Erbito Salavarria

[BoztheMadman]

Erbito Salavarria was one of the first Filipino world champions, winning the WBC flyweight title in a stunning upset against Chartchai Chionoi of Thailand, stopping the four time champion in only two rounds in 1970. He got stripped a year later for using illegal substances, but then captured the WBA title later on and held it for ten months. Salavarria was a tall flyweight at 5’5 (166 cm), could hit hard (despite not scoring that many knockouts) and was tough, only getting stopped three times in eleven losses, twice at the end of his career. He retired with a record of 40 wins, 11 by ko, 11 losses and 3 draws.

Born on 20 January 1946 in Manila, he later relocated to Quezon City, the second largest city in The Philippines. He was only 17 when he turned professional, in July 1963. He went 8-0-1 and then lost for the first time against Johnny Bulawan by SD8. After 7 more wins, he was knocked out for the first time against Al Diaz in 9 rounds. Diaz weighed in 4 pounds above the limit. After losing the trilogy against Ray Magramo 1-2, winning the Filipino title in their first fight, he also dropped a split decision away in Japan against experienced Takeshi Nakamura, in December 1967. He then reclaimed his national title in a fourth fight against Magramo, winning by MD12. In 1969, he first avenged the loss to Al Diaz by UD12, before also avenging the loss to Nakamura, winning the Oriental title by TKO10. 
 

On 25 July 1970, he scored his so far greatest victory when he beat the reigning WBA champion Berkerk Chartvanchai by UD10 in a non title fight at home in Quezon City. This gave him a chance to win the WBC title which was held by the outstanding Chartchai Chionoi. On 7 December that year, the young Pinoy scored a TKO in 2 rounds at Army Stadium in Bangkok to stun the boxing nation of Thailand, flooring Chionoi three times before the stoppage at 1:48. He made his first defense on 30 April next year in Quezon City against Susumu Hanagata of Japan and won by UD15. He then went for the first time to USA to fight above flyweight against Lorenzo Gutierrez but dropped a ten round decision to him on 4 June, also getting dropped once. On 20 November he went to Maracaibo in Venezuela to fight one of their greatest fighters, Betulio Gonzalez. He retained the title with a draw, but a month later he got stripped after it was discovered he had used amphetamine during the fight! Scoring referee Mills Lane gave the fight to Salavarria by the way.

On 9 February 1973, he tried to reclaim the title against Venice Borkhorsor, but lost by a shutout UD in Bangkok. He spent most of the fight trying to avoid getting cut up by Borkhorsor’s powerful left hook and consequently got no rounds from any of the judges. He again fought Susumu Hanagata for the WBA title on 1 April ‘75 in Toyama, Japan and came off with the belt after getting the nod by SD15. He had to give Hanagata a rematch because of the closeness of the fight and on 7 October he again won by SD in Yokohama. His bane would be Alfonso Lopez of Panama, who had already defeated him by UD10. They fought with the title at stake on 27 February ‘76 in Quezon City and Salavarria got stopped by TKO15 after getting knocked down in the last two rounds and hammered for most of the fight. “Tonight was just not my night”, Erbito said, but it was no shame to lose to a fine fighter like Lopez, who was at his peak. 
 

This was effectively the end of Salavarria as a top boxer. He came back to the ring on 3 December 1978 but looked far from his old self and got easily destroyed in 4 rounds by unheralded Netmoi Sor Vorasingh in Bangkok-only once his lucky place. He was 32 when he retired, almost 33, having fought for 15 years. He was not on world stage very long, but engaged in some memorable fights and scored a huge upset against a great fighter. That is why Erbito Salavarria can look back at his satisfied. 
 

 

[Ledhed1]

Near as I can tell Salavarria was/is the only fighter to forfeit a lineal world title due to a failed drug test in any weight division. So he's got that going for him!

The title lineage was re-established when Masao Ohba defeated Hanagata in March 72. Ohba died as reigning champion the following year. The vacancy was filled when Betulio defeated Miguel Canto in Summer 73. The lineal flyweight title then only changed hands in the ring all the way until Chocolatito relinquished the title in 2016. Amazing!