Eladio "Black Bill" Valdés (July 1905 – May 14, 1933) was a

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

n boxer of the 1920s. Small of stature at 5 feet, 3.5 inches and weighing between 109–115 pounds, he was managed by Luis "Pincho" Gutiérrez and trained by Moe Fleischer. He made his first official appearance on September 11, 1920 (at age 15) in a fight in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, his native city, where he defeated Diego Blanco in the fourth round. Valdés continued to fight throughout the 1920s, dividing his fights between Havana and

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. Although he was neither large nor a power hitter, he was known for throwing opponents off guard by attacking with agility and angled punches.

Cuban flyweight and light flyweight champion, 1921-3

On November 6, 1921, he was proclaimed Cuban Flyweight Champion after his defeat of Dixie Lewis, and presented with a belt that month. On May 7, 1923, in Havana, he defeated Genaro Pino for the Light Flyweight Championship of Cuba in 12 rounds.

Challenging for the world flyweight championship, 1930

On March 21, 1930, he unsuccessfully challenged Midget Wolgast for the

New York State Athletic Commission The New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, is a division of the New York State Department of State which regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, ...

's version of the World Flyweight Title at Madison Square Garden. During his career, he defeated opponents such as Johnny McCoy, Willie Davies, "Corporal" Izzy Schwartz, Sammy Bienfield, the French boxer Eugène Huat, Happy Atherton, Genaro Pino,

Marty Gold Martin Gold (December 26, 1915 – January 14, 2011) was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader born in New York City, New York, United States. He was the pianist and arranger for the Korn Kobblers, a popular 1940s novelty group billed as "A ...

, Bobby Green, Henry Catena, Pinky Silverberg, and Benny Marks. Plagued by alcoholism and boxing-related blindness, Valdés committed suicide while in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Ha ...

, New York, on May 14, 1933.

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All

newspaper decision A newspaper decision was a type of decision in professional boxing. It was rendered by a consensus of sportswriters attending a bout after it had ended inconclusively with a "no decision", as many regions had not adopted the National Sporting Club ...

s are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of

s in the win/loss/draw column.

References

External links

Profile at Cyber boxing zone

Photograph of Valdés
with

Kid Chocolate Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo (January 6, 1910 – August 8, 1988), better known as Kid Chocolate, was a Cuban boxer who enjoyed great success both in the boxing ring and outside it during the 1930s. Chocolate boxed professionally between 1927 and ...

, from th
Cuban Photograph Collection
of the University of Miami Librarie
Cuban Heritage Collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valdes, Eladio People from Havana 1905 births 1933 deaths Cuban male boxers Flyweight boxers 1933 suicides Suicides in New York City 20th-century Cuban people