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Puma de Baracoa

José Legrá
Puma de Baracoa
(Part One)

Currently in Spain can only talk boxing with the elderly, young people just because they know the "nonsense" of Poli Diaz or Mike Tyson. Ignore the glory that you gave to English sport of boxing and the boxer who showed the way to victory in this sport. A man who by his victories, his boxing style and verbiage was known as "El Puma de Baracoa" or "mini Cassius Clay."
This boxer came from Cuba to nationalize English and gave our sport, plus more than 130 wins, two world titles and seven Europeans. This man was Joseph Legrá, and we're talking more than 30 years ago, when Fernando Alonso and Rafael Nadal were not born.

The early years in Baracoa
José Adolfo Legrá Utvia born in Baracoa, Cuba, a March 19, 1943, being the second of seven children in the humble neighborhood of Matachín. When he was only eleven, his parents separated "My parents separated, my mother had to bring up four black boys."

In those years of poverty, our protagonist worked as a shoeshine boy and delivering newspapers at the end of his neighborhood, where he was shouting the names of the newspapers sold: Furrow, East, etc ... After manisero gigs, and also the famous song by Cuban Antonio Machin. Selling peanuts carrying a bell and shouting "The manisero!", "Let go!". And at the end of the night he was a guide for American tourists who were in search of prostitutes. As Legrá recalled years later, "They told me saying "fuck" and I took them where they stood. "

Some days I was at school, very few, then crept to his friend Rafaelito by a pipe down the cinema El Encanto.

His first steps in amateur boxing
A Legrá was passionate to watch movies at the local cinema, and it was there where he could admire his early idols, Kid Chocolate, Kid Gavilan, Archie Moore, Ray "Sugar" Robinson , and a Cuban who boxed in Europe and was a friend of writer Ernest Hemingway called the Nobel Prize being beaten Tunero Kid!. A bold one that fed wimpy little rice like the idea of \u200b\u200bbeing a day their idols.

of Baracoa on the beach were organized boxing matches, the prize for a guy like him was very tasty: a dollar, a bun and a glass of milk. Nobody got beat in the fighting to Legrá beach. His first discovery, René Sin, saw in him a champion in power and recommended it to the gym La Punta. Despite fierce opposition from his mother that he had tried on several occasions that he left the sport, burning their boxing team. In November 1958, debuted as amateur defeating Thomas "Guachiro" Rodriguez, winning £ 700. of the time. That money was several days of delivery of newspapers, manisero and shoeshine. José Legrá made a total of 23 amateur boxer bouts, winning 22 and losing only one in Santiago de Cuba against Vicente Nunez, one of his greatest disappointments.

Her mother came to forbid the entry into the gym, so decided to leave Baracoa and go to Havana, through there were a thousand miles. In Havana I went ... in search of glory.

To reach the capital of Cuba was in a cardboard box and two hundred pesetas and started hitchhiking. He only picked up trucks, and drivers fed him they could. We also stopped at the restaurants where she washed dishes in exchange for food.

One of these drivers, called Manolo, he was surprised by his confidence and determination to become world boxing champion. Upon arrival in Havana, the driver paid the first 15 days of board and board. There he met a fellow countryman who introduced him to what would be his first manager Luis Sarria, then cutman of Muhammad Ali and Ray "Sugar" Leonard. Who took him to the gym, which Legrá remember "There were only monsters of boxing, Luis Rodriguez, Naples Butter, Sugar Ramos, Kid Chocolate, Kid Patent, Turner and Kid Kid Gavilan.

Kid Gavilan, the legendary former world champion welterweight, he taught his legendary "bolo punch. " "Kid Gavilan told me that the blow was to the carotid, so I drew a face on the bag and I tried the blow of the carotid artery." That blow was taught the same Hawk to Muhammad Ali, and then would use Ray Sugar Leonard and English that brought Pedro Carrasco imported from Brazil. In the gym

Luis Sarria, alongside many former champions and future stars will learn the art of hitting without getting hit, and the elegance and pace of which can boast the Cuban boxers, famous throughout the world. A Sarria convinced him how to box the young Legrá, but was concerned about its constitution, was too thin and malnourished. Fed him a monumental filetón.

When Joseph was going to debut as a professional in '59, the doctor discovered an anemia during medical examination and prohibited him from boxing for a year, which was spent alongside his manager and moved to a nice apartment. Getting sick from eating so much meat to try to compensate so hungry late.

Soon his mother remarried. A Legrá he was pleased that someone look after her, although her mother had not spoken since his departure in search of fortune.

professional Legrá
In 1960, Cuba has succeeded in the revolution led by Fidel Castro, his brother Raúl, Ernesto "Che" Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos. Gen. Fulgencio Batista flees the country this year when Legrá makes his professional debut in Havana against Pedro Piñero. The fight will be broadcast on television throughout the country. The fight was agreed to four rounds of three minutes and a rest. The incentive for victory amounted to 3,000 pesetas. The rookie beat his opponent by points.

Fifteen days after climbing back to the ring against another big name, Ramon Ferrer, who made no contest. Also broadcast on TV and going to pocket 3,000 bays.

Legrá account their struggle for victories against ranked opponents well. Climbing its contribution to the defeat. Of 14 fights get 12 wins, a no contest and one defeat, ultimately unjust, against Bobby Luis, who defeated in the rematch. 3,000 pts going to win. to 12,000. Now he could afford his first whim: shoes and costumes. The rest, as always, his mother sent him.

Take some time off to visit his family in Baracoa. This time the plane did travel and gifts for everyone. His mother, Mama Sole, could not resist the excitement and went to see him at the airport. Although the visit was short, his manager had organized fighting in Mexico.

Legrá flies to Mexico and the U.S. and know Luis Cassius Clay
Sarria had won a fight in Mexico, was the first time he fought abroad, and after five hours of flight arrives in Mexico City. In the Mexican capital met actor and comedian Mario Moreno Cantinflas singer and actor Miguel Aceves Mejías. The newspapers spoke of 'Puma de Baracoa ", and the bleachers were packed Arena Mexico. The opponent was Angel Ray, and Cuba was defeated by not adapting to the altitude. From there he would fly to the USA. In Miami Beach boxing in defeating Conny KO in the fifth assault on Jimmy Hightower, who helped him recover from his previous defeat. Then, the legendary trainer Angelo Dundee took him to his gym where he met a week after a boy of the same breed come from Louisville, Kentucky, who had just won the gold medal at light heavyweight in the Olympics in Rome by the name of Cassius Clay. Clay Legrá and made good friends and he gave advice to never forget: "Do not listen to what anybody says, if you believe in you, keep going."

weeks after faced in Tampa Bay with Hilton Smith, whose tomb by KO. With the bags that got bought a TV to his mother, who by then had given her three siblings. Aspiring to

Cuban bantamweight championship
already in Havana again beat his old rival Bobby Louis and then faces Henry Gamury, fellow countryman of Baracoa. Everyone told us not pelease man with him, he had a terrible punch. Even his manager, who had always encouraged, left to their choice. Gamury was very dangerous, but if they earned could be nominated Cuban bantamweight championship.

The match took place at the fourth assault was on the verge of losing for a good blow of his adversary. But in the fifth round out their quality and end up winning the points. This victory makes the boxing commission of the name Havana Cuban championship contender bantamweight who held Enrique Hitlmann.

A few days later, the headlines could read "Joseph Legrá candidate the national title of the roosters "and" Legrá is a figure in the making of our boxing. We are sure you will many days of glory to Cuban boxing. If something is missing from Legrá is stuck, we are sure you acquire over time. But his quick reflexes, their mobility in the ring make him one of our most prominent figures, just right after his victory over Enrique Gamuri very clear that this official appointment as Hitlmann title contender. Difficult to predict our own for this fight, but triumphant Legrá get it, no doubt that his stock would rise and not much could be constructed by world champion. "All seemed to do well, luck was smiling until ... Fidel Castro prohibits professional sports. The fighter had been training better than ever to play the Cuban bantamweight title. The fight would be held on April 30, 1962. One morning he comes home to the floor of his friend Julian Legrá the newspaper where the headline reads "Professional sport is suspended in Cuba. The boxer remember the time, "I imagined in nightmare nights shining shoes, delivering milk, selling peanuts ... scraping by in a word. "The situation seemed to have no exit, boxing people were bewildered, because of overnight had lost her only means of subsistence. In addition Legrá had sent money to his family to a house were built, as the cyclone swept in 1955 Hilda had. Took a long time without winning a single weight and had to sell some things of value to pay the debts he had contracted, and there were no more reserves. Luis Sarria was abroad and thought Legrá a contract abroad. Three contracts in one day.

Those who had seen him in the ring could not forget that of Baracoa and one day she received three contracts. The first was Tunero Kid from Spain, the second from Mexico, and a third of Angelo Dundee from Miami, who had recommended by your manager. "Those in Miami and Mexico were very beneficial but I chose the first thing I did and could not break my word and went to Spain."

Coming to Spain
Our protagonist arrives in Madrid September 14, 1963 . Kid Tunero awaited. His arrival at the airport would not be like years later when he won the championship of the world or Europe, received a sweet crowd. In his first arrival was unknown. "We went to eat at a diner that was near our pension. The dish was unique, almost every day to eat vegetables, beans for dinner, vegetables the next day. It was not very adequate meal, but at least served to feed and very cheap, that was what they were mainly. "Legrá and were waiting Tunero offers, and the first came at last ...

Debut in Spain
In his first fight in our country, faced off against Ben Lazarus Layachi Moroccan in Madrid. "They said I could fight in the old Fiesta Alegre Frontón against a rival named Lazarus Ben Layachi. Had heard that he knew all the tricks of the trade and was very brawler, fighting did not appear very advantageous for me. But there was one thing that ultimately decide. You could choose from, each day had to eat. On the other hand had to be released in this country, in which my name did not tell them anything yet fans and promoters. "The Cuban took the fight on the old Fiesta Alegre Frontón defeating his opponent by TKO in the sixth assault, making a revelation for fans of this sport in Spain that saw him fight that night. A few days later due to Baldomero Arroyo spot, and then beat Barcelona Aisa and Juan Luis Aguilera, both points.

Between 1964 and 1965 in several cities fight face boxing's most quoted and defeating them. Television, which is already beginning to see in many cities in the development of the Franco years, it becomes a public figure, as also happened with the bullfighter Manuel Benitez "the Cordoba" and Sebastián Palomo Linares ", or another fighter of his time, Pedro Carrasco. Legrá followers were carrying signs. In Spain at that time in the boxing scene everyone is talking about Pedro Carrasco, "the sea of \u200b\u200bfists of gold", though English, came from Brazil, and Jose Legrá, whom they call the "mini Cassius Clay ". When he described talk of "black wire leg." In 1966, facing the Welshman Howard Winstone, champion European featherweight. Legrá cock had gone from the pen, and although superior to Winstone loses points against the Welsh. The British press nicknamed the outbreak of Cuba. The following year Legrá defeat the best in your weight: Mohammed Larroussi, Amour Lamine, Rafiu King, Love Allotey. Obtained English nationality, the same year steps into the ring against the Belgian Jean de Keer in an elimination bout to contest the European Championship featherweight, the winner will be named European title contender, and Legrá him down in the first assault, winning abandonment. Howard Winstone

As champions of Europe just won featherweight world title, version Council boxing world, was vacant at the other coaspirante, Japanese Mitsunori Seki. By KO in London and had to vacate the European title and name coaspirante Algerian-born Frenchman Yves Des Marets for the year 1967. The fight will take place at the Sports Palace of Madrid. The fighter was a dangerous opponent gabacho. Only Howard Winstone had lost in their assault on the European Championship featherweight, and your country no one had managed to snatch the national championship in his weight.

European Champion
On 22 December the same year, José Legrá win the European title by defeating featherweight knockout Yves Des Marets in just three rounds. Fernando Vadillo, the best journalist who has written about boxing in Spain, writes to the owner in the Madrid daily AS "Birth of a puncher." Making it clear that the Cuban, whatever he said, knew paste. The first assault would "French sensed he was going to lose and started to sell face defeat" on the second round "Legrá even dare to let their guard down and feint the enemy. And came out triumphant, returned to shoot left, turn right and weave through an arabesque of footwork that if they wanted many champions of bells. "

Legrá assault in the third defeat KO the Franco-fighter, the Swiss referee Neudholf said "Out", and proclaimed the new champion of Europe Legrá featherweight. The public took to the ring by lifting the shoulders, and Legros, who had been saying it was the best in Spain, like Ali cheering in the USA that he was the greatest, said to the microphone, "Who said I was an ignoramus ? See! Who said I'm a bully? "And ended" I'll be world champion. " "When a child went hungry in Cuba, and nobody gave me a quarter, I said I have to be world champion, I have to be among the ten best fighters in the world. " In that year the English Boxing Pedro Carrasco was also European champion lightweight to defeat in June at the Danish Borge Krogh by TKO in the eighth assault in the Sports Palace of Madrid.

that sport could also see on television are held evenings and the very president of the English Federation of boxing, then president of the European Boxing Union, Dr. Gil Vicente was Franco's personal physician, and triumphs of English fighters abroad, like the Manolo Santana in tennis and Angel Nieto in motorcycling, and before the Real Madrid football, Franco made the bus will go up to the sporting success when Spain was not allowed to enter the common market, as well as Portugal.

few months after winning the Cuban boxers still well worth buying. Besides being the European champion, was named applicant to dispute the world featherweight championship, in the version of World Boxing Council WBC, his old rival Howard Winstone, who will make his first title defense against the Baracoa. Legrá, as European champion, is received by the English dictator in the Palacio del Prado. Together with his trainer Kid Tunero, the former chief of the fighter tells about his fight against Winstone "I hope to do a good job and put Spain in the place it deserves", and the boxer responds "Your Excellency, that title will come here."

A English world champion 33 years later
Since 1935, when Berenguer Valencia Baltasar "Sangchili" wrested the world championship bantamweight spot to Caribbean Panama Al Brown, had not returned to be a English boxer who be world champion. Luis Romero had tried in 1951 in the South African bantamweight against Vic Toweel, Young Martin had tried in the flyweight in 1957 against Argentina Pascual Pérez, Juan Cárdenas in 1961 in front of the Welsh bantamweight Johnny Caldwall.

The fight was held in Wales, in the coastal city of cawl Porth, who was halfway major Welsh cities, Cardiff and Swansea. And Legrá focuses on Torrelodones, on the outskirts of Madrid, making gloves with his friends Miguel Velasquez, Spain champion lightweight, and Pedro Carrasco, a champion of Europe itself. Both helped a lot to cope with the grueling Howard Winstone.

The Baracoa already instructed to say "He would be the new world champion and he was no bully." The people would answer "I do not know how you will return to Spain if you lose."
The promoter of the fight, the English Jack Solomon, says the odds are in favor of Winstone nine to one. But the British sports press is impressed by how the candidate to box, and write of it being "A true Cassius Clay for their constant mobility, aggressiveness fraught with danger for his rival, a morality of iron ... wood is in him a champion. "

The fight takes place in the Coney Beach Arena, with a capacity of 11600 spectators. The Welsh fighter's fans sing songs in the country, and before them those of the English fans of the rock Charing Crossroad Costa Brava, and a rock and a Aragon Canary sing "La, la, la" Massiel a few months earlier had won the Eurovision Song Contest in London. English
arbitrate
Harry Gibbs, with a reputation for being fair and neutral. And although Legrá said "I have to win, I'm the best and I will show" Kid Tunero distrusted local public pressure "must win by KO, so no one can discuss the decision." After the hymns sound
Spain, Wales and England, a hymn by the aspirant Legrá, one by the champion Winstone, and a final by Gibbs, the referee, the fight begins.
In the first minute, Cuban takes it to the counter and throws a bolopunch that sounds like a real kick. Continues with a swing that makes sitting on the canvas, and the Welsh public is scared because her idol has a swollen eye. The following rounds are a cakewalk for Legrá, who does what he wants with Winstone, who has one eye closed and tries to dodge the black boxer's fists, which are released into the damaged eye, boxing with his particular Indian pace until the referee decides to stop the fight in the 5 th assault, proclaiming Legrá winner and new world champion featherweight.

33 years after the English had a new boxing world champion, jumped English fans to ring up on their shoulders the winner, he even placed a cardboard crown. Legrá pulls off the public and kneels to give thanks to God, tells reporters "I'm the best in the world! I am the best! No one can doubt that I am the champion of the world ". Kid Tunero Beside his friend, the former champion of Europe welterweight Juan Albornoz "Sombrita", Gil Vicente, who knows that his most famous patient has been attentive to the small screen, and the English ambassador in London, the Marquis of Santa Cruz, Renzo CASADEL promoter. Overflowing with joy, Legrá and friends celebrate with good food and champagne. Two days after arriving in Madrid, with all the press waiting, like many fans and friends. Champion to exit the plane has a lock between the teeth, "saying that if you said it was the best, it is because it was., And that if thousands of times he said it was the best the world had every reason to have done. " Answers to questions in the best way Muhammad Ali: "I think I'll be world champion for a long time. When Apollo reached the moon I disputaré the title on the moon. I am not a Don Juan, but it is true that I have success with women. You have many friends y. .. I like girls more than others. It is normal no?. I have much luck with many things. I love dancing and everything modern, and when I think just having fun dancing, I forget boxing. " Legrá was very tired and took refuge for a week in Torrelodones. TV came to interview him everywhere. Could also talk to your family on the phone: "Miguel, my brother, you saw ... I am champion and how are you?. Sole Tell Mom not to cry. I'll be strong. " After winning the title for two fights that will serve as running to the defense of the above in Bilbao, against the boxer Bobo Allotey Ghana English citizen, the future European bantamweight champion, who won on points. After moved to Paris and defeated the French boxer from Algeria also Felix Said Brami, knocking him out in the first assault.

Legrá King loses his title thanks to a short-sighted referee
On January 21, 1969 José Legrá defends his title in London by the Australian Johnny Famechon, nephew of the French boxer Ray Famechon, an old acquaintance of the English fans as he lost the European featherweight title against Fred Galiana English in 1955. Combat takes place in the Royal Albert Hall, and all of Spain is awaiting the TV to watch the event. The popularity of color boxer is so great that they even brought a toy with her image, hitting a button. Legrá The fight ends up losing on points after having sent several times to the canvas to the applicant, the English referee George Smith pretending to be clueless. The ends of Baracoa in high dudgeon about how they had given him losing the title that had cost him so much win. "Famechon is not a champion, the day someone actually beat me I'll be man enough to admit it. But not one that only pushes back, hold on, not wanting to fight. Not a champion, no, this is a way to win a world title. In this way do you want to win the title Famechon! At the airport, down the street, people tell me "You You're still the best. " The first thing I did was think about the millions of mom and I have received telegrams from Europe and America. But it is the most handsome, nor have the money Onassis, but by being the best. He did not feel so angry to clobber the referee because I believe in God, and something would happen to the referee to do what he did. Will know what would ... Maybe God would happen so I'm realistic. I do not believe in dreams. Things are as they are. If I remove the title what can I do. " "I am very proud and come back to win the title again. The problem is not to last long, but come to conquer it legitimately, as I I do. " ..............

continue.

Consul Eduardo Alvarez