Editing Alberto Dávila (section)

==Boxing career==

===Early life and career===
Originally from Texas, and later [[Pomona, California]],<ref name="vacant">{{cite news|title=Davila to fight for vacant title|work=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]|agency=[[United Press International]]|date=September 1, 1983|page=16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ijIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3478,84475|accessdate=December 7, 2010}}</ref> Dávila, who is of [[Mexicans|Mexican]] descent,<ref>{{cite web|last=Collins|first=Nigel|title=Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares: The next generation of Mexican greats?|publisher=ESPN|date=August 26, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/13515523/leo-santa-cruz-abner-mares-next-generation-mexican-greats|access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref> took up boxing at the age of 12, and worked out daily at a boxing gym for six years. He graduated from [[Garey High School|Pomona Garey High School]].<ref name="dwell">{{cite news|last=Crowe|first=Jerry|title=Davila recalls tragedy, but doesn't dwell on it|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 12, 2007|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-12-sp-crowesnest12-story.html|access-date=November 22, 2016}}</ref> In his professional debut, on March 1, 1973, Dávila defeated Carlos Villareal in a four-round bout decided on points. After 13 consecutive victories, he lost for the first time against Cecil Escobido in July 1974 by a split decision.<ref name="boxrec">{{cite web|title=Alberto Davila|publisher=[[BoxRec]]|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=228&cat=boxer|accessdate=December 25, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015155553/http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=228&cat=boxer|archivedate=October 15, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dávila boxed with many of the best boxers of the bantamweight division during the following years. He beat [[Lupe Pintor]] by a 10-round decision in 1976,<ref name="keep">{{cite news|title=Pintor Wins Decision To Keep Bantam Crown|work=The Press-Courier|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 20, 1980|page=15|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R9E8AAAAIBAJ&sjid=LS4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3228,6288827|accessdate=December 4, 2010}}</ref> and lost to [[Wilfredo Gómez]] by a [[knockout]] in [[Puerto Rico]], the first fight in which he was knocked out.<ref name="artist">{{cite news|last=Murray|first=Jim|authorlink=Jim Murray (sportswriter)|title=Portrait of an artist|work=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]]|agency=Los Angeles Times|date=November 18, 1977|page=13|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_nUzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8vYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6563,6330589|accessdate=December 7, 2010}}</ref> In 1978, Dávila challenged [[Carlos Zarate (boxer)|Carlos Zarate]] for the WBC's world title, losing by a knockout.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zarate retains world title|work=[[Leader-Post]]|agency=Associated Press|date=February 27, 1978|page=30|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9JBZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3UkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3624,3175814|accessdate=December 4, 2010}}</ref> Later that year, he fought for the [[World Boxing Association]] championship against Panama's [[Jorge Luján]]. The bout took place in the [[Louisiana Superdome]], and was part of the undercard for a world heavyweight championship fight between [[Muhammad Ali]] and [[Leon Spinks]]. The fight ended in a decision victory for Luján.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Newman|first=Bruce|title=Blood, Sweat and Cheers|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=September 25, 1978|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/09/25/blood-sweat-and-cheers|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref> After Pintor beat Zarate for the WBC title,<ref>{{cite news|title=Pintor surprised by verdict|work=The Lewiston Evening Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=June 4, 1979|page=18|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E14gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NWUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3093,447370|accessdate=December 4, 2010}}</ref> Dávila was given a second chance at that belt in a 1980 rematch with the [[Mexican people|Mexican]] world champion, and lost by a 15-round decision.<ref name="keep"/> At one point, he retired from boxing for a time, working as a beer delivery man.<ref name="dwell"/><ref name="forget">{{cite news|last=Peters|first=Ken|title=Saddened champion will never forget|work=The Lewiston Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=September 7, 1983|page=9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0A8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=imUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1524,925845|accessdate=December 4, 2010}}</ref> Dávila was inactive for all of 1981, returning in early 1982 and going seven fights without a loss through April 1983.<ref name="boxrec"/>

===Kiko Bejines fight===
In March 1983, Pintor suffered a motorcycle accident and was forced into a lengthy absence,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports People; Pintor Injured|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 11, 1983|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/11/sports/sports-people-pintor-injured.html|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref> leaving the WBC bantamweight crown vacant. The WBC assigned its number one challenger, Dávila, to face its third-ranked fighter, [[Kiko Bejines]], for the interim title.<ref name="vacant"/><ref name="DavilavBejines">{{cite web|title=Alberto Davila v Kiko Bejines|publisher=BoxRec|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/9138/46455|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> The fight was held in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], and most of it was described by [[Associated Press]] sports writer Ken Peters as "uneventful".<ref name="forget"/> Bejines held a lead on two of the three judges' scorecards at the end of 11 rounds (the third had the fight even), and Dávila rushed out of his corner and attacked Bejines right away in round 12.<ref name="forget"/> With 25 seconds elapsed in the round, a right hand to Bejines' chin struck, followed by a pair of left hands and a right. Bejines fell to the floor and was counted out, giving Dávila the victory and WBC interim bantamweight championship.<ref name="DavilavBejines"/><ref name="death">{{cite news|title=Ring Death Puzzles Experts|work=The Lewiston Daily Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=September 6, 1983|page=22|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A3ogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pmcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5163,983947|accessdate=December 4, 2010}}</ref> Unconscious after the fight, Bejines was airlifted to a nearby hospital and revealed to be in critical condition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Boxer critical after being knocked out in bantamweight title bout|work=[[Tri-City Herald]]|agency=Associated Press|date=September 1, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dq80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=joYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6685,298344|accessdate=December 4, 2010}}</ref> He died as a result of his injuries.<ref name="death"/> Dávila stayed at the medical center where Bejines was into the late night hours following the fight,<ref name="going"/> and later said that he was "in mourning with (Bejines') family."<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports People; Davila in Mourning|work=The New York Times|date=September 7, 1983|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/07/sports/sports-people-davila-in-mourning.html|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref>

===WBC title reign===
Pintor moved into the super bantamweight division,<ref>{{cite book|last=Hudson Jr.|first=David L.|title=Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting, and Mixed Martial Arts|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2009|pages=256–257|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LmhFCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA257|isbn=978-0-313-34383-4}}</ref> and Dávila eventually became the full WBC bantamweight champion. He returned to the ring two months after the Bejines bout for a fight against Julio Rodrigues in which the WBC title was not at stake.<ref>{{cite news|title=Davila, Garza Sign For Fights|work=[[Star-Banner]]|agency=Associated Press|date=November 3, 1983|page=7B|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bEAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XAYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4492,2057816|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> In the summer of 1984, he defended the title against [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]] [[Enrique Sanchez (Dominican boxer)|Enrique Sanchez]] in [[Miami]], in a fight held outdoors. The early rounds saw Sanchez take control of the contest; an eight-punch flurry by him in round two caused Dávila to stagger. However, the fight turned in round six, as rain fell onto the ring.<ref name="defend">{{cite news|title=Davila, Garza Defend Titles On the Beach|work=[[The Daily Gazette|The Schenectady Gazette]]|agency=Associated Press|date=May 28, 1984|page=28|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-hAhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XHMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1907,3039485|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> Dávila scored a [[Knockout#Knockdown|knockdown]] near the end of round ten, and continued his attack on Sanchez at the start of the next round, earning a [[technical knockout]] to retain his title. After the fight, he compared the rain to "holy water", saying "It revived me. It was a miracle."<ref name="defend"/>

The WBC stated that Dávila would automatically give up his championship if he did not fight Pintor by August 15, 1984.<ref>{{cite news|title=WBC threatening to strip titles from 2 champions|work=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|agency=Associated Press|date=June 26, 1984|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aTUdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=laUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2960,6980626|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> A title defense was instead scheduled on September 14, 1984, versus [[Miguel "Happy" Lora|Miguel Lora]], but in a [[sparring]] session two weeks before the fight date, Dávila injured his back. This led to a postponement.<ref>{{cite news|title=And Finally...|work=Herald-Journal|date=September 14, 1984|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NGIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=084EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3636,3574583|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> Later, he worsened his injury while doing yardwork, leading to a yearlong absence from fighting. As a result, his belt was stripped by the WBC;<ref name="going"/> it was officially vacated in the WBC's rankings on March 23, 1985.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 23, 1985|title=WBC Ratings|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148575470/|work=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]]|agency=Associated Press|access-date=November 6, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Later career===
In 1987, he attempted to become a world champion again by traveling to [[Colombia]] and challenging Lora, but he lost a 12-round decision.<ref name="going"/> He won a few fights after his loss to Lora, including a decision victory over Edel Geronimo in March 1987.<ref name="going"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Kresal|first=Steve|title=Davila Beats Geronimo in Unanimous Decision|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 24, 1987|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-24-sp-102-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref>

His next fight came three months later against [[Frankie Duarte]], whom he had knocked out in a 1977 bout.<ref>{{cite news|last=Springer|first=Steve|title=Duarte Evens the Score in a Bittersweet Victory|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 28, 1987|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-28-sp-306-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> The [[North American Boxing Federation]] (NABF) bantamweight championship was at stake, along with California's title in the division. Despite a left eye that had a cut over it, Dávila was leading on the judges' scorecards entering the 10th round. With 51 seconds left in the round, a doctor stopped the bout due to the cut, giving a technical knockout win to Duarte.<ref name="protest">{{cite news|title=Title fight protest could be upheld|work=The Lewiston Daily Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=July 3, 1987|page=22|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=714gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YGUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3577,557914|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> Dávila filed an official protest, seeking to have the result overturned. He claimed that an accidental [[headbutt]] during round four caused the cut; under the rules of the NABF, fights halted after three rounds went to a judges' decision.<ref name="protest"/> The protest was voted on in July by [[California State Athletic Commission|California's State Athletic Commission]]; the voters deadlocked 3–3, leaving the result unchanged.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports People; A Split Decision|work=The New York Times|date=July 18, 1987|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/18/sports/sports-people-a-split-decision.html|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> In a bout held at the [[Great Western Forum]] in [[Inglewood, California]] on November 3, 1987, against Mexico's Juan Estrada, Dávila suffered an accidental headbutt and was given the victory through a [[technical decision]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Davila Is Butted, Awarded Decision|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 4, 1987|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-04-sp-12194-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref>

The NABF bantamweight championship was later vacated by the federation due to Duarte's "inactivity".<ref name="tonight">{{cite news|title=Davila Will Fight Contreras Tonight|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 21, 1988|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-21-sp-2282-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> Dávila was matched against Gil Contreras for the belt in April 1988, with a second WBC title match against Lora promised to him if he won.<ref name="tonight"/> After scoring an eighth-round knockdown of Contreras, Dávila narrowly won a unanimous decision; all three judges had him ahead by either one or two points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Davila Wins a Decision Over Contreras in 12|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 22, 1988|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-22-sp-1714-story.html|access-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> The rematch versus Lora was scheduled at the Great Western Forum for August 1. Dávila, nearly 34 at the time, was the oldest bantamweight championship participant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lora defends title tonight|work=[[The Miami News]]|date=August 1, 1988|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8bImAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uAEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2671,118396|accessdate=December 6, 2010}}</ref> For the second time, Dávila lost to Lora by a judges' decision after 12 rounds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lora retains crown|work=[[The Vindicator]]|agency=Associated Press|date=August 2, 1988|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PTBKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3883,411151|accessdate=December 7, 2010}}</ref> Following the fight, he announced his retirement.<ref name="dwell"/> His final win–loss record has been given alternately as 55–10–1 and 56–10 with one [[No contest (boxing)|no contest]].<ref name="boxrec"/><ref name="regulation">{{cite book|last=Rodriguez|first=Robert G.|title=The Regulation of Boxing: A History and Comparative Analysis of Policies Among American States|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2009|pages=50–53|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0o1iPjMQ7-0C&pg=PA51|isbn=978-0-7864-3862-4|accessdate=December 7, 2010}}</ref>