Miguel Canto

Miguel Canto
Statistics
Real name Miguel Canto
Nickname(s) El Maestro
Weight(s) Flyweight
Height 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)
Reach 60 in (152 cm)
Nationality Mexico Mexican
Born (1948-01-30) January 30, 1948
Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 74
Wins 61
Wins by KO 14
Losses 9
Draws 4

Miguel Angel Canto Solis (born January 30, 1948 in Mérida, Yucatán) is a former world boxing champion from Mexico who held the WBC and Lineal Flyweight titles.

Boxing life

Unlike many Mexican boxers, Canto was not a "slam-bang" type of boxer ("Slam-Bang" boxers are boxers whose fights are usually action-packed; Mexican boxers are usually stereotyped as "slam-bangers"). He used boxing techniques and knowledge instead of trying to score knockouts in most of his fights. Proof of this is that he only won fifteen fights by knockout, out of more than seventy professional bouts. He was a defensive expert, somewhat in the style of Willie Pep.

Canto began his professional boxing career on February 5, 1969. He became one of those rare cases in boxing, like Alexis Argüello, Henry Armstrong, Bernard Hopkins, Victor Luvi Callejas and Wilfredo Vazquez, where a boxer loses his first fight and goes on to become a world champion. He lost that day to Raul Hernandez, in Canto's hometown of Mérida, by a knockout in round three.

First win

His first win came against Pedro Martinez, on May 5, 1969, by a four round decision, also at Mérida. Canto lost his next fight, but a streak of seven undefeated fights (he went 5-0-2, with 2 knockouts during that streak), led him to fight Vicente Pool on May 27 of 1970, for the Yucatán state Flyweight title. Canto won his first professional belt when he outpointed Pool over twelve rounds. In his first defense, he retained the crown, with a twelve round decision over Jose Luis Cetina. After losing his next bout, a ten round, non title bout against Tarcisio Gomez, on a decision, he went on to win 21 bouts in a row, including his first bout outside Mérida (a two round knockout of Pedro Martinez in Cansahcab, Mexico), and a win over Constantino Garcia on January 22, 1972, by twelve round decision, to claim the Mexican Flyweight title. On January 31, 1973, he fought to a ten round draw (tie) against perennial contender Ignacio Espinal.

After winning his next four fights, including a rematch victory over Tarcisio Gomez, he was given his first world title try, when he fought Betulio González in Maracaibo, Venezuela, for the WBC world Flyweight title. In what was also his first fight abroad, he was outpointed by the equally legendary Gonzalez, considered by many to be Venezuela's greatest fighter of all time, on August 4 of 1973.

WBC World Flyweight Champion Reign

Canto won six more fights, including two Mexican title defenses, and on January 8, 1975, he faced WBC world Flyweight champion Shoji Oguma in Sendai. Canto defeated Oguma by a fifteen round decision to claim the WBC and vacant lineal flyweight titles.[1] His dream of becoming a world champion finally realized, Canto was a busy champion, mixing several non-title bouts with his title defenses. In his next fight, he beat Espinal in a rematch by a ten round decision. In his first title defense, he avenged his loss to Betulio Gonzalez by a fifteen round decision. On August 23 of that year, he defeated OPBF champion Jiro Takada by 11th round TKO. Following that win, Canto faced Espinal for a third time and retained his title once again by a fifteen round decision. On May 15, 1976, he scored a win over former champion Susumu Hanagata. Canto eventually became a traveling world champion.

For his fifth title defense, he returned to Venezuela and defeated Gonzalez for the second time in their trilogy by a fifteen round decision. One month later, he retained the crown against Orlando Javierto, once again by fifteen round decision, in Los Angeles, California.

On April 24, 1977, he returned to Venezuela for a third time, retaining the title against Reyes Arnal by a fifteen round decision in Caracas. Two months later, he beat Kimio Furesawa by a fifteen round decision in Tokyo. Then, he and Martin Vargas fought the first of their two bouts: on September 17, 1977, Canto outpointed Vargas in his hometown of Mérida.

It was Canto's turn to travel to Vargas' hometown of Santiago, Chile, for their rematch, held on November 30 of the same year. Canto once again retained the titles with a fifteen round decision.

In 1978, Canto retained his title three times, including two rematches with Shoji Oguma, both of them held in Japan, and another fifteen round points win over Facomrom Vibonchai, in a fight held at Houston, Texas.

By this time, Canto's name had become a household name all over Latin America, thanks in part to Ring En Español, which gave Canto's fights much coverage.

On February 10 of 1979, he retained his titles for a division record fourteenth time against a future world champion, Antonio Avelar, by a fifteen round decision.

On March 18, his reign came to an end, when he lost a fifteen round decision to Chan Hee Park in South Korea. On September 9 of that same year, he tried to recover his titles from Park in a rematch, but, after fifteen rounds, the fight ended in a draw.

Canto's career took a downward spiral after that fight. He won his following three fights, including wins against Olympic Bronze medalist Orlando Maldonado of Puerto Rico and former champion Sung-Jun Kim. In his 70th career fight, he lost to future world champion Gabriel Bernal. Canto avenged his loss to Bernal in his next fight, but lost the remaining three fights of his career by knockout.

After his final loss to Rodolfo Ortega on July 24, 1982, Canto retired from boxing for good. He had a record of 61 wins, 9 losses and 4 draws (ties), with 15 knockout wins.

Professional record

61 Wins (15 knockouts, 45 decisions, 1 Disqualification), 9 Losses, 4 Draws
Res. Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 61-9-4 Mexico Rodolfo Ortega TKO9 (10)1982-07-24 Mexico Carte Clara Stadium, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Loss 61-8-4 Mexico Alfredo Hernandez TKO7 (10)1981-10-31 Mexico Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
Loss 61-7-4 Mexico Candido Tellez KO4 (10)1981-08-29 Mexico Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Win 61-6-4 Mexico Gabriel Bernal UD101981-06-06 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Loss 60-6-4 Mexico Gabriel Bernal UD101981-03-29 Mexico Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Win 60-5-4 South Korea Sung-Jun Kim UD101981-02-22 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 59-5-4 Puerto Rico Orlando Maldonado DQ6 (10)1980-10-18 Mexico Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Win 58-5-4 Mexico Alfredo Hernandez UD101980-08-16 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Draw 57-5-4 South Korea Chan-Hee Park MD151979-09-09 South Korea Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea For WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Loss 57-5-3 South Korea Chan-Hee Park UD151979-03-18 South Korea Kudok Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea Lost WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 57-4-3 Mexico Antonio Avelar UD151979-02-10 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 56-4-3 Thailand Facomron Vibonchai SD151978-11-20 United States Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, United States Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 55-4-3 Japan Shoji Oguma UD151978-04-18 Japan Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 54-4-3 Japan Shoji Oguma SD151978-01-04 Japan City Sogo Gym, Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 53-4-3 Chile Martin Vargas UD151977-11-30 Chile Estadio Nacional, Santiago de Chile, Chile Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 52-4-3 Chile Martin Vargas UD151977-09-17 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 51-4-3 Japan Kimio Furesawa UD151977-06-15 Japan Shinagawa Sports Land, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 50-4-3 Venezuela Luis Reyes Arnal SD151977-04-24 Venezuela Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 49-4-3 Philippines Orlando Javierto UD151976-11-19 United States Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 48-4-3 Venezuela Betulio Gonzalez SD151976-10-03 Venezuela Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 47-4-3 Japan Susumu Hanagata UD151976-05-15 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 46-4-3 Mexico Francisco Marquez UD101976-03-13 Mexico Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 45-4-3 Dominican Republic Ignacio Espinal UD151975-12-13 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 44-4-3 Japan Jiro Takada TKO11 (15)1975-08-23 Mexico Parque Carta Clara, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 43-4-3 Mexico Lupe Madera TKO9 (10)1975-07-18 Mexico Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Win 42-4-3 Venezuela Betulio Gonzalez SD151975-05-24 Mexico Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Retained WBC & lineal flyweight titles
Win 41-4-3 Dominican Republic Ignacio Espinal SD101975-03-08 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 40-4-3 Japan Shoji Oguma MD151975-01-08 Japan Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan Won WBC & vacant lineal flyweight titles
Win 39-4-3 Mexico Ricardo Delgado UD101974-10-25 Mexico Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 38-4-3 Mexico Alberto Morales UD101974-08-17 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 37-4-3 Dominican Republic Pablito Jimenez SD101974-06-08 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 36-4-3 Mexico Manuel Montiel UD121974-04-27 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained Mexico flyweight title
Win 35-4-3 United States Tony Moreno TKO5 (10)1974-02-13 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 34-4-3 Mexico Lupe Hernandez UD121973-11-17 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained Mexico flyweight title
Loss 33-4-3 Venezuela Betulio Gonzalez MD151973-08-04 Venezuela Estadio Luis Aparicio, Maracaibo, Venezuela For vacant WBC flyweight title
Win 33-3-3 United States Chamaco Rodriguez KO5 (10)1973-06-29 Mexico Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Win 32-3-3 Mexico Luis Enrique Garcia TKO7 (10)1973-05-10 Mexico Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Win 31-3-3 Philippines Rudy Billones UD101973-05-02 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 30-3-3 Mexico Tarcisio Gomez KO2 (12)1973-03-24 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained Mexico flyweight title
Draw 29-3-3 Dominican Republic Ignacio Espinal MD101973-01-31 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 29-3-2 Mexico Alberto Morales UD121972-11-18 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained Mexico flyweight title
Win 28-3-2 Mexico Jose Antonio Corral TKO3 (10)1972-09-27 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 27-3-2 Mexico Jose Luis Valencia UD101972-07-26 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 26-3-2 Mexico Ricardo Delgado UD121972-05-20 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Retained Mexico flyweight title
Win 25-3-2 Mexico Armando Villa TKO4 (10)1972-04-05 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 24-3-2 Mexico Jose Vargas UD101972-03-15 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 23-3-2 Mexico Rocky Garcia UD121972-01-22 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico Won Mexico flyweight title
Win 22-3-2 Panama Luis Carlos Urrunaga UD101971-12-01 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 21-3-2 Mexico Alberto Morales UD101971-10-20 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 20-3-2 Mexico Roberto Alvarez UD101971-09-01 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 19-3-2 Mexico Domingo Ledezma UD101971-07-28 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 18-3-2 Mexico Pedro Lopez KO3 (8)1971-07-14 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 17-3-2 Mexico Mario Garcia KO10 (10)1971-06-02 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 16-3-2 Mexico Gavilan Martinez UD101971-05-14 Mexico Tekax, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 15-3-2 Mexico Jose Luis Cetina UD101971-04-29 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 14-3-2 Mexico Tigre Bracamonte UD81971-04-04 Mexico Tizimin, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 13-3-2 Mexico Marcus Gomez TKO6 (6)1971-03-17 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 12-3-2 Mexico Francisco Montalvo KO6 (8)1971-02-14 Mexico Cansahcab, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 11-3-2 United States Pedro Martinez KO2 (10)1971-01-21 Mexico Cansahcab, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 10-3-2 Mexico Jose Medrano UD101970-12-09 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 9-3-2 Mexico Arturo Velazquez UD101970-11-11 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Loss 8-3-2 Mexico Tarcisio Gomez MD101970-10-14 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 8-2-2 Mexico Jose Luis Cetina UD121970-06-24 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 7-2-2 Mexico Vicente Pool UD121970-05-27 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Draw 6-2-2 Mexico Juan Torres MD101970-04-29 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 6-2-1 Mexico Alex Basilio KO8 (10)1970-04-08 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 5-2-1 Mexico Baby Albornoz TKO9 (10)1970-03-21 Mexico Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Win 4-2-1 Mexico Vicente Pool UD101970-03-04 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Draw 3-2-1 Mexico Joe Calvario MD101970-02-04 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 3-2 Mexico Rudy Granados UD101970-01-21 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 2-2 Mexico Vicente Pool UD81969-12-06 Mexico Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Loss 1-2 Mexico Pedro Carillo TKO4 (6)1969-08-13 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 1-1 United States Pedro Martinez UD41969-05-05 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Loss 0-1 Mexico Raul Hernandez TKO3 (4)1969-02-05 Mexico Merida, Yucatán, Mexico professional debut.

Honors

Trivia

Canto successfully defended his title 14 times, once by a TKO win, and the other 13 times by going the 15-round distance—a record that may never be broken, in this era of 12-round championship bouts.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Miguel Canto - Lineal Flyweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  2. ↑ http://static.espn.go.com/boxing/news/1999/1208/221260.html
Achievements
Preceded by
Shoji Oguma		 WBC Flyweight Champion
8 Jan 1975–18 Mar 1979		 Succeeded by
Chan-Hee Park
Vacant
Title last held by
Venice Borkorsor		 Lineal Flyweight Champion
8 Jan 1975–18 Mar 1979
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