Kid Gavilán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kid Gavilán
Statistics
Real name	Gerardo González
Nickname(s)	Kid Gavilán The Cuban Hawk
Rated at	Welterweight
Born	(1926-01-06)January 6, 1926 Berrocal, Cuba
Died	February 13, 2003(2003-02-13) (aged 77) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	143
Wins	108
Wins by KO	28
Losses	30
Draws	5

Gerardo González (born January 6, 1926 – died February 13, 2003) was a famous Cuban boxer. Most people knew him by his boxing name, Kid Gavilán. He was also called "The Cuban Hawk" because of his quick and powerful moves.

Kid Gavilán was a world champion in the welterweight division from 1951 to 1954. This means he was the best boxer in his weight class! He held important titles like the NYSAC, WBA, and The Ring welterweight titles all at the same time. In 1953, the Boxing Writers Association of America named him "Fighter of the Year." The Ring magazine, a very respected boxing publication, even ranked him as the 26th greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Kid Gavilán was so good that he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its very first group of honorees in 1990.

Kid Gavilán's Boxing Journey

Starting Out in Cuba

Kid Gavilán began his professional boxing career on June 5, 1943. His first fight was in Havana, Cuba, where he won against Antonio Diaz. He fought his first 10 matches in Havana, then one in Cienfuegos, and three more back in Havana.

After 14 fights, he traveled outside Cuba for the first time. He went to Mexico City and won his first fight there. However, he soon faced his first loss against Carlos Macalara. But Kid Gavilán didn't give up! He had a rematch in Havana and won, getting his revenge. By the time he had his first fight in the United States, he had an impressive record of 25 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. This first U.S. fight was in New York City on November 1, 1946, where he won by knockout.

Moving to the United States

In 1947, Kid Gavilán split his time between the East Coast of the U.S. and Havana. He had a great year, winning 11 fights. By 1948, he decided to live in the United States permanently. That year, he fought some very famous boxers. He met former world champion Ike Williams and also the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. Even though he lost to Robinson, these fights helped him become even better.

After beating Ike Williams twice, Kid Gavilán got a chance to fight Sugar Ray Robinson again for the world Welterweight title. He fought hard but lost the 15-round match. He then went back to training and won against other top fighters like Rocky Castellani and Beau Jack.

Becoming a World Champion

In 1951, after winning several fights, Kid Gavilán finally became a world champion! He beat Johnny Bratton in a 15-round decision on May 18. He successfully defended his title against Billy Graham and then had four more non-title fights that year.

In 1952, he continued to defend his title successfully against boxers like Bobby Dykes and Gil Turner. His third fight with Billy Graham was his first world title defense in Havana. His fight with Bobby Dykes was also special because it was the first time a black boxer and a white boxer fought in Miami, Florida, which was a very important moment for boxing.

In 1953, Gavilán kept his title by winning against Chuck Davey, Carmen Basilio, and Johnny Bratton again. He also had several non-title fights. In 1954, he tried to move up in weight to challenge the world Middleweight champion, Bobo Olson, but he lost that fight. He then went back to his original weight class but lost his Welterweight championship to Johnny Saxton.

Life After Boxing

Personal Life and Challenges

In 1954, Kid Gavilán and his wife, Leonor, welcomed their daughter, Victoria. After he stopped boxing, Gavilán became a Jehovah's Witness. He faced some difficulties because of his beliefs. Later, in the 1980s, he made a living by selling sausages in Chicago.

Later Career and Retirement

From 1954 until his retirement in 1958, Kid Gavilán had a mix of wins and losses. He fought many more matches against tough opponents. He was known for his incredible toughness because he was never knocked out in his entire professional career! He fought a total of 143 professional fights, winning 107 of them, with 27 wins by knockout. He announced his retirement on September 11, 1958.

His Final Days

Kid Gavilán passed away in Miami, Florida, on February 13, 2003, at the age of 77. He died from a heart attack. He is remembered as one of boxing's all-time greats.

Kid Gavilán's Boxing Record

Kid Gavilán had an amazing career. Here's a quick look at his professional boxing record:

See also

• List of welterweight boxing champions

In Spanish: Gerardo González (boxeador) para niños