Vicente Rondón

Vicente Rondón
Statistics
Real name Vicente Paul Rondón
Nickname(s) El Muchachote de Barlovento
Rated at Light heavyweight
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Nationality Venezuelan
Born (1938-07-29)July 29, 1938
San José de Río Chico, Miranda, Venezuela
Died December 28, 1992(1992-12-28) (aged 54)
Caracas, Miranda, Venezuela
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 57
Wins 39
Wins by KO 22
Losses 15
Draws 1
No contests 2

Vicente Paúl Rondón (July 29, 1938 – December 28, 1992) was a Venezuelan professional boxer who won the WBA light heavyweight title.

Personal background

Rondón was born in extreme poverty in San José de Río Chico, Miranda, Venezuela, and decided to escape his poor surroundings by enlisting in the Venezuelan military at an early age.

Professional career

When Rondón turned professional, his year of birth was listed as 1944; in fact it was 1938. Rondón began fighting as a middleweight and made a name for himself with upset victories over former world welterweight champion Luis Rodríguez and middleweight contender Bennie Briscoe. However, Rondon was growing and quickly established himself as a top rated light heavyweight with impressive wins over Roger Rouse, Eddie Talhami, and Allen Thomas. World Light heavyweight Champion Bob Foster did not seem eager to fight the #2 ranked Rondón or the #1 rated Jimmy Dupree. The WBA stripped Foster of his title and matched Rondón and Dupree.

In an exciting slugfest, Rondón climbed off the canvas in the second round to stop the favored Dupree at 2:58 of the 6th round. At the time of the stoppage, referee Zack Clayton had the fight scored even at 47–47. Judge Dimas Hernandez also scored the bout 47–47, and judge Gustavo Vargas favored Rondón, 48–47. Following the fight, a controversy broke out with Dupree claiming he was drugged. The United Press International published a story of the claim. In the UPI article, Charliese Smith, a registered nurse and friend of Dupree said, "I believe Jimmy was drugged. I saw Jimmy after the fight and he was very very weak. His vision was blurry and he couldn't even see the other side of the room." She went on to say, "I know of muscle relaxants that can be administered in food and I'm convinced that Jimmy was given something." Regardless of the charges, the World Boxing Association recognized Rondón as world champion, while The Ring magazine viewed Bob Foster as the legitimate Light heavyweight king.

1971 was an outstanding year for Rondón with a number of title defenses. He became the first and only fighter to stop Gomeo Brennan. Many experts felt that Rondón could and would defeat Bob Foster. Rondon flopped badly against Foster in 1972; being destroyed in two rounds. A venture into the heavyweight ranks proved just as bad, as he was beaten by Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle and José Urtain. Rondón did better in 1973 as he started to trim down in weight. He looked highly skilled and impressive by scoring a 10 round decision over undefeated prospect Oliver Wright on Miami Beach. Shortly after he stopped heavyweight Mike "Jim" Boswell in four rounds.

Sadly, Rondón's private life was full of demons. He was developing a drinking problem and spending money like it was going out of style. An attempt to regain the light heavyweight title, saw him drop a decision to number 1 rated Len Hutchins, and then suffer a 9th round technical knockout to John Conteh. In 1974, Rondón, weighing 188 pounds, went back to the heavyweight division, where he would be largely unsuccessful. He was unable to get off the stool for round three in his fight with Rodney Bobick at Miami Beach, Florida. In his next fight he was knocked out in two rounds by former world heavyweight title contender José "King" Roman.

Life after boxing

Shortly thereafter Rondón's career hit the skids and so did he. He was confined to a mental hospital, and later arrested on charges of robbing a store for $150. Rondon served a prison sentence, and there are unconfirmed reports that he boxed some exhibitions or possibility a professional match. Rondón was released from prison a physical wreck. Vicente Paul Rondón, the boxing idol of his country, died forgotten, broke and in poverty in Santa Ana de Carapita, a slum of Caracas. Rondón had been living with his elderly mother at the time. He was 54 when he died.

Professional boxing record

39 Wins (22 knockouts), 15 Losses (7 knockouts), 1 Draw, 2 No Contests[1]
Res. Record Opponent Type Round
Time
Date Location Notes
Loss39–15–1
2 NC
Puerto Rico José Roman TKO 2 (10) 1974–06–06 United States Curtis Hixon Hall,
Tampa, Florida
Loss39–14–1
2 NC
United States Rodney Bobick TKO 3 (10) 1974–02–19 United States Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
Loss39–13–1
2 NC
Germany Rudiger Schmidtke PTS 10 1973–11–17 Germany Frankfurt, Hesse
Loss39–12–1
2 NC
United Kingdom John Conteh TKO 9 (10) 1973–09–10 United Kingdom Empire Pool, London
Win39–11–1
2 NC
United States Mike Boswell TKO 4 (10) 1973–08–24 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
Loss38–11–1
2 NC
Denmark Tom Bogs PTS 10 1973–06–14 Denmark K.B. Hallen,
Copenhagen, Capital Region
Loss38–10–1
2 NC
United States Len Hutchins PTS 10 1973–05–19 United States Detroit, Michigan
Win38–9–1
2 NC
Jamaica Oliver Wright PTS 10 1973–04–03 United States Miami Beach, Florida
Win37–9–1
2 NC
United States Larry Beilfuss PTS 10 1973–02–15 Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Coliseum,
San Juan
Loss36–9–1
2 NC
Spain José Manuel Urtain PTS 10 1972–12–01 Spain Madrid
Loss36–8–1
2 NC
United States Earnie Shavers UD 10 1972–08–26 United States Canton Auditorium,
Canton, Ohio
Loss36–7–1
2 NC
United States Ron Lyle TKO 2 (10)
1:41
1972–07–10 United States Denver, Colorado
Loss36–6–1
2 NC
United States Bob Foster TKO 2 (15)
2:55
1972–04–07 United States Miami Beach Convention Hall,
Miami Beach, Florida
For WBC
Light heavyweight title.
Lost WBA
Light heavyweight title.
Win36–5–1
2 NC
United States Doyle Baird TKO 8 (15)
2:10
1971–12–15 United States Cleveland Arena,
Cleveland, Ohio
Retained WBA
Light heavyweight title.
Win35–5–1
2 NC
The Bahamas Gomeo Brennan TKO 14 (15) 1971–10–26 United States Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
Retained WBA
Light heavyweight title.
Win34–5–1
2 NC
Germany Conny Velensek PTS 15 1971–10–14 Germany Berlin Non-title fight.
Win33–5–1
2 NC
United States Eddie Jones UD 15 1971–08–21 Venezuela Nuevo Circo,
Caracas, Venezuela
Retained WBA
Light heavyweight title.
Win32–5–1
2 NC
United States Johnny Griffin PTS 15 1971–07–11 Spain Valencia, Valencia Non-title fight.
Win31–5–1
2 NC
Italy Piero del Papa KO 1 (15) 1971–06–05 Venezuela Nuevo Circo,
Caracas, Venezuela
Retained WBA
Light heavyweight title.
Win30–5–1
2 NC
United States Jimmy Dupree KO 6 (15)
2:58
1971–02–27 Venezuela Nuevo Circo,
Caracas, Venezuela
Won vacant WBA
Light heavyweight title.
Win29–5–1
2 NC
United States Roger Rouse UD 10 1970–11–07 Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium,
San Juan
Win28–5–1
2 NC
United States Willie Johnson TKO 4 (10) 1970–10–06 United States Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
Win27–5–1
2 NC
United States Hydra Lacy KO 2 (10) 1970–08–11 United States Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida
Win26–5–1
2 NC
United States Levan Roundtree PTS 10 1970–05–20 Puerto Rico Mayagüez
Win25–5–1
2 NC
United States Fred Williams KO 4 (10) 1970–04–18 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win24–5–1
2 NC
Argentina Avenamar Peralta PTS 10 1969–12–06 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win23–5–1
2 NC
United States Virgin Islands Randy Stevens KO 5 (10) 1969–11–29 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win22–5–1
2 NC
Puerto Rico Angel Oquendo TKO 6 (10) 1969–10–26 Puerto Rico San Juan
No Contest21–5–1
2 NC
United States Paul Johnson NC 7 (10) 1969–08–09 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win21–5–1
1 NC
Canada Eddie Talhami PTS 10 1969–07–05 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win20–5–1
1 NC
Venezuela José Luis García PTS 12 1969–05–30 Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela Won vacant Venezuelan
Light heavyweight title.
Win19–5–1
1 NC
United States Karl Zurheide UD 10 1969–05–06 United States Aragon Ballroom,
Chicago, Illinois
Win18–5–1
1 NC
United States Allen Thomas PTS 10 1969–04–01 United States Aragon Ballroom,
Chicago, Illinois
Loss17–5–1
1 NC
United States Bennie Briscoe TKO 8 (10) 1969–01–26 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win17–4–1
1 NC
United States Charlie Jordan PTS 10 1968–11–26 United States Miami Beach, Florida
Win16–4–1
1 NC
United States Charlie Jordan UD 10 1968–11–12 United States Miami Beach, Florida
Loss15–4–1
1 NC
Brazil Juarez de Lima PTS 10 1968–11–03 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win15–3–1
1 NC
United States Bennie Briscoe UD 10 1968–09–23 Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium,
San Juan
Win14–3–1
1 NC
United States Charley Austin PTS 10 1968–09–09 Puerto Rico San Juan
Loss13–3–1
1 NC
Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez UD 10 1968–07–18 Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium,
San Juan
Win13–2–1
1 NC
Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez UD 10 1968–06–03 Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium,
San Juan
Loss12–2–1
1 NC
Puerto Rico José González TKO 8 (10)
1:19
1968–04–19 United States National Maritime Union Hall,
New York City, New York
Loss12–1–1
1 NC
United States Bobby Warthen SD 10 1968–01–12 United States National Maritime Union Hall,
New York City, New York
Win12–0–1
1 NC
Guam Phil Robinson KO 5 (10) 1967–12–14 Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela
Draw11–0–1
1 NC
United States Harold Richardson PTS 10 1967–11–10 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win11–0
1 NC
Cuba Pedro Miranda TKO 10 (10) 1967–10–14 Puerto Rico San Juan
Win10–0
1 NC
United States Tony Smith KO 3 (10) 1967–09–08 Puerto Rico Manuel Carrasquillo Peren Stadium,
Río Piedras
Win9–0
1 NC
Venezuela Marco Tulio Polanco KO 3 (10) 1967–06–12 Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela
Win8–0
1 NC
Venezuela Danny Machado TKO 4 (10) 1967–03–20 Venezuela Palacio de Deportes,
Caracas, Venezuela
No Contest7–0
1 NC
Venezuela Marco Tulio Polanco NC 2 (10) 1966–12–04 Venezuela Nuevo Circo,
Caracas, Venezuela
Win7–0Venezuela Marcos Pirella KO 2 (10) 1966–11–14 Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela
Win6–0Trinidad and Tobago Melville Bennett KO 2 (10) 1966–09–16 Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela
Win5–0Venezuela Marco Tulio Polanco KO 3 (10) 1966–06–24 Venezuela Nuevo Circo,
Caracas, Venezuela
Win4–0Colombia Pedro Vanegas KO 6 (10) 1965–11–05 Colombia Cartagena, Bolívar
Win3–0Colombia Pedro Vanegas KO 4 (10) 1965–10–29 Colombia Barranquilla, Atlántico
Win2–0Venezuela Joe Louis Troconis KO 1 (?) 1965–07–26 Venezuela Palacio de Deportes,
Caracas, Venezuela
Win1–0United States Joe Carabella KO 2 (?) 1965–06–28 Venezuela Palacio de Deportes,
Caracas, Venezuela

See also

References

External links

Preceded by
Bob Foster
Stripped
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion
27 Feb 1971–7 Apr 1972
Succeeded by
Bob Foster
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