# Paulino Uzcudun

Paulino Uzcudun Eizmendi (3 May 1899 – 5 July 1985) was a Basque Spanish heavyweight boxer, who is considered to be the greatest heavyweight from Spain. Uzkudun is the Basque spelling of his last name. He was the youngest of nine siblings. In his youth, he became an aizkolari or traditional competitive Basque wood chopper. Uzcudun, known as Paulino in the United States, was the European heavyweight champion, and he fought heavyweight champions Joe Louis, Max Baer, Max Schmeling (three times) and Primo Carnera (twice) during his career. The former butcher—nicknamed "the Basque woodchopper"—retired from boxing with a record of 49 wins (33 KOs), 17 losses and 3 draws.

## Life & career

Uzcudun was a rugged boxer with a crouched stance. He had a powerful left hook, and fought the toughest heavyweights of his time. He had only one opportunity at the world's heavyweight championship, but was defeated in a fifteen-round fight by Primo Carnera of Italy on October 22, 1933. Trainer Whitey Bimstein accompanied Uzcudun to the bout in Barcelona, Spain. Later in life, Bimstein gave an account in interview, of a scene more reminiscent of the cinema: "I remember one day we were at a sidewalk cafe. Just as I started to put my lips to a glass of vermouth a shot splintered the glass. Believe me, I got back to the hotel in nothing flat..." Much more grim was his description of the Civil War in Spain beyond such high drama: "It was nothing to walk along the streets covered with hundreds of dead, and you couldn't tell when the fighting would break out anew." Against this chaotic backdrop, Uzcudun's chance at the title took place.
Shortly before the fight, Carnera balked at the Spanish-made gloves chosen by the governing boxing commission. The champion, who had insisted upon American gloves, stated loudly and in Spanish that he would not fight. The commissioner, according to Bimstein, removed himself from the room, and "about a dozen soldiers walked toward Carnera." The champion "backed up hurriedly" and conceded the choice. As for the actual fight, Uzcudun went the 15 scheduled rounds and well enough, that "when the verdict was announced, the revolution started all over again." A riot, which included gunfire, commenced. Uzcudun, Bimstein, the other seconds and as many as "three hundred others" took refuge under the massive ring, until troops restored order—even with this, citizenry "continued rioting in the streets all night...." It was unfortunate for Uzcudun, whom Bimstein said "was the finest character among the fighters I ever met, square as they make 'em, game and tough, and in his prime a match for any of 'em."
Uzcudun also "retired" the famed Harry Wills, when he stopped him in four rounds on July 13, 1927. The tough and durable Uzcudun was never knocked off his feet, or KO'd until his last professional fight. On December 13, 1935, Uzcudun made the mistake of coming out of retirement to meet Joe Louis. In the fourth round, Louis hit Uzcudun with a swift, powerful right uppercut that knocked him down causing the referee to stop the fight even though Uzcudun wanted to continue. His record was 49–17–3 with 33 knockouts.
In 1933–34, Uzcudun trained on the beach in Rocky Point, Long Island, New York. During a sparring session with Franklin Rosalia (1911–1972), who also summered in Rocky Point, Uzcudun received a punch that knocked him down flat. Some conjecture that this incident led to his subsequent retirement having been demoralized by this incident. In 1936, Uzcudun fought on the Nationalist (pro-Franco) side during the Spanish Civil War reportedly from the first day of the conflict as a member of the Falange Española de las JONS.

## Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.
| 69 fights | 49 wins | 17 losses |
| By knockout | 33 | 1 |
| By decision | 16 | 14 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 2 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 69 | Loss | 49–17–3 | Joe Louis | TKO | 4 (15), 2:32 | Dec 13, 1935 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 68 | Loss | 49–16–3 | Max Schmeling | PTS | 12 | Jul 7, 1935 | Poststadion, Moabit, Germany | |
| 67 | Draw | 49–15–3 | Max Schmeling | MD | 12 | May 13, 1934 | Estadio Olímpico de Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain | On December 3, 1934, Uzcudun was stripped of the Spanish Heavyweight Championship for refusing to defend it against Isidoro Gastañaga. |
| 66 | Loss | 49–15–2 | Primo Carnera | UD | 15 | Oct 22, 1933 | Piazza di Siena, Rome, Italy | The EBU European and IBU World Heavyweight Championships were at stake. |
| 65 | Win | 49–14–2 | Don McCorkindale | PTS | 10 | Jul 1, 1933 | La Monumental, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 64 | Win | 48–14–2 | Pierre Charles | SD | 15 | May 13, 1933 | Las Ventas, Madrid, Spain | The EBU European Heavyweight Championship was at stake. |
| 63 | Win | 47–14–2 | Hans Schönrath | PTS | 10 | Apr 16, 1933 | Frontón Betis, Seville, Spain | |
| 62 | Win | 46–14–2 | Ernst Guehring | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 18, 1933 | Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Valencia, Spain | |
| 61 | Win | 45–14–2 | Salvatore Ruggirello | PTS | 10 | Feb 3, 1933 | Frontón Jai-Alai, Madrid, Spain | |
| 60 | Win | 44–14–2 | Giacomo Bergomas | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 24, 1933 | Teatro Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 59 | Loss | 43–14–2 | Ernie Schaaf | PTS | 15 | Jul 25, 1932 | Madison Square Garden Bowl, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 58 | Loss | 43–13–2 | Mickey Walker | UD | 10 | May 26, 1932 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 43–12–2 | Jack Gagnon | KO | 7 (10) | Apr 4, 1932 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 42–12–2 | King Levinsky | MD | 10 | Jan 15, 1932 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 55 | Loss | 42–11–2 | Tommy Loughran | SD | 10 | Nov 13, 1931 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 42–10–2 | Max Baer | PTS | 20 | Jul 4, 1931 | Race Track Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 41–10–2 | Les Kennedy | TKO | 4 (10), 2:10 | Mar 10, 1931 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 40–10–2 | Primo Carnera | SD | 10 | Nov 30, 1930 | Estadio Olímpico de Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 51 | Win | 40–9–2 | Maurice Griselle | TKO | 5 (10) | Oct 18, 1930 | Vélodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France | |
| 50 | Loss | 39–9–2 | Johnny Risko | PTS | 10 | Jun 19, 1930 | Navin Field, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 39–8–2 | Otto von Porat | PTS | 10 | Jan 10, 1930 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 48 | Loss | 38–8–2 | Tully Griffiths | MD | 10 | Nov 29, 1929 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 47 | Loss | 38–7–2 | Max Schmeling | PTS | 15 | Jun 27, 1929 | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 38–6–2 | Francisco Cruz Coelho | KO | 1 (10), 1:29 | Mar 24, 1929 | San Juan Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 45 | Win | 37–6–2 | KO Christner | PTS | 10 | Feb 22, 1929 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | A month before this fight, Uzcudun was stripped of the EBU European Heavyweight Championship for failing to defend it. |
| 44 | Win | 36–6–2 | Jack Renault | UD | 10 | Dec 25, 1928 | Estadio Versailles, Cali, Colombia | The Colombian Heavyweight Championship was at stake. |
| 43 | Win | 35–6–2 | Bill Hartwell | PTS | 10 | Dec 3, 1928 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 34–6–2 | Otto von Porat | PTS | 10 | Nov 11, 1928 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 33–6–2 | Big Boy Peterson | DQ | 2 (10) | Oct 19, 1928 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | Uzcudun was DQ'd for hitting Peterson while he was unconscious. Peterson was a late replacement for the injured Roberto Roberti. |
| 40 | Win | 33–5–2 | Ludwig Haymann | KO | 11 (12) | Jul 7, 1928 | Plaza de Toros del Chofre, San Sebastián, Spain | The EBU European Heavyweight Championship was at stake. |
| 39 | Loss | 32–5–2 | George Godfrey | PTS | 10 | Feb 28, 1928 | Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 32–4–2 | Quintín Romero Rojas | KO | 3 (15) | Jan 29, 1928 | Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Mexico | |
| 37 | Win | 31–4–2 | Ed Keeley | TKO | 2 (10), 2:50 | Jan 16, 1928 | Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 30–4–2 | Pat Lester | TKO | 7 (10) | Jan 2, 1928 | Armory, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 29–4–2 | Johnny Risko | PTS | 10 | Nov 25, 1927 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Draw | 29–3–2 | Tom Heeney | PTS | 15 | Sep 8, 1927 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 29–3–1 | Jack Delaney | DQ | 7 (10), 1:57 | Aug 11, 1927 | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 29–2–1 | Harry Wills | KO | 4 (15), 1:27 | Jul 13, 1927 | Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 28–2–1 | Tom Heeney | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1927 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 27–2–1 | Knute Hansen | PTS | 10 | Feb 25, 1927 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 26–2–1 | Homer Smith | TKO | 7 (10) | Jan 21, 1927 | Benjamin Field Arena, Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 25–2–1 | Antolín Fierro | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 15, 1927 | Nuevo Frontón, Havana, Cuba | |
| 27 | Win | 24–2–1 | Martin O'Grady | KO | 1 (12) | Jan 1, 1927 | Almendares Park, Havana, Cuba | |
| 26 | Win | 23–2–1 | Erminio Spalla | PTS | 12 | May 18, 1926 | La Monumental, Barcelona, Spain | The EBU European Heavyweight Championship was at stake. |
| 25 | Win | 22–2–1 | Harry Drake | KO | 1 (10), 1:25 | Mar 23, 1926 | Cirque de Paris, Paris, France | |
| 24 | Draw | 21–2–1 | Franz Diener | PTS | 10 | Feb 12, 1926 | Kaiserdamm Arena, Berlin, Germany | |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | Soldier Jones | KO | 1 (12) | Feb 9, 1926 | Cirque de Paris, Paris, France | |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Constant Barrick | TKO | 4 (10) | Jan 29, 1926 | Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Hans Breitenstraeter | KO | 9 (10) | Dec 1, 1925 | Berlin Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany | |
| 20 | Win | 18–2 | Marcel Nilles | KO | 3 (10) | Nov 7, 1925 | Vélodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France | |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Constant Barrick | TKO | 6 (12) | Oct 16, 1925 | Circo Price, Madrid, Spain | |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Fernand Delarge | TKO | 1 (10) | Oct 10, 1925 | Plaza de toros de las Arenas, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 17 | Win | 15–2 | Phil Scott | KO | 6 (12) | Sep 6, 1925 | Plaza de Toros de Vista Alegre, Bilbao, Spain | Scott let himself be counted out, claiming he had been hit low. |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Jack Humbeeck | PTS | 12 | Jul 11, 1925 | Plaza de Toros de Goya, Madrid, Spain | |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Fernand Delarge | PTS | 12 | Jun 7, 1925 | Arènes d'Eckmühl, Oran, France (present-day Algeria) | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Jack Humbeeck | TKO | 4 (10) | Dec 20, 1924 | Vélodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France | |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Louis Piochelle | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 5, 1924 | Stade Municipal, Algiers, France (present-day Algeria) | |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Frank Goddard | TKO | 6 (10) | Sep 7, 1924 | Arènes de Bayonne, Bayonne, France | |
| 11 | Loss | 9–2 | George Cook | PTS | 15 | Jul 29, 1924 | Cirque de Paris, Paris, France | |
| 10 | Loss | 9–1 | George Cook | PTS | 10 | Jul 3, 1924 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Jose Teixidor | KO | 3 (10) | Jun 14, 1924 | Cirque d'hiver, Paris, France | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Arthur Townley | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 1, 1924 | Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, France | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Marcel Nilles | KO | 5 (12) | May 17, 1924 | Plaza de toros de las Arenas, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Paul Journee | KO | 1 (10), 1:30 | May 11, 1924 | Estadio Municipal de Atocha, San Sebastián, Spain | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Laurent Mahieu | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 19, 1924 | Frontón Euskalduna, Bilbao, Spain | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Alex Touroff | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 4, 1924 | Circo Americano, Madrid, Spain | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Herman Sjouwerman | TKO | 5 (10) | Jan 2, 1924 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Paul Journee | PTS | 10 | Sep 26, 1923 | Salle Wagram, Paris, France | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Alex Touroff | KO | 3 (10) | Sep 16, 1923 | Stade Anastasie, Paris, France | Professional debut |