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Leo Gámez

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Leo Gámez
Born
Silvio Rafael Gámez

(1963-08-08) August 8, 1963 (age 61)
Other namesTorito ("Little Bull")
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft (152 cm)
Reach63+12 in (161 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights48
Wins35
Wins by KO26
Losses12
Draws1

Silvio Rafael Gámez (born August 8, 1963), better known as Leo Gámez, is a Venezuelan former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. He is the first boxer in history to win world titles in the four lightest weight divisions, having held the WBA minimumweight title from 1989 to 1990, the WBA light flyweight title from 1993 to 1995, the WBA flyweight title in 1999, and the WBA super flyweight title from 2000 to 2001.

Gámez is considered by some boxing critics to be among Venezuela's best fighters since the Betulio González era.

Debut/The 1980s

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He made his professional boxing debut on February 14, 1985, in Maracay, when he decisioned Francisco García over four rounds. On April 17 of that same year, he got his second victory, another four round points win, this time over Alcides Hernandez, also in Maracay. After those two wins, Gámez had six consecutive knockout wins, including two over Rafael Lara, and one in his first fight outside Maracay, held on August 14 at El Guayabo, where he beat Jose Escorcia in the fourth round. On November 28 of 1986, he would beat Escorcia's brother, Alberto, also by knockout in four rounds, at Maracaibo.

On February 2, 1987, he suffered his first "blemish", when he was held to a two-round technical draw by Rafael Bolivar, at Maracay. By then, Gámez was becoming a well known boxer among Hispanic boxing fans, Guantes magazine mentioning him sporadically on their articles.

On April 30, Gámez received his first shot at a title, when he was faced with Pedro Nieves in the Venezuelan town of Turnero, for the national Jr. Flyweight title. Gámez won the championship with a second-round knockout.

He defended the title one time and won a handful of non-title bouts before reducing weight in order to get his first world championship opportunity.

On January 10, 1988, Gámez fought for the WBA's vacant world Minimumweight championship against Bong-Jun Kim. In what also was his first fight abroad, Gámez became world champion for the first time when he outpointed Kim over 12 rounds in South Korea. After that victory, he became a celebrity both in Venezuela and internationally, as he went from being mentioned in articles, as aforementioned, to having articles written about him on magazines that specialized in boxing.

He had several managerial problems after winning his first world championship, however, and he was able to defend that title only one time, knocking out Kenji Yokozawa in three rounds at Japan. When he suffered a broken arm not too long after, he decided to vacate the title, and took an extended lay-off from boxing.

On October 29, 1989, Gámez was finally able to make a comeback, and he knocked out Victoriano Hernandez in five rounds that night. After one more win, he attempted, for the first time, to win the WBA's world Jr. Flyweight championship. On April 29, 1990, he was faced with long reigning world champion Myung-Woo Yuh, once again, in South Korea. Gámez lost a controversial twelve-round decision; many fans and observers thought he deserved the win, and the WBA ordered an immediate rematch. On November 10 of that year, he would again fight Woo Yuh in South Korea, and, once again, Woo Yuh won by a twelve-round decision to retain the world title.

The 1990s

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Disillusioned, Gámez took off almost one more year off boxing. But he returned, inspired with the idea of winning the WBA's world Flyweight championship. Having been promised a title try by the WBA, he began training and, after his training was complete, he returned to South Korea, where he challenged WBA world Flyweight champion Yong-Kang Kim on November 5, 1991. Gámez once again lost by a twelve-round decision, but he decided to stay active in boxing after that loss.

Gámez won four fights in a row before once again dropping weight in order to challenge for a world title. His third try at the WBA's world Jr. Flyweight title, which was vacant after Woo Yuh's retirement, came on November 21, 1993, against Shiro Yashiro, in Tokyo. Gámez finally won the world Jr. Flyweight title, his second world championship, by knocking Yashiro out in nine rounds. He defended the title successfully three times, with fights in Panama and Thailand (twice), before losing it to Hi-Yong Choi on February 4 of 1995, once again in Korea. On May 20 of that year, he won the regional WBA Fedelatin Flyweight title by defeating Aquiles Guzmán by a twelve-round decision in Paraguay.

Gámez's first opportunity at joining the elite group of fighters who have won world championships in three different divisions, and his second attempt at becoming world Flyweight champion, came on March 24, 1996, against world champion Saen Sor Ploenchit in Thailand. Gámez failed that time, however, dropping a twelve-round split decision to the champion. Then, he lost the Fedelatin title in a rematch with Guzmán, held on October 7 at Maracay. Guzmán outpointed him over twelve rounds as well.

Gámez became, once again, disillusioned with boxing. In 1998, however, he returned to the sport, knocking out Gilberto González on November 3 in eight rounds in Venezuela, to regain the Fedelatin title.

Gámez joined the exclusive group of champions to win titles in three or more divisions, at the same time becoming the first one among those to be world Flyweight champion, when he knocked out defending WBA world Flyweight champion Hugo Rafael Soto in the third round on March 13, 1999. The fight, held at New York's Madison Square Garden, also marked Gámez's debut as a professional fighter in the United States. After this win, Gámez received a hero's welcome at Caracas' Simón Bolívar International Airport.

The 2000s

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On May 29, he won the WBA's "interim" world Super Flyweight championship by knocking out former WBO world Jr. Flyweight champion Josué Camacho in the fifth round at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was not generally considered to be a four division world champion, however, because the WBA had conditioned their recognition of him as world Super Flyweight champion on either one of two things happening: the real champion, Hideki Todaka, would have to decide to leave his place as champion or Gámez would have to beat him in a fight in order to be recognized as champion. After losing the Flyweight crown on September 3 to Sornpichai Kratingdaengym by knockout in eight rounds at a Thai hotel, Gámez received an opportunity to solidify his status as WBA world Super Flyweight champion, when the official champion, Todaka, gave him a shot on October 9, 2000.

Gámez made history once again, joining the small group of boxers who have won world titles in four different divisions, first quadruple same organization world champions (all WBA four champions) and becoming both the first one among those to have held the world Flyweight title and the first Venezuelan in that group, when he knocked Todaka out in seven rounds at Nagoya. On his first defense, held on March 11, 2001, in Yokohama, Japan, he lost the crown by a ten-round Technical knockout to Celes Kobayashi.

After one more win, Gámez attempted to join the very exclusive group of fighters to win world titles in five different divisions, when he lost to WBA world Bantamweight champion Johnny Bredahl by a twelve-round decision, on November 8, 2002, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Gámez, as of 2014, is currently training young boxers in San Juan de los Morros in the Guarico state, and many other cities in Venezuela.

Retirement

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After losing to Prakorb Udomna of Thailand, Gámez decided to retire for good from boxing, leaving with a record of 35 wins, 12 losses and 1 draw, 26 of his wins coming by knockout. His last fight was held in Thailand.

Professional boxing record

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48 fights 35 wins 12 losses
By knockout 26 2
By decision 9 10
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
48 Loss 35–12–1 Prakorb Udomna UD 12 Dec 22, 2005 Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand For WBA interim bantamweight title
47 Win 35–11–1 Dioberto Julio TKO 6 (10) Aug 13, 2005 Circulo Militar, Maracay, Venezuela
46 Loss 34–11–1 Volodymyr Sydorenko UD 12 Oct 26, 2004 Lånlet Arena, Rostock, Germany
45 Loss 34–10–1 Hideki Todaka SD 12 Oct 4, 2003 Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan For WBA interim bantamweight title
44 Loss 34–9–1 Johnny Bredahl UD 12 Nov 8, 2002 Falkoner Center, Frederiksberg, Denmark For WBA bantamweight title
43 Win 34–8–1 Fidel Romero UD 10 Apr 27, 2002 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela
42 Loss 33–8–1 Celes Kobayashi TKO 10 (12), 2:29 Mar 11, 2001 Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan Lost WBA super flyweight title
41 Win 33–7–1 Hideki Todaka KO 7 (12), 2:13 Oct 9, 2000 Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya, Japan Won WBA super flyweight title
40 Loss 32–7–1 Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym KO 9 (12), 2:52 Sep 3, 1999 Mukdahan Grand Hotel Arena, Mukdahan, Thailand Lost WBA flyweight title
39 Win 32–6–1 Josué Camacho TKO 8 (12), 2:06 May 29, 1999 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico Won WBA interim super flyweight title
38 Win 31–6–1 Hugo Rafael Soto KO 3 (12), 0:33 Mar 13, 1999 Madison Square Garden, New York, United States Won WBA flyweight title
37 Win 30–6–1 Gilberto González KO 8 (12) Oct 3, 1998 Caracas, Venezuela Won WBA Fedelatin flyweight title
36 Loss 29–6–1 Aquiles Guzmán PTS 12 Oct 7, 1996 Maracay, Venezuela For WBA Fedelatin flyweight title
35 Loss 29–5–1 Somchai Chertchai SD 12 Mar 24, 1996 Zeer Shopping Center, Rangsit, Thailand For WBA flyweight title
34 Win 29–4–1 Alvaro Mercado TKO 4 (12) Sep 18, 1995 Maracay, Venezuela Retained WBA Fedelatin flyweight title
33 Win 28–4–1 Aquiles Guzmán PTS 12 May 20, 1995 La Asuncion, Venezuela Won WBA Fedelatin flyweight title
32 Loss 27–4–1 Choi Hi-Yong UD 12 Feb 4, 1995 Industrial Gymnasium, Ulsan, South Korea Lost WBA light flyweight title
31 Win 27–3–1 Sompoch Harnvichachai TKO 6 (10), 2:00 Oct 9, 1994 Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand Retained WBA light flyweight title
30 Draw 26–3–1 Kaaj Chartbandit SD 12 Jun 27, 1994 Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Retained WBA light flyweight title
29 Win 26–3 Juan Antonio Torres TKO 7 (12), 1:18 Feb 5, 1994 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA light flyweight title
28 Win 25–3 Shiro Yahiro TKO 9 (12), 2:20 Oct 21, 1993 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won vacant WBA light flyweight title
27 Win 24–3 Oswaldo Osorio KO 2 (?) Jul 11, 1993 Caracas, Venezuela
26 Win 23–3 Carlos Alberto Rodriguez PTS 10 Dec 19, 1992 Turmero, Venezuela
25 Win 22–3 Benedicto Murillo TKO 6 (?) Jun 12, 1992 Turmero, Venezuela
24 Win 21–3 Rafael Julio KO 4 (?) May 9, 1992 Turmero, Venezuela
23 Loss 20–3 Kim Yong Kang UD 12 Oct 5, 1991 Incheon Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea For WBA flyweight title
22 Loss 20–2 Yuh Myung-Woo UD 12 Nov 10, 1990 Pohang Indoor Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea For WBA light flyweight title
21 Loss 20–1 Yuh Myung-Woo SD 12 Apr 29, 1990 Intercontinental Hotel, Seoul,South Korea For WBA light flyweight title
20 Win 20–0 Mauricio Bernal TKO 7 (?) Dec 15, 1989 Turmero, Venezuela
19 Win 19–0 Victoriano Hernandez KO 5 (?) Oct 29, 1989 Turmero, Venezuela
18 Win 18–0 Kenji Yokozawa TKO 3 (12), 1:25 Apr 24, 1988 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBA minimumweight title
17 Win 17–0 Kim Bong-Jun UD 12 Jan 10, 1988 Kudok Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea Won vacant WBA minimumweight title
16 Win 16–0 Victoriano Hernandez PTS 10 Oct 10, 1987 Turmero, Venezuela
15 Win 15–0 Alfredo Reyes TKO 2 (12) Aug 22, 1987 Turmero, Venezuela Retained Venezuelan light flyweight title
14 Win 14–0 Leonardo Paredes TKO 4 (?) Jun 23, 1987 Maracay, Venezuela
13 Win 13–0 Pedro Nieves KO 2 (?) Apr 30, 1987 Turmero, Venezuela Won Venezuelan light flyweight title
12 Win 12–0 Jose G Castillo TKO 5 (?) Mar 21, 1987 Maracay, Venezuela
11 Win 11–0 Rafael Bolivar TD 2 (?) Feb 2, 1987 Maracay, Venezuela
10 Win 10–0 Alberto Escorcia KO 4 (?) Nov 28, 1986 Maracaibo, Venezuela
9 Win 9–0 Jose G Castillo PTS 8 Oct 31, 1986 Valle de la Pascua, Venezuela
8 Win 8–0 Rafael Lara KO 3 (?) Sep 30, 1986 Maracay, Venezuela
7 Win 7–0 Fidel Gonzalez KO 5 (?) Jul 26, 1986 Maracay, Venezuela
6 Win 6–0 Rafael Lara KO 6 (?) Apr 19, 1986 Maracay, Venezuela
5 Win 5–0 Alberto Pimienta KO 6 (?) Nov 5, 1985 Maracaibo, Venezuela
4 Win 4–0 Jose Escorcia KO 3 (?) Aug 14, 1985 El Guayabo, Zulia, Venezuela
3 Win 3–0 Jose G Castillo KO 5 (?) Jun 11, 1985 Maracay, Venezuela
2 Win 2–0 Alcides Hernandez PTS 4 Apr 17, 1985 Maracay, Venezuela
1 Win 1–0 Francisco Garcia PTS 4 Feb 14, 1985 Maracay, Venezuela

See also

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Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Inaugural Champion WBA minimumweight champion
January 10, 1988 – April 1, 1989
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Kim Bong-jun
Vacant
Title last held by
Yuh Myung-woo
WBA light flyweight champion
October 21, 1993 – February 4, 1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBA flyweight champion
March 13, 1999 – September 3, 1999
Succeeded by
Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym
New title WBA super flyweight champion
Interim title

May 29, 1999 – October 9, 2000
Won full title
Vacant
Title next held by
Rafael Concepción
Preceded by WBA super flyweight champion
October 9, 2000 - March 11, 2001
Succeeded by