Punchers from the Past: Mauro Mina

Mauro Mina

Born 22 November 1933 in Chincha, Peru

Died 1 June 1993 Lima Peru

Turned Pro 22 October 1955

Record: 58 fights 52 wins (25 by KO/TKO), 3 losses.

-October 1957 in his seventh fight lost close decision to 22-2-1 Luis Ignacio in Brazil despite having floored Ignacio in the first round.

-July 1958 drew with Luis Ignacio in Lima

-October 1958 in his eleventh fight lost close decision on points against Uruguayan 46-2-5 Dogomar Martinez in Montevideo for the South American light heavyweight title. It would be six years before he lost another fight

-1958 beat Dutchman Wim Snoek, beat Artie Towne

-1959 he beat Argentinian Rodolfo Diaz. He was floored in that fight the only time he was knocked down in his career

-1960 beat Sugar Boy Nando, Frenchman Ilde Warusfel, knocked out Gregorio Peralta, drew with Chilean Humberto Loayza in Santiago for the South American title but three weeks later was “proclaimed” champion.

– 1961 Knocked out Humberto Loayza, knocked out Ulric Regis (Regis lost on points to Joe Bugner in November 1969 but collapsed and died four days later). Knocked out Sonny Ray. Outpointed Freddie Mack twice, outpointed Jesse Bowdry,

-1962 Knocked out Von Clay ( NBA light heavyweight title challenger) beat Lino Rendon on a ninth round retirement (an eye injury from this fight would come back to end Mina’s career), outpointed Eddie Cotton, outpointed Henry Hank (Mina’s first fight in the USA),

-1963 Outpointed Eddie Cotton, floored and outpointed Bob Foster

-1964 lost on points against Gregorio Peralta in Argentina. This snapped a 39 fight unbeaten run for Mina. Outpointed Hank Casey

-1965 outpointed Bobby Stininato, outpointed Chuck Leslie, outpointed 28-1-3 Piero Del Papa future European champion and WBA title challenger.

– 11 April Mina announced his retirement due to detached retina said to tie back to his fight with Lino Rendon in 1962.

The only three fights he lost were in his opponents backyard

Mina was born into an African-Peruvian rural family and suffered racial prejudice in his younger days because of this. As a youth he worked in the cotton fields and in a slaughter house. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the Latin American Games in 1952.

After a run of wins over rated fighters he was rated No 1 by Ring Magazine. He attended the Harold Johnson vs. Doug Jones fight in May 1962 where Johnson was defending the NBA version of the light heavyweight title. He was introduced as the man who would challenge the winner. Johnson won and was offered $50,000 to fight Mina in Lima. Johnson declined. The title defence was being arranged for early 1963 but Mina pulled out citing a hand injury. However, after his win over Henry Hanks in New York in November 1962, questions had been raised about Mina’s eyesight. Attempts were made by Mina’s team to counter these rumours but eventually the New York Commission revoked his licence. Mina returned to Peru and never again boxed in the USA and retired in 1965.

He had used his boxing money wisely and owned several apartment buildings. Ater retiring he had his own gym. He .

trained and managed a number fighters and also the Peruvian National team . He had a song written about him and a film “Imagining Mina” was made of his life story.

Angelo Dundee was quoted as saying Mauro Mina would have been a champion in any era- but it was not to be.