Editing Kid Gavilán (section)

==Early career==
Gavilan was managed by [[Yamil Chade]], a boxing manager (based in Puerto Rico) who directed the careers of [[Wilfredo Gómez]], [[Wilfred Benítez]], [[Carlos De León]] and [[Félix Trinidad]] . He started as a professional boxer on the evening of June 5, 1943, when he beat Antonio Diaz by a decision in four rounds in Havana. His first 10 bouts were in Havana, and then he had one in Cienfuegos, but soon he returned to Havana for three more wins. After 14 bouts, he left Cuba for his first fight abroad, and he beat Julio César Jimenez by a decision in 10 rounds in his first of three consecutive fights in Mexico City. It was there that he suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Carlos Macalara by a decision. They had an immediate rematch, this time in Havana, and Gavilan avenged that loss, winning by decision too. Gavilan had a record of 25 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw already when he had his first fight on American soil. This happened on November 1, 1946, when he beat Johnny Ryan by a [[knockout]] in five rounds at New York City.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}