Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano (November 27, 1935 – December 6, 1997) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1951 to 1965. He held the undisputed WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles between 1963 and 1965.
Early life Pastrano was born in New Orleans. Pastrano's best friend, Ralph Dupas started training in boxing at a local gym. Pastrano, who weighed over 250 pounds, decided to start working out with his friend.
As Willie lost weight, he realized two things. First, he loved boxing. Second, he hated getting hit. So, Pastrano developed a style of boxing in which he hardly got hit, and in return, tried not to hurt his opponent as well.
Pastrano was already married as a teenager, and by 1962, he and his wife Faye had five children: John (born 1955), Donna (1957), Frank (1959), Nicholas (1960), and Angelo (1962).
Pro career Pastrano began his career at the age of 16. He fought many heavyweights and outpointed heavyweight contenders Rex Layne, Brian London, and Tom McNeeley.
Pastrano won the world light heavyweight championship when he outpointed the great Harold Johnson on a close 15-round decision. He successfully defended his crown by stopping Gregorio Peralta of Argentina on a TKO, and by coming back from a certain defeat on points to KO English challenger Terry Downes in 11 rounds in Manchester, England. Pastrano lost his crown when he was TKOed by José Torres in 10 rounds (the same fight where the ringside doctor asked if he knew where he was, leading to Pastrano's legendary line of "You're damn right I know where I am! I'm in Madison Square Garden getting the shit kicked out of me!"). In the Torres fight, Pastrano was knocked down for the only time in his career by a powerful left hook to the liver. Pastrano retired after that match and never fought again.
Managed by the legendary Angelo Dundee, Pastrano was a smooth, quick boxer with a great left hand. He was a stablemate of Cassius Clay and often sparred with the future champion early in Clay's career. His talent was dissipated by his aversion to training and a fondness for partying and carousing. His success was also limited by his lack of punching power, hence his record of only 14 knockout wins in his 84 fights. Nevertheless, he defeated most of the light heavyweight challengers of his generation. He also outpointed former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, and boxed a draw with the legendary Archie Moore. He retired with a record of 63 wins (14 by KO), 13 losses and 8 draws.
Perhaps in the high point of his career, Pastrano appeared on the cover of March 22, 1965, issue of Sports Illustrated with the caption reading "Light Heavyweight Willie Pastrano Ready to Defend His Title".
Life after boxing
After he retired from boxing, Pastrano became a spokesman for a local Miami, Florida milk company. On August 30, 1966, in the Milwaukee Sentinel, it was reported that Pastrano had been secretly training for a comeback, but an auto injury had sidelined it.
In 1967, Pastrano became the official host of the Presidential Steak House in Miami Beach, Florida.
However, urged on by his good friend, singer Steve Alaimo, Pastrano embarked on a film career which spanned from 1967 to 1971.
In 1964, Pastrano appeared on the Jackie Gleason Show.
Pastrano's best regarded acting role was in the "B" motorcycle gang film, The Wild Rebels, which starred Steve Alaimo.
Pastrano said in a 1980 interview he was a heroin addict from 1966 to 1969. In the same interview, he claimed to have robbed to support his drug addiction.
He became a drifter. Owen Thomas helped him out in his time of need. He worked as a host in a restaurant in Reno, Nevada; a chip runner in Las Vegas, and a bouncer in a strip-club in Miami
His well-documented party life-style led to health problems, and Pastrano's film career ended. While living in Las Vegas in the early 1970s, he claimed to be training for a comeback when interviewed for the book, In This Corner.
Pastrano was reported to be boxing in Puerto Rico in 1972, but a fighter was using a name similar to the former champion, Willie Pastrana. Pastrano never made a comeback.
In 1980, Pastrano was the manager for pro-boxer, Chubby Johnson in New Orleans.
After many years of failing health, Pastrano died of liver cancer on December 6, 1997, at the age of 62.Willie Pastrano, 62, Boxing Champ in 1960's
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes83LossJosé TorresTKO9 (15)Mar 30, 196582Win62–12–8Terry DownesTKO11 (15), Nov 30, 196481Win61–12–8Gregorio PeraltaTKO5 (15), Apr 10, 196480Win60–12–8Mike HoltPTS10Nov 30, 196379Loss59–12–8Gregorio PeraltaUD10Sep 20, 196378Win59–11–8Ollie WilsonUD10Aug 31, 196377Win58–11–8Harold JohnsonSD15Jun 1, 196376Win57–11–8Wayne ThorntonMD10May 4, 196375Draw56–11–8Wayne ThorntonMD10Mar 23, 196374Loss56–11–7Wayne ThorntonUD10Feb 9, 196373Win56–10–7Rodolfo DiazSD10Sep 8, 196272Win55–10–7Billy RyanUD10Jun 25, 196271Draw54–10–7Archie MooreMD10May 28, 196270Win54–10–6Tom McNeeleyUD10May 1, 196269Draw53–10–6Lennart RisbergPTS12Aug 6, 196168Loss53–10–5Jesse BowdryUD10Dec 27, 196067Loss53–9–5Chic CalderwoodPTS10Sep 16, 196066Win53–8–5Sonny RayUD10Jun 1, 196065Win52–8–5Alonzo JohnsonUD10May 6, 196064Win51–8–5George KartalianRTD6 (10)Apr 9, 196063Win50–8–5Jerry LuedeeUD10Jan 20, 196062Win49–8–5Charley PavlisUD10Dec 7, 195961Win48–8–5Tom DavisTKO3 (10)Aug 20, 195960Loss47–8–5Alonzo JohnsonUD10Jul 24, 195959Loss47–7–5Joe ErskinePTS10Feb 24, 195958Loss47–6–5Brian LondonTKO5 (10)Sep 30, 195857Win47–5–5Tommy ThompsonKO4 (10), Aug 25, 195856Win46–5–5Franco CavicchiPTS10Jun 15, 195855Win45–5–5Joe BygravesPTS10Apr 21, 195854Win44–5–5Brian LondonPTS10Feb 25, 195853Win43–5–5Willi BesmanoffUD10Nov 27, 195752Win42–5–5Dick RichardsonPTS10Oct 22, 195751Win41–5–5George PeytonTKO8 (10)Sep 10, 195750Loss40–5–5Roy HarrisUD10}Jun 11, 195749Win40–4–5Neal WelchUD10May 14, 195748Win39–4–5John HolmanUD10Feb 20, 195747Win38–4–5Charley NorkusUD10Dec 26, 195646Win37–4–5Pat McMurtryUD10Aug 24, 195645Win36–4–5Chuck SpieserSD10May 30, 195644Win35–4–5Johnny ArthurUD10Apr 4, 195643Draw34–4–5Chuck SpieserPTS10Jan 27, 195642Win34–4–4Rex LayneUD10Dec 19, 195541Win33–4–4Joey RowanUD10Nov 18, 195540Win32–4–4Paddy YoungUD10Oct 3, 195539Win31–4–4Chuck SpieserUD10Jul 27, 195538Win30–4–4Joey MaximUD10Jun 28, 195537Draw29–4–4Willie TroyPTS10Apr 22, 195536Win29–4–3Al AndrewsUD10Mar 23, 195535Win28–4–3Tony JohnsonUD10Mar 1, 195534Win27–4–3Bobby DykesUD10Nov 23, 195433Win26–4–3Jackie LaBuaSD10Sep 14, 195432Win25–4–3Jimmy MartinezPTS10Aug 24, 195431Win24–4–3Tommy BazzanoTKO8 (10)Aug 9, 195430Win23–4–3Tommy HatcherKO1 (10)Jun 18, 195429Win22–4–3Jacques Royer-CrecyUD10Apr 12, 195428Win21–4–3Jimmy MartinezUD10Mar 29, 195427Loss20–4–3Italo ScortichiniSD10Nov 30, 195326Win20–3–3Elmer BeltzMD8Oct 5, 195325Draw19–3–3Elmer BeltzPTS10Sep 22, 195324Loss19–3–2Del FlanaganSD8Jul 14, 195323Loss19–2–2Johnny CesarioMD8May 25, 195322Win19–1–2Chato HernandezUD8Apr 6, 195321Win18–1–2Roger TrevinoUD8Mar 16, 195320Win17–1–2Chick BoucherTKO3 (10), Mar 3, 195319Win16–1–2Emerson ButcherUD8Feb 24, 195318Win15–1–2Alfredo LaGruttaUD8Jan 26, 195317Draw14–1–2Alvin PellegriniMD8Dec 15, 195216Win14–1–1Alvin BoudreauxTKO2 (6), Nov 24, 195215Win13–1–1Alvin PellegriniUD6Nov 17, 195214Win12–1–1Lonnie RylantKO3 (6), Oct 14, 195213Loss11–1–1Alvin PellegriniPTS6Oct 6, 195212Win11–0–1Johnny CapitanoPTS6Sep 8, 195211Win10–0–1Sonny LucianoPTS8Aug 19, 195210Win9–0–1Sonny LucianoPTS8Aug 5, 19529Win8–0–1Jimmy CarterKO4 (6), Jul 28, 19528Win7–0–1Al McCoyKO2 (6)Jul 22, 19527Win6–0–1John ChaneyPTS6Jul 8, 19526Win5–0–1Buzz BrownKO2 (4), Jul 1, 19525Draw4–0–1Alvin PellegriniPTS4Apr 21, 19524Win4–0Alvin BoudreauxPTS4Apr 1, 19523Win3–0Jimmy ConinoPTS4Oct 1, 19512Win2–0Frankie SpeedPTS4Sep 17, 19511Win1–0Domingo RiveraPTS4Sep 10, 1951
Titles in boxing Major world titles WBA light heavyweight champion (175 lbs) WBC light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
The Ring magazine titles The Ring light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
Undisputed titles Undisputed light heavyweight champion
See also List of light-heavyweight boxing champions
References
External links
Willie Pastrano - CBZ Profile