philippines premier boxing superstar

Gaudencio Cabanera Sr.: Philippines' premier boxing superstar

by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT
PhilBoxing.com
Friday, April 5, 2024

Gaudencio Cabanella Sr. lived a short but remarkable life. His meteoric rise and subsequent decline in boxing continues to evoke feelings of pride and sadness among those who remember his journey. According to the founders of Philippine boxing, Frank Churchill, the Tate brothers (Stewart and Edwin), Joe Waterman, Ed Gallaher, and Bill Miller, Kid Dencio was the greatest boxer they ever witnessed. Many people share this sentiment.

Born on February 27, 1900 in San Fernando, Pampanga during the Philippine-American War, dubbed the Philippine Rebellion by the soldiers of the conqueror Uncle Sam, Cabanera did not live long enough to achieve supreme glory. I couldn't live. Filipino, American and Australian promoters, matchmakers and entrepreneurs competed for the chance to represent him.

He never took formal boxing lessons and learned the art and technique of boxing through pure observation and practice. As an all-purpose helper, or what her Yankee bosses called a maid or boy, Ms. Cabanera worked in the U.S. Navy's copper factories, repairing boats and ships alongside American and Filipino sailors and soldiers. . They were working for less than $1.50 an hour, the equivalent of minimum wage. week. He secretly trained with famous military boxers and also sparred with much larger men. It was Marine Edward Gallaher who discovered his potential one day when he observed one of his soldiers throwing a medicine ball at Dencio's jaw for reinforcement. Kid Olongapo was sent to Manila with Frank Churchill and Stewart Tate and began more rigorous training at the Olympic Club in Quiapo and later at the Palomar Pavilion in Tondo, Manila.

Joe Waterman once wrote: “Dencio is truly a wonder. Three years ago, when he was employed in a copper shop at a naval base in Olongapo, he often saw boxing going on between American sailors and Marines, so he decided to give it a try. He became interested in boxing. He was coached by Ed Gallaher and improved to the point where he never lost in 25 contests in 12 months. He then moved to Manila, where he has been a sensation ever since. Although only 5 feet 1 inch tall, this kid has an amazing reach of 69 inches. He is the undisputed Oriental Bantam, Feather, and Lightweight Champion, and has won several decisions during his career. He only lost once, to Lou Edwards, who outweighed him by 7 pounds and had six years of experience under his belt. (Source: The Referee (Sydney, NSW: 1886 – 1939, Wednesday 7 January 1920, page 11)

Kid Dencio was the best Filipino boxer who achieved superstar status in a short period of time. In 47 recorded fights, Kid Dencio's best results are 34 wins (18 KOs), 7 losses (3 KOs), and 5 draws. Cabanella was the first big local fighter to draw a standing-room-only crowd. The grand Olympic Stadium, which can accommodate 6,500 people plus 2,000 of his SROs, was not large enough to accommodate fans. He was once the bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight champion of the East. He ran through a race to import foreign fighters.

The boxing world lost its first Filipino boxing superstar on July 2, 1921 in Melbourne, Australia. After winning a grueling 13-round match, Dencio turned his back on Burt McCarthy, inexplicably pointed to his head, and gave a puzzled grin. He collapsed and was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he fell into a coma.He died at 1:15 a.m.

Renowned Australian academic and historian Rebecca Sheehan describes Dencio Cabanera in her groundbreaking paper, “Little Giants in the Ring: Fighting Races and Making Men in the Australian and Filipino Boxing Circuits.” We discussed the issues that are bothering us.

“Although dehumanized and alienated by Oriental discourse, exploited by laissez-faire capitalism, and controlled by boxing culture, his marketability was undeniable. Attempts to exploit him and make him into a sports idol that reflected American influence and power drew both criticism and praise. However, rather than being submissive, he was seen as an idol who strengthened Filipino resistance to foreign domination. Appeared.

Beloved by the Filipino public, supported by nationalists, and admired by everyone for his prowess in the ring, Cabanera remained an unwavering idol. Elevated to become a symbolic defender of Philippine honor, race, and nation, his death transformed him from a revered idol to a noble hero, achieving fleeting but ultimate national recognition. Obtained. He was no saint, just a talented young Filipino with a pair of boxing gloves, but his destiny, shaped by historical events, was extraordinary. Cabanera's boxing career in the Philippines and Australia shows how his life and death, influenced by time and place, had deep social meaning for Filipinos. ”

The Philippine Boxing Historical Society and Hall of Fame honors Gaudencio Cabanera Sr. for his significant contributions to the history of Philippine boxing.

Note of thanks:

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Professor Rebecca Sheehan to discuss her ground-breaking paper 'Little Giants of the Ring: Conflict and Man-Making on the Australian-Philippine Boxing Circuit, 1919-1923' .

Book: Australian Asian Sport Background, 1920s-30s
Author: Rebecca Sheehan
Edition 1st edition
First edition published 2013
Imprint Routledge
Number of pages 15 E-book ISBN 9781315868318

Rebecca Sheehan is a Lecturer in History and Gender Studies in the School of History and Archeology at Macquarie University, an Associate Fellow in the Faculty of History at Harvard University, and a member of the Center for Media History at Macquarie University.

Click here to see a list of other articles written by RRT's Emmanuel Rivera.

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