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 struggle 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 My outdated TV was on to an extent. A lot of the channels have been snowy or static.
I had encountered this earlier than – boredom, till I remembered a neighborhood channel would often 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 attached the ears and began taking part in with the channel dial. I stomped on the ground.
Prepared to surrender, I instantly heard a voice say, “Muniz lands a tough proper. Caffey appears damage.”
The voice was Jim Healy, and as normal, he was excited. So was the Olympic crowd. The outdated enviornment was rocking with chants, “Mando, Mando!”
Who was this man?
The struggle with Caffey was over by spherical seven. Muniz was the winner. He waved to the group and smiled by puffy lips. I admired his grit and dedication. No showboating. Simply work.
“As a child, I used to be a hen,” Muniz advised me a number of years later. “I wished to show to my father that I used to be worthy of turning into a person. He paid his dues. I admired him. Typically I’d come residence from faculty crying trigger some child would decide on me. I used to be too scared to struggle.”
Too scared to struggle?
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 give up, no give up.
Muniz had earned a spot on the 1968 Olympic workforce. 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 struggle 51 extra occasions. Many have been flat-out wars. Some have been robberies.
Angel Espada in Pueto Rico. Muniz was advised earlier than the struggle, “You received’t be successful tonight.”
For the following seven years, I examine or watched each Muniz struggle I might. My grandfather would ship me newspaper clippings of his fights.
Victories over Adolph Pruitt, Clyde Grey, and Ernie Lopez have been spectacular. Muniz entered the struggle 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 have been slits. Blood was in all places. Muniz was taking some punishment himself, however stored transferring ahead and punching.
By the twelfth spherical, Napoles was reeling. His face was a multitude. Referee Berumen was serving to in each manner 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 struggle. The ring doctor had suggested him that Napoles couldn’t proceed.
Muniz had carried out 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 struggle for 3 extra years and earn three extra photographs on the world title. He misplaced a 15-round struggle 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 struggle,” stated Muniz.
He was 32. It was over. An eight-year profession. All of the give and take over time. 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 have been of their 40s when pugilistic dementia struck them.
It appeared that Muniz had ducked the boxing bullet. Or so I believed. Once I met him and a few of his household a number of years in the past, his thoughts was sharp. He had not too long ago retired from the Riverside faculty district. We spent a lot 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 telephone as usually as we might over time. He advised me his stability was iffy, however he appeared like the identical Armando Muniz, joking about his situation.
Getting him on the telephone grew to become harder. Not too long ago, his daughter Alice up to date me on his situation.
“My dad has vascular dementia,” Alice advised me by way of textual content. “He has problem doing something independently lately. 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 rather a lot, however nonetheless acknowledges me and most members of the family.”
Alice advised me that her father has no regrets. He liked boxing, however is “upset 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 greatest.
“I really like boxing, and I hate boxing.” wrote Schulberg.
I hate what boxing has carried out to Armando Muniz and so many others.
I hate that his fantastic 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 give up, no give up, and all the time punching.
