The Cuban Hawk

The great Cuban boxer Kid Gavilan died on this day in 2003 of a heart attack in Miami. He was 77 years old.

Born Gerardo Gonzalez in the Cuban sity of Camaguey, Gavilan was the second Cuban world champion after Eligio Sardinas, better known as the great Kid Chocolate. In 1951, Gavilan won the world welterweight crown from Johnny Bratton, and then he went on to defend it six times, including a win over Carmen Basilio in Syracuse, before losing the belt to Bobo Olson in 1954.

Despite the title, the flashy Cuban welterweight is probably best known for three things - 1. Beating Ike Williams twice, 2. A great 15-round loss to sugar Ray Robinson in 1949, and 3. The invention of the "bolo" punch, a mixture of hook and uppercut that he said was the product of years spent cutting sugar cane with a machete in Cuba.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Gavilan is that in over 140 fights spanning 15 years, he never once was stopped, quite a feat. With a final record of 108-30-5, he was inducted into the IBHOF in 1966.