was interested in finding out more bout Kid Azteca. Read somewhere that he was a hell of a fighter and was avoided by Henry Armstrong
I don't know much about him, but he had his first professional fights as a teenager in the 1920s, and his last pro fight in 1961 when he was 47. He has an amazing record. He must've been great.
It seems most of the top Mexican little guys of that era had very early starts. Azteca, Casanova, and Conde all started out at 16, Zurita and Baby Arizmendi at just 14, although I've heard Arizmendi actually got an even earlier start to his career than that. Azteca is, as far as I know, the only other boxer to match Duran's feat of fighting in 5 different decades.
Saoul Mamby has also been active in 5 different decades. He had his last fight in 2008, and hasn't officially retired - so if he steps into the ring just one more time, he will make it 6 decades! Azteca does hold a record all by himself, though: He had at least one pro fight per year, for 33 consecutive years (1929-61)... which no other boxer can claim.
Met him years ago at the WBHOF banquet here in Los Angeles. A really nice guy who was all smiles and cordiality. He seemed really proud of his career and was flattered by all the attention and requests for autographs (which I still have one of). Fighting Harada was that way, too.
By the relative dearth of responses to this thread I suspect few people here have seen film of him. I know I haven't. Must be some film of him.
I'll do that, if I hear of anything. :good I have a feeling there must be a few postors here, the guys with big collections, who have some of his fights on film.
Bless you, I commented 'bump' in the hopes someone would reply with more info on Kid Azteca, you were just the sort of user I was hoping for! Thank you for such a detailed post!!
Azteca is the only one im not familar with from this video. This content is protected Very little mention of him on this forum.