Miguel Canto


Miguel Angel Canto Solis is a Mexican former world boxing champion who held the WBC and Lineal flyweight titles.

Boxing life

Unlike many Mexican boxers, Canto was not a "slam-bang" type of boxer. He used boxing techniques and knowledge instead of trying to score knockouts in most of his fights. Proof of this is that he only won fifteen fights by knockout, out of more than seventy professional bouts. He was a defensive expert, somewhat in the style of Willie Pep.
Canto began his professional boxing career on February 5, 1969. He became one of those rare cases in boxing, like Alexis Argüello, Henry Armstrong, Bernard Hopkins, Victor Luvi Callejas and Wilfredo Vazquez, where a boxer loses his first fight and goes on to become a world champion. He lost that day to Raul Hernandez, in Canto's hometown of Mérida, by a knockout in round three.

First win

His first win came against Pedro Martinez, on May 5, 1969, by a four round decision, also at Mérida. Canto lost his next fight, but a streak of seven undefeated fights, led him to fight Vicente Pool on May 27, 1970, for the Yucatán state Flyweight title. Canto won his first professional belt when he outpointed Pool over twelve rounds. In his first defense, he retained the crown, with a twelve round decision over Jose Luis Cetina. After losing his next bout, a ten round, non title bout against Tarcisio Gomez, on a decision, he went on to win 21 bouts in a row, including his first bout outside Mérida, and a win over Constantino Garcia on January 22, 1972, by twelve round decision, to claim the Mexican Flyweight title. On January 31, 1973, he fought to a ten round draw against perennial contender Ignacio Espinal.
After winning his next four fights, including a rematch victory over Tarcisio Gomez, he was given his first world title try, when he fought Betulio González in Maracaibo, Venezuela, for the WBA world Flyweight title. In what was also his first fight abroad, he was outpointed by the equally legendary Gonzalez, considered by many to be Venezuela's greatest fighter of all time, on August 4, 1973.

WBC World Flyweight Champion Reign

Canto won six more fights, including two Mexican title defenses, and on January 8, 1975, he faced WBC world Flyweight champion Shoji Oguma in Sendai. Canto defeated Oguma by a fifteen round decision to claim the WBC and vacant lineal flyweight titles. His dream of becoming a world champion finally realized, Canto was a busy champion, mixing several non-title bouts with his title defenses. In his next fight, he beat Espinal in a rematch by a ten round decision. In his first title defense, he avenged his loss to Betulio Gonzalez by a fifteen round decision. On August 23 of that year, he defeated OPBF champion Jiro Takada by 11th round TKO. Following that win, Canto faced Espinal for a third time and retained his title once again by a fifteen round decision. On May 15, 1976, he scored a win over former champion Susumu Hanagata. Canto eventually became a traveling world champion.
For his fifth title defense, he returned to Venezuela and defeated Gonzalez for the second time in their trilogy by a fifteen round decision. One month later, he retained the crown against Orlando Javierto, once again by fifteen round decision, in Los Angeles, California.
On April 24, 1977, he returned to Venezuela for a third time, retaining the title against Reyes Arnal by a fifteen round decision in Caracas. Two months later, he beat Kimio Furesawa by a fifteen round decision in Tokyo. Then, he and Martin Vargas fought the first of their two bouts: on September 17, 1977, Canto outpointed Vargas in his hometown of Mérida.
It was Canto's turn to travel to Vargas' hometown of Santiago, Chile, for their rematch, held on November 30 of the same year. Canto once again retained the titles with a fifteen round decision.
In 1978, Canto retained his title three times, including two rematches with Shoji Oguma, both of them held in Japan, and another fifteen round points win over Facomrom Vibonchai, in a fight held at Houston, Texas.
By this time, Canto's name had become a household name all over Latin America, thanks in part to Ring En Español, which gave Canto's fights much coverage.
On February 10, 1979, he retained his titles for a division record fourteenth time against a future world champion, Antonio Avelar, by a fifteen round decision.
On March 18, his reign came to an end, when he lost a fifteen round decision to Chan Hee Park in South Korea. On September 9 of that same year, he tried to recover his titles from Park in a rematch, but, after fifteen rounds, the fight ended in a draw.
Canto's career took a downward spiral after that fight. He won his following three fights, including wins against Olympic Bronze medalist Orlando Maldonado of Puerto Rico and former champion Sung-Jun Kim. In his 70th career fight, he lost to future world champion Gabriel Bernal. Canto avenged his loss to Bernal in his next fight, but lost the remaining three fights of his career by knockout.
After his final loss to Rodolfo Ortega on July 24, 1982, Canto retired from boxing for good. He had a record of 61 wins, 9 losses and 4 draws, with 15 knockout wins.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
74Loss61–9–4Rodolfo OrtegaTKO9 1982-07-24Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
73Loss61–8–4Alfredo HernandezTKO7 1981-10-31Auditorio Municipal, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
72Loss61–7–4Candido TellezKO4 1981-08-29Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
71Win61–6–4Gabriel BernalUD101981-06-06Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
70Loss60–6–4Gabriel BernalUD101981-03-29Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
69Win60–5–4Kim Sung-junUD101981-02-22Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
68Win59–5–4Orlando MaldonadoDQ6 1980-10-18Plaza Nuevo Progreso, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
67Win58–5–4Alfredo HernandezUD101980-08-16Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
66Draw57–5–4Park Chan-heeMD151979-09-09Jamsil Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaFor WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
65Loss57–5–3Park Chan-heeUD151979-03-18Gudeok Gymnasium, Busan, South KoreaLost WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
64Win57–4–3Antonio AvelarUD151979-02-10Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
63Win56–4–3Facomron VibonchaiSD151978-11-20Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
62Win55–4–3Shoji OgumaUD151978-04-18Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
61Win54–4–3Shoji OgumaSD151978-01-04City Sogo Gym, Koriyama, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
60Win53–4–3Martín VargasUD151977-11-30Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile, ChileRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
59Win52–4–3Martín VargasUD151977-09-17Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
58Win51–4–3Kimio FuresawaUD151977-06-15Shinagawa Sports Land, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
57Win50–4–3Luis Reyes ArnalSD151977-04-24Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
56Win49–4–3Orlando JaviertoUD151976-11-19Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
55Win48–4–3Betulio GonzálezSD151976-10-03Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC, and The Ring flyweight titles
54Win47–4–3Susumu HanagataUD151976-05-15Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
53Win46–4–3Francisco MarquezUD101976-03-13Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico
52Win45–4–3Ignacio EspinalUD151975-12-13Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
51Win44–4–3Jiro TakadaTKO11 1975-08-23Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
50Win43–4–3Lupe MaderaTKO9 1975-07-18Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
49Win42–4–3Betulio GonzálezSD151975-05-24Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo León, MexicoRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
48Win41–4–3Ignacio EspinalSD101975-03-08Parque Carta Clara, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
47Win40–4–3Shoji OgumaMD151975-01-08Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai, JapanWon WBC and vacant The Ring flyweight titles
46Win39–4–3Ricardo DelgadoUD101974-10-25Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico
45Win38–4–3Alberto MoralesUD101974-08-17Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico
44Win37–4–3Pablito JimenezSD101974-06-08Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
43Win36–4–3Manuel MontielUD121974-04-27Plaza de Toros, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
42Win35–4–3Tony MorenoTKO5 1974-02-13Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
41Win34–4–3Lupe HernandezUD121973-11-17Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
40Loss33–4–3Betulio GonzálezMD151973-08-04Estadio Luis Aparicio, Maracaibo, VenezuelaFor vacant WBC flyweight title
39Win33–3–3Chamaco RodriguezKO5 1973-06-29Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
38Win32–3–3Luis Enrique GarciaTKO7 1973-05-10Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
37Win31–3–3Rudy BillonesUD101973-05-02Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
36Win30–3–3Tarcisio GomezKO2 1973-03-24Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
35Draw29–3–3Ignacio EspinalMD101973-01-31Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
34Win29–3–2Alberto MoralesUD121972-11-18Plaza de Toros, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
33Win28–3–2Jose Antonio CorralTKO3 1972-09-27Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
32Win27–3–2Jose Luis ValenciaUD101972-07-26Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
31Win26–3–2Ricardo DelgadoUD121972-05-20Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoRetained Mexico flyweight title
30Win25–3–2Armando VillaTKO4 1972-04-05Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
29Win24–3–2Jose VargasUD101972-03-15Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
28Win23–3–2Rocky GarciaUD121972-01-22Plaza de Toros, Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoWon Mexico flyweight title
27Win22–3–2Luis Carlos UrrunagaUD101971-12-01Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
26Win21–3–2Alberto MoralesUD101971-10-20Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
25Win20–3–2Roberto AlvarezUD101971-09-01Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
24Win19–3–2Domingo LedezmaUD101971-07-28Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
23Win18–3–2Pedro LopezKO3 1971-07-14Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
22Win17–3–2Mario GarciaKO10 1971-06-02Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
21Win16–3–2Gavilan MartinezUD101971-05-14Tekax, Yucatán, Mexico
20Win15–3–2Jose Luis CetinaUD101971-04-29Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
19Win14–3–2Tigre BracamonteUD81971-04-04Tizimin, Yucatán, Mexico
18Win13–3–2Marcus GomezTKO6 1971-03-17Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
17Win12–3–2Francisco MontalvoKO6 1971-02-14Cansahcab, Yucatán, Mexico
16Win11–3–2Pedro MartinezKO2 1971-01-21Cansahcab, Yucatán, Mexico
15Win10–3–2Jose MedranoUD101970-12-09Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
14Win9–3–2Arturo VelazquezUD101970-11-11Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
13Loss8–3–2Tarcisio GomezMD101970-10-14Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
12Win8–2–2Jose Luis CetinaUD121970-06-24Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
11Win7–2–2Vicente PoolUD121970-05-27Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
10Draw6–2–2Juan TorresMD101970-04-29Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
9Win6–2–1Alex BasilioKO8 1970-04-08Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
8Win5–2–1Baby AlbornozTKO9 1970-03-21Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
7Win4–2–1Vicente PoolUD101970-03-04Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
6Draw3–2–1Joe CalvarioMD101970-02-04Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
5Win3–2Rudy GranadosUD101970-01-21Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
4Win2–2Vicente PoolUD81969-12-06Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
3Loss1–2Pedro CarilloTKO4 1969-08-13Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
2Win1–1Pedro MartinezUD41969-05-05Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
1Loss0–1Raul HernandezTKO3 1969-02-05Mérida, Yucatán