This guy seems to get overlooked a tad these days. Pastrano was world light heavyweight champion from 1963-65 winning the title from master craftsman Harold Johnson in a closely contested SD 15 and making two successful defenses before losing the crown to Jose Torres. Willie was a quick elusive boxer type, good on his feet with clever head movement, not a big KO puncher, but was an exponent of the hit and not be hit style. He boxed heavyweights too and did reasonably well. He sparred many rounds with Ali back in the day. Thoughts?
Everything you said is on the money. Excellent footwork. Good jab. Slick defense he only lacked a punch. After he lost the belt I believe his heart wasnt really in it anymore
He certainly found the punches against Terry Downes. Terry was giving him a bit of a mauling after 10 rounds of their title match. Angelo Dundee administered an expletitive ridden bollocking to Pastrano between the 10th and 11th and Willie came out like a man possessed and stopped Downes. An early memory in my boxing journey!!
He had devolved into a heroin addict. I have an interview he gave where he is talking about a comeback and he looks awful. He's wearing sunglasses indoors and is sweating profusely and slurring his words. Pretty sad.
Willie was a character. Back in the late 1970s/early 80s I knew a boxer and his father/manager who had a contract with Dundee and through that they got to know Willie pretty well. Here’s a couple of stories they related that Willie told: When he fought Archie Moore (to a draw): Willie said Archie was talking to him the whole fight. Willie was dancing and sticking and moving early and Moore was telling him ‘Oh, you got great footwork kid,’ and ‘Nice combination’ and things like that — and Willie was feeling pretty good about himself. Then Archie closed the distance a bit and nailed him with a right hand. “After that he might as well have been speaking Chinese. I realized I’d better stop listening to him.” And on his title-winning fight against Harold Johnson, where he was a substitute for a substitute when Mauro Mena and Henry Hank both pulled out with injuries in training — Dundee called him all excited and said, ‘You’ve got a title shot, you want to fight Harold Johnson?’ “Are you kidding? That sonuva ***** can punch. Let someone else fight him,” Willie responded. Boxing needs more Willie Pastranos.
Best set of legs this side of the young Cassius Clay...could dance and move ... This content is protected ....he chose not to "sit down" on his punches because he was more interested in not getting hit and dedicating himself to the ladies. His discipline sucked...he didn't always come in the ring in shape and lost a few decisions over the years, but when he was "on"...man, could he jab and move....another thing, Willie had a first class, iron chin...was never decked by a punch to the head....it took a wicked left to the liver thrown by Jose Torres...in Willie's last bout to finally put him on the deck. That punch could be described as similar to the shot to the body that Roy Jones wrecked Virgil Hill with....just debilitating. For my money, Pastrano's title winning effort vs Harold Johnson..when he took HJ's light heavyweight title was a highly skilled and classy exhibit of brilliant boxing by both men...pretty much a nonstop 15 round masterpiece that remains underrated...even by those who should know better, even to this day. Willie Pastrano is easily one of my favorite fighters...both for his skill and ability as a fine boxer...a guy who, when in shape, could dance all night long, and tattoo his name, address and zip code on your schnozz, but also for his colorful, amorous personality... Willie Raliegh Pastrano was truly a one of a kind character, both in and out of the ring. He should have been cloned.
Agree on the Harold Johnson performance. Absolute masterclass, brilliant performance. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys the science of boxing. All the more impressive because it was against Harold Johnson, who you have to hold in high regard.
A 15 round, class A high level display of quality boxing skills by both participants if there ever was one.
Very good fighter. As mentioned he was a light heavyweight champion as well as a ranked heavyweight contender. He was considered at one point as a challenger to Marciano’s crown.
I remember too a story about him meeting Ali when Ali was a teenager. I hope I don't butcher it too bad, but Ali wanted to meet Pastrano, who conceded to giving him some pointers. They spared a round, after which Dundee pulled him and told him: "Your too pretty to be fighting this kid." And Pastrano replied "Bull****. He kicked the **** out of me." Or something like that.
