Titles: Flyweight champion 1975 to 1979 Record: 61-9-4 (15 K.O's) Born: January 30, 1948 in Merida, Mexico Years active: 1969-1982 Nickname: None Miguel Canto proved that not all Mexican fighters are face first sluggers, and he was not a dangerous puncher. But that didn't mean fighting Canto was easy to fight. The Mexican champion was an action fighter who overwhelmed his opponents with a high punch rate and accurate counter punches. Canto's reign as champion lasted 4 years and encompassed 14 successful title defenses. Canto only stood 5'1', but had a unusually long reach which was put to good use with a crisp jab and fast combination punches. Mental toughness must be added to his long list of qualities. Incredibly Canto was stopped in 2 of his first 3 fights and lost his first title bid. In 1972 he won the Mexican flyweight title before he challenged for the WBC flyweight title in 1973 which he lost via a 15-round decision to Betulio Gonzalez. Two years later, he out boxed Shoji Oguma in Japan for the vacant crown, for four years after that Canto went unbeaten and set a division record by making 14 successful title defenses. In one of those defenses he avenged a earlier title loss to Gonzalez twice and again defeated Oguma. On March 18, 1979 Canto turned old overnight when he lost to mediocre Chan-hee Park in Korea, a rematch ended in a draw. Canto well past his prime fought on through 1982 but lost four of his last five fights. Should be ranked as one of the 5 best flyweights of all time.
1969 5 Feb Raul Hernandez Merida, Mexico KO by 3 5 May Pedro Martinez Merida, Mexico W 4 13 Aug Pedro Carillo Mexico City KO by 4 6 Dec Vincente Pool Chetumal, Mexico W 8 1970 21 Jan Rudy Granados Merida, Mexico W 10 4 Feb Joe Calvario Merida, Mexico D 10 4 Mar Vincente Pool erida, Mexico W 10 21 Mar Baby Albornoz Chetumal, Mexico KO 9 8 Apr Alex Basilio Merida, Mexico KO 8 29 Apr Ranita Torres Merida, Mexico D 10 27 May Vincente Pool Merida, Mexico W 12 24 Jun Chamaco Zetina Merida, Mexico W 12 14 Oct Tarcisio Gomez Merida, Mexico L 10 11 Nov Arturo Velazquez Merida, Mexico W 10 9 Dec Jose Medrano Merida, Mexico W 10 1971 21 Jan Pedro Martinez Cansahcab, Mexico KO 2 14 Feb Francisco Montalvo Cansahcab, Mexico KO 6 17 Mar Marcus Gomez Merida, Mexico KO 6 4 Apr Tigre Bracamontes Tizimin, Mexico W 8 29 Apr Jose Luis Cetina Merida, Mexico W 10 14 May Gavilan Martinez Tekax, Mexico W 10 2 Jun Mario Garcia Merida, Mexico KO 10 14 Jul Pedro Lopez Merida, Mexico KO 3 28 Jul Domingo Ledezma Merida, Mexico W 10 1 Sep Roberto Alvarez Merida, Mexico W 10 20 Oct Alberto Morales Merida, Mexico W 10 1 Dec Luis Carlos Urrunaga Merida, Mexico W 10 1972 22 Jan Constancio Garcia Merida, Mexico W 12 15 Mar Jose Vargas Merida, Mexico W 10 5 Apr Armando Villa Merida, Mexico KO 4 20 May Ricardo Delgado Merida, Mexico W 12 26 Jul Jose Luis Valencia Merida, Mexico W 10 27 Sep Jose Antonio Corral Merida, Mexico KO 3 18 Nov Alberto Morales Merida, Mexico W 12 1973 31 Jan Ignacio Espinal Merida, Mexico D 10 24 Mar Tarcisio Gomez Merida, Mexico KO 2 2 May Rudy Billones Merida, Mexico W 10 10 May Luis Garcia Tenosique, Mexico KO 7 29 Jun Chamaco Rodriguez Chetumal, Mexico KO 5 4 Aug Betulio Gonzalez Caracas L 15 (For Vacant WBC Flyweight Title) 17 Nov Lupe Hernandez Merida, Mexico W 12 1974 13 Feb Tony Moreno Merida, Mexico KO 5 27 Apr Manuel Montiel Merida, Mexico W 12 8 Jun Pablito Jimenez Merida, Mexico W 10 17 Aug Alberto Morales Mexico City W 10 25 Oct Ricardo Delgado Valladolid, Mexico W 10 1975 8 Jan Shoji Oguma Sendai, Japan W 15 (Won WBC Flyweight Title) 8 Mar Ignacio Espinal Merida, Mexico W 10 24 May Betulio Gonzalez Monterrey, Mexico W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 18 Jul Lupe Madera Cozumel, Mexico KO 9 23 Aug Jiro Takada Merida, Mexico KO 11 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 13 Dec Ignacio Espinal Merida, Mexico W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 1976 13 Mar Francisco Marquez Mexico City W 10 15 May Susumu Hanagata Merida, Mexico W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 3 Oct Betulio Gonzalez Caracas W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 20 Nov Orlando Javierto Los Angeles, CA W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 1977 24 Apr Reyes Arnal Caracas W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 15 Jun Kimio Furesawa Tokyo W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 17 Sep Martin Vargas Merida, Mexico W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 30 Nov Martin Vargas Santiago W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 1978 4 Jan Shoji Oguma Tokyo W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 18 Apr Shoji Oguma Tokyo W 5 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 20 Nov Tacomron Vibonchai Houston, TX W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 1979 10 Feb Antonio Avelar Merida, Mexico W 15 (Retained WBC Flyweight Title) 18 Mar Chan-Hee Park Pusan, South Korea L 15 (Lost WBC Flyweight Title) 9 Sep Chan-Hee Park Seoul D 15 (For WBC Flyweight Title) 1980 16 Aug Alfredo Hernandez Merida, Mexico W 10 18 Oct Orlando Maldonado Guadalajara, Mexico W D.Q 6 1981 22 Feb Sung-Jun Kim Merida, Mexico W 10 29 Mar Gabriel Bernal Villahermosa, Mexico L 10 6 Jun Gabriel Bernal Merida, Mexico W 10 29 Aug Candido Tellez Villahermosa, Mexico KO by 4 31 Oct Alfredo Hernandez Torreon, Mexico KO by 7 1982 24 Jul Rodolfo Ortega Merida, Mexico KO by 9