The 30s and 40s saw some brilliant Filipino fighters treading the path Pancho Villa had punched into the ground and claiming scalps from flyweight to bantamweight. They pretty much all faced each other, as well as other World class opposition in the States, many times over. -Small Montana -Little Dado -Speedy Dado -Little Pancho Reports, pictures, photograph's, please post 'em because there isn't much footage about of these guys. Little Dado will likely receive the most praise, but here's some footage of Small Montana losing his title to one of the greatest flyweights of all time. [yt]4Dc-j0nG6UE[/yt]
Small Montana on way back to title http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAAIBAJ&pg=4439,3546485&dq=little+dado&hl=en
Speedy Dado splits a pair with Newsboy Brown within a few weeks http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6825,196433&dq=speedy+dado&hl=en http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1537,322039&dq=speedy+dado&hl=en Speedy Dado suspended http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAAIBAJ&pg=1936,2582903&dq=speedy+dado&hl=en http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAAIBAJ&pg=3538,3703151&dq=speedy+dado&hl=en
Gonna have to think about that one. In the meantime a lot of people have forgotten THIS tough little battler. Knocked out over half the guys he beat. Beat Mushy Callahan and a whole host of other good fighters. Unfortunately, he stuck around a little too long and allowed himself to become an "opponent". But when he was at his best, look out! Not a fun guy to have to face: This content is protected
In 1940, Little Pancho rated ahead of Little Dado http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...J&pg=4832,748791&dq=little+dado+montana&hl=en Fans in attendance from Pancho's homeland not happy with loss against Midget Wolgast http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAIBAJ&pg=4671,2147483&dq=little+pancho&hl=en http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAIBAJ&pg=2519,1661466&dq=little+pancho&hl=en Picture of Little Pancho, accused of ducking Jess Labarba, who he ends stopped twice, once in a round, once in two http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAIBAJ&pg=4691,3650176&dq=little+pancho&hl=en
What about Pablo Dano? Before moving up to featherweight, he was like 74-23. As for whose the greatest; Small Montana's name is probably the most recognizable, IMO. I'll come back to it.
Okay out of those four, its clearly not Speedy. Very good but just falls short of the other 3. Little Pancho, IMO, didn't fight the same level of competition that Small Montana and Little Dado did, for as long, at least -- so crossing him out as well. It's between Montana and Little Dado. I'll go with Dado. Handed Jackie Jurich his first loss. (In TKO fashion, at that.) Out-pointed Montana for the FLW title and wins the series with Montana overall. Went 1-0-2 with a naturally bigger Lou Salica. Beat Henry Hook twice, top 10 Manuel Ortiz, Jurich 4 times overall I think, knocked Souza out twice, Tony Olivera 2x, held the FLW and BW titles simultaneously. He was near the top of the FLW and BW division for like 6 years. Never able to beat Little Pancho for some reason. Just an anomaly though.
Can't let this go without a shout to "Flash" Elorde From your gang of four my heart says go with Small Montana, I can't give a good reason though.... Let me get back to you in a day or two.