Pancho Villa
Francisco Guilledo, known by many as Pancho Villa, was the first Filipino flyweight champion of the world. He won the title in 1923. He was only 24 when he died during an operation on July 14, 1925 in San Francisco, California. His funeral was the biggest Manila had seen after that of Ramon Magsaysay in 1957. Pancho Villa is the first Filipino sports figure to be chosen for a nicne in the Ring Magazine''s Hall of Fame. He was born Francisco Guilledo to Rafael Guilledo and Maria Villaruel on August 1, 1901, in La Carlota, Negros Occidental. At 10 he was a bootblack in Iloilo City. He grew up in the slums of Palomar in Manila and in 1917 he enrolled at the Meisic elementary school. One day, boxing manager Paquito Villa saw him floor one of the best boys in his stable. Impressed, he gave him the job of supervising their training. In 1918 he adopted him and changed his name to Pancho Villa. On Feb. 21, 1921, Villa dethroned "Terrible" Pondong as the Philippine flyweight champion. He gained international status on December 13 when he knocked out George Mendies, Australian flyweight champion, in three rounds. By outpointing George Washington Lee in the same month, he became the undisputed ruler of his division in the Far East. Villa made his American debut on June 7, 1922, in a 12-round no-decision match against Abe Attel Goldstein in Jersey City. In his fight with Frankie Genaro on Aug. 22, 1922, Villa lost in an unpopular decision. To appease the protesting fans, he was matched with Johnny Buff, American flyweight titlist, on Sept. 15. He won by knockout in the 11th round. Promoter Tom O''Rourke gave Villa a crack at the world flyweight crown held by Jimmy Wilde of Wales on June 18, 1923. The fight ended by a knockout in the seventh round. After the bout, Villa assisted Wilde to his corner and received an enthusiastic applause from the crowd that had witnessed his sportsmanship. Villa''s last fight was against Jimmy McLarnin, a featherweight. Despite the extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth before the match, the bout was held on July 4, 1925. The fight was a close one, but he lost on points. Villa was taken immediately to the St. Mary''s Hospital for an operation. He died on the operating table at 11:00 a.m. on July 14. His body was shipped to Manila and buried on August 23 at the Manila North Cemetery.
With prints
Pancho Villa, former flyweight champion of the worldCaption Note)
Reproduction: Photoengraving
Keywords: Men and women in sports