SERGIO BORGE’S OUT OF THE BOX: KID GAVILAN
April 23, 2024
By: Sergio F. Borges
The great Kid Gavilan, birthname Gerardo González, career record: 108-30-5 (28) In an 18-year career. Born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1926, Gavilan left Cuba in 1947, and escaped Fidel Castro’s revolution and rise of communism that followed. Gavilan began boxing at the young age of 12 and turned pro at 16. His first manager, Fernando Balido, owned a cafe called “El Gavilán” (The Hawk), and nick-named González “KID GAVILÁN/THE CUBAN HAWK.”
In 1948, he challenged “Sugar” Ray Robinson in a non-title ten-round fight and lost a unanimous decision. In 1949, Gavilán earned a second fight with Robinson for the title but once again fell short and lost a close 15 round decision. During his peak, from late 1950 until mid 1953, Gavilán was unbeatable. In 1951, “Sugar” Ray Robinson vacated the world welterweight title after winning the world middleweight title. Later that year, Gavilán defeated Johnny Bratton and Billy Graham to earn the World Welterweight crown.
In 1952, Gavilán defended the title against Bobby Dykes, and in 1953, he defended against the great Carmen Basilio. In 1954, Gavilán decided to challenge Carl (Bobo) Olson for the world middleweight title and lost by a majority decision. Later that year, Gavilán defended his welterweight title against Johnny Saxton. Saxton’s manager was gangster “Blinky” Palermo. The decision went to Saxton even though 20 of 22 ringside writers scored the bout for Gavilán.
Gavilán is considered by most boxing historians and experts as a top-5 greatest welterweight of all time. In the February 2008 issue of The Ring, Gavilán was named the 3rd greatest welterweight of all-time. Gavilán earned the honors over the span of two decades and was recognized as Caribbean Greatest Fighter of the Decade (1940s and 1950s). Boxing Writers Association of America named Gavilán Fighter of the Year in 1953. Gavilán is a member of the “100-0” Club. The “100-0” Club represents pugilists with 100 or more wins and 0 losses coming by way of KO/TKO. A three member elite club: Kid Gavilán, Mike Gibbons, and Packey McFarland. Gavilán’s chin was a mixture of marble, kryptonite, and steel, and never knocked out in his entire 143 bout career including the 25 rounds against the greatest fighter pound for pound of all time (Robinson).
Gavilán’s legacy and accolades stretch beyond his reign as the World Welterweight Champion from Cuba. As Steve Springer of the Times Staff wrote: “Gavilán was equal parts boxer and entertainer, a master of defense, a dancer and a ring technician. Ali before there was an Ali, he was all flash in the ring.” Gavilán perfected a punch that has been around since the Bareknuckle Boxing Era: The “Bolo Punch.” The bolo punch is a punch thrown as a half-hook/half-uppercut. In the great boxing documentary, Champions Forever: The Latin Legends, The origins of Gavilan’s “Bolo” punch is explained! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEM8Q1WCzuA)
Kid Gavilán was admired by many. One of his favorite admirers was “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali. Ali respected and admired Gavilán as a person and as a pugilist. After Gavilán retired, Ali put Gavilán on his payroll as a consultant to learn some of Gavilán’s classic moves. For Cuba to have produced two of the greatest “Kid” champion boxers in the history of the sport, Kid Gavilán, Kid Chocolate and the added irony that both share the same Birthday (January 6), Hollywood couldn’t write a finer script of coincidences and great boxing skill.
About the Editor
Army Veteran and former Professional Boxer Simon Ruvalcaba started boxing at the age of ten and Had a 71 fight amateur career which featured a 139 lbs. 1998 8th U.S. Army Boxing Championship out of Camp Casey, Korea and a spot on the prestigious Army Boxing Team at Fort Hood, TX. After a journeyman pro career of 18 fights, which included sparring sessions with many champions and contenders including Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker, Simon started writing and has contributed to many publications and websites including fighthype.com, pound4pound.com, Tahoe Daily Tribune (South Lake Tahoe, CA), Nevada Appeal (Carson City, NV). He has also been the Boxing Instructor for Ken Shamrock and The Lions Den and was MMA and Bareknuckle star Paige VanZant’s first boxing coach!
Born and Raised in South Lake Tahoe, California he now resides in Sun Valley, Nevada and spends as much time as possible with his Sons Gabriel and Oscar! Beyond boxing, Simon is an all around sports fanatic and is passionate about the teams that he roots for. Simon also works as a Sportsbook Supervisor for Caesars Sportsbook in Lake Tahoe.
Just an FYI: I didn’t include this piece of information in my editorial because it is very sad but Kid Gavilán died and was completely insolvent. He was buried in a pauper’s grave. In 2005, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Ray Mancini and other retired boxers raised more than $10K and he received a proper burial in Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery in Miami, FL. RIP, Champ!
Superb read. Best thing I’ve read about Kid Gavilan. What a boxer, so sad how he died. Love these editorials Sergio keep up the good work bro
Thank you very much, Michael! It’s readers like yourself that give me a rush and drive to write! God bless and thank you for your input!