R.I.P. Eusebio Pedroza

Word has come down that Eusebio Pedroza died early this morning at his home in Panama. Pedroza would have turned 63 tomorrow, March 2.

Several weeks ago, it was reported that Pedroza was hospitalized with pancreatic cancer and that he was deteriorating fast. That he hung on as long as he did was a testament to his fighting spirit.

Pedroza captured the WBA featherweight title with a 13^th round TKO over Spain’s Cecilio Lastra and held the title for seven years and two months during which he set a division record with 19 successful defenses. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999. Flags at the Canastota shrine are currently flying half-staff in his memory.

Pedroza was tall for a featherweight and wasn’t averse to bending the rules. Writing in 2017, the noted boxing historian Matt McGrain wrote: “Pedroza was at once an elegant, skillful boxer and an aggressive rough-house mauler, the kind of offshoot you might get if you tried to splice Willie Pep with Sandy Saddler.”

Pedroza lost his title to Barry McGuigan who outpointed him across 15 rounds before 26,000-plus delirious fans at a soccer stadium in West London, an enormous turnout considering that the fight was televised live by the BBC.

Pedroza had five more fights after McGuigan, going 3-2 to finish his career with a record of 41-6-1.

While still active as a boxer, Pedroza was elected to Panama’s Legislative Assembly (a foreshadowing, one might say, of Manny Pacquiao).

The World Boxing Association, based in Panama, was the first to report that Pedroza had died. “When we review the names of those who have made this country proud, Eusebio Pedroza is one of the most distinguished and loves ones,” the WBA said in a formal statement.

We here at The Sweet Science send our condolences to his loved ones.

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