# Arturo Godoy

Arturo Godoy (October 10, 1912 – 1986) was a Chilean professional boxer, also nicknamed "Arturito".

## Biography

He was born in Iquique on October 10, 1912. He was South American Heavyweight Champion and had an extensive and successful career in Argentina, Cuba, Spain, and the United States roughly between 1931 and 1954. In New York, he beat Tony Galento.
He is best known for his two epic fights with Joe Louis for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1940. The first was held at the Madison Square Garden on February 9, 1940, and went the full length of 15 rounds. The 2 ringside judges split their votes and the tie was broken by the referee, who gave it to Louis, to the protest of a substantial part of the audience, who had been won over by the fact that Godoy showed no fear of Louis and by the additional fact that Louis was not able to knock out his opponent after a string of K.O.s and T.K.O.s. South Americans and Chileans in particular thought that Godoy had indeed won the fight and from then on the figure of Godoy acquired mythical proportions. A second fight was scheduled for June 20, 1940. Joe Louis prepared to counteract Godoy's strategy and ring tactics, focusing on bringing him up from his unusual low stance with a combination of hooks to the body and uppercuts. Godoy fought bravely but the referee had to stop the fight in the 8th round. Godoy continued fighting until 1954 and returned to Chile, where he was regarded as a hero.
He died in Chile in 1986.

## Legacy

His life was used as the base for the novel "Muriendo por la dulce patria mía" (Laurel Editores, 2017) by Roberto Castillo Sandoval.

## Professional boxing record

| 128 fights | 92 wins | 22 losses |
| By knockout | 52 | 3 |
| By decision | 39 | 18 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 1 |
| Draws | 12 | 12 |
| No contests | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 128 | Draw | 92–22–12 (2) | Alfredo Lagay | PTS | 10 | Nov 2, 1951 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 127 | Win | 92–22–11 (2) | Abel Cestac | PTS | 10 | Aug 3, 1951 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 126 | Win | 91–22–11 (2) | Mario Abarca | KO | 4 (10) | Jun 15, 1951 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 125 | Win | 90–22–11 (2) | Roberto Balbontin | TKO | 4 (12) | Jun 30, 1950 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | Won vacant Chilean heavyweight title |
| 124 | Draw | 89–22–11 (2) | Karel Sys | PTS | 10 | Mar 6, 1950 | Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 123 | Win | 89–22–10 (2) | Emilio Espinoza | RTD | 5 (10) | Jan 13, 1950 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 122 | Loss | 88–22–10 (2) | Leonard Morrow | TKO | 10 (10) | Aug 16, 1949 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, US | |
| 121 | Draw | 88–21–10 (2) | Maynard Jones | PTS | 10 | Aug 9, 1949 | Wilmington Park, Wilmington, Delaware, US | |
| 120 | Win | 88–21–9 (2) | Elkins Brothers | SD | 10 | Jun 27, 1949 | Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC, US | |
| 119 | Win | 87–21–9 (2) | Johnny Haynes | PTS | 10 | Jun 1, 1949 | Zivic Arena, Millvale, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 118 | Loss | 86–21–9 (2) | Harold Johnson | UD | 10 | Feb 23, 1949 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 117 | Loss | 86–20–9 (2) | Alabama Kid | UD | 10 | Aug 17, 1948 | Haft's Acre, Columbus, Ohio, US | |
| 116 | Win | 86–19–9 (2) | Pat Richards | TKO | 4 (10), 2:07 | Jun 14, 1948 | Haft's Acre, Columbus, Ohio, US | |
| 115 | Win | 85–19–9 (2) | Pat Richards | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1948 | Memorial Hall, Columbus, Ohio, US | |
| 114 | Win | 84–19–9 (2) | Jimmy Bell | PTS | 8 | Jan 20, 1948 | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, US | |
| 113 | Win | 83–19–9 (2) | Phil Muscato | SD | 10 | Dec 1, 1947 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 112 | Win | 82–19–9 (2) | Jack Marshall | PTS | 10 | Oct 22, 1947 | El Paso, Texas, US | |
| 111 | Loss | 81–19–9 (2) | Turkey Thompson | UD | 10 | Oct 7, 1947 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 110 | Win | 81–18–9 (2) | Cyclone Williams | KO | 5 (10) | Sep 9, 1947 | Troy Arena, Troy, New York, US | |
| 109 | Win | 80–18–9 (2) | Buddy Knox | KO | 1 (?), 0:56 | Dec 5, 1946 | Denver, Colorado, US | |
| 108 | Win | 79–18–9 (2) | Tex Boddie | PTS | 10 | Nov 25, 1946 | City Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, US | |
| 107 | Loss | 78–18–9 (2) | Joe Muscato | UD | 10 | Oct 15, 1946 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US | |
| 106 | Win | 78–17–9 (2) | Cyclone Williams | SD | 10 | Aug 21, 1946 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US | |
| 105 | Win | 77–17–9 (2) | Tony Musto | TKO | 6 (10), 2:40 | Aug 16, 1946 | MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, US | |
| 104 | Win | 76–17–9 (2) | Larry Bouchard | KO | 2 (?) | Jun 14, 1946 | Jacksonville, Florida, US | |
| 103 | NC | 75–17–9 (2) | Lee Savold | NC | 8 (10) | Mar 1, 1946 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US | Fight stopped for excessive clinching |
| 102 | Win | 75–17–9 (1) | Johnny Haynes | PTS | 10 | Nov 20, 1945 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 101 | Win | 74–17–9 (1) | Louis Long | TKO | 7 (10) | Nov 5, 1945 | Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US | |
| 100 | Win | 73–17–9 (1) | Jimmy Carollo | TKO | 1 (10) | Sep 28, 1945 | Norfolk, Virginia, US | |
| 99 | Win | 72–17–9 (1) | Dan Merritt | TKO | 2 (10), 2:38 | Sep 12, 1945 | Twin City Bowl, Elizabeth, New Jersey, US | |
| 98 | Win | 71–17–9 (1) | Buddy Walker | KO | 5 (10) | May 14, 1945 | Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC, US | |
| 97 | Win | 70–17–9 (1) | Herb Jones | TKO | 2 (10), 2:25 | Apr 4, 1945 | Ellis Auditorium, Memphis, Tennessee, US | |
| 96 | Win | 69–17–9 (1) | Johnny Denson | KO | 5 (10), 2:35 | Mar 27, 1945 | Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, US | |
| 95 | Win | 68–17–9 (1) | Larry Bouchard | PTS | 10 | Mar 1, 1945 | U.S.O. Auditorium, Norfolk, Virginia, US | |
| 94 | Win | 67–17–9 (1) | Juan Urlich | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 20, 1944 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 93 | NC | 66–17–9 (1) | Alberto Lovell | NC | 11 (12) | Apr 15, 1944 | Lima, Peru | South American heavyweight title at stake |
| 92 | Win | 66–17–9 | Fernando Menichelli | KO | 7 (?) | Nov 21, 1943 | Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela | |
| 91 | Win | 65–17–9 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 10 | Aug 22, 1943 | Estadio Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 90 | Win | 64–17–9 | Isidoro Gastanaga | TKO | 5 (10) | Jul 18, 1943 | La Paz, Bolivia | |
| 89 | Win | 63–17–9 | Fernando Menichelli | TKO | 1 (10) | Apr 20, 1943 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 88 | Win | 62–17–9 | Alberto Lovell | PTS | 12 | Feb 28, 1943 | Estadio de Carabineros, Santiago de Chile, Chile | Won South American heavyweight title |
| 87 | Win | 61–17–9 | Eduardo Primo | PTS | 10 | Dec 12, 1942 | Ginásio da A.A. São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| 86 | Loss | 60–17–9 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 10 | Nov 14, 1942 | Ginásio do Estádio Pacaembu, Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| 85 | Win | 60–16–9 | Antonio Soares | TKO | 1 (10) | Oct 31, 1942 | Teatro Casino Antarctica, Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| 84 | Loss | 59–16–9 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 12 | Oct 21, 1942 | Estadio Manoel Schwartz, Río de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 83 | Win | 59–15–9 | Eusebio Ramirez | KO | 7 (?) | Sep 12, 1942 | Cordoba, Argentina | |
| 82 | Draw | 58–15–9 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 12 | Jul 10, 1942 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 81 | Win | 58–15–8 | Hans Havlicek | KO | 3 (12) | Jun 6, 1942 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 80 | Loss | 57–15–8 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 12 | Mar 7, 1942 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 79 | Loss | 57–14–8 | Alberto Lovell | PTS | 12 | Jan 17, 1942 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | For South American heavyweight title |
| 78 | Draw | 57–13–8 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 12 | Nov 1, 1941 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 77 | Win | 57–13–7 | Ernesto Carnesse | PTS | 10 | Sep 27, 1941 | Teatro Circo Caupolicán, Santiago de Chile, Argentina | |
| 76 | Loss | 56–13–7 | Alberto Lovell | PTS | 12 | May 17, 1941 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | For South American heavyweight title |
| 75 | Win | 56–12–7 | Tony Musto | PTS | 10 | Dec 2, 1940 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US | |
| 74 | Win | 55–12–7 | Gus Dorazio | UD | 10 | Oct 7, 1940 | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 73 | Loss | 54–12–7 | Joe Louis | TKO | 8 (15), 1:24 | Jun 20, 1940 | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, US | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 72 | Loss | 54–11–7 | Joe Louis | SD | 15 | Feb 9, 1940 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 71 | Loss | 54–10–7 | Eduardo Primo | DQ | 8 (12) | Aug 19, 1939 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Lost South American heavyweight title; Primo DQ'd for hitting low |
| 70 | Win | 54–9–7 | Valentin Campolo | PTS | 12 | Jul 22, 1939 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Retained South American heavyweight title |
| 69 | Win | 53–9–7 | Alberto Lovell | PTS | 12 | Apr 8, 1939 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Won South American heavyweight title |
| 68 | Loss | 52–9–7 | Valentin Campolo | PTS | 12 | Mar 4, 1939 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 67 | Win | 52–8–7 | Eusebio Ramirez | KO | 3 (12) | Jan 28, 1939 | Ciudad Mendoza, Argentina | |
| 66 | Win | 51–8–7 | Hans Birkie | PTS | 10 | Dec 18, 1938 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 65 | Win | 50–8–7 | Hans Havlicek | TKO | 2 (10) | Nov 26, 1938 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 64 | Loss | 49–8–7 | Alberto Lovell | PTS | 12 | Jul 23, 1938 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 63 | Win | 49–7–7 | Valentin Campolo | PTS | 12 | Jun 18, 1938 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 62 | Win | 48–7–7 | Dionisio Cristante | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 3, 1938 | Teatro Mitre, Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| 61 | Win | 47–7–7 | Eddie Mader | TKO | 5 (10) | Nov 9, 1937 | Broadway Arena, New York City, New York, US | |
| 60 | Loss | 46–7–7 | Nathan Mann | PTS | 10 | Oct 8, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, US | |
| 59 | Draw | 46–6–7 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 10 | Aug 4, 1937 | University of Detroit Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, US | |
| 58 | Win | 46–6–6 | Tony Galento | PTS | 6 | Jun 22, 1937 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 57 | Loss | 45–6–6 | Roscoe Toles | PTS | 10 | May 21, 1937 | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, US | |
| 56 | Win | 45–5–6 | Tony Galento | PTS | 10 | Apr 28, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, US | |
| 55 | Draw | 44–5–6 | Maurice Strickland | PTS | 10 | Mar 10, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, US | |
| 54 | Win | 44–5–5 | Art Sykes | KO | 3 (8) | Feb 25, 1937 | Star Casino, New York City, New York, US | |
| 53 | Win | 43–5–5 | Otis Thomas | TKO | 3 (10) | Feb 3, 1937 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, US | |
| 52 | Win | 42–5–5 | Jack Roper | KO | 7 (10) | Jan 14, 1937 | Star Casino, New York City, New York, US | |
| 51 | Draw | 41–5–5 | Al Ettore | PTS | 10 | Nov 11, 1936 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, US | |
| 50 | Draw | 41–5–4 | Leroy Haynes | PTS | 10 | Oct 21, 1936 | Hippodrome, New York City, New York, US | |
| 49 | Win | 41–5–3 | Luis Ángel Firpo | RTD | 3 (12) | Jul 11, 1936 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 48 | Win | 40–5–3 | Vincenz Hower | TKO | 10 (12) | Dec 21, 1935 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 47 | Win | 39–5–3 | Eduardo Primo | PTS | 12 | Dec 7, 1935 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 46 | Win | 38–5–3 | Oscar Davidson | KO | 1 (10) | Sep 7, 1935 | Estadio Brasil, Río de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 45 | Draw | 37–5–3 | Eduardo Primo | PTS | 12 | Jul 13, 1935 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 44 | Win | 37–5–2 | Antonio Sebastiao | TKO | 3 (10) | May 18, 1935 | Estadio Brasil, Río de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| 43 | Win | 36–5–2 | Tommy Loughran | PTS | 10 | Mar 17, 1935 | Campos de Sports de Ñuñoa, Santiago de Chile, Argentina | |
| 42 | Loss | 35–5–2 | Tommy Loughran | UD | 12 | Jan 5, 1935 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 41 | Win | 35–4–2 | Jose Carattoli | PTS | 12 | Nov 24, 1934 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 40 | Draw | 34–4–2 | Tommy Loughran | PTS | 12 | Oct 20, 1934 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 39 | Win | 34–4–1 | Eduardo Primo | PTS | 12 | Sep 29, 1934 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 38 | Loss | 33–4–1 | Billy Jones | PTS | 10 | Aug 12, 1934 | Stadium Nacional, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 37 | Win | 33–3–1 | Erwin Klausner | PTS | 10 | Jun 24, 1934 | Stadium Nacional, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 36 | Win | 32–3–1 | Erwin Klausner | PTS | 12 | Apr 22, 1934 | Campos de Sports de Ñuñoa, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 35 | Loss | 31–3–1 | Victorio Campolo | PTS | 12 | Mar 1, 1934 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 34 | Win | 31–2–1 | Esteban Senestraro | TKO | 6 (12) | Jan 20, 1934 | Club Atletico River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 33 | Win | 30–2–1 | Mario Lenzi | KO | 2 (12) | Jan 5, 1934 | Club Atletico River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 32 | Win | 29–2–1 | Salvatore Zaetta | KO | 3 (?) | Dec 6, 1933 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 31 | Win | 28–2–1 | Vicente Parrile | PTS | 10 | Aug 23, 1933 | Plaza de Toros de Las Arenas, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 30 | Win | 27–2–1 | Mateo de la Osa | TKO | 7 (10) | Jul 26, 1933 | Teatro Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 29 | Win | 26–2–1 | Raul Bianchi | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 1, 1933 | Plaza de Toros Monumental, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 28 | Win | 25–2–1 | Rafaele Siciliano | KO | 2 (10) | Jun 14, 1933 | Teatro Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 27 | Win | 24–2–1 | Santiago Sola | PTS | 10 | May 31, 1933 | Teatro Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 26 | Win | 23–2–1 | Jesus Rodriguez | KO | 2 (10) | May 9, 1933 | Teatro Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 25 | Win | 22–2–1 | Angel Roman | KO | 1 (10) | May 2, 1933 | Teatro Circo Olympia, Barcelona, Spain | |
| 24 | Win | 21–2–1 | 'Young' John Herrera | PTS | 10 | Apr 1, 1933 | Arena Cristal, Havana, Cuba | |
| 23 | Win | 20–2–1 | Frank Cawley | PTS | 10 | Feb 27, 1933 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 22 | Win | 19–2–1 | Pantaleon Musolino | KO | 2 (?) | Feb 25, 1933 | Havana, Cuba | |
| 21 | Win | 18–2–1 | Rufino Alvarez | KO | 5 (?) | Feb 4, 1933 | Havana, Cuba | |
| 20 | Win | 17–2–1 | Dewey Kimrey | TKO | 5 (10) | Jan 24, 1933 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US | |
| 19 | Loss | 16–2–1 | Frankie Edgren | PTS | 10 | Jan 10, 1933 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US | |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Chick Raines | RTD | 5 (10) | Dec 6, 1932 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US | |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | Johnny Mack | TKO | 5 (10) | Nov 21, 1932 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Frankie Palmo | TKO | 10 (10), 2:50 | Nov 11, 1932 | Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Tony Ferrante | KO | 1 (10) | Oct 31, 1932 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Joe King | TKO | 5 (10) | Oct 21, 1932 | Benjamin Field Arena, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Irving Ashkenazy | TKO | 5 (10) | Oct 7, 1932 | Benjamin Field Arena, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Cyclone Smith | PTS | 10 | Sep 26, 1932 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Ben Logan | KO | 2 (10) | Sep 12, 1932 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Gordon Fortenberry | PTS | 10 | Aug 22, 1932 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Ray Swanson | KO | 7 (10) | Aug 1, 1932 | Biscayne Arena, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 8 | Draw | 6–1–1 | Pedro Proenza | PTS | 10 | Jul 16, 1932 | Viejo Fronton, Havana, Cuba | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Antonio Hevia | PTS | 10 | Jul 2, 1932 | Miramar Garden, Havana, Cuba | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Pantaleon Musolino | DQ | 2 (10) | Jun 25, 1932 | Havana, Cuba | Musolino DQ'd for headbutting and biting |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Luis Aravena | PTS | 8 | Dec 6, 1931 | Campos de Sports de Ñuñoa, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Peter Johnson | PTS | 10 | Jun 14, 1931 | Stadium Nacional, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Oscar Ramirez | KO | 2 (6) | May 30, 1931 | Stadium Nacional, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |
| 2 | Loss | 1–1 | Luis Aravena | KO | ? (10) | Mar 7, 1931 | Coliseo Popular, Valparaiso, Chile | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Peter Johnson | PTS | 6 | Dec 21, 1930 | Pabellón Nacional, Santiago de Chile, Chile | |