Don Jordan

Don Jordan
Born(1934-06-22)June 22, 1934
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 13, 1997(1997-02-13) (aged 62)
San Pedro, California, U.S.
Other namesGeronimo
Boxing record
Total fights76
Wins51
Wins by KO17
Losses23
Draws1
No contests1

Don Jordan (June 22, 1934 – February 13, 1997) was an American boxer born in Los Angeles, California and was the Welterweight Champion of the World from 1958 to 1960. His nickname was ‘Geronimo’.[1] He was of Mexican and African American descent.[2]

Career

[edit]

Born 22 June 1934 in Los Angeles, Jordan’s brief spell as an amateur shows that he began boxing as a Middleweight and – unusually – worked his way down to Welterweight as a professional. His amateur career spanned just fifteen contests, of which he lost only one.

Jordan fought professionally for the first time in April, 1953. Standing 5 feet 9 inches and typically weighing around 147 lbs, Jordan was well-proportioned and quickly showed himself to be an effective performer, winning nine in a row before dropping a decision in March 1954, to a fighter he had out-pointed just two months previously. He beat Art Ramponi to pick up the California State Welterweight title in October of that year and opened his 1955 campaign with a victory over former World Lightweight Champion Lauro Salas. From that point on, Jordan would be mixing it with the best.

Jordan’s progress over the next three years – including two notable victories over Gaspar Ortega – were rewarded when he challenged Virgil Akins for the World Welterweight Championship on 5 December 1958, winning by unanimous decision. Akins – who disputed the decision – would suffer an identical reverse when he met Jordan in a championship return five months later. That was the first of Jordan’s two successful title defences (the second was against Denny Moyer on 10 July 1959), before losing the title to Benny Paret, eighteen months after being crowned.

Once he lost his title, Jordan also seemed to lose his way. The last years of his career saw him record more defeats than victories and he was effectively – if ignominiously – ‘retired’ by the man refereeing his October 1962 contest with Battling Torres. When Jordan refused to get up after a knockdown in the first, referee Jimmy Wilson ruled that Torres had not actually hit Jordan hard enough to put him down and the fight was declared a ‘no contest’. Subsequently, the California State Athletic Commission suspended Jordan indefinitely. In 1961 Lucchese crime family mobster Frankie Carbo, known as "the Czar of Boxing" was charged with extortion and conspiracy regarding Jordan, convicted and given a 25-year federal sentence.[3] Others convicted were Louis Tom Dragna (conviction overturned), Truman Gibson, Joe Sica, and Frank "Blinky" Palermo.

Death

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After being robbed and seriously assaulted in a Los Angeles parking lot in September 1996, Don Jordan went into a coma, and died in a nursing home in San Pedro, California, on 13 February 1997.

Professional boxing record

[edit]
76 fights 51 wins 23 losses
By knockout 17 3
By decision 34 20
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
76 NC 51–22–1 (1) Battling Torres NC 1 (10) Oct 5, 1962 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Jordan refused to get up and fight following a knockdown which the referee felt came from a punch that wasn't hard enough to knock him down
75 Loss 51–23–1 Joey Limas UD 10 Jul 26, 1962 Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
74 Loss 51–22–1 Giancarlo Garbelli PTS 10 Apr 27, 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, Lazio, Italy
73 Loss 51–21–1 Tony DeMarco KO 2 (10) Dec 19, 1961 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
72 Loss 51–20–1 Rodolfo Diaz UD 10 Nov 14, 1961 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
71 Loss 51–19–1 Hilario Morales TKO 7 (10) Aug 15, 1961 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
70 Loss 51–18–1 Benny Medina UD 10 Aug 1, 1961 Kearney Bowl, Fresno, California, U.S.
69 Loss 51–17–1 Carmen Basilio UD 10 Mar 11, 1961 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
68 Loss 51–16–1 Ludwig Lightburn PTS 10 Nov 26, 1960 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
67 Draw 51–15–1 Alfredo Cota PTS 10 Oct 16, 1960 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
66 Win 51–15 Julian Valdez MD 10 Aug 16, 1960 Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
65 Win 50–15 Jesse Bogart KO 1 (10) Aug 6, 1960 Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
64 Loss 49–15 Phil Moyer UD 10 Jul 15, 1960 Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
63 Loss 49–14 Benny 'Kid' Paret UD 15 May 27, 1960 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
62 Loss 49–13 Marvin 'Candy' McFarland UD 10 May 16, 1960 Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
61 Loss 49–12 Luis Federico Thompson KO 4 (10) Dec 12, 1959 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
60 Win 49–11 Fernando Barreto PTS 10 Dec 5, 1959 Ginásio Estadual do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
59 Win 48–11 Denny Moyer UD 15 Jul 10, 1959 Meadows Race Track, Portland, Oregon, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
58 Win 47–11 Virgil Akins UD 15 Apr 24, 1959 Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
57 Win 46–11 Alvaro Gutierrez TKO 3 (10) Jan 22, 1959 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
56 Win 45–11 Virgil Akins UD 15 Dec 5, 1958 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
55 Win 44–11 Gaspar Ortega SD 12 Oct 22, 1958 Lafayette Hotel, Long Beach, California, U.S.
54 Win 43–11 Gaspar Ortega SD 10 Sep 17, 1958 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
53 Win 42–11 Lahouari Godih UD 10 Aug 29, 1958 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
52 Win 41–11 Issac Logart SD 10 Jul 2, 1958 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
51 Win 40–11 Alfredo Cota PTS 10 May 18, 1958 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
50 Win 39–11 Kid Centella KO 2 (10) May 5, 1958 Plaza de Toros, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
49 Win 38–11 Francisco Echevarria TKO 3 (10) Apr 15, 1958 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
48 Win 37–11 Karl Heinz Guder SD 10 Feb 15, 1958 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
47 Loss 36–11 Dave Charnley PTS 10 Jan 28, 1958 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
46 Win 36–10 Willie Morton MD 10 Jan 4, 1958 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
45 Win 35–10 Ray Portilla TKO 6 (10) Nov 29, 1957 Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
44 Win 34–10 Orlando Zulueta UD 10 Oct 12, 1957 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
43 Win 33–10 Juan Padilla UD 10 Aug 12, 1957 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
42 Win 32–10 Alfredo Cota KO 1 (10) Jul 23, 1957 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
41 Win 31–10 Arnoldo Gil KO 2 (10) Jul 15, 1957 Plaza de Toros, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
40 Loss 30–10 LC Morgan UD 10 Jun 15, 1957 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
39 Win 30–9 Jesse Bogart KO 1 (10) May 11, 1957 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
38 Win 29–9 Ezequiel Uribe PTS 10 Mar 19, 1957 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
37 Loss 28–9 Charley Tombstone Smith UD 12 Jan 24, 1957 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
36 Loss 28–8 Al Nevarez PTS 10 Jan 1, 1957 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
35 Win 28–7 Archie Whitewater UD 10 Dec 27, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
34 Win 27–7 Enrique Esqueda KO 1 (10) Nov 18, 1956 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
33 Loss 26–7 Orlando Zulueta MD 10 Oct 16, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
32 Win 26–6 Frankie Skidmore TKO 7 (10) Jun 28, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
31 Win 25–6 Timmie Jefferson UD 10 Jun 7, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
30 Loss 24–6 Joey Lopes SD 12 May 5, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
29 Loss 24–5 Jimmy Carter UD 10 Mar 29, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
28 Win 24–4 Paddy DeMarco TKO 5 (10) Feb 2, 1956 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
27 Loss 23–4 Art Aragon UD 10 Dec 15, 1955 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
26 Win 23–3 Woody Winslow UD 10 Oct 20, 1955 Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S.
25 Win 22–3 Woody Winslow UD 10 Sep 3, 1955 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
24 Win 21–3 Joe Miceli UD 10 Aug 18, 1955 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
23 Loss 20–3 Art Aragon UD 10 Jun 2, 1955 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22 Win 20–2 Lauro Salas SD 12 Mar 31, 1955 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
21 Win 19–2 Frankie Cockrell UD 10 Mar 3, 1955 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
20 Win 18–2 Gaby Macias UD 10 Feb 15, 1955 Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
19 Win 17–2 Lauro Salas UD 12 Jan 13, 1955 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
18 Win 16–2 Manny Renteria KO 7 (12) Nov 29, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
17 Win 15–2 Art Ramponi UD 12 Oct 4, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
16 Win 14–2 Billy Hartman TKO 4 (10) Sep 20, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15 Win 13–2 Art Ramponi UD 10 Aug 30, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
14 Win 12–2 Freddie Herman SD 10 Jun 28, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
13 Loss 11–2 Dickie Wong UD 10 May 31, 1954 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12 Win 11–1 Manuel Montes TKO 2 (10) Apr 17, 1954 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
11 Loss 10–1 Andy Escobar UD 10 Mar 20, 1954 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Raul Esqueda PTS 10 Feb 1, 1954 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Date uncertain
9 Win 9–0 Andy Escobar UD 10 Jan 16, 1954 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 David Cervantes UD 6 Dec 16, 1953 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Marvin Smith TKO 5 (6) Nov 7, 1953 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Marvin Smith TKO 5 (6) Oct 17, 1953 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Gaby Macias TKO 5 (6) Sep 26, 1953 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Chi Chi Martinez PTS 4 Aug 8, 1953 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Chi Chi Martinez UD 6 Jul 4, 1953 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Al Barbero PTS 4 May 18, 1953 Arena, South Gate, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Ray Serna PTS 4 Apr 27, 1953 Arena, South Gate, California, U.S.

See also

[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by World Welterweight Champion
5 Dec 1958 – 27 May 1960 		Succeeded by

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone.
  2. ^ "Some LA Eastside legends, who's the greatest? | LA EASTSIDE". 16 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Frankie Carbo, Underworld Figure Once Known as the 'Czar' of Boxing". The New York Times. November 11, 1976.

Sources

[edit]

1. Biographical information: (i) The Ring Record Book & Boxing Encyclopedia 1959 (Nat Fleischer, The Ring Book Shop Inc., 1959). See p. 8 for a very brief cameo. (ii) WBA Online [1], offers confirmation of the date and manner of Jordan’s death.

2. Ring Record: (i) The Cyber Boxing Zone [2]. This source misses Jordan’s first defence of the Welterweight Championship, taking place 24 April 1959. (ii) The Boxing Records Archive [3]. This source also provides information about the manner of the end of Jordan's career. (iii) The Ring Record Book & Boxing Encyclopedia 1959 (Nat Fleischer, The Ring Book Shop Inc., 1959), P.276.

[edit]
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by NYSAC welterweight champion
December 5, 1958 – May 27, 1960 		Succeeded by
NBA welterweight champion
December 5, 1958 – May 27, 1960
The Ring welterweight champion
December 5, 1958 – May 27, 1960
Undisputed welterweight champion
December 5, 1958 – May 27, 1960
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