Victor Emilio Galindez-Leopard of Moron

[BoztheMadman]

His nickname might have sounded unusual and even a tad humoristic, but Victor Emilio Galindez, Leopard from Moron, was no joke. He was simply one of the best light heavyweights, both in his time and ever. Though some of his biggest fights have been deadly close and their outcome could be disputed, it is not disputable that Galindez was indeed a great fighter. A great offensive fighter, who used his bull-like fighting style to overcome taller opponents-at 5foot9, he most often had to face taller guys. He was a great infighter with very good power and stamina and also a solid chin. He has been stopped 3 times in 68 fights, and all 3 times late in the fight. Unfortunately, he had problems staying at light heavyweight and in his last fight he unsuccessfully tried himself at cruiserweight. This is the story of Argentina's greatest light heavyweight.

 

He was born in Vedia, a part of Buenos Aires, on 2 November 1948. His nickname is derived from the place of his residence later on, Moron, another part of Buenos Aires. He aspired to be both a boxer and a stock car pilot from early age. His love for boxing was greater however and he started his amateur career, culminating in a silver medal at the 1967 Pan American Games. He also took part in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, but was eliminated by Aldo Bentini of Italy on points early on. He fought at light middleweight as amateur. He debuted professionally in May '69 but his early career was a mixed bag and in his first 22 fights he had 11 wins, 6 losses, 3 draws and 2 no contests. He lost 3 of those fights to Avenemar Peralta, who was then one of the best Argentinian fighters and gave him his first stoppage loss, by TKO 9. He also lost to Jorge Victor Ahumada on points, but then beat him twice by knockout, first by KO 9 and then by KO 6. He also avenged the losses to Peralta, decisioning him three times in all. In their last fight, he won the South American light heavyweight title. He also held the national title, which he won on points against Juan Aguilar, who was the first one to beat him. In May '73, he beat the future heavyweight Eddie Owens by knockout in 3. He then knocked out another American, Karl Zurheide, in 2. Eddie Duncan and Ray Anderson ended the same way as he started climbing in the world rankings. He was finally given a shot at the vacant WBA title against Len Hutchins, on 7 December 1974. The fight took place at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires and Galindez became world champion when he battered Hutchins into submission, forcing him to retire after 12 rounds. With that, he became only the third Hispanic world light heavyweight champion, after Jose Torres and Vicente Rondon.

 

Even though he won the title at home, for the rest of his tenure as champion he would travel all over the world to defend his title. In his first defense he decisioned Pierre Fourie in his homeland South Africa. He then fought against Ahumada again and despite both being Argentinians, the fight was on American soil, Madison Square Garden. In the 3rd round, Galindez dropped Ahumada with a stiff left that seemed to land just as the bell sounded. Ahumada's corner protested loudly when the referee scored it a knockdown. For the rest of the fight, Leopard of Moron got the better of Ahumada with blistering lefts and right uppercuts that repeatedly caught him. In the end, Galindez took home a wide unanimous decision. "He was the same Galindez of old. Strong and rude", said Ahumada after the fight. And Galindez would become notorious for his temper and verbal taunting in the ring. Despite that, he was still a popular fighter, especially in Argentina. He again went to South Africa to decision Fourie by split decision. He then went to Oslo, Norway to fight their local hopeful, 15-0 Harald Skog. Despite the 6'4 Skog's significant height advantage, he was easily knocked out by Galindez the bull in 3 rounds. Galindez again returned to South Africa, where it seems he liked to fight or was popular, to fight against Richie Kates of Philadelphia. It was 22 May 1976 and a night he would never forget. It was one of the most brutal and savage fights ever seen in South Africa, according to spectators. Galindez had a bad wound over his right eye but still mercilessly pounded Kates, dropped him in the 7th and finally finished him off with two left hooks in the 15th round. Kates was counted out just a second before the bell rang. However, after the fight he was informed that his dear friend and fellow Argentinian boxer, Oscar Bonavena, had been killed. He was devastated and cried a lot that night.

 

He then beat another South African in his next defense, puncher Kosie Smith, by UD and again rematched Kates in June '77, this time the fight went the distance and he retained his title for the 7th time by UD. He then made his three next defenses in Italy, first against the Mexican-born and California-based brawler Yaqui Lopez. The 6'2 Lopez used his height effectively and gave Galindez problems with his body attack which at times overwhelmed the much shorter champion. In the end, some thought Lopez had deserved the decision but Galindez got it, 146-145, 147-146 and 148-146. His next defense would also be tough, as he took on the brilliant technician Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. He put Muhammad down in the 5th and had the better of the first half of the fight, but Muhammad came on strong in the second half and made the fight real close. In the end, Galindez again won by a close decision and I myself gave it to him by a point. He then gave Lopez a rematch and again he found himself in dire straits as Lopez battered him for much of the fight and closed his eye, but Galindez made it to the final bell. Needless to say, he got the decision, to the dismay of many in the crowd which booed it, and Lopez and his corner. He then faced problems with the weight for the first time, as well as marital problems and it spilled out and affected his performance in the ring. In his 11th defense of the WBA belt, he was stopped by Mike "The Jewish Bomber" Rossman, who was a hard hitter with a good jab, early in the 13th round after taking a beating.

 

He was given a rematch 6 months later and this time it was a better version of Galindez that showed up. The fight was originally supposed to take place on 24 February but Galindez protested the Nevada judges and instead asked for Louisiana's. Among them was the referee Stanley Christodoulou. Rossman came out fast and won the first round jabbing, but then Galindez started the assault. After he was stung by a sharp left in the 4th, Galindez became furious and started scoring with thunderous hooks. With Rossman hurt and reeling, Galindez kept hitting him after the bell sounded. Christodoulou hadn't heard the bell and so didn't interfere at first. Rossman's brother Andy then leapt in the ring and threw a punch at Galindez that missed. Galindez in turn hit him twice and his entourage entered the ring. Christodoulou was effective in calming the brawl before it really erupted and the fight resumed. In the 5th round, Rossman broke his right hand throwing a punch and that was it. Galindez knew he had him now and he completely dominated the rest of the fight, before Rossman retired following the 9th round. Galindez didn't show himself as a good winner when he charged at Rossman following the stoppage and screamed taunts at him. He had to be pulled away by his cornermen. It was obvious this man didn't take defeat lightly. In his dressing room, he said he would never fight Rossman again and added: "He chickened up. He's a chicken." When he was told Rossman gave him a rematch he said "I got a rematch because I deserved it. I won't give him a rematch, he doesn't deserve it."

 

However, he would not get to enjoy his recaptured title very long. In his first defense, he met Marvin Johnson, a great puncher and brawler who also had good boxing skills and was an infighter, like Galindez. The fight naturally turned into a slugfest before Johnson knocked him out early in the 11th round with a left hook and the fight was over after 20 seconds of it. Galindez would never be a champion again. He then ventured into cruiserweight division in his last fight, on 14 June 1980, which was an eliminator for the WBC title. It was one of the first fights in the new division, like made for light heavyweights struggling to make weight. He took on another former light heavyweight, the clever Jesse Burnett and lost a close UD to him. He then decided to retire due to a detached retina in both eyes and left behind a record of 55 wins with 34 knockouts, 9 losses and 4 draws. After hanging up the gloves, he decided to pursue his other passion-car racing. In his first race on 26 October 1980, competing in Argentina's Turismo Carreterra, his car broke down near the end of the first lap. As he and his co-driver were walking back to the pits, they were hit by another car which spun out of the track and slammed straight into them. They were both killed instantly. Galindez was 31, only a week shy of his 32nd birthday. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002, same year as he was ranked 11th on The Ring's list of greatest light heavyweights of all time.

 

One can wonder what would have happened had he not been forced to retire prematurely from boxing. He would have likely been alive today, but then again, he could have started racing after finishing his career later as well. One thing is for sure: he will not be forgotten. He was one of the ring's ultimate warriors and champions.

Edited May 28, 2016 by BoztheMadman

[1SILVA]

Re: Victor Emilio Galindez-Leopard of Moron

 

Galindez was one of the most underrated light heavyweight champions of all time. He was in fact the first 175 champion to regain the championship when he defeated Rossman in their rematch.

[BoztheMadman]

Re: Victor Emilio Galindez-Leopard of Moron

 

True. He was amazing and for his stature he was surprisingly strong.

[BoztheMadman]

Re: Victor Emilio Galindez-Leopard of Moron

 

His son, Dario Victor Galindez, fought as a cruiserweight from 1992 and in fact recently returned to the ring. Actually, he was first a middleweight but is a cruiser now. ;-) He's far from his father's caliber however and has 18 losses and 35 wins.

[Paul Kevin]

Re: Victor Emilio Galindez-Leopard of Moron

 

he is a legend no doubt init