Kid Chocolate

Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo (January 6, 1910 – August 8, 1988), better known as Kid Chocolate, was a Cuban boxer who enjoyed great success both in the boxing ring and outside it during the 1930s. Chocolate boxed professionally between 1927 and 1938. His record was 136 wins, 10 losses and 6 draws, 51 wins coming by knockout and one no-decision bout, also making Ring magazine's list of boxers with 50 or more career knockout wins. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1991.

Biography

Career

Early years

Sardiñas, also nicknamed The Cuban Bon Bon, learned how to fight by watching old fight films in Cuba. He later sparred with boxers such as Benny Leonard and Jack Johnson, all world champions, before beginning an amateur boxing career. Sardiñas had no fear and would actively engage in fights outside the ring with anyone who wanted it.

His professional boxing debut, officially, occurred on March 3, 1928, when he knocked out Juan Sarriá Rodríguez aka 'Kid Sotolongo' via first-round KO of a scheduled 6 round bout after having fought and won 3 semi-professional bouts from October 1927 to February 1928.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Taking the World Jr. Lightweight Championship

Template:More citations needed After going up in weight class to the Junior Lightweight division, he started 1931 by winning four fights in a row. Then, on July 15, his dream of becoming Cuba's first world boxing champion finally came true, as he knocked out the defending world Junior Lightweight champion Benny Bass in seven rounds to take the world title.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Five non-title wins followed, including a first-round knockout in a rematch with Scalfaro. He finished the year by going up in weight once again, and challenging world Lightweight champion Tony Canzoneri, losing by a decision in 15 in his first attempt to gain the Lightweight crown.

He started 1932 by winning his first eight bouts, including a world title defense in Havana against Davie Abad, beaten in 15 by decision. Then, he faced "Kid" Berg in a rematch, losing again, this time by decision in 15. He engaged in seven more bouts, including two decision wins over Johnny Farr, before fighting Lew Feldman on October 13. The fight was recognized as a world Featherweight title bout, but only by the New York state athletic commission. Chocolate won by a knockout in 12 rounds, gaining the New York World title.

He defended that world title twice, including a third fight with LaBarba, before relinquishing it while in the middle of a European boxing tour that took him to Madrid, Barcelona and Paris. He won all of his fights on that tour by decision. Upon returning to America, he lost by a knockout in two in a rematch with Canzoneri.

Losing the World Jr. Lightweight Title to Frankie Klick

Before a crowd of 4,000, the Kid lost the World Jr. Lightweight boxing championship to Frankie Klick, on December 25, 1933, at the Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a seventh-round technical knockout. The Ludington Daily News, wrote "The flashy Cuban "bon bon" (Chocolate) was bereft of the title in the seventh round of a scheduled fifteen round Christmas Day bout by a whistling right smash to the chin and all he got in exchange was the second knockout of his career although the latest was of the technical variety." The bout had been fairly close until the seventh with Chocolate showing stamina and style.<ref>"Young Frankie Klick Holds Junior Lightweight Title", Ludington Daily News, Ludington, Michigan, pg. 6, 26 December 1933</ref> The seventh round had gone two minutes and fifty-eight seconds when the knockout occurred. "The Cuban waged a fast, aggressive fight in the early rounds that gave him a temporary lead." Chocolate had landed rights "to the head and body." Kid Chocolate may have been suffering from the knockout he had received from Tony Canzoneri only a month previously. Chocolate retained his featherweight championship at least in the state of New York.<ref>"Frankie Klick Takes Junior Lightweight Crown", Belvidere Daily Republican, Belvidere, Illinois, pg. 6, 26 December 1933</ref> After that fight, it was revealed that he was suffering from syphilis.

Later years

Template:More citations needed He retired shortly thereafter, but came back in 1934. He won 47 of his next 50 bouts. He never received another world title attempt and felt abandoned by boxing's elite. He retired again in 1938.

Kid Chocolate enjoyed the city's nightlife. However, when he stepped out of boxing, he went back to Cuba and lived a quieter life.

Legacy

From 1959, Chocolate's fame in Cuba was overlooked by Fidel Castro and his revolutionary forces, and he almost became a forgotten champion. But, by the late 1970s, Chocolate's achievements were finally recognized by the Cuban government, who gave him a small pension. Chocolate died in his own home – bought for his mother when he was champion – in 1988.

He was the inspiration for the character Chocolate Drop in Clifford Odets' play Golden Boy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Former WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin, an American of Cuban descent, carries the nickname "Kid Chocolate" in honor of Sardiñas.

The highly acclaimed greatest pound for pound boxer of all time Sugar Ray Robinson was a big fan of Kid Chocolate and incorporated a lot of Chocolate's boxing style into his own: "Sugar Ray Robinson was a great admirer of Kid Chocolate," said Fausto Miranda, a former Cuban journalist who covered many of Chocolate's fights. Sugar Ray Robinson, went on record saying that he had never seen anyone box like Kid Chocolate before. Robinson studied the Chocolate style and incorporated much of his slick movement and graceful flair into his own boxing style. Robinson in many ways was a combination of his boxing idols Joe Louis and Kid Chocolate. He mixed the concentration, masterful combinations and power punching of Louis with the stylish movement and balance of Chocolate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Montalvo was also the cousin of the lesser known flyweight contender Eladio 'Black Bill' Valdés.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional boxing record

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
152	Template:DrawDraw	136–10–6	Nicky Jerome	PTS	10	Dec 18, 1938	Template:Small
151	Template:Yes2Win	136–10–5	Fillo Echevarria	PTS	10	Mar 20, 1938	Template:Small
150	Template:Yes2Win	135–10–5	Johnny Mirabella	KO	4 (10)	Dec 23, 1937	Template:Small
149	Template:Yes2Win	134–10–5	Young Chappie	PTS	10	Nov 6, 1937	Template:Small
148	Template:Yes2Win	133–10–5	Phil Baker	PTS	10	Sep 5, 1937	Template:Small
147	Template:Yes2Win	132–10–5	Johnny DeFoe	UD	10	Aug 19, 1937	Template:Small
146	Template:Yes2Win	131–10–5	Jimmy Tramberia	KO	3 (10)	Aug 16, 1937	Template:Small
145	Template:Yes2Win	130–10–5	Joe Marciente	PTS	10	Aug 13, 1937	Template:Small
144	Template:Yes2Win	129–10–5	Charley Gomer	PTS	10	Aug 2, 1937	Template:Small
143	Template:DrawDraw	128–10–5	Orville Drouillard	PTS	8	Jul 27, 1937	Template:Small
142	Template:Yes2Win	128–10–4	Young Chappie	PTS	8	Jul 20, 1937	Template:Small
141	Template:Yes2Win	127–10–4	Charley Gomer	PTS	8	Jun 7, 1937	Template:Small
140	Template:Yes2Win	126–10–4	Joe Marciente	PTS	8	Jul 2, 1937	Template:Small
139	Template:Yes2Win	125–10–4	Al Gillette	TKO	4 (10)	Jun 18, 1937	Template:Small
138	Template:Yes2Win	124–10–4	Young Chappie	PTS	8	Jun 15, 1937	Template:Small
137	Template:Yes2Win	123–10–4	Al Reid	PTS	10	Jun 2, 1937	Template:Small
136	Template:Yes2Win	122–10–4	Henry Hook	PTS	10	May 25, 1937	Template:Small
135	Template:Yes2Win	121–10–4	Frankie Anselm	PTS	10	Apr 9, 1937	Template:Small
134	Template:Yes2Win	120–10–4	Allie Tedesco	PTS	8	Mar 27, 1937	Template:Small
133	Template:Yes2Win	119–10–4	Joe Woods	KO	1 (8)	Mar 18, 1937	Template:Small
132	Template:DrawDraw	118–10–4	Bernie Friedkin	PTS	8	Mar 9, 1937	Template:Small
131	Template:Yes2Win	118–10–3	Jimmy Lancaster	PTS	6	Feb 27, 1937	Template:Small
130	Template:Yes2Win	117–10–3	Johnny Mirabella	PTS	8	Jan 28, 1937	Template:Small
129	Template:Yes2Win	116–10–3	Tony Pagano	TKO	4 (8)	Jan 19, 1937	Template:Small
128	Template:Yes2Win	115–10–3	Johnny Erickson	TKO	5 (10)	Jan 13, 1937	Template:Small
127	Template:Yes2Win	114–10–3	Joe LaFauci	PTS	8	Jan 7, 1937	Template:Small
126	Template:Yes2Win	113–10–3	Al Gillette	PTS	8	Dec 26, 1936	Template:Small
125	Template:Yes2Win	112–10–3	Johnny Erickson	PTS	8	Dec 19, 1936	Template:Small
124	Template:No2Loss	111–10–3	Phil Baker	UD	10	Dec 7, 1935	Template:Small
123	Template:Yes2Win	111–9–3	Jose Santos	PTS	10	Sep 19, 1936	Template:Small
122	Template:Yes2Win	110–9–3	Joey Brown	PTS	10	Jul 18, 1936	Template:Small
121	Template:Yes2Win	109–9–3	Johnny Erickson	PTS	10	Jun 20, 1937	Template:Small
120	Template:Yes2Win	108–9–3	Lew Feldman	PTS	10	May 30, 1936	Template:Small
119	Template:Yes2Win	107–9–3	Andy Martin	PTS	10	Feb 1, 1936	Template:Small
118	Template:Yes2Win	106–9–3	Pelon Guerra	KO	3 (10)	Nov 30, 1935	Template:Small
117	Template:Yes2Win	105–9–3	Kid Jackson	KO	7 (10)	Sep 3, 1935	Template:Small
116	Template:Yes2Win	104–9–3	Pete Nebo	PTS	10	Jul 4, 1935	Template:Small
115	Template:No2Loss	103–9–3	Simon Chavez	PTS	10	Mar 17, 1935	Template:Small
114	Template:Yes2Win	103–8–3	Cliff Boykin	KO	5 (10)	Jan 19, 1935	Template:Small
113	Template:Yes2Win	102–8–3	Jerry Mazza	PTS	10	Nov 5, 1934	Template:Small
112	Template:Yes2Win	101–8–3	Andre Sarilla	KO	7 (10)	Aug 17, 1934	Template:Small
111	Template:Yes2Win	100–8–3	Buster Brown	PTS	8	Jul 31, 1934	Template:Small
110	Template:No2Loss	99–8–3	Petey Hayes	UD	10	Jul 11, 1935	Template:Small
109	Template:Yes2Win	99–7–3	Johnny Erickson	PTS	10	Jul 6, 1935	Template:Small
108	Template:Yes2Win	98–7–3	Frankie Marchese	PTS	10	Jun 28, 1934	Template:Small
107	Template:Yes2Win	97–7–3	Emil Paluso	TKO	7 (10)	May 29, 1934	Template:Small
106	Template:DrawDraw	96–7–3	Tommy Paul	PTS	10	May 22, 1934	Template:Small
105	Template:Yes2Win	96–7–2	Pete Nebo	PTS	10	May 11, 1934	Template:Small
104	Template:DrawDraw	95–7–2	Bobby Gray	PTS	10	Apr 24, 1934	Template:Small
103	Template:Yes2Win	95–7–1	Frankie Wallace	PTS	10	Apr 16, 1934	Template:Small
102	Template:No2Loss	94–7–1	Frankie Klick	TKO	7 (15)	Dec 25, 1933	Template:Small	Template:Small
101	Template:Yes2Win	94–6–1	Frankie Wallace	PTS	10	Dec 4, 1933	Template:Small	Template:Small
100	Template:No2Loss	93–6–1	Tony Canzoneri	KO	2 (10)	Nov 24, 1933	Template:Small
99	Template:Yes2Win	93–5–1	Joe Ghnouly	MD	10	Nov 1, 1933	Template:Small
98	Template:Yes2Win	92–5–1	Nic Bensa	TKO	10 (10)	Sep 29, 1933	Template:Small
97	Template:Yes2Win	91–5–1	Frans Machtens	PTS	10	Aug 2, 1933	Template:Small
96	Template:Yes2Win	90–5–1	Nic Bensa	PTS	10	Jul 15, 1933	Template:Small
95	Template:Yes2Win	89–5–1	Seaman Tommy Watson	UD	15	May 19, 1933	Template:Small	Template:Small
94	Template:Yes2Win	88–5–1	Johnny Farr	UD	10	May 1, 1933	Template:Small	Template:Small
93	Template:Yes2Win	87–5–1	Fidel LaBarba	MD	15	Dec 9, 1932	Template:Small	Template:Small
92	Template:Yes2Win	86–5–1	Johnny Alba	PTS	6	Nov 29, 1932	Template:Small
91	Template:Yes2Win	85–5–1	Eddie Reilly	PTS	10	Nov 21, 1932	Template:Small
90	Template:Yes2Win	84–5–1	Pete Nebo	PTS	10	Nov 14, 1932	Template:Small
89	Template:Yes2Win	83–5–1	Lew Feldman	KO	12 (15)	Oct 13, 1932	Template:Small	Template:Small
88	Template:Yes2Win	82–5–1	Johnny Farr	PTS	10	Oct 4, 1932	Template:Small
87	Template:Yes2Win	81–5–1	Frank Fariello	PTS	6	Sep 15, 1932	Template:Small
86	Template:Yes2Win	80–5–1	Steve Smith	UD	10	Sep 6, 1932	Template:Small
85	Template:Yes2Win	79–5–1	Frankie Marchese	KO	4 (6)	Sep 1, 1932	Template:Small
84	Template:Yes2Win	78–5–1	Johnny Farr	PTS	10	Aug 10, 1932	Template:Small
83	Template:Yes2Win	77–5–1	Eddie Shea	UD	10	Aug 4, 1932	Template:Small	Template:Small
82	Template:No2Loss	76–5–1	Jack 'Kid' Berg	MD	15	Jul 18, 1932	Template:Small	Template:Small
81	Template:Yes2Win	76–4–1	Johnny Farr	UD	10	Jun 22, 1932	Template:Small
80	Template:Yes2Win	75–4–1	Roger Bernard	PTS	10	Jun 16, 1932	Template:Small
79	Template:Yes2Win	74–4–1	Mike Sarko	PTS	10	Jun 6, 1932	Template:Small
78	Template:Yes2Win	73–4–1	Lew Feldman	UD	15	Jun 1, 1932	Template:Small
77	Template:Yes2Win	72–4–1	Steve Smith	PTS	10	May 26, 1932	Template:Small
76	Template:Yes2Win	71–4–1	Mike Sarko	PTS	10	May 16, 1932	Template:Small
75	Template:Yes2Win	70–4–1	Davey Abad	PTS	15	Apr 10, 1932	Template:Small	Template:Small
74	Template:Yes2Win	69–4–1	Dominick Petrone	PTS	10	Mar 6, 1932	Template:Small
73	Template:Yes2Win	68–4–1	Maxie Leiner	KO	1 (10)	Nov 30, 1932	Template:Small
72	Template:No2Loss	67–4–1	Tony Canzoneri	SD	15	Nov 20, 1931	Template:Small	Template:Small
71	Template:Yes2Win	67–3–1	Lew Feldman	UD	10	Nov 2, 1931	Template:Small
70	Template:Yes2Win	66–3–1	Buck Oliva	KO	2 (10)	Oct 26, 1931	Template:Small
69	Template:Yes2Win	65–3–1	Al 'Rube' Goldberg	TKO	3 (10)	Oct 21, 1931	Template:Small
68	Template:Yes2Win	64–3–1	Steve Smith	PTS	10	Oct 12, 1931	Template:Small
67	Template:Yes2Win	63–3–1	Joey Scalfaro	TKO	1 (10)	Oct 1, 1931	Template:Small	Template:Small
66	Template:Yes2Win	62–3–1	Benny Bass	TKO	7 (10)	Jul 15, 1931	Template:Small	Template:Small
65	Template:Yes2Win	61–3–1	Harry Sankey	PTS	10	Jun 29, 1931	Template:Small
64	Template:Yes2Win	60–3–1	Maxie Leiner	PTS	10	Jun 17, 1931	Template:Small
63	Template:Yes2Win	59–3–1	Steve Smith	PTS	10	Jun 12, 1931	Template:Small
62	Template:Yes2Win	58–3–1	George Goldberg	TKO	7 (10)	May 29, 1931	Template:Small
61	Template:No2Loss	57–3–1	Battling Battalino	UD	15	Dec 12, 1930	Template:Small	Template:Small
60	Template:No2Loss	57–2–1	Fidel LaBarba	UD	10	Nov 3, 1930	Template:Small
59	Template:Yes2Win	57–1–1	Mickey Doyle	KO	1 (10)	Oct 27, 1930	Template:Small
58	Template:Yes2Win	56–1–1	Benny Nabors	KO	1 (10)	Oct 16, 1930	Template:Small
57	Template:No2Loss	55–1–1	Jack 'Kid' Berg	SD	10	Aug 7, 1930	Template:Small
56	Template:Yes2Win	55–0–1	Luigi Quadrini	PTS	10	Jul 15, 1930	Template:Small
55	Template:Yes2Win	54–0–1	Vic Burrone	KO	3 (10)	Jul 10, 1930	Template:Small
54	Template:Yes2Win	53–0–1	Dominick Petrone	TKO	6 (10)	Jul 2, 1930	Template:Small
53	Template:Yes2Win	52–0–1	Johnny Erickson	PTS	10	Apr 28, 1930	Template:Small
52	Template:Yes2Win	51–0–1	Al Ridgeway	TKO	2 (10)	Mar 21, 1930	Template:Small
51	Template:Yes2Win	50–0–1	Benny Hall	PTS	10	Mar 5, 1930	Template:Small
50	Template:Yes2Win	49–0–1	Vic Burrone	PTS	10	Feb 23, 1930	Template:Small
49	Template:Yes2Win	48–0–1	Johnny Lawson	KO	2 (10)	Dec 21, 1929	Template:Small
48	Template:Yes2Win	47–0–1	Dominick Petrone	PTS	10	Dec 18, 1929	Template:Small
47	Template:Yes2Win	46–0–1	Herman Silverberg	KO	1 (10)	Dec 10, 1929	Template:Small
46	Template:Yes2Win	45–0–1	Eddie O'Dowd	KO	2 (10)	Nov 27, 1929	Template:Small
45	Template:Yes2Win	44–0–1	Jim El Zaird	PTS	10	Nov 19, 1929	Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	43–0–1	Johnny Erickson	PTS	10	Nov 9, 1929	Template:Small
43	Template:Yes2Win	42–0–1	Al Singer	SD	12	Aug 29, 1929	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	41–0–1	Tommy Lorenzo	TKO	6 (10)	Aug 7, 1929	Template:Small
41	Template:Yes2Win	40–0–1	Steve Smith	UD	10	Jul 30, 1929	Template:Small
40	Template:Yes2Win	39–0–1	Milton Cohen	PTS	10	Jul 19, 1929	Template:Small
39	Template:Yes2Win	38–0–1	Ignacio Fernandez	PTS	10	Jul 10, 1929	Template:Small
38	Template:Yes2Win	37–0–1	Jackie Johnston	KO	1 (10)	Jun 24, 1929	Template:Small
37	Template:Yes2Win	36–0–1	Terry Roth	TKO	3 (10)	Jun 18, 1929	Template:Small
36	Template:Yes2Win	35–0–1	Gregorio Vidal	SD	10	Jun 5, 1929	Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	34–0–1	Fidel LaBarba	MD	10	May 22, 1929	Template:Small
34	Template:Yes2Win	33–0–1	Steve Smith	UD	10	May 7, 1929	Template:Small
33	Template:Yes2Win	32–0–1	Tommy Ryan	KO	1 (10)	Apr 29, 1929	Template:Small
32	Template:Yes2Win	31–0–1	Vic Burrone	UD	10	Apr 22, 1929	Template:Small
31	Template:Yes2Win	30–0–1	Bushy Graham	DQ	7 (15)	Apr 12, 1929	Template:Small
30	Template:Yes2Win	29–0–1	Johnny Vacca	TKO	9 (10)	Mar 22, 1929	Template:Small
29	Template:Yes2Win	28–0–1	Al Rackow	KO	4 (10)	Mar 18, 1929	Template:Small
28	Template:Yes2Win	27–0–1	Phil O'Dowd	KO	1 (10)	Mar 9, 1929	Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	26–0–1	Chick Suggs	UD	10	Dec 24, 1929	Template:Small	Template:Small
26	Template:Yes2Win	25–0–1	Pancho Dencio	TKO	2 (10)	Dec 22, 1928	Template:Small
25	Template:Yes2Win	24–0–1	Emil Paluso	TKO	8 (10)	Dec 17, 1928	Template:Small
24	Template:Yes2Win	23–0–1	Johnny Helstein	PTS	10	Dec 10, 1928	Template:Small
23	Template:DrawDraw	22–0–1	Joey Scalfaro	PTS	10	Nov 30, 1928	Template:Small
22	Template:Yes2Win	22–0	Pinky May	TKO	6 (10)	Nov 24, 1928	Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	21–0	Jackie Schweitzer	KO	6 (10)	Nov 19, 1928	Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	20–0	Pinky Silverberg	PTS	8	Nov 8, 1928	Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	19–0	Frisco Grande	TKO	4 (10)	Nov 3, 1928	Template:Small
18	Template:Yes2Win	18–0	Joey Ross	KO	1 (10)	Oct 29, 1928	Template:Small
17	Template:Yes2Win	17–0	Eddie O'Dowd	PTS	10	Oct 10, 1928	Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	16–0	Johnny Erickson	PTS	10	Oct 1, 1928	Template:Small
15	Template:Yes2Win	15–0	Sammy Tisch	PTS	10	sep 17, 1928	Template:Small
14	Template:Yes2Win	14–0	Mike Castle	TKO	3 (10)	Aug 31, 1928	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	13–0	Nick Mercer	KO	3 (8)	Aug 25, 1928	Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	12–0	Johnny Green	KO	6 (10)	Aug 15, 1928	Template:Small
11	Template:Yes2Win	11–0	Nick DeSalvo	PTS	8	Jul 25, 1928	Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	10–0	Eddie Enos	TKO	3 (8)	Jul 11, 1928	Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	9–0	Pablo Blanco	KO	5 (10)	Jun 16, 1928	Template:Small
8	Template:Yes2Win	8–0	Jose 'Joe' Castillo	PTS	6	Jun 4, 1928	Template:Small
7	Template:Yes2Win	7–0	Kid Saguita	TKO	5 (10)	May 14, 1928	Template:Small
6	Template:Yes2Win	6–0	Clemente 'Remache' Morales	TKO	4 (10)	Apr 7, 1928	Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	5–0	Angel Diaz	KO	7 (10)	Mar 10, 1928	Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	4–0	Kid Sotolongo	KO	1 (6)	Mar 3, 1928	Template:Small
3	Template:Yes2Win	3–0	Johnny Cruz	KO	5 (6)	Feb 11, 1928	Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Jose 'Joe' Castillo	PTS	6	Dec 17, 1927	Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Johnny Cruz	UD	6	Oct 22, 1927	Template:Small	See also List of super featherweight boxing champions References External links Template:Boxrec The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: Featherweight--1930s - BoxRec The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: Lightweight--1930s - BoxRec Kid Chocolate - CBZ Profile