Romeo Anaya (5 April 1946 – 24 December 2015) was a Mexican professional boxer who competed from 1967 to 1980, holding the Lineal and WBA bantamweight titles from 1973 to 1974.[1]

Romeo Anaya
Born
Romeo Anaya Malpica

(1946-04-05)5 April 1946
Cahuare, Chiapas, Mexico
Died24 December 2015(2015-12-24) (aged 69)
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
Other namesEl Lacandón
Statistics
Weight(s)Bantamweight
Super bantamweight
Height5 ft 4+12 in (1.64 m)
Boxing record
Total fights72
Wins50
Wins by KO42
Losses21
Draws1

Professional career

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Anaya won the Mexico bantamweight title in 1971. He became the world bantamweight champion when he defeated Lineal and WBA bantamweight champion Enrique Pinder of Panama on January 20, 1973.[2] On November 3, 1973, Anaya met Arnold Taylor in a match refereed by Stanley Christodoulou in Johannesburg. The 14 round fight is considered by many to be one of boxing's classic fights. One South African sportswriter called it "the bloodiest fight in South African boxing history". Taylor suffered a cut and was knocked down once in round five and three times in round eight (the WBA has since adopted a rule where a fighter is automatically declared a knockout loser if he or she is knocked down three times in the same round). Nevertheless, Taylor also cut the champion, and, in round fourteen, he connected with a right hand to Anaya's jaw, sending him to the floor. Feeling that this was his moment to become a world champion, Taylor screamed to his trainers: "He's gone!" from a neutral corner. It took Anaya two minutes to get up, and Taylor won the Lineal and WBA bantamweight titles.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Romeo Anaya dies".
  2. ^ "Romeo Anaya - Lineal Bantamweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
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Achievements
Preceded by WBA bantamweight champion
January 20, 1973 - November 3, 1973
Succeeded by
The Ring bantamweight champion
January 20, 1973 - November 3, 1973
Lineal Bantamweight Champion
January 20, 1973 - November 3, 1973