Herbert Lewis Hardwick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herbert Lewis Hardwick
Statistics
Real name	Herbert Lewis Hardwick
Nickname(s)	"Cocoa Kid"
Rated at	Welterweight
Born	May 2, 1914 Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Died	December 27, 1966 (aged 52) Chicago, Illinois, US
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	249
Wins	178
Wins by KO	48
Losses	58
Draws	11

Herbert Lewis Hardwick Arroyo (born May 2, 1914 – died December 27, 1966) was a famous boxer from Puerto Rico. People knew him best by his nickname, "Cocoa Kid." He was a powerful fighter, mostly in the welterweight (medium-weight) and middleweight (heavier-weight) divisions.

Cocoa Kid won important boxing titles called the World Colored Championships in both weight classes. He was also part of a legendary group of boxers known as the "Black Murderers' Row." This group included some of the toughest fighters of his time. In 2012, Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick was honored by being added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Family

Herbert Hardwick was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. His mother, Maria Arroyo, was from Puerto Rico. His father, Lewis Hardwick, was an African American sailor. When Herbert was very young, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. His father gave him the name "Herbert Lewis Hardwick."

A sad event happened when Herbert was only four years old. His father was a sailor on a ship called the USS Cyclops. The ship disappeared during World War I and was never found. This was a huge loss for the U.S. Navy.

Soon after, Herbert's mother also passed away. He then went to live with his aunt, Antonia Arroyo-Robinson. She raised him, and he grew up feeling very connected to his Puerto Rican background.

Starting a Boxing Career

Herbert began boxing in Atlanta when he was 14 years old. His aunt's husband, Edward Allen Robinson, taught him and became his manager. Cocoa Kid had his first professional fight when he was just 15, on May 27, 1929. He won that first match against a boxer named "Kid Moon."

In 1932, a politician named Harry Durant saw Hardwick fight in West Palm Beach, Florida. Durant was very impressed. He helped Hardwick move to New Haven, Connecticut. There, Herbert started fighting under the name "Cocoa Kid." He sometimes used other names too, like "Louis Hardwick Arroyo." On April 4, 1932, he won his first fight in Connecticut against Joe Miller.

The "Black Murderers' Row"

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Cocoa Kid fought many of the best African-American boxers. These fighters were in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. Some of them were Charley Burley, Holman Williams, and Eddie Booker. Hardwick fought Holman Williams 13 times, winning 8 of those fights!

This group of boxers became known as the "Black Murderers' Row." They were mostly highly-ranked African-American fighters. Cocoa Kid was the only Hispanic boxer in this famous group. They were known for being incredibly tough and skilled. Other boxers often tried to avoid fighting them because they were so good. A sports writer named Jim Murray said they were the most exclusive club in boxing. They were so strong that they even had their own special tournaments.

Cocoa Kid fought and beat many champions. On February 2, 1933, he defeated Louis "Kid" Kaplan, who had been a world champion.

From April to September 1940, Cocoa Kid was ranked as the number one welterweight boxer in the world. However, the champion at the time, Henry Armstrong, never gave him a chance to fight for the title. On October 9, 1943, Cocoa Kid was featured on the cover of Knockout Magazine.

Winning World Colored Titles

The World Colored Welterweight title was created in 1936. On July 26, 1936, Cocoa Kid fought Young Peter Jackson in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jackson held other titles, but Cocoa Kid won this fight by a technical knockout (TKO) in the second round. This meant the referee stopped the fight because Jackson couldn't continue safely.

Cocoa Kid defended his new title four times. He beat Jackie Elverillo and then had a close fight with his rival, Holman Williams, winning by decision. On November 15, 1937, he defended his title against Sonny Jones. Cocoa Kid won by TKO in the sixth round. The referee, former world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey, stopped the fight because Sonny Jones could barely see.

When Henry Armstrong became the official world welterweight champion in 1938, some thought the "colored" titles might end. But the World Colored Welterweight Championship continued. Cocoa Kid lost his title to Charley Burley on August 22, 1938. Burley won easily, knocking Cocoa Kid down three times.

To find a new champion, Cocoa Kid and Holman Williams fought again on January 11, 1940. Cocoa Kid won, becoming the World Colored Welterweight Champion for the second time!

World Colored Middleweight Championship

Cocoa Kid also aimed for the World Colored Middleweight Championship. On January 15, 1943, he fought Holman Williams again for this title. Cocoa Kid won the 12-round fight by points, taking the middleweight title. He never defended this title, and it eventually became inactive.

A Controversial Fight

In 1944, a fight between Cocoa Kid and "Oakland Billy Smith" caused some trouble. People expected Cocoa Kid to win easily. But during the fight, Cocoa Kid was knocked down four times! The referee, Frankie Brown, thought something was wrong and stopped the fight. He declared it a "no-contest," meaning it didn't count as a win or loss for either boxer.

The California Boxing Commission investigated. Cocoa Kid said he was worried about his sick aunt, which affected his performance. However, the commission believed he might have pretended to be hurt. They fined him $500 and stopped him from boxing for six months.

End of His Boxing Days

On September 17, 1945, Cocoa Kid fought and lost to Archie Moore, another great boxer. His last professional fight was on August 24, 1948.

Even after his official career ended, Cocoa Kid was still a strong boxer. In 1949, he was a sparring partner for the famous Sugar Ray Robinson. During one training session, Cocoa Kid actually knocked down Sugar Ray Robinson!

By the end of his career, Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick had fought 244 professional fights. He won 176 of them, with 48 knockouts. He lost 56 fights and had 10 draws (ties). He fought many champions, including Louis Kaplan, Johnny Jadick, and Chalky Wright, beating them in non-title matches.

Later Years and Legacy

After he stopped boxing in 1950, Hardwick faced tough times. He became homeless in Chicago. His wife divorced him and took custody of their children.

During World War II, Hardwick had served in the United States Navy. He was honorably discharged (meaning he left the Navy with a good record). Military doctors had diagnosed him with pugilistic dementia, a brain condition sometimes seen in boxers due to repeated head injuries. He kept this diagnosis a secret so he could keep fighting.

In his later years, Cocoa Kid suffered from this condition. He was admitted to a Veterans Administration Hospital in North Chicago, Illinois. He passed away there on December 27, 1966, at the age of 52. He is buried in Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 2011, Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick was chosen for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted in 2012, recognizing his amazing career and contributions to boxing.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• Sports in Puerto Rico
• African immigration to Puerto Rico
• List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions