http://articles.latimes.com/2007/nov/12/sports/sp-crowesnest12 Here's a nice article on Albert Davila, former WBC Bantamweight Champion. Unlike a lot of former champs, he has enjoyed a stable post-boxing life. Note: I watched the Davila/Bejines fight on youtube and I have to say it was a freak tragedy. Neither guy absorbed much punishment during the first 11 rounds. Bejines got dropped after absorbing a few right hands and appeared to suffer a whiplash effect from his head hitting the bottom rope. It was a very competitive fight but not really a war.
Thanks for the link to a 2007 Los Angeles Times article about Albert Davila, who had a beautiful boxing style. I saw Davila fight in person in the Los Angeles area and in televised bouts. Despite the fact that Davila didn't have a crowd-pleasing fighting style, it was a pleasure watching him in action, especially when he was fighting an aggressive opponent. Yes, Davila appears to have done well as a husband and a father. The fact that he had been married for over thirty years at the time and all of his six children attended college probably means more to him than his career in boxing. - Chuck Johnston
Sorry I'm off topic, but does anybody remember a heavyweight named Roberto Davila? I believe he started out ok and may have given Young Foreman a decent fight for a while. I think he died Young. Any info anybody? Thanks and apologies for being off topic.
Would you recommend any of his fights in particular? I really enjoyed watching him in his losing efforts against Zarate and in Pintor II.
I'm familiar with Roberto Davila. Always saw his name listed when looking at 1960s-70s heavyweights records. Not related to Albert...but he supposedly was Oscar Rivadeneyra's half brother. Fought...and lost to...nearly every top heavyweight of the 70s. He actually got a win over Brian London...the only "name" fighter he beat. Died under questionable circumstances...almost certainly drug related. He'd done time for murder himself. Possibly killed by his own half brother (NOT Rivadeneyra). I'm not sure the full story ever was known.
Thanks, rope a dope. I remember seeing him at B obby Gleason's in the Bronx when I was a teenager. Thanks for the info.
Davey Moore, the featherweight champ, died from a similar whiplash effect from his head hitting the bottom rope, in a title defense. The film shows a competitive fight, and the knockdown was not violent. Moore was able to give a post-fight interview...but later lapsed into a coma and died.
I'm always happy to hear a former fighter is doing well. Davila's career was a testament to the marriage of solid talent, hard work, and persistence. He came up short a few times but eventually netted himself a title strap. It says a lot about his quality that most of his significant losses were against world class fighters like Gomez, Lora, Zarate, Jorge Lujan, and Lupe Pintor. And he always gave a good account of himself.
That head or neck hitting the rope after suffering a kd seems to account for a lot of serious injuries in boxing.