José Luis Varela


José Luís Varela Bustamente is a Venezuelan professional boxer who has challenged four times for a world mini flyweight championship; the WBO title in 2006, and both the WBA and IBF titles in 2008.

Amateur career

Varela represented Venezuela at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He was defeated in the round of 32 by Cuba's eventual bronze medalist Maikro Romero.

Professional career

Varela won his first professional title, the WBA Fedebol mini flyweight title, on September 24th, 2004, with a unanimous decision victory over Miguel Tellez. He has unsuccessfully challenged for a mini flyweight world title four times in his career. He firstly was defeated by Iván Calderón on October 21st, 2006, via unanimous decision in a bout for Calderón's WBO mini flyweight title. He then lost to WBA champion Yutaka Niida on March 1st, 2008, via sixth-round knockout. Valera was then defeated by IBF champion Raúl García on September 13th, 2008, via unanimous decision. García defeated Valera in a rematch exactly three months later, again by unanimous decision, to retain the title again.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Loss15–12 Josber PerezKO1, 1:22Jul 15, 2017 Hotel Portofino, Isla Margarita, Venezuela
27Loss15–11 Luis de la RosaKO2, 2:09Jun 1, 2017 Plaza de La Paz, Cartagena, Colombia
26Loss15–10 Alexis DiazKO2, 2:44Jun 4, 2016 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela
25Loss15–9 Kenny CanoUD8Dec 20, 2015 Estadio Francisco De Miranda, La Victoria, Venezuela
24Loss15–8 Édgar SosaTKO4, 1:33Aug 7, 2010 Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico
23Loss15–7 Ramón García HiralesUD12May 30, 2009 Modelo Center, La Paz, MexicoFor vacant WBC International light flyweight title
22Loss15–6 Raúl GarcíaUD12Dec 13, 2008 Gimnasio Medardo Meza Dominguez, Loreto, MexicoFor IBF mini flyweight title
21Loss15–5 Raúl GarcíaUD12Sep 13, 2008 Estadio de Beisbol Arturo C. Nahl, La Paz, MexicoFor IBF mini flyweight title
20Loss15–4 Yutaka NiidaKO6, 2:16Mar 1, 2008 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor WBA mini flyweight title
1915–3 Oscar MartinezNC1 Sep 8, 2007 Gimnasio Jose Luis Varela, El Vigía, VenezuelaNC after an accidental head clash
18Win15–3 Freddy CanateUD10Jul 30, 2007 El Centro Sambil Margarita, Pampatar, Venezuela
17Loss14–3 Román GonzálezKO1, 2:28May 12, 2007 Pharaoh's Casino, Managua, NicaraguaFor vacant WBA Fedelatin mini flyweight title
16Win14–2 Carlos MeloUD10Dec 16, 2006 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela
15Loss13–2 Iván CalderónUD12Oct 21, 2006 Coliseo Elias Chegwin, Barranquilla, ColombiaFor WBO mini flyweight title
14Win13–1 Walberto RamosTKO12, 2:15Mar 17, 2006 El Velodromo Teo Capriles, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBA Fedebol mini flyweight title
13Win12–1 Adolfo RamosTKO8, 2:16Dec 17, 2005 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela
12Win11–1 Walberto RamosTKO8, 0:49Oct 17, 2005 Parque Naciones Unidas, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBA Fedebol mini flyweight title
11Win10–1 Breilor Teran10Mar 5, 2005 Estadio Municipal, Coro, Venezuela
10Win9–1 Miguel TellezUD12Sep 25, 2004 Caracas, VenezuelaWon vacant WBA Fedebol mini flyweight title
9Loss8–1 Carlos Melo10 May 25, 2004 Centro de Convenciones Atlapa, Panama City, PanamaFor WBA Fedecaribe and WBA Fedecentro mini flyweight titles;
Unanimous TD after Valera was cut from an accidental head clash
8Win8–0 Over BolanosKO1, 2:10Apr 12, 2004 Plaza Bicentenaria de Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela
7Win7–0 Breilor TeranUD6Feb 20, 2004 Centro Comercial Morichal, Turmero, Venezuela
6Win6–0 Jesus HernandezUD4Oct 27, 2003 Gimnasio Don Jose Beracasa, Caracas, Venezuela
5Win5–0 Jesus HernandezUD4Sep 13, 2003 Turmero, Venezuela
4Win4–0 Jose Vicente SanchezTKO2, 2:06Sep 8, 2003 Parque Naciones Unidas, Caracas, Venezuela
3Win3–0 Jose Vicente Sanchez3 May 17, 2003 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela
2Win2–0 Jose Vicente Sanchez4Mar 22, 2003 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela
1Win1–0 Jose Chacon3 Oct 26, 2002 Centro Recreacional Yesterday, Turmero, Venezuela