8Feb 26, 1965 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
55Draw47–4–4Angel NechesPTS8Jan 30, 1965Frontón del Club Deportivo, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
54Win47–4–3Juan PintoPTS8Jan 22, 1965 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
53Win46–4–3Renato GalliPTS8Nov 26, 1964Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
52Win45–4–3Jose Sanchez MerayoTKO2 Nov 14, 1964 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
51Win44–4–3Luis AisaPTS8Oct 31, 1964 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
50Win43–4–3Antoine LicausiPTS8Oct 10, 1964 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
49Win42–4–3Vincenzo PitardiPTS8Sep 18, 1964 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
48Win41–4–3Luis AisaPTS10Sep 5, 1964 Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
47Win40–4–3Miguel CalderinPTS10Aug 8, 1964Plaza de Toros, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
46Win39–4–3Rafael GayoPTS8Jul 18, 1964 Campo de Futbol de Pedras Brancas, Carballo, Galicia, Spain
45Win38–4–3Angel RodriguezKO1 Jul 2, 1964Plaza de Toros, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
44Win37–4–3Kid TanoPTS8Jun 4, 1964Estadio Insular, Las Palmas, Islas Canarias, Spain
43Win36–4–3Kid TanoPTS10May 23, 1964 Estadio Insular, Las Palmas, Islas Canarias, Spain
42Win35–4–3Miguel CalderinPTS8May 7, 1964Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
41Draw34–4–3Kid TanoPTS8Mar 31, 1964Plaza de Toros, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
40Win34–4–2Jose Luis MartinezPTS8Mar 14, 1964Frontón del Club Deportivo, Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain
39Win33–4–2Toni AlonsoPTS8Feb 15, 1964Frontón Fiesta Alegre, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
38Win32–4–2José Luis BiescasPTS8Feb 5, 1964Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
37Win31–4–2Jose Luis MartinezPTS8Jan 11, 1964Frontón Fiesta Alegre, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
36Win30–4–2Luis AisaPTS8Dec 4, 1963Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
35Win29–4–2Baldomero ArroyoPTS8Nov 2, 1963Frontón Fiesta Alegre, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
34Win28–4–2Lazaro ben LayachiTKO6 Oct 26, 1963Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
33Loss27–4–2Vicente NunezPTS8Oct 1, 1963MexicoExact month & date unknown
32Win27–3–2Vicente NunezPTS8Jul 1, 1963MexicoExact month & date unknown
31Draw26–3–2Juan FernandezPTS8Jun 1, 1963MexicoExact month & date unknown
30Win26–3–1Enrique YamuriPTS8May 1, 1963MexicoExact month & date unknown
29Win25–3–1Juan FernandezPTS10Apr 1, 1963MexicoExact month & date unknown
28Win24–3–1Jimmy EscuderoPTS10Mar 1, 1963MexicoExact month & date unknown
27Win23–3–1Pedro SotoPTS10Oct 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
26Win22–3–1Vicente NunezPTS10Aug 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
25Win21–3–1Raimundo PellegrinoPTS8Jul 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
24Win20–3–1Esteban CastilloPTS10Jun 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
23Win19–3–1OribazoPTS8May 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
22Win18–3–1Leopoldo GalvezPTS8Apr 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
21Win17–3–1Raul NunezPTS8Mar 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
20Win16–3–1Luis OdioPTS8Feb 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
19Win15–3–1Indio del SurPTS8Jan 1, 1962MexicoExact month & date unknown
18Loss14–3–1Baby LuisPTS10Oct 6, 1961Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
17Win14–2–1Tomas MartinezPTS6Oct 1, 1961MexicoExact month & date unknown
16Win13–2–1Tomas PerezPTS6Sep 1, 1961MexicoExact month & date unknown
15Win12–2–1Huracan DiazKO3 Jul 1, 1961MexicoExact month & date unknown
14Win11–2–1Eugenio GimenezKO3 Jun 1, 1961MexicoExact month & date unknown
13Win10–2–1Jimmy HightowerRTD4 May 22, 1961Sir John Club, Miami, Florida, U.S.
12Loss9–2–1Angel LeyKO6 Apr 15, 1961 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
11Win9–1–1Indio IguamoKO2 Mar 1, 1961CubaExact month & date unknown
10Win8–1–1Pedro PineraPTS8Jan 12, 1961CubaExact month & date unknown
9Loss7–1–1Agustin CarmonaPTS8Jan 7, 1961Havana, Cuba
8Win7–0–1Miguel OlivaPTS6Dec 17, 1960Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
7Win6–0–1Victor RecioTKO3 Nov 26, 1960Havana, Cuba
6Win5–0–1Miguel OlivaPTS4Oct 22, 1960Havana, Cuba
5Win4–0–1Andres PerezTKO2 Sep 24, 1960Havana, Cuba
4Win3–0–1Julian PerezPTS6Sep 1, 1960CubaExact month & date unknown
3Draw2–0–1Jose Ramon FerrerPTS4Aug 20, 1960Havana, Cuba
2Win2–0Julian PerezPTS6 Aug 1, 1960Havana, CubaExact month & date unknown
1Win1–0Pedro PineraPTS4Jul 16, 1960Havana, Cuba