# Santa Camarão

José Soares Santa (25 December 1902 – 5 April 1968), known as Santa Camarão ("Camarão" being a family nickname meaning Shrimp in English) or Zé Santa in Portugal, and as Jose Santa or Joe Santa in the United States, was a Portuguese boxer. At 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) he was one of the tallest heavyweight boxers in history.

## Life and career

Son of António Soares Santa and Josefa Pereira dos Santos, Santa was a remarkable individual growing up to 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) at a time when the average height for a man in Portugal was 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in). He was born in Ovar, and in 1911 moved to Lisbon, where his father was earning for his family. There he had a brief career in wrestling, before changing to professional boxing in 1922.
Santa's professional boxing career lasted until 1934, which he mostly spent in Portugal (1922–26, with a few fights later in 1929), Brazil (1926–28 and 1933–34), and the United States (1930–33) where he was widely popular with the Portuguese immigrants livings in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He contested the European title in 1929 against Pierre Charles, but lost by points; he also lost to heavyweight champions Max Baer and Primo Carnera. He also signed for a three-round exhibition fight with former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson late in Johnson's career but the commission nixed it, fearing for Johnson's life.
Santa played himself in two boxing movies, Love in the Ring (1930) and The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933), alongside the boxing celebrities Max Schmeling, Max Baer and Jack Dempsey. Love in the Ring was the first international movie where Portuguese was spoken on screen, by Santa Camarão. He received US$8,000 for The Prizefighter and the Lady, which was his largest ever single payment.
In 1932, while fighting in the United States, Santa married the Portuguese American woman Mary Loreta de Oliveira. After retiring from the ring, in 1935 he took her back to his hometown. The same year Mary Loreta gave birth to his son, Renaldo José Santa. She separated from her husband in 1949, taking Renaldo with her.
Santa Camarão died in 1968 in Ovar, in the same house where he was born. Later a street in Lisbon was named Rua José Santa Camarão in his honor. In 2003, he was posthumously awarded the Medal for Good Sports Services (Medalha de Bons Serviços Desportivos) by the Government of Portugal.
Until Nikolay Valuev (2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)) became a professional boxer in 1993, Santa was the tallest heavyweight in boxing history. He enjoyed a sizable reach advantage over most rivals, and when seen on fight footage, he seems like a towering giant compared to many heavyweights of his era, who were usually shorter than him.

## Professional boxing record

69 Wins (48 knockouts), 20 Losses (7 knockouts), 4 Draws, 2 No Contests :
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 69-20-4 (2) | Claudio Villar | TKO | 9 (10) | 11 November 1934 | Praca de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Loss | 69-19-4 (2) | Victorio Campolo | TKO | 3 (10) | 7 July 1934 | Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 69-18-4 (2) | Norman Tomasulo | KO | 4 (10) | 16 June 1934 | Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 68-18-4 (2) | Arturo Costarelli | TKO | 5 (10) | 5 May 1934 | Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 67-18-4 (2) | Mario Lenzi | PTS | 10 | 1 February 1934 | Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 67-17-4 (2) | Guillermo Silva | TKO | 4 (10) | 25 November 1933 | Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 66-17-4 (2) | Gene Brown | TKO | 5 (10) | 2 August 1933 | Chestnut St. Arena, Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 65-17-4 (2) | Kenneth Lee | TKO | 3 (10) | 28 July 1933 | F.D.E.S. Hall, Newman, California, United States | |
| Loss | 64-17-4 (2) | KO Christner | PTS | 10 | 12 July 1933 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Loss | 64-16-4 (2) | Gene Stanton | KO | 9 (10) | 24 May 1933 | Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 64-15-4 (2) | Gene Stanton | PTS | 10 | 26 April 1933 | Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 63-15-4 (2) | Johnny Dixon | TKO | 3 (6) | 2 March 1933 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 62-15-4 (2) | Jim Maloney | TKO | 5 (10) | 20 January 1933 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Stopped after round 4 due to a cut |
| Win | 61-15-4 (2) | Vinko Jakasa | KO | 2 (10) | 19 December 1932 | New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Loss | 60-15-4 (2) | Primo Carnera | TKO | 6 (10) | 18 November 1932 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States | Santa down in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th, referee stoppage. |
| Win | 60-14-4 (2) | Sammy Ward | PTS | 10 | 28 October 1932 | North Street Rink, Salem, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 59-14-4 (2) | Jack Meyer | TKO | 2 (10) | 14 September 1932 | 10th Street Arena, Modesto, California, United States | |
| Win | 58-14-4 (2) | Bucky Harris | TKO | 2 (10) | 2 September 1932 | Stockton, California, United States | |
| Loss | 57-14-4 (2) | Ray Impelletiere | TKO | 9 (10) | 8 August 1932 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 57-13-4 (2) | Jack Gardner | KO | 2 (10) | 23 July 1932 | Chestnut St. Arena, Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 56-13-4 (2) | Cecyl Myart | KO | 5 (10) | 13 July 1932 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 55-13-4 (2) | Ernie Stout | TKO | 2 (10) | 24 November 1931 | Tulare County Fairgrounds, Tulare, California, United States | |
| Loss | 54-13-4 (2) | Max Baer | KO | 10 (10) | 21 October 1931 | Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Draw | 54-12-4 (2) | Tom Heeney | PTS | 12 | 5 October 1931 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Loss | 54-12-3 (2) | Tom Heeney | PTS | 12 | 10 September 1931 | Mark's Stadium, Tiverton, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 54-11-3 (2) | Leon Chavelier | PTS | 10 | 3 August 1931 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 53-11-3 (2) | Roberto Roberti | PTS | 10 | 15 July 1931 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 52-11-3 (2) | Hans Birkie | RTD | 6 (10) | 1 July 1931 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | Taking a beating during the entire bout, Birkie quit at the end of round 6 claiming a broken hand |
| Loss | 51-11-3 (2) | Hans Birkie | PTS | 10 | 8 June 1931 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 51-10-3 (2) | Johnny Grosso | KO | 2 (10) | 11 May 1931 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 50-10-3 (2) | Jack Beasley | KO | 1 (10) | 27 April 1931 | Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 49-10-3 (2) | Salvatore Ruggirello | KO | 6 (10) | 20 March 1931 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States | Ruggirello down 13 times |
| Win | 48-10-3 (2) | Jack Singer | KO | 1 (?) | 12 March 1931 | Clark's Audtorium, Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 47-10-3 (2) | Salvatore Ruggirello | KO | 2 (10) | 5 March 1931 | Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
| NC | 47-9-3 (2) | Knute Hansen | NC | 2 (10) | 4 February 1931 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, United States | Declared a no contest when Hansen fell without being hit |
| Win | 47-9-3 (1) | Jack Silver | KO | 1 (?) | 12 January 1931 | Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 46-9-3 (1) | Roberto Roberti | PTS | 10 | 1 January 1931 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 45-9-3 (1) | Carl Carter | KO | 3 (10) | 31 October 1930 | Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 44-9-3 (1) | Tiny Hoffner | KO | 1 (10) | 21 October 1930 | Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, United States | |
| Win | 43-9-3 (1) | Gordon Munce | TKO | 3 (10) | 13 October 1930 | Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 42-9-3 (1) | Riccardo Bertazzolo | PTS | 10 | 3 October 1930 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 41-9-3 (1) | Otis Gardner | KO | 1 (10) | 22 September 1930 | Mark's Stadium, Tiverton, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 40-9-3 (1) | Umberto Torriano | TKO | 4 (10) | 15 September 1930 | Velodrome, Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 39-9-3 (1) | Emilio Solomon | PTS | 10 | 10 September 1930 | Salem, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 38-9-3 (1) | Jack Shaw | KO | 2 (?) | 5 September 1930 | Velodrome, Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 37-9-3 (1) | Al Tottinger | KO | 2 (10) | 22 August 1930 | Bayonne, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 36-9-3 (1) | Al Shearing | KO | 3 (10) | 14 August 1930 | Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 35-9-3 (1) | Andres Castano | KO | 3 (10) | 1 August 1930 | Miller Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 34-9-3 (1) | Ernst Guehring | PTS | 10 | 11 April 1930 | Festhalle Frankfurt, Germany | |
| Win | 34-8-3 (1) | Rudi Wagener | PTS | 10 | 2 February 1930 | Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany | |
| Win | 33-8-3 (1) | Ernst Roesemann | TKO | 5 (10) | 5 January 1930 | Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany | |
| Draw | 32-8-3 (1) | Jack Stanley | PTS | 10 | 17 December 1929 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, United Kingdom | |
| Win | 32-8-2 (1) | Robert Villard | TKO | 2 (10) | 7 December 1929 | Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France | |
| Loss | 31-8-2 (1) | Hans Schoenrath | PTS | 8 | 22 November 1929 | Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany | |
| Win | 31-7-2 (1) | Jack Stanley | PTS | 10 | 1 November 1929 | Estadio do Covelo, Gondomar, Portugal | |
| Loss | 30-7-2 (1) | Pierre Charles | PTS | 15 | 30 June 1929 | Praca de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal | European title fight |
| Win | 30-6-2 (1) | Constant Barrick | KO | 2 (10) | 14 April 1929 | Praca de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 29-6-2 (1) | Jack Humbeeck | KO | 6 (10) | 6 March 1929 | Palacio de Cristal, Porto, Portugal | |
| Loss | 28-6-2 (1) | Armando de Carolis | PTS | 12 | 3 November 1928 | Campo de Moraes e Silva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 28-5-2 (1) | Armando de Carolis | PTS | 10 | 5 August 1928 | Estadio da Floresta, São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 28-4-2 (1) | Orlando Reverberi | PTS | 10 | 9 June 1928 | Campo de Moraes e Silva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 27-4-2 (1) | Epifanio Islas | PTS | 12 | 15 April 1928 | Estadio da Floresta, São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 26-4-2 (1) | Carlos Oldani | PTS | 12 | 22 December 1927 | Estadio Manoel Schwartz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 25-4-2 (1) | Carlos Oldani | PTS | 10 | 14 November 1927 | Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 25-3-2 (1) | Paul Rod | KO | 1 (10) | 23 October 1927 | Estadio da Floresta, São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 24-3-2 (1) | Epifanio Islas | PTS | 15 | 7 September 1927 | Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 23-3-2 (1) | Juan Moragues | PTS | 10 | 5 July 1927 | Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 22-3-2 (1) | Paul Hams | KO | 15 (15) | 4 June 1927 | Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 21-3-2 (1) | Miguel Ferrara | DQ | 9 (10) | 14 May 1927 | Teatro Republica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 20-3-2 (1) | Jaime Escobar | KO | 2 (10) | 4 March 1927 | Teatro Republica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 19-3-2 (1) | Erwin Klausner | TKO | 2 (10) | 1 January 1927 | Teatro Republica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 18-3-2 (1) | Epifanio Islas | PTS | 10 | 1 December 1926 | Estadio Manoel Schwartz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 18-2-2 (1) | Epifanio Islas | PTS | 10 | 17 November 1926 | Estadio da Floresa, São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 18-1-2 (1) | Paul Hams | PTS | 10 | 7 September 1926 | Campo do Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Draw | 17-1-2(1) | Miguel Ferrara | PTS | 10 | 24 July 1926 | Campo do Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 17-1-1 (1) | Roberto di Lorenzo | KO | 1 (10) | 10 July 1926 | Campo do Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 16-1-1 (1) | Marc Lunaud | KO | 6 (10) | 7 May 1926 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 15-1-1 (1) | Rozi | KO | 2 (10) | 21 April 1926 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 14-1-1 (1) | Joe Mullings | DQ | 3 (10) | 12 April 1926 | Palacio de Cristal, Porto, Portugal | |
| Draw | 13-1-1 (1) | Constant Barrick | PTS | 10 (10) | 30 March 1926 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| NC | 13-1 (1) | Soldier Jones | NC | 1 (10) | 18 February 1926 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | Fight stopped after first round due to very poor quality |
| Win | 13-1 | Guardsman Charlie Penwill | KO | 3 (10) | 11 February 1926 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 12-1 | Constant Barrick | PTS | 10 | 8 January 1926 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 11-1 | Jack Taylor | PTS | 12 | 22 December 1925 | Porto, Portugal | |
| Loss | 10-1 | Jack Humbeeck | PTS | 10 | 3 November 1925 | Palacio de Cristal Porto, Portugal | |
| Win | 10-0 | Jack Humbeeck | PTS | 10 | 9 September 1925 | Palacio de Cristal Porto, Portugal | |
| Win | 9-0 | Andres Balsa | TKO | 2 (10) | 19 August 1925 | Palacio de Cristal Porto, Portugal | |
| Win | 8-0 | Laurent Mahieu | TKO | 1 (10) | 4 August 1925 | Porto, Portugal | |
| Win | 7-0 | Marcel Nilles | TKO | 3 (10) | 26 July 1925 | Estadio do Lumiar, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 6-0 | Paul Journee | KO | 2 (10) | 20 June 1925 | Porto, Portugal | |
| Win | 5-0 | Laurent Mahieu | PTS | 10 | 4 June 1925 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 4-0 | Leon Derensy | KO | 1 (10) | 12 May 1925 | Porto, Portugal | |
| Win | 3-0 | Arthur Vermaut | TKO | 2 (10) | 22 April 1925 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 2-0 | Georges Morgan | TKO | 4 (10) | 8 April 1925 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Win | 1-0 | Albert Demoor | KO | 2 | 3 April 1925 | Palacio de Cristal, Porto, Portugal | |