Titles: WBA welterweight champion 1976-1980

Record: 35-15 

Born: December 27, 1957 in Mexico City, Mexico

Years active: 1972-1989

Nickname: None

Pipino Cuevas fits the mold of Mexican puncher perfectly, a powerpuncher who 
dug to the body and had a very good left hook. Of course Pepino also showed 
a lack of defense. Cuevas did not just knock people out he broke bones and 
speed bags with frightening ease! The career of Cuevas like many Mexican 
fighters started early,  and at the age of 14 was on the loosing end of 4 of 
his first 11 fights that went the distance......he knocked the other 7 men 
out. By the age of 17 he was the Mexican welterweight champion when he 
knocked out world rated Jose Palacios. Like many who achieved such a feat at 
a young age he hit the party circuit and did not train for his fights. It 
caught up to him when Andy Price a defensive boxer outpointed him 2 fights 
later. This set Cuevas back to the gym's with a vengeance and WBA champion
Angel Espadas mistakenly thought Cuevas would be a easy defense after his 
loss to Price. He would not see the third round as Cuevas destroyed him with 
vicious hooks. His reign as champion was impressive as only 1 challenger 
(Randy Shields)  survived to the last bell. The opposition was not weak 
either Clyde Gray, Harold Grey, Pete Ranzany, Billy Backus and a rematch 
with Angel Espada were all thought to be good challengers. Now Cuevas 
enjoyed tremendous popularity in Mexico but like other fighters who started 
their career at a early age Cuevas faded almost overnight. The end for 
Cuevas would be swift and come in the form of another big puncher in Thomas 
Hearns. The loss to Hearns took away his aura of invincibility and worse of 
all took away his own self belief. After the Hearns loss 3 years passed and 
Cuevas fought on with success against low level opposition before he lost 
in 4 rounds to a comebacking Roberto Duran. For the next 6 years he 
struggled on and as usual had tough times against good boxers and finally 
retired at the young at of 31. His prime was short but it was filled with 
some of the most impressive kayo wins in welterweight history.