Paul Banke


Paul Andre Banke is a former World Boxing Council Super Bantamweight champion boxer, and is the first American boxer to go public with an AIDS diagnosis. Having lived 29 years after being diagnosed with AIDS, Banke, who accepted medical treatment, is the longest living professional boxer with the disease.

Career

Banke turned pro in 1985. After losing a 12-round split decision to Daniel Zaragoza in June 1989, Banke captured the WBC Super Bantamweight Title in April 1990 with an upset ninth-round TKO victory over Daniel Zaragoza. He defended his title once in August 1990 with a twelfth round stoppage of undefeated Ki Hoon Lee in South Korea, knocking Lee down three times. He was knocked down three times in the fourth round, and lost his WBC title to Pedro Ruben Decima by fourth round stoppage in November 1990. Banke lost five of his last six bouts, including a 12-round WBC rematch title loss to Zaragoza in their third meeting. After a ten-round decision loss to winless 0-8 Mexican journeyman Juan Francisco Soto in December 1993, Banke retired at age 29 with a record of 21–9 with 11 knockouts.

Later life

Banke, who battled drug use during his career and overcame it, was diagnosed with AIDS in 1995, approximately two years after his final fight. After returning to drug use, Banke successfully completed a drug rehab program. Banke, who resides in Los Feliz, California, has chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as dementia pugilistica, an aftereffect from his professional boxing career. Chronic traumatic encephopathy is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from repeated head trauma.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30Loss21–9Juan Francisco SotoPTS10 1993-12-06Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
29Loss21–8Antonio RamirezMD10 1993-08-28Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
28Loss21–7Kennedy McKinneyRTD6 1992-03-20Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27Loss21–6Daniel ZaragozaUD12 1991-12-09Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.For WBC super bantamweight title
26Win21–5Antonio RamirezUD10 1991-10-26Desert Expo Center, Indio, California, U.S.
25Loss20–5Pedro Rubén DécimaTKO4 1990-11-05Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Lost WBC super bantamweight title
24Win20–4Ki Joon LeeTKO12 1990-08-18Sunin Gymnasium, Incheon, South KoreaRetained WBC super bantamweight title
23Win19–4Daniel ZaragozaTKO9 1990-04-23Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won WBC super bantamweight title
22Win18–4Lucilo NolascoSD10 1989-12-08Richfield High School, Richfield, Utah, U.S.
21Win17–4José Luis SotoKO2 1989-10-12Richfield High School, Richfield, Utah, U.S.
20Loss16–4Daniel ZaragozaSD12 1989-06-22Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.For WBC super bantamweight title
19Win16–3Ramiro AdamesTKO6 1989-01-09Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant WBA Americas super bantamweight title
18Win15–3Carlos RomeroTKO11 1988-09-13Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
17Win14–3Robert ShannonUD10 1988-07-13Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
16Win13–3Alberto MercadoKO3 1988-05-09Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
15Win12–3Lucilo NolascoPTS10 1988-03-07Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
14Win11–3Ramon RicoPTS10 1987-12-11Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
13Loss10–3Jesus PollKO7 1987-08-13Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
12Win10–2Héctor LizárragaUD10 1987-07-15Raincross Square, Riverside, California, U.S.
11Win9–2Tony TalleyTKO6 1987-06-12Raincross Square, Riverside, California, U.S.
10Win8–2Willie GarciaKO2 1987-05-28Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
9Loss7–2Andre SmithMD8 1987-04-20Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, U.S.
8Loss7–1Pete SolarezPTS5 1986-08-05Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
7Win7–0Ralph GutierrezUD4 1986-07-25Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0Ralph GutierrezUD4 1986-06-13Sahara Hotel & Casino, Space Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0Arturo LozadoUD6 1986-02-07Cal Poly Pomona Gym, Pomona, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Juvenal MolinaPTS4 1985-11-20Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
3Win3–0Miguel RodellaKO2 1985-11-17Coachella Valley High School, Thermal, California, U.S.
2Win2–0Mike PerezKO3 1985-08-24Pride Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
1Win1–0Elmer MejiaTKO2 1985-08-03Pony Express, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.