The hardest, most decided fighter I ever noticed.
Former welterweight champion and Boxing Corridor of Famer Carlos Palomino
One of many nicest guys I had the pleasure of assembly throughout my years in Southern California.
Boxing historian Jerry Fitch
The primary time I noticed Armando Muniz battle was in 1971. I used to be up late on a Saturday evening. I used to be 14. In my room – (my cell, as my mother known as it). My previous TV was on to an extent. Many of the channels had been snowy or static.
I had encountered this earlier than – boredom, till I remembered an area channel would sometimes broadcast fights from the fabled Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. My grandfather, who lived in Southern California, had advised me concerning the Olympic. I used to be dying to go there.
The channel in query was 54. It not often labored, even with rabbit ears, however I felt like making an attempt. The static was mocking me. I connected the ears and began taking part in with the channel dial. I stomped on the ground.
Prepared to surrender, I immediately heard a voice say, “Muniz lands a tough proper. Caffey seems harm.”
The voice was Jim Healy, and as normal, he was excited. So was the Olympic crowd. The previous enviornment was rocking with chants, “Mando, Mando!”
Who was this man?
The battle with Caffey was over by spherical seven. Muniz was the winner. He waved to the gang and smiled by way of puffy lips. I admired his grit and dedication. No showboating. Simply work.
“As a child, I used to be a rooster,” Muniz advised me a number of years later. “I wished to show to my father that I used to be worthy of changing into a person. He paid his dues. I admired him. Typically I’d come residence from college crying trigger some child would choose on me. I used to be too scared to battle.”
Too scared to battle?
Not Armando Muniz. Watch his fights. He was relentless and aggressive, stalking his opponent and throwing punches. His quick arms made this a problem. To get inside, Muniz would take a number of punches. No stop, no give up.
Muniz had earned a spot on the 1968 Olympic staff. He captured the AAU beginner boxing title the next 12 months. He turned skilled in 1970 at the place else, the Olympic, successful by knockout.
His win over Caffey was the ninth of his skilled profession. Muniz would battle 51 extra instances. Many had been flat-out wars. Some had been robberies.
Angel Espada in Pueto Rico. Muniz was advised earlier than the battle, “You gained’t be successful tonight.”
For the following seven years, I examine or watched each Muniz battle I might. My grandfather would ship me newspaper clippings of his fights.
Victories over Adolph Pruitt, Clyde Grey, and Ernie Lopez had been spectacular. Muniz entered the battle towards Hedgemon Lewis, an underdog. He exited the winner.
The world welterweight title ought to have been his in 1975. Champion Jose Napoles was in deep trouble. His eyes had been slits. Blood was all over the place. Muniz was taking some punishment himself, however saved shifting ahead and punching.
By the twelfth spherical, Napoles was reeling. His face was a large number. Referee Berumen was serving to in each means he might. He shockingly engaged in a dialog with a ringside official.
Napoles wanted saving, and as Berumen ended his dialog, that’s what occurred. The referee stopped the battle. The ring doctor had suggested him that Napoles couldn’t proceed.
Muniz had achieved it. He was the world champion. His dream of successful the championship had lastly occurred.
He had, proper?
Shockingly, the referee grabbed the ringside microphone and declared Napoles the winner by “technical choice.”
Devastating. Insane.
“I used to be very saddened by the decision,” Muniz advised me. “It did change my life and for these near me. I’ll always remember the look on my father’s face that night in Acapulco.”
Muniz would battle for 3 extra years and earn three extra pictures on the world title. He misplaced a 15-round conflict to Carlos Palomino however nonetheless had sufficient to avenge a loss to Zovek Barajas. He was slowing down and knew it.
“I had nothing within the second Palomino battle,” stated Muniz.
He was 32. It was over. An eight-year profession. All of the give and take through the years. The blood. The beatings.
Boxing is a brutal sport. Followers cheer the violence and barely take into consideration what can occur later in a boxer’s life. It’s about now, however the punches can add up – and have an effect on their lives even when comparatively younger.
Jerry Quarry and Bobby Chacon had been of their 40s when pugilistic dementia struck them.
It appeared that Muniz had ducked the boxing bullet. Or so I believed. After I met him and a few of his household a number of years in the past, his thoughts was sharp. He had lately retired from the Riverside college district. We spent many of the day in his makeshift mancave, loaded with memorabilia from his profession. I met his spouse, Yolanda, and son Bobby. I’ve wished to return for years, however haven’t made it.
We spoke on the cellphone as typically as we might through the years. He advised me his steadiness was iffy, however he seemed like the identical Armando Muniz, joking about his situation.
Getting him on the cellphone grew to become harder. Lately, his daughter Alice up to date me on his situation.
“My dad has vascular dementia,” Alice advised me through textual content. “He has problem doing something independently today. Bodily, he has hassle balancing with out falling again onto the seat. He wants a walker and might’t be left unattended. Mentally, he forgets loads, however nonetheless acknowledges me and most members of the family.”
Alice advised me that her father has no regrets. He cherished boxing, however is “dissatisfied that his present situation is probably going due to boxing.”
I went numb.
Budd Schulberg, creator of On The Waterfront and The Tougher They Fall, stated it finest.
“I like boxing, and I hate boxing.” wrote Schulberg.
I hate what boxing has achieved to Armando Muniz and so many others.
I hate that his great household is struggling.
However I do know that regardless of this, I’ll proceed writing about boxing – purely to witness the deep-rooted guts and dedication that some fighters possess.
“Mando, Mando!” – no stop, no give up, and at all times punching.
