Kid Chocolate
Titles: Featherweight champion from 1932-1933, Jr. lighweight champion
from 1931-1933
Record: 132-10-6
Born:January 6, 1910 in Cerro, Cuba
Years active: 1928-1938
Nickname: The Cuban Bon Bon
Chocolate was called a "picture boxer" because he learned how to fight by
watching films of other fighters. It was said he learned a left from Joe
Gans, a right from Benny Leonard, and clinching from Jack Johnson. Good
teachers! Chocolate won 100 straight amateur bouts in Cuba without a loss
including 86 K.O's. His wins continued as knocked out his first 21 pro
opponents before traveling to America in 1928. 45 more wins followed most
of which were in New York City and over such good boxers as Fidel LaBarba,
Al Singer and Bushy Graham. Perfection was ruined when another "Kid", the
tough Jack "Kid" Berg outpointed him over 10 rounds using his 11 pound
weight advantage. 1930 was not a good year as that loss was followed by
3 more. One came at the hands of Bat Battalino for the featherweight title.
7 months later Chocolate knocked out Benny Bass in 7 rounds for the Jr.
lightweight crown and then won a decision Fidel LaBarba for the Feather
weight crown thus becoming the first Cuban to hold a world title. His
party lifestyle started to catch up with him as Tony Canzoneri defeated
Chocolate when he attempted to move up in weight to gain the lightweight
title. Chocolate would also lose his jr. lightweight crown when Frankie
Klick K.O'd him in 7 rounds. Despite winning 47 of his next 50 fights he
was not granted another shot at any title. Chocolate retired in frustration
and lived out his life in Cuba until 1988. Chocolate was simply as
immaculate boxer with a punch that could destroy any opponent and for a
short span was the best in the world at any weight.
Kid Chocolate
Career record: 135 W, 9 L, 6 D (50 K.O's)
1927
Dec 8 Johnny Cruz Havana W 6
1928
Jan 4 Jose Castillo Havana W 6
Feb 11 Johnny Cruz Havana KO 5
Mar 3 Kid Sotolongo Havana KO 1
Mar 10 Angel Diaz Havana KO 7
Apr 7 Mario Remache Havana TKO 4
May 14 Chico Morales Havana KO 5
Jun 16 Pablo Blanco Havana KO 5
Jul 18 Eddie Enos Mineola, Cuba KO 3
Jul 25 Nick De Salvo Mineola, Cuba W 8
Aug 8 Mike Castle Mineola, Cuba KO 3
Aug 15 Johnny Green Mineola, Cuba KO 4
Aug 25 Nick Mercer New York KO 3
Sep 17 Sammy Tisch New York W 10
Oct 1 Johnny Erickson New York W 10
Oct 10 Eddie O'Dowd New York W 10
Oct 29 Joey Ross New York KO 1
Nov 3 Frisco Grande New York TKO 4
Nov 8 Pinky Silverberg New York W 8
Nov 19 Jackie Schweitzer New York TKO 6
Nov 24 Pinky May New York TKO 6
Nov 30 Joey Scalfaro New York D 10
Dec 10 Jimmy Helstein Buffalo W 10
Dec 17 Emil Paulso New York TKO 8
Dec 22 Pancho Dencio New York TKO 2
1929
Feb 24 Chick Suggs Havana W 10
Mar 9 Phil O'Dowd New York KO 1
Mar 18 Al Rackow Buffalo TKO 4
Mar 22 Johnny Vacca Boston TKO 10
Apr 12 Bushy Graham New York W D.Q 7
Apr 22 Vic Burrone New York W 10
Apr 29 Tommy Ryan New York KO 1
May 7 Steve Smith Wilkes-Barre, PA W 10
May 22 Fidel LaBarba New York W 10
Jun 5 Gregorio Vidal Philadelphia W 10
Jun 18 Terry Roth New York TKO 3
Jun 24 Jackie Johnson Toronto KO 1
Jul 10 Ignacio Fernandez New York W 10
Jul 19 Milton Cohen Rockaway, NY W 10
Jul 30 Steve Smith Chicago W 10
Aug 7 Tommy Lorenzo Mineola, Cuba TKO 6
Aug 29 Al Singer New York W 10
Nov 9 Johnny Erickson New York W 10
Nov 19 Jose Martinez New York W 10
Nov 27 Eddie O'Dowd New York KO 2
Dec 10 Herman Silverberg New York KO 1
Dec 18 Dominick Petrone New York W 10
Dec 21 Johnny Lawson New York KO 2
1930
Feb 23 Vic Burrone Havana W 10
Mar 5 Benny Hall Tampa, FL W 10
Mar 21 Al Ridgeway New York TKO 2
Apr 28 Johnny Erickson Toronto W 10
Jul 2 Dominick Petrone New York TKO 6
Jul 10 Vic Burrone Buffalo KO 3
Jul 15 Luigi Quadrini New York W 10
Aug 7 Jack "Kid" Berg New York L 10
Oct 16 Benny Nabors New York TKO 1
Oct 27 Mickey Doyle Newark, NJ KO 1
Nov 3 Fidel LaBarba New York L 10
Dec 12 Bat Battalino New York L 15
(For World Featherweight Title)
1931
May 29 George Goldberg New York TKO 7
Jun 12 Steve Smith New Haven, CT W 10
Jun 17 Maxie Leiner White Plains, NY W 10
Jun 29 Harry Sankey Poughkeespie, NY W 10
Jul 15 Benny Bass Philadelphia TKO 7
(Wins World Jr. Lightweight Title)
Oct 1 Joey Scalfaro New York TKO 1
Oct 12 Steve Smith Trenton, NJ W 10
Oct 21 Al Goldberg Jersey City, NJ TKO 3
Oct 26 Buck Oliva Hartford, CT TKO 2
Nov 2 Lew Feldman New York W 10
Nov 20 Tony Canzoneri New York L 15
(For World Lightweight Title)
Nov 30 Maxie Leiner New York KO 1
1932
Mar 6 Dominick Petrone Havana W 10
Apr 10 Davey Abad Havana W 15
(Retains World Jr. Lightweight Title)
May 16 Mike Sarko New York W 10
May 26 Steve Smith Garfield, NY W 10
Jun 1 Lew Feldman New York W 15
Jun 6 Mike Sarko Albany, NY W 10
Jun 16 Roger Bernard Philadelphia W 10
Jun 22 Johnny Farr Pittsburgh W 10
Jul 18 Jack "Kid" Berg New York L 15
Aug 4 Eddie Shea Chicago W 10
Aug 10 Johnny Farr Cincinnati W 10
Sep 1 Frankie Marchese Freeport, CT TKO 4
Sep 6 Steve Smith Boston W 10
Sep 15 Frank Farriello Freeport, CT W 6
Oct 4 Johnny Farr Detroit W 10
Oct 13 Lew Feldman New York TKO 12
(Wins New York State Featherweight Title)
Nov 14 Pete Nebo New York W 10
Nov 21 Eddie Reilly New York W 10
Nov 29 Johnny Alba New York W 6
Dec 9 Fidel LaBarba New York W 15
(Retains New York State Featherweight Title)
1933
May 1 Johnny Farr Philadelphia W 15
May 19 "Seaman" Tommy Watson New York W 15
(Retains New York State Featherweight Title)
Jul 15 Nick Bensa Madrid W 10
Aug 2 Franz Machtens Barcelona, Spain W 10
Sep 29 Nick Bensa Paris W 10
Abandons New York State Featherweight Title
Nov 1 Joe Ghnouly Montreal W 12
Nov 24 Tony Canzoneri New York KO by 2
Dec 4 Frankie Wallace Cleveland W 10
Dec 26 Frankie Klick Philadelphia KO by 7
(Loses World Jr. Lightweight Title)
1934
Apr 16 Frankie Wallace San Francisco W 10
Apr 24 Bobby Gray San Jose, CA D 10
May 11 Pete Nebo San Francisco W 10
May 22 Tommy Paul Los Angeles D 10
May 29 Emil Paluso Bakersfield, CA KO 7
Jun 28 Frankie Marchese New York W 10
Jul 6 Johnny Erickson Long Branch, NJ W 10
Jul 11 Petey Hayes New York L 10
Jul 31 Buster Brown New York W 8
Aug 17 Andre Sarilla Washington DC KO 7
Nov 5 Jerry Mazza New York W 10
1935
Mar 18 Simon Chavez Caracas, Venezuela L 10
Jul 4 Pete Nebo Havana W 10
Sep 3 Kid Jackson Havana KO 7
1936
Jan 12 Pelon Guerra Havana KO 2
Feb 1 Andy Martin Havana W 10
May 30 Lew Feldman Havana W 10
Jun 20 Johnny Erickson Havana W 10
Aug 14 Joey Brown Havana W 10
Sep 26 Jose Santos Havana W 10
Dec 7 Phil Baker New York W 8
Dec 19 Johnny Erickson New York W 8
Dec 26 Al Gillette New York W 8
1937
Jan 7 Joe LaFauci New York W 8
Jan 13 Johnny Erickson New Haven, CT TKO 5
Jan 19 Tony Pagano New York TKO 4
Jan 28 Johnny Mirabella New York W 8
Feb 27 Jimmy Lancater New York W 6
Mar 9 Bernie Friedkin New York D 8
Mar 18 Joey Woods New York KO 1
Mar 27 Allie Todisco New York W 8
Apr 9 Frankie Anselm New Orleans W 10
May 26 Henry Hook New York W 10
Jun 2 Al Reid New York W 10
Jun 15 Young Chappie New York W 8
Jun 18 Al Gillette Long Branch, NJ KO 4
Jul 2 Joe Marciente Long Beach, NJ W 8
Jul 7 Charley Gomer New York W 8
Jul 20 Young Chappie New York W 8
Jul 27 Orville Drouillard Jersey City, NJ D 8
Aug 2 Charley Gomer Baltimore W 10
Aug 13 Joe Marciente New York W 8
Aug 16 Jimmy Tramberia Hempstead, NY TKO 1
Aug 19 Johnny DeFoe New York W 10
Sep 4 Phil Baker Havana W 10
Nov 10 Young Chappie Havana W 10
Dec 23 Johnny Mirabella Havana KO 4
1938
Mar 20 Filo Echeverria Havana W 10
Dec 18 Nicky Jerome Havana D 10