Titles: Bantamweight champion 1959-1960 Record: 71-5-2 Born: April 15, 1936 in Guadalajara, Mexico Years active: 1953-1962 Nickname: None Becerra is the man that many credit for the rise of boxing in Mexico. He was the idol of Mexico in the late 1950's with his boyish good looks and unrelenting infighting with particular attention to body work. Becerra won his first 20 fights before loosing Luis Ibarra over 6 rounds and would loose and draw 1 more fight over his next 13 bouts. Before he went on a 15 fight winning streak to earn a title shot Becerra was involved in a series of fights with Dwight Hawkins that made him a fan favorite in Los Angeles. He lost the first fight to Hawking by 4th round knock out avenged the loss 3 fights later via a 9th round stoppage. The 2 thrilling bouts would establish him as a attraction in Los Angeles and brought Alphonse Halimi to Los Angeles for a title bout. Becerra knocked Halimi out with a picture perfect blow to the body followed by a hook to the jaw which sent the champion home without his belt. His very next fight was a voluntary defense in his hometown against Walter Ingram who died from injuries suffered in the bout. Like other fighters before him this affected Becerra tremendously and he would not be the same fighter ever again. Becerra won 2 more title defenses knocking out Halimi in a rematch and getting away with a split decision win over Kenji Yonekura in Tokyo along with 3 voluntary defenses. Becerra suffered a shocking loss Eloy Sanchez in which he was knocked down 3 times in the voluntary defense and announced his retirement. At the age of 24 his career was pretty much over. Of course he made the comeback but it never amounted to much. Becerra a loner and quiet man who would often sit for hours in contemplation never overcame the death of a foe and it looks like that death took the fight out of Becerra also.
1953 Aug 30 Ray Gomez Guadalajara, Mexico KO 4 Sep 6 M. Estrada Atemajac, Mexico KO 5 Oct 3 R. Gonzalez Guadalajara, Mexico W 4 Oct 24 Raul Salazar Atemajac, Mexico W 6 1954 Mar 13 J. Plascencia Guadalajara, Mexico W 4 Apr 24 Marcelino Garcia Guadalajara, Mexico W 4 May 2 R. Espinosa Guadalajara, Mexico W 6 May 15 Kid Pompeyo Guadalajara, Mexico KO 4 May 23 Al Escalante Guadalajara, Mexico W 6 Jun 5 Joe Mariscal Guadalajara, Mexico KO 4 Jun 12 Raul Perez Guadalajara, Mexico KO 2 Jul 3 Kid Pompeyo Guadalajara, Mexico KO 4 Jul 19 Al Escalante Guadalajara, Mexico W 6 Aug 2 Kid Pichilingo Guadalajara, Mexico KO 6 Aug 23 Jose Luis Navarro Guadalajara, Mexico W 6 Sep 6 Mario Leon Guadalajara, Mexico KO 2 Sep 12 J. Plascencia Guadalajara, Mexico W 6 Sep 20 Tomas Cervantes Guadalajara, Mexico KO 3 Oct 3 L. Ibarra Guadalajara, Mexico L 6 Oct 18 Jose Luis Navarro Guadalajara, Mexico W 6 Dec 4 Kid Senorito Guadalajara, Mexico KO 4 1955 Feb 12 M. Gonzalez Guadalajara, Mexico W 8 Mar 5 Chucho Guerrero Guadalajara, Mexico KO 4 May 28 Joe Chamaco Guadalajara, Mexico KO 5 Jun 11 Danny Bedolal Morelia, Mexico D 10 Jun 25 Chava Santiago Guadalajara, Mexico KO 6 Jul 2 Fili Presa Leon, Mexico KO 4 Jul 16 Firpito Gaytan Guadalajara, Mexico W 10 Oct 4 Pepe Villa Pala, Mexico KO 7 Oct 8 Antonio Guevara Leon, Mexico KO 10 Oct 15 R. Garcia Guadalajara, Mexico W 10 1956 Feb 11 Antonio Guevara Leon, Mexico KO 10 Feb 18 C. Martinez Guadalajara, Mexico L 10 Mar 22 German Ohm Gomez Palacio, Mexico KO 6 May 11 Jorge Valverde Gomez Palacio, Mexico KO 7 May 31 Rogelio Sancedo Gomez Palacio, Mexico W 10 Jun 21 Mario Ruiz Gomez Palacio, Mexico W 10 Aug 9 Jorge Gabino Gomez Palacio, Mexico KO 5 Sep 6 Memo Sanchez Gomez Palacio, Mexico W 10 Oct 18 German Ohm Gomez Palacio, Mexico L 10 Nov 7 Chuy Guerrero Torreon, Mexico W 10 1957 Jan 1 Jorge Herrera Torreon, Mexico KO 7 Jan 12 Manuel Armenteros Monterrey, Mexico W 10 Feb 9 Joe Medel Monterrey, Mexico W 10 Mar 2 Joe Medel Mexico City W 10 Apr 2 Juan Perez Ciudad Juarez, Mexico KO 4 Apr 27 Chuy Rodriguez Mexico City W 10 May 25 Jose Luis Mora Mexico City W 10 Jun 15 Johnny Ortega San Francisco KO 4 Jul 1 Kid Irapuato Tijuana KO 8 Aug 17 Raul Leanos Monterrey, Mexico D 10 Oct 12 Ramon Calatayud Mexico City W 10 Nov 6 Dwight Hawkins Los Angeles KO by 4 1958 Jan 25 Jorge Herrera Mexico KO 4 Feb 8 Joe Medel Mexico City W 10 Mar 8 Dwight Hawkins Guadalajara, Mexico KO 9 Mar 31 Hector Agundez Tapachula, Mexico W 10 Apr 12 Miguel Lazu Mexico City KO 7 May 25 Charlie DeBow Mexico City KO 2 Jun 28 Gaetano Annaloro Guadalajara, Mexico KO 10 Jul 21 Joey Agustin Tijuana, Mexico KO 5 Aug 14 Willie Parker Los Angeles KO 2 Sep 5 Little Cesar Los Angeles KO 4 Oct 25 Jose Luis Mara Guadalajara, Mexico KO 3 Nov 30 Ross Padilla Mexicali, Mexico KO 1 1959 Feb 5 Mario D'Agata Los Angeles KO 10 Mar 19 Chuy Rodriguez Guadalajara, Mexico KO 5 Apr 20 Billy Peacock Tijuana, Mexico KO 1 Jul 8 Alphonse Halimi Los Angeles KO 8 (Wins World Bantamweight Title) Oct 24 Walt Ingramy Guadalajara, Mexico KO 9 Dec 12 Frankie Duran Nogales, Mexico W 10 1960 Feb 4 Alphonse Halimi Los Angeles KO 9 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Mar 15 Ward Yee San Antonio W 10 Apr 10 Pimi Barajas Torreon, Mexico KO 7 May 23 Kenji Yonekura Tokyo W 15 (Retains World Bantamweight Title) Aug 12 Chuy Rodriguez Tampico, Mexico KO 4 Aug 30 Eloy Sanchez Ciudad Juarez, Mexico KO by 8 1962 Oct 13 Alberto Martinez Guadalajara, Mexico W 6