Farewell To 'The Hawk'

By Jeff Day

06.03 - In a career lasting 15 years and 143 professional fights, Cuban born Kid Gavilan was never stopped and was floored just three times. Born Gerardo Mauras, on 6 January 1926, the man who became known as 'The Hawk', fought in what many consider boxing's golden era. His passing last month was a sad loss to the hardest game.

The man best known for his bolo punch: a half hook-half uppercut that brought from the hip to land on his unsuspecting opponent.

Gavilan actually began his career as a 17-year-old bantamweight in his native Cuba. This was, of course, pre-Castro when professional boxing was permitted to take place on the Caribbean Island.

After four years in the pro ranks, Gavilan moved to the United States to learn his craft further. He left his homeland with a record of 37-2. The 'Keed' knew he had to make the move to make his mark in the sport. And so it proved.

At 5 feet 10 inches, Gavilan filled out to a fully-fledged welterweight and in February 1948 took on one of the greatest - perhaps the greatest - lightweight of all time in Ike Williams. Ike was too good on this night and handed out a brutal lesson beating Gavilan on points over ten rounds.

Two months later and Gavilan was beaten again by Doug Ratford over ten rounds, yet bounced back within two weeks to eke out a decision over World title contender Tommy Bell. Bell was a tough guy who had taken a peak Sugar Ray Robinson 15 rounds for the title and Gavilan always said Bell was his toughest opponent.

Three more wins followed, before he confronted World Welterweight Champion Robinson in September 1948. It would be a non-title fight over ten rounds. Nevertheless, the Cuban was competitive enough to earn a crack at the title ten months later.

In the meantime, as was the case in those days, Gavilan was kept bust: wins in October, November and December 1948, before starting 1949 with a ten round revenge points win over Ike Williams. It shows how invaluable activity and experience can be.

'The Keed' won the rubber match with Williams in April 1949, again on points, then with a further two more victories, met the great Robinson for the 'Sugarman's title. Once again, Ray was too good and in a cracking fight in which both men were shaken at times, Robinson won a clear 15 round decision.

Gavilan's next two fights were victories over middleweight contender Rocky Castellani and over former lightweight champion Beau Jack. This saw a period when the Cuban lost his way ever so slightly. He lost four of his next fifteen bouts, though in good company and again against heavier men. Two of the fights were against Billy Graham. It was a win each apiece for them, both split decisions. Billy Graham would appear again later in the Kid Gavilan story.

1951 would be a big year for Gavilan. On May 18, The Kid challenged Johnny Bratton for the NBA title, which Bratton had won in March against Charlie Fusari. Despite the fact Gavilan was not considered a puncher, he managed to break Bratton's jaw en-route to a clear unanimous decision.

A non-title win followed, before Gavilan was to meet his old nemesis, Graham on August 29 1951. This would go down as probably the most controversial welterweight title fight of all time. Once again, there was barely anything between them. At the end of fifteen rounds, the champion had retained his crown. Most of the crowd were stunned, and vented their anger at the decision.

Referee Mark Conn gave Gavilan the edge on points, judge Frank Forbes had Graham in a slender lead, but judge Arthur Schwartz made Gavilan a narrow winner. It was the fight that made Billy Graham famous. From now on, he would be referred to as the uncrowned champion. Remarkably, the new champion would engage in four non-title bouts before the close of the year: including wins over Tony Janiro (for the second time), Walter Cartier, which sandwiched a ten round draw with Johnny Bratton.

Gavilan made seven defences of the Welterweight title, before challenging Carl 'Bobo' Olsen for the World Middleweight Championship on 2 April 1954. This was before the days of the light-middleweight division. The Cuban was simply not strong enough for the champion and was beaten over fifteen rounds.

Six months later and Gavilan lost the Welterweight Title on a disputed 15 round decision to New Yorker, Johnny Saxton. Kid Gavilan would never fight for a title again: only nine wins in his last twenty-five bouts, one of which was a points win in London over British and European Champion Peter Waterman. Gavilan had lost previously to Waterman on a hugely debatable decision.

Unfortunately, when "The Keed" retired and returned to Cuba in 1958, he went back with the same lack of wealth he had when he first went to the United States.

Gavilan really was a made for television fighter: flashy, skilful and flamboyant. He featured in 46 nationally televised fights and topped the bill at Madison Square Garden - then very much the Mecca of boxing - 22 times.

Gavilan the Great will never be forgotten.