# Harry Arroyo

Harry Arroyo (born October 25, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight title from 1984 to 1985.

## Early years

Arroyo, of Puerto Rican descent, was born on the south side of Youngstown, Ohio, a steel-manufacturing center near the Pennsylvania border. As a child, he reportedly told his 15 siblings about his dream of becoming a nationally known fighter. In the 1980s, he became one of the most recognizable boxers on television and regularly appeared on the covers of boxing magazines. In 1984, Arroyo, with fellow Youngstown native Ray Mancini, was listed among the nation's top 10 contenders by the World Boxing Association. This was after Mancini had lost that organization's world title to Livingstone Bramble.

## Boxing career

Arroyo fought for nine years as an amateur boxer, winning several Golden Glove tournaments as well as eight AAU Regional Tournaments. As an amateur he had 110 wins and 15 losses. He worked up a record of 40 wins and 11 losses as a professional, and won the IBF's world lightweight title by beating Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown in the 14th round on April 15, 1984. Arroyo, a late substitute for Cornelius Boza Edwards, staggered Brown with two blows to the head, prompting referee Larry Hazzard to stop the fight. On September 1, 1984, Arroyo successfully defended his title against Charlie "White Lightning" Brown, in a bout held in Struthers, Ohio. The champion successfully defended his title once more against Terrence Alli, before losing to Jimmy Paul on April 4, 1985.

## Professional boxing record

| 51 fights | 40 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 30 | 4 |
| By decision | 10 | 7 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 51 | Loss | 40–11 | Vinny Letizia | UD | 10 (10) | 1993-02-26 | Union Hall, Countryside, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 40–10 | Jerry Massey | TKO | 7 (?) | 1992-05-29 | Struthers, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 49 | Loss | 39–10 | Javier Castillejo | TKO | 3 (8) | 1992-04-10 | Leganés, Spain | |
| 48 | Win | 39–9 | Homknokkor Som Song | PTS | 10 (10) | 1991-08-15 | Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella, Spain | |
| 47 | Loss | 38–9 | Tommy Small | MD | 12 (12) | 1991-06-22 | Greer Pavilion, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S. | For vacant WBF light-middleweight title |
| 46 | Loss | 38–8 | Valery Kayumba | TKO | 7 (10) | 1991-04-17 | Paris, France | |
| 45 | Loss | 38–7 | Carl Griffith | UD | 10 (10) | 1990-08-24 | Landerhaven Country Club, Mayfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 38–6 | Roger Brown | UD | 10 (10) | 1989-05-04 | Diplomat Hotel, Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 38–5 | Bruce Strauss | TKO | 2 (10) | 1989-01-26 | War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 37–5 | Raul Torres | SD | 10 (10) | 1988-11-19 | Quality Inn, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 36–5 | Loreto Garza | TKO | 1 (12) | 1988-04-22 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. | Lost WBC Continental Americas light-welterweight title |
| 40 | Win | 36–4 | Rick Souce | TKO | 8 (12) | 1988-02-23 | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light-welterweight title |
| 39 | Win | 35–4 | Nick Parker | TKO | 5 (10) | 1987-11-18 | Maronite Center, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 34–4 | Nick Parker | TKO | 7 (10) | 1987-08-28 | Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 33–4 | Reggie Robinson | UD | 10 (10) | 1987-07-03 | Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 32–4 | Roger Brown | MD | 10 (10) | 1987-02-19 | Cascade Holiday Inn, Akron, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 32–3 | Derwin Richards | SD | 10 (10) | 1987-01-17 | Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–3 | Rick Kaiser | TKO | 2 (10) | 1986-11-25 | Harvey Hall, Tyler, Texas, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–3 | Danny Ferris | TKO | 2 (10) | 1986-11-01 | Coliseum Theatre, Latham, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 29–3 | Vinny Paz | UD | 10 (10) | 1986-05-18 | Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Paul Graham | KO | 8 (10) | 1986-03-19 | Warren, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Leo Simmons | TKO | 5 (10) | 1986-02-04 | Mr. Anthony's, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Darrell Jacobs | TKO | 6 (10) | 1985-12-04 | Mr. Anthony's, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 28 | Loss | 26–2 | Sammy Fuentes | KO | 7 (10) | 1985-10-09 | Trump Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 27 | Loss | 26–1 | Jimmy Paul | UD | 15 (15) | 1985-04-06 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost IBF lightweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Terrence Alli | TKO | 11 (15) | 1985-01-12 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained IBF lightweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Charlie Brown | TKO | 8 (15) | 1984-09-01 | High Stadium, Struthers, Ohio, U.S. | Retained IBF lightweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Charlie Brown | TKO | 14 (15) | 1984-04-15 | Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won IBF lightweight title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Robin Blake | UD | 10 (10) | 1984-01-14 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Danny Avery | TKO | 9 (10) | 1983-10-20 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Steve Hilliard | TKO | 5 (10) | 1983-10-06 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Tomas Chavez | TKO | 9 (10) | 1983-06-15 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Roberto Garcia | TKO | 2 (10) | 1983-04-03 | Phoenix Civic Plaza, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Kelvin Lampkin | PTS | 10 (10) | 1983-02-12 | Buckner Fieldhouse, Fort Richardson, Alaska, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Joe Manley | SD | 10 (10) | 1982-10-30 | Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Arnie Wells | UD | 10 (10) | 1982-08-30 | V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Kevin Austin | TKO | 5 (8) | 1982-07-24 | Mollenkopf Stadium, Warren, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Paul Hodge | KO | 1 (10) | 1982-07-08 | Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mike Soldier | KO | 2 (10) | 1982-05-27 | Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Robert Bo Moody | TKO | 10 (10) | 1982-04-28 | Field House, Struthers, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Greg Young | TKO | 4 (?) | 1982-04-17 | Harrah's Marina Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Sam Gervins | TKO | 6 (8) | 1982-03-17 | V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Bruce Williams | TKO | 5 (6) | 1982-03-13 | Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Blas Dechamps | PTS | 6 (6) | 1982-01-26 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Roberto Munoz | TKO | 2 (6) | 1981-12-29 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ken Payton | TKO | 1 (6) | 1981-12-23 | Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Leon Gardner | TKO | 6 (6) | 1981-10-29 | Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Kean McGill | UD | 6 (6) | 1981-10-21 | V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Tim Murphy | KO | 1 (6) | 1981-08-15 | Gannon College Auditorium, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jesse Jackson | TKO | 2 (4) | 1980-12-16 | Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Dale Gordon | TKO | 4 (6) | 1980-09-30 | V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S. | |

## Retirement

Arroyo has expressed disappointment over the fact that he never had a chance to meet fellow Youngstown pugilist Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini in the ring. The possibility of a matchup between the two fighters emerged in the early 1980s, but circumstances intervened. Arroyo won the IBF title just two months before Mancini's first loss to Livingstone Bramble. Mancini took a break from boxing for several years after losing his title, and by the time he re-entered the ring, Arroyo's career had waned considerably. Both men were on hand, however, when fellow Youngstown native Kelly Pavlik took the WBC and WBO middleweight world championship in Atlantic City on September 29, 2007.
Even at the height of his popularity and while fighting main card events on network television, Arroyo continued to work as a police officer for the Mill Creek Park Police and was easily recognizable in the community. Arroyo was highly popular across the Mahoning Valley region and was readily accessible to his fans. He continued to work the park district long after retiring from boxing.
Retired from the ring, Arroyo is married and has five children.

## Officiating career

After his retirement, Arroyo become a boxing referee, and has officiated dozens of fights, mainly in Ohio.