Willie Pastrano


Wilfred Raleigh Pastrano was an American professional boxer who held the unified world light heavyweight titles from 1963 until 1965, defending his titles three times before losing them to José Torres. He is the grandfather of New Orleans rapper Mr. Pastrano.

Early life

Pastrano was born in New Orleans. Pastrano's best friend, Ralph Dupas started training in boxing at a local gym. Pastrano, who weighed over 250 pounds, decided to start working out with his friend.
As Willie lost weight, he realized two things. First, he loved boxing. Second, he hated getting hit. So, Pastrano developed a style of boxing in which he hardly got hit, and in return, tried not to hurt his opponent as well.
Pastrano was already married as a teenager, and by 1962, he and his wife Faye had five children: John, Donna, Frank, Nicholas, and Angelo.

Pro career

Pastrano began his career at the age of 16. He fought many heavyweights and outpointed heavyweight contenders Rex Layne, Brian London, and Tom McNeeley.
The talented Pastrano won the world light heavyweight championship when he outpointed the great Harold Johnson on a close 15-round decision. He successfully defended his crown by stopping Gregorio Peralta of Argentina on a TKO, and by coming back from a certain defeat on points to KO English challenger Terry Downes in 11 rounds in Manchester, England. Pastrano lost his crown when he was TKOed by José Torres in 10 rounds. In the Torres fight, Pastrano was knocked down for the only time in his career by a powerful left hook to the liver. Pastrano retired after that match and never fought again.
Managed by the legendary Angelo Dundee, Pastrano was a smooth, quick boxer with a great left hand. He was a stablemate of Cassius Clay and often sparred with the future champion early in Clay's career. His talent was dissipated by his aversion to training and a fondness for partying and carousing. His success was also limited by his lack of punching power, hence his record of only 14 knockout wins in his 84 fights. Nevertheless, he defeated most of the light heavyweight challengers of his generation. He also outpointed former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, and boxed a draw with the legendary Archie Moore. He retired with a record of 63 wins, 13 losses and 8 draws.
Perhaps in the high point of his career, Pastrano appeared on the cover of March 22, 1965 issue of Sports Illustrated with the caption reading "Light Heavyweight Willie Pastrano Ready to Defend His Title".

Life after boxing

After he retired from boxing, Pastrano became a spokesman for a local Miami, Florida milk company. On August 30, 1966 in the Milwaukee Sentinel, it was reported that Pastrano had been secretly training for a comeback, but an auto injury had sidelined it.
In 1967, Pastrano became the official host of the Presidential Steak House in Miami Beach, Florida.
However, urged on by his good friend, singer Steve Alaimo, Pastrano embarked on a film career which spanned from 1967 to 1971.
In 1964, Pastrano appeared on the Jackie Gleason Show.
Pastrano's best regarded acting role was in the "B" motorcycle gang film, The Wild Rebels, which starred Steve Alaimo.
Pastrano said in a 1980 interview he was a heroin addict from 1966 to 1969. In the same interview, he claimed to have robbed to support his drug addiction.
He became a drifter. Owen Thomas helped him out in his time of need. He worked as a host in a restaurant in Reno, Nevada; a chip runner in Las Vegas, and a bouncer in a strip-club in Miami
His well-documented party life-style led to health problems, and Pastrano's film career ended. While living in Las Vegas in the early 1970s, he claimed to be training for a comeback when interviewed for the book, In This Corner.
Pastrano was reported to be boxing in Puerto Rico in 1972, but a fighter was using a name similar to the former champion, Willie Pastrana. Pastrano never made a comeback.
In 1980, Pastrano was the manager for pro-boxer, Chubby Johnson in New Orleans.
After many years of failing health, Pastrano died of liver cancer on December 9, 1997 at the age of 62.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
83Loss62–13–8 José TorresTKO9
3:00		1965–03–30Madison Square Garden,
New York City.png" />		Lost WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
82Win62–12–8 Terry DownesTKO11
1:17		1964–11–30Kings Hall,
Manchester, North West England.png" />		Retained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
81Win61–12–8 Gregorio PeraltaTKO5
3:00		1964–04–10Municipal Auditorium,
New Orleans, Louisiana.png" />		Retained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
80Win60–12–8 Mike HoltPTS101963–11–30Rand Stadium,
Johannesburg, Gauteng.png" />
79Loss59–12–8 Gregorio PeraltaUD101963–09–20Miami Beach Auditorium,
Miami Beach, Florida.png" />
78Win59–11–8 Ollie WilsonUD101963–08–31Jacksonville Coliseum,
Jacksonville, Florida.png" />
77Win58–11–8 Harold JohnsonSD151963–06–01Las Vegas Convention Center,
Paradise, Nevada.png" />		Won WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal light heavyweight titles
76Win57–11–8 Wayne ThorntonMD101963–05–04
75Draw56–11–8 Wayne ThorntonMD101963–03–23
74Loss56–11–7 Wayne ThorntonUD101963–02–09
73Win56–10–7 Rodolfo DiazSD101962–09–08
72Win55–10–7 Billy RyanUD101962–06–25
71Draw54–10–7 Archie MooreMD101962–05–28Los Angeles Sports Arena,
Los Angeles.png" />
70Win54–10–6 Tom McNeeleyUD101962–05–01Boston Arena,
Boston.png" />
69Draw53–10–6 Lennart RisbergPTS121961–08–06Stockholm Olympic Stadium,
Stockholm, Södermanland.png" />
68Loss53–10–5 Jesse BowdryUD101960–12–27
67Loss53–9–5 Chic CalderwoodPTS101960–09–16Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.png" />
66Win53–8–5 Sonny RayUD101960–06–01Chicago Stadium,
Chicago, Illinois.png" />
65Win52–8–5 Alonzo JohnsonUD101960–05–06Fairgrounds Coliseum,
Louisville, Kentucky.png" />
64Win51–8–5 George KartalianRTD6 1960–04–09Bell Auditorium,
Augusta, Georgia.png" />
63Win50–8–5 Jerry LuedeeUD101960–01–20
62Win49–8–5 Charley PavlisUD101959–12–07
61Win48–8–5 Tom DavisTKO3 1959–08–20
60Loss47–8–5 Alonzo JohnsonUD101959–07–24
59Loss47–7–5 Joe ErskinePTS101959–02–24Wembley Stadium,
London.png" />
58Loss47–6–5 Brian LondonTKO5 1958–09–30Harringay Arena,
London.png" />
57Win47–5–5 Tommy ThompsonKO4
2:31		1958–08–25
56Win46–5–5 Franco CavicchiPTS101958–06–15Sports Palace,
Bologna.png" />
55Win45–5–5 Joe BygravesPTS101958–04–21Granby Halls,
Leicester.png" />
54Win44–5–5 Brian LondonPTS101958–02–25
53Win43–5–5 Willi BesmanoffUD101957–11–27
52Win42–5–5 Dick RichardsonPTS101957–10–22
51Win41–5–5 George PeytonTKO8 1957–09–10
50Loss40–5–5 Roy HarrisUD101957–06–11
49Win40–4–5 Neal WelchUD101957–05–14
48Win39–4–5 John HolmanUD101957–02–20
47Win38–4–5 Charley NorkusUD101956–12–26
46Win37–4–5 Pat McMurtryUD101956–08–24Lincoln Bowl,
Tacoma, Washington.png" />
45Win36–4–5 Chuck SpieserSD101956–05–30
44Win35–4–5 Johnny ArthurUD101956–04–04
43Draw34–4–5 Chuck SpieserPTS101956–01–27
42Win34–4–4 Rex LayneUD101955–12–19
41Win33–4–4 Joey RowanUD101955–11–18
40Win32–4–4 Paddy YoungUD101955–10–03
39Win31–4–4 Chuck SpieserUD101955–07–27
38Win30–4–4 Joey MaximUD101955–06–28
37Draw29–4–4 Willie TroyPTS101955–04–22
36Win29–4–3 Al AndrewsUD101955–03–23
35Win28–4–3 Tony JohnsonUD101955–03–01
34Win27–4–3 Bobby DykesUD101954–11–23
33Win26–4–3 Jackie LaBuaSD101954–09–14
32Win25–4–3 Jimmy MartinezPTS101954–08–24
31Win24–4–3 Tommy BazzanoTKO8 1954–08–09
30Win23–4–3 Tommy HatcherKO1 1954–06–18Temple Auditorium,
Mobile, Alabama.png" />
29Win22–4–3 Jacques Royer-CrecyUD101954–04–12
28Win21–4–3 Jimmy MartinezUD101954–03–29
27Loss20–4–3 Italo ScortichiniSD101953–11–30
26Win20–3–3 Elmer BeltzMD81953–10–05
25Draw19–3–3 Elmer BeltzPTS101953–09–22
24Loss19–3–2 Del FlanaganSD81953–07–14
23Loss19–2–2 Johnny CesarioMD81953–05–25
22Win19–1–2 Chato HernandezUD81953–04–06
21Win18–1–2 Roger TrevinoUD81953–03–16
20Win17–1–2 Chick BoucherTKO3
1:08		1953–03–03
19Win16–1–2 Emerson ButcherUD81953–02–24
18Win15–1–2 Alfredo LaGruttaUD81953–01–26
17Draw14–1–2 Alvin PellegriniMD81952–12–15
16Win14–1–1 Alvin BoudreauxTKO2
1:59		1952–11–24
15Win13–1–1 Alvin PellegriniUD61952–11–17
14Win12–1–1 Lonnie RylantKO3
1:44		1952–10–14
13Loss11–1–1 Alvin PellegriniPTS61952–10–06
12Win11–0–1 Johnny CapitanoPTS61952–09–08
11Win10–0–1 Sonny LucianoPTS81952–08–19
10Win9–0–1 Sonny LucianoPTS81952–08–05
9Win8–0–1 Jimmy CarterKO4
1:00		1952–07–28
8Win7–0–1 Al McCoyKO2 1952–07–22
7Win6–0–1 John ChaneyPTS61952–07–08
6Win5–0–1 Buzz BrownKO2
2:56		1952–07–01
5Draw4–0–1 Alvin PellegriniPTS41952–04–21
4Win4–0 Alvin BoudreauxPTS41952–04–01
3Win3–0 Jimmy ConinoPTS41951–10–01
2Win2–0 Frankie SpeedPTS41951–09–17
1Win1–0 Domingo RiveraPTS41951–09–10