Bernabe Villacampo (Filipinas June 11, 1943 – June 4, 2022) was a Philippine boxer who took the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a fifteen round Unanimous Decision on October 19, 1969 against Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara at the Prefectural Gymnasium, in Osaka, Japan. Villacampo's business manager was Lope Sarreal Jr."Bout Urged", Port Angeles Evening News, Port Angeles, Washington, pg. 12, 23 February 1969 A strong puncher, he knocked out opponents in 40% of the matches he won.
Early life and career Villacampo started out as a vendor selling ice drops, rice puffs, and newspapers. Hawking newspapers and working as vendors were common part time professions for young boxers, and a frequent trade of American boxers in the early twentieth century. At 19, he started boxing as an amateur in tournaments representing his school, the University of Visayas, to supplement the paltry living he made as a vendor.
By the time he turned twenty in 1963, he was clearly competing as a professional. Between August 1962 and July 1965 he fought mostly in Cebu, Philippines, his hometown, or occasionally on the Philippine's big island, Luzon. He won fourteen of his first nineteen fights during this period.
Moving up in recognition and the level of his competition, he scored an upset sixth round knockout against Japanese boxer Katsuyoshi Takayama on November 6, 1967, in Okayama, Japan."K.O. Punch Surprise", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 25, 7 November 1967
On May 15, 1968, he fought a twelve round draw for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Flyweight Championship against Tsuyoshi Nakamura in Tokyo, Japan.
Attempt at the WBC World Flyweight Championship
On November 10, 1968, he made an unsuccessful attempt at the WBC Flyweight Championship against Chartchai Chionoi. He lost in a fifteen round Unanimous Decision in Bangkok, Thailand. Chionoi immediately announced his retirement after the win, his fourth title defense, stating, "I am tired of the fightgame and feel sick and unwell.""Veteran Boxer Decides to Quit", The Oneonta Star, Oneonta, New York, pg. 13, 2 December 1968 Chionoi did not retire and fought on to win the title two more times before finally retiring in 1974. Chionoi survived his boxing career, though suffers from Parkinson's in his retirement.
Taking the WBA World Flyweight Championship He took the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a fifteen round unanimous decision on October 19, 1969 against Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara at the Prefectural Gymnasium, in Osaka, Japan. He stunned the enthusiastic Japanese crowd in Osaka by claiming the title against the heavy hometown favorite.
Boxing while WBA Flyweight Champion While still champion on December 14, 1969 he was defeated in a non-title fight by Masao Oba in a ten round unanimous decision in Tokyo, Japan."In Line for Shot", The Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, pg. 13, 15 December 1969
On February 7, 1970, in a non-title fight in Manila he won a ten round unanimous decision against Raton Mojica of Nicaragua."Flyweight Champ Wins", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 29, 8 February 1970
Losing the WBA World Flyweight Championship to Berkrerk Chartvanchai In his first title defense, he lost the WBA World Flyweight Championship in a close fifteen round split decision on April 5, 1970 against Thai boxer Berkrerk Chartvanchai in Bangkok, Thailand. The loss dropped Villacampo to third in the World ratings."Chartvanchi Gets Boxing Honor", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 67, 28 April 1970 As the Philippines was and had been an American protectorate, many American papers covered Villacampo's loss, though in short paragraphs, with minimal detail. In a close bout, the Associated Press had the scoring 73-70 for Chartvanchai."Berkrerk Fly King", Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana, pg. 28, 7 April 1970 Chartvanchai used primarily body punches and solid defense to take the title. He made Villicampo miss repeatedly and scored frequently with blows to the torso. In the eighth he opened a cut above Villacampo's eye that bothered his opponent throughout the remainder of the bout."Thailander Captures Title", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 29, 7 April 1970 One source noted "Villicampo...was the more aggressive but could not land telling blows." Many of Chartvanchai's best scoring punches were quick strikes to the torso after breaking out of clinches."Second Thai Claims Flyweight Throne", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 52, 7 April 1970
Losing to Betulio Gonzalez On December 21, 1970, he entered a WBA Flyweight Title Elimination tournament. In one of his most important contests, he lost a Split Decision against future 3-time world champion Betulio Gonzalez of Venezuela in Caracas. Gonzalez was the Venezuelan Flyweight Champion at the time. Had Villacampo won the bout, he would probably have had the opportunity to meet Japanese Flyweight World Title Holder Masao Ohba for the title the following year.Would have face title holder if ye won in "Flyweights to Fight in Venezuela December 4", The Cumberland News, Cumberland, Maryland, pg. 11, 2 December 1970
On May 13, 1971, he outpointed Beaver Kajimoto in a ten round bout in Tokyo, Japan."Thursday's Fights", The Robesonian, Lumberton, North Carolina, pg. 8, 14 May 1971
Boxing for the Philippine's Game and Amusement Board's Flyweight Title On January 31, 1976, he lost to Rolando Navarette, in a second round TKO in Cebu, Philippines.
On June 24, 1977, he won the Philippines Games and Amusement Board's (GAB) Flyweight Title by defeating Arnel Arrozal in a fourth round technical knockout in Manila.
On March 7, 1978 he won a fourth round knockout in an important bout against 1980 World Light Flyweight Champion Shigeo Nakajima in Tokyo, Japan.
On July 1, 1978 he fought a GAB Flyweight title fight to a twelve round draw against Julius Gonzaga at Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines. On August 28, 1978, he relinquished the GAB Flyweight Title, the equivalent of the Philippines National Flyweight Championship to Gonzaga against at Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines in a seventh of twelve round knockout.
After his fifth round knockout loss on November 24, 1979 to Danilo Inocian, at Cotabato del Sur, Philippines, he retired from boxing.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes65Loss39–21–5Danilo InocianKO4 (10)24 Nov 197964Loss34–20–5Netrnoi Sor VorasinghTKO5 (10)15 Jul 197963Win39–19–5Suvan SilpayaKO41 Jun 197962Loss38–19–5Arnel ArrozalKO4 (10)7 Apr 197961Loss38–18–5Billy AbatoTKO8 (10)3 Dec 197860Loss38–17–5Julius GonzagaKO7 (12)28 Aug 197859Draw38–16–5Julius GonzagaPTS121 Jul 197858Win38–16–4Shigeo NakajimaKO4 (10), 7 Mar 197857Win37–16–4Chai Yong MuangsurinKO44 Feb 197856Win36–16–4Chai Yong MuangsurinTD2 (10)11 Nov 197755Win35–16–4Arnel ArrozalTKO4 (12)24 Jun 197754Win34–16–4Tony CoKO319 Feb 197753Win33–16–4Orlando JaviertoKO49 Oct 197652Win32–16–4Franco TorregozaTKO425 Aug 197651Win31–16–4Ernie JunKO91 Aug 197650Draw30–16–4Ben AldeguerPTS1010 Apr 197649Loss30–16–3Ernie JunPTS101 Mar 197648Loss30–15–3Rolando NavarreteTKO2 (10)31 Jan 197647Win30–14–3Rey Naduma Jr.KO41 Dec 197546Win29–14–3Eduardo TelloKO88 Sep 197145Loss28–14–3Octavio GómezUD1027 Jul 197144Win28–13–3Beaver KajimotoPTS1013 May 197143Win27–13–3Kuniaki ShimadaKO3 (10)11 Apr 197142Loss26–13–3César DecigaSD1020 Jan 197141Loss26–12–3Betulio GonzálezSD1221 Dec 197040Win26–11–3Baby CoronaTKO6 (10), 28 Aug 197039Win25–11–3Seiichi WatanukiKO8 (10)27 Jun 197038Loss24–11–3Berkrerk ChartvanchaiSD155 Apr 197037Win24–10–3Eduardo MojicaUD107 Feb 197036Loss23–10–3Masao OhbaUD1014 Dec 196935Win23–9–3Hiroyuki EbiharaUD1519 Oct 196934Win22–9–3Yuzo NarumiTKO4 (12)23 Aug 196933Loss21–9–3Berkrerk ChartvanchaiPTS106 May 196932Win21–8–3Fernando AtzoriKO7 (10)18 Jan 196931Loss20–8–3Chartchai ChionoiUD1510 Nov 196830Win20–7–3Yuzo NarumiRTD6 (10), 24 Jun 196829Draw19–7–3Takeshi NakamuraSD1215 May 196828Win19–7–2Al DiazPTS1010 Feb 196827Win18–7–2Yoshio NakaneTKO6 (10), 4 Dec 196726Win17–7–2Katsuyoshi TakayamaKO6 (10), 6 Nov 196725Win16–7–2Cho Dong-kiPTS1030 Sep 196724Win15–7–2Al DiazPTS1017 Apr 196723Draw14–7–2Manuelo BalabaPTS1019 Feb 196722Loss14–7–1Ric MagramoTKO330 Sep 196621Loss14–6–1Manuelo BalabaPTS1025 Jun 196620Draw14–5–1Manuelo BalabaPTS1019 Feb 196619Win14–5Primo FamiroDQ10 (10)31 Jul 196518Loss13–5Jet ParkerPTS1015 May 196517Win13–4Speedy HayaseTKO6 (10)24 Apr 196516Loss12–4Jet ParkerMD106 Mar 196515Win12–3Little ParamountPTS1025 Nov 196414Win11–3Rudy BillonesKO47 Nov 196413Win10–3Chosei YoshinoKO7 (10)27 Jun 196412Win9–3Young BonniePTS102 May 196411Loss8–3Little ParamountPTS104 Apr 196410Win8–2Ric MagramoPTS101 Feb 19649Win7–2Tom RicoPTS1028 Dec 19638Loss6–2Primo FamiroPTS1021 Sep 19637Loss6–1Ric MagramoPTS1010 Aug 19636Win6–0Yoshio TanakaKO710 Jun 19635Win5–0Litte RufeKO620 Apr 19634Win4–0Yoshio TanakaPTS829 Dec 19623Win3–0Jol CañeteTKO43 Nov 19622Win2–0Eddie GonzalezTKO413 Oct 19621Win1–0Arturo AcidoTKO3 (4)25 Aug 1962
Boxing achievements and honors
In another honor, Villacampo was named fighter of the month by the World Boxing Association in December 1969."Nino Bernabe, Top Fighters", Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, pg. 52, 4 December 1969
References