# Willie Pastrano

Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano (November 27, 1935 – December 6, 1997) was an American former professional boxer who competed from 1951 to 1965. He held the undisputed WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles between 1963 and 1965.

## Early life

Pastrano was born in New Orleans. Pastrano's best friend, Ralph Dupas started training in boxing at a local gym. Pastrano, who weighed over 250 pounds, decided to start working out with his friend.
As Willie lost weight, he realized two things. First, he loved boxing. Second, he hated getting hit. So, Pastrano developed a style of boxing in which he hardly got hit, and in return, tried not to hurt his opponent as well.
Pastrano was already married as a teenager, and by 1962, he and his wife Faye had five children: John (born 1955), Donna (1957), Frank (1959), Nicholas (1960), and Angelo (1962).

## Pro career

Pastrano began his career at the age of 16. He fought many heavyweights and outpointed heavyweight contenders Rex Layne, Brian London, and Tom McNeeley.
Pastrano won the world light heavyweight championship when he outpointed the great Harold Johnson on a close 15-round decision. He successfully defended his crown by stopping Gregorio Peralta of Argentina on a TKO, and by coming back from a certain defeat on points to KO English challenger Terry Downes in 11 rounds in Manchester, England. Pastrano lost his crown when he was TKOed by José Torres in 10 rounds (the same fight where the ringside doctor asked if he knew where he was, leading to Pastrano's legendary line of "You're damn right I know where I am! I'm in Madison Square Garden getting the shit kicked out of me!"). In the Torres fight, Pastrano was knocked down for the only time in his career by a powerful left hook to the liver. Pastrano retired after that match and never fought again.
Managed by the legendary Angelo Dundee, Pastrano was a smooth, quick boxer with a great left hand. He was a stablemate of Cassius Clay and often sparred with the future champion early in Clay's career. His talent was dissipated by his aversion to training and a fondness for partying and carousing. His success was also limited by his lack of punching power, hence his record of only 14 knockout wins in his 84 fights. Nevertheless, he defeated most of the light heavyweight challengers of his generation. He also outpointed former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, and boxed a draw with the legendary Archie Moore. He retired with a record of 63 wins (14 by KO), 13 losses and 8 draws.
Perhaps in the high point of his career, Pastrano appeared on the cover of March 22, 1965, issue of Sports Illustrated with the caption reading "Light Heavyweight Willie Pastrano Ready to Defend His Title".

## Life after boxing

After he retired from boxing, Pastrano became a spokesman for a local Miami, Florida milk company. On August 30, 1966, in the Milwaukee Sentinel, it was reported that Pastrano had been secretly training for a comeback, but an auto injury had sidelined it.
In 1967, Pastrano became the official host of the Presidential Steak House in Miami Beach, Florida.
However, urged on by his good friend, singer Steve Alaimo, Pastrano embarked on a film career which spanned from 1967 to 1971.
In 1964, Pastrano appeared on the Jackie Gleason Show.
Pastrano's best regarded acting role was in the "B" motorcycle gang film, The Wild Rebels, which starred Steve Alaimo.
Pastrano said in a 1980 interview he was a heroin addict from 1966 to 1969. In the same interview, he claimed to have robbed to support his drug addiction.
He became a drifter. Owen Thomas helped him out in his time of need. He worked as a host in a restaurant in Reno, Nevada; a chip runner in Las Vegas, and a bouncer in a strip-club in Miami
His well-documented party life-style led to health problems, and Pastrano's film career ended. While living in Las Vegas in the early 1970s, he claimed to be training for a comeback when interviewed for the book, In This Corner.
Pastrano was reported to be boxing in Puerto Rico in 1972, but a fighter was using a name similar to the former champion, Willie Pastrana. Pastrano never made a comeback.
In 1980, Pastrano was the manager for pro-boxer, Chubby Johnson in New Orleans.
After many years of failing health, Pastrano died of liver cancer on December 6, 1997, at the age of 62.

## Professional boxing record

| 83 fights | 62 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 2 |
| By decision | 48 | 11 |
| Draws | 8 | 8 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 83 | Loss | 62–13–8 | José Torres | TKO | 9 (15) 3:00 | Mar 30, 1965 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 82 | Win | 62–12–8 | Terry Downes | TKO | 11 (15), 1:17 | Nov 30, 1964 | Kings Hall, Manchester, North West England, England | Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 81 | Win | 61–12–8 | Gregorio Peralta | TKO | 5 (15), 3:00 | Apr 10, 1964 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 80 | Win | 60–12–8 | Mike Holt | PTS | 10 | Nov 30, 1963 | Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |
| 79 | Loss | 59–12–8 | Gregorio Peralta | UD | 10 | Sep 20, 1963 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 78 | Win | 59–11–8 | Ollie Wilson | UD | 10 | Aug 31, 1963 | Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | |
| 77 | Win | 58–11–8 | Harold Johnson | SD | 15 | Jun 1, 1963 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 76 | Win | 57–11–8 | Wayne Thornton | MD | 10 | May 4, 1963 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 75 | Draw | 56–11–8 | Wayne Thornton | MD | 10 | Mar 23, 1963 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 74 | Loss | 56–11–7 | Wayne Thornton | UD | 10 | Feb 9, 1963 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 73 | Win | 56–10–7 | Rodolfo Diaz | SD | 10 | Sep 8, 1962 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 72 | Win | 55–10–7 | Billy Ryan | UD | 10 | Jun 25, 1962 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 71 | Draw | 54–10–7 | Archie Moore | MD | 10 | May 28, 1962 | Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 54–10–6 | Tom McNeeley | UD | 10 | May 1, 1962 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 69 | Draw | 53–10–6 | Lennart Risberg | PTS | 12 | Aug 6, 1961 | Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Stockholm, Södermanland, Sweden | |
| 68 | Loss | 53–10–5 | Jesse Bowdry | UD | 10 | Dec 27, 1960 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 67 | Loss | 53–9–5 | Chic Calderwood | PTS | 10 | Sep 16, 1960 | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland | |
| 66 | Win | 53–8–5 | Sonny Ray | UD | 10 | Jun 1, 1960 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 52–8–5 | Alonzo Johnson | UD | 10 | May 6, 1960 | Fairgrounds Coliseum, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 51–8–5 | George Kartalian | RTD | 6 (10) | Apr 9, 1960 | Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 50–8–5 | Jerry Luedee | UD | 10 | Jan 20, 1960 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 49–8–5 | Charley Pavlis | UD | 10 | Dec 7, 1959 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 48–8–5 | Tom Davis | TKO | 3 (10) | Aug 20, 1959 | Chilhowee Park, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 60 | Loss | 47–8–5 | Alonzo Johnson | UD | 10 | Jul 24, 1959 | Freedom Hall State Fairground, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 59 | Loss | 47–7–5 | Joe Erskine | PTS | 10 | Feb 24, 1959 | Wembley Stadium, London, England | |
| 58 | Loss | 47–6–5 | Brian London | TKO | 5 (10) | Sep 30, 1958 | Harringay Arena, London, England | |
| 57 | Win | 47–5–5 | Tommy Thompson | KO | 4 (10), 2:31 | Aug 25, 1958 | City Auditorium, Columbus, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 46–5–5 | Franco Cavicchi | PTS | 10 | Jun 15, 1958 | Sports Palace, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy | |
| 55 | Win | 45–5–5 | Joe Bygraves | PTS | 10 | Apr 21, 1958 | Granby Halls, Leicester, England | |
| 54 | Win | 44–5–5 | Brian London | PTS | 10 | Feb 25, 1958 | Harringay Arena, London, England | |
| 53 | Win | 43–5–5 | Willi Besmanoff | UD | 10 | Nov 27, 1957 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 42–5–5 | Dick Richardson | PTS | 10 | Oct 22, 1957 | Harringay Arena, London, England | |
| 51 | Win | 41–5–5 | George Peyton | TKO | 8 (10) | Sep 10, 1957 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 40–5–5 | Roy Harris | UD | 10} | Jun 11, 1957 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 40–4–5 | Neal Welch | UD | 10 | May 14, 1957 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 39–4–5 | John Holman | UD | 10 | Feb 20, 1957 | State Fairgrounds, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 38–4–5 | Charley Norkus | UD | 10 | Dec 26, 1956 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 37–4–5 | Pat McMurtry | UD | 10 | Aug 24, 1956 | Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 36–4–5 | Chuck Spieser | SD | 10 | May 30, 1956 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 35–4–5 | Johnny Arthur | UD | 10 | Apr 4, 1956 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 43 | Draw | 34–4–5 | Chuck Spieser | PTS | 10 | Jan 27, 1956 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 34–4–4 | Rex Layne | UD | 10 | Dec 19, 1955 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 33–4–4 | Joey Rowan | UD | 10 | Nov 18, 1955 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 32–4–4 | Paddy Young | UD | 10 | Oct 3, 1955 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 31–4–4 | Chuck Spieser | UD | 10 | Jul 27, 1955 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 30–4–4 | Joey Maxim | UD | 10 | Jun 28, 1955 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 37 | Draw | 29–4–4 | Willie Troy | PTS | 10 | Apr 22, 1955 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 29–4–3 | Al Andrews | UD | 10 | Mar 23, 1955 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 28–4–3 | Tony Johnson | UD | 10 | Mar 1, 1955 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 27–4–3 | Bobby Dykes | UD | 10 | Nov 23, 1954 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 26–4–3 | Jackie LaBua | SD | 10 | Sep 14, 1954 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 25–4–3 | Jimmy Martinez | PTS | 10 | Aug 24, 1954 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 24–4–3 | Tommy Bazzano | TKO | 8 (10) | Aug 9, 1954 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 23–4–3 | Tommy Hatcher | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 18, 1954 | Abba Temple Auditorium, Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 22–4–3 | Jacques Royer-Crecy | UD | 10 | Apr 12, 1954 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 21–4–3 | Jimmy Martinez | UD | 10 | Mar 29, 1954 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 27 | Loss | 20–4–3 | Italo Scortichini | SD | 10 | Nov 30, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 20–3–3 | Elmer Beltz | MD | 8 | Oct 5, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 25 | Draw | 19–3–3 | Elmer Beltz | PTS | 10 | Sep 22, 1953 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 24 | Loss | 19–3–2 | Del Flanagan | SD | 8 | Jul 14, 1953 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 23 | Loss | 19–2–2 | Johnny Cesario | MD | 8 | May 25, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 19–1–2 | Chato Hernandez | UD | 8 | Apr 6, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 18–1–2 | Roger Trevino | UD | 8 | Mar 16, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 17–1–2 | Chick Boucher | TKO | 3 (10), 1:08 | Mar 3, 1953 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 16–1–2 | Emerson Butcher | UD | 8 | Feb 24, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 15–1–2 | Alfredo LaGrutta | UD | 8 | Jan 26, 1953 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 17 | Draw | 14–1–2 | Alvin Pellegrini | MD | 8 | Dec 15, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Alvin Boudreaux | TKO | 2 (6), 1:59 | Nov 24, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Alvin Pellegrini | UD | 6 | Nov 17, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Lonnie Rylant | KO | 3 (6), 1:44 | Oct 14, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 13 | Loss | 11–1–1 | Alvin Pellegrini | PTS | 6 | Oct 6, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Johnny Capitano | PTS | 6 | Sep 8, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Sonny Luciano | PTS | 8 | Aug 19, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Sonny Luciano | PTS | 8 | Aug 5, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Jimmy Carter | KO | 4 (6), 1:00 | Jul 28, 1952 | Sports Palace, Pensacola, Florida, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Al McCoy | KO | 2 (6) | Jul 22, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | John Chaney | PTS | 6 | Jul 8, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Buzz Brown | KO | 2 (4), 2:56 | Jul 1, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 5 | Draw | 4–0–1 | Alvin Pellegrini | PTS | 4 | Apr 21, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Alvin Boudreaux | PTS | 4 | Apr 1, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jimmy Conino | PTS | 4 | Oct 1, 1951 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Frankie Speed | PTS | 4 | Sep 17, 1951 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Domingo Rivera | PTS | 4 | Sep 10, 1951 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* WBA light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
* WBC light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed light heavyweight champion