Eleoncio Mercedes
Encyclopedia
Eleoncio Mercedes was a Dominican
boxer
, who was world champion in the Flyweight
division.
in Montreal, Canada. He was stopped in the first round of his opening round bout to Aleksandr Tkachenko of the Soviet Union
.
and in Mexico
. He debuted as a professional boxer on July 2 of 1978 with a win over Darryl Jones
in Stockton
. He suffered his first defeat when he lost by a decision in Las Vegas
to future world champion Joey Olivo, in Mercedes' third bout as a paid fighter.
Mercedes' first of 11 fights in a row in Mexico came in 1979, when he lost by a knockout
in seven rounds to Juan Díaz. During that span of 11 fights in Mexico, he went 6-3-2, fighting in such places as Mexico City
, Monterrey and Reynosa. He lost to Candido Tellez but also beat former world champion Guty Espadas, by a knockout in nine during that span.
His first fight in the Dominican Republic was a 1982 rematch with Diaz, held in Santo Domingo. He won the fight by a decision in twelve rounds, to avenge his defeat at the hands of Diaz. Up until that moment, Mercedes' record was of 10 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws, reason why it was a little surprising to his fans when the WBC
announced it would give Mercedes a chance at becoming a world champion, against two time world champion Freddie Castillo, who was in his second reign. The two boxers met on November 6 of 1982, at Los Angeles
. Mercedes caused another surprise among many boxing
fans by defeating Castillo by a decision in 15 rounds and becoming WBC and The Ring world Flyweight champion.
In his first defense, Mercedes put the titles on the line against the British
and Tunisia
n Charlie Magri
, British by birth but Tunisian by mother and father. In round seven, the fight had to be stopped because of a cut suffered by Mercedes, which had been determined to be from a punch by Magri. Mercedes then lost his world Flyweight championships by a technical knockout in that round.
After that, he kept on boxing, but was only able to win some and lose some for the rest of his career. He beat future world title challenger Alonzo Gonzalez by a decision, but lost to future world title challenger German Torres
by a knockout in nine, to future world champion Raul Jibaro Perez
by a decision in twelve, and to former world Bantamweight champion Alberto Davila
by a knockout in six.
in 1985, Mercedes was shot and killed by a policeman in his native La Romana, aged 28. In what could be called unclear circumstances, he was shot after allegedly pulling out a gun at the policeman. Mercedes had been drinking in a bar when he was shot to death.
He had a record of 14 wins, 12 losses and 2 draws, with 3 wins by knockout.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, who was world champion in the Flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
division.
Amateur career
As an amateur he competed for his native country at the 1976 Summer OlympicsBoxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics
There were eleven boxing events at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Light Flyweight :-First Round:* Armando Guevara def. Eduardo Baltar , 5:0* Li Byong-Uk def. Sidney McKnight , KO-1...
in Montreal, Canada. He was stopped in the first round of his opening round bout to Aleksandr Tkachenko of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Pro career
Born in La Romana Mercedes campaigned most of his career in the western United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He debuted as a professional boxer on July 2 of 1978 with a win over Darryl Jones
Darryl Jones
Darryl Jones , also known as "The Munch", is an American bass guitarist. Jones began his notable career as a session musician, where he gained the experience and confidence to play with some of the most highly regarded recording artists, in jazz, blues, and rock music...
in Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
. He suffered his first defeat when he lost by a decision in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
to future world champion Joey Olivo, in Mercedes' third bout as a paid fighter.
Mercedes' first of 11 fights in a row in Mexico came in 1979, when he lost by a knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in seven rounds to Juan Díaz. During that span of 11 fights in Mexico, he went 6-3-2, fighting in such places as Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Monterrey and Reynosa. He lost to Candido Tellez but also beat former world champion Guty Espadas, by a knockout in nine during that span.
His first fight in the Dominican Republic was a 1982 rematch with Diaz, held in Santo Domingo. He won the fight by a decision in twelve rounds, to avenge his defeat at the hands of Diaz. Up until that moment, Mercedes' record was of 10 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws, reason why it was a little surprising to his fans when the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
announced it would give Mercedes a chance at becoming a world champion, against two time world champion Freddie Castillo, who was in his second reign. The two boxers met on November 6 of 1982, at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Mercedes caused another surprise among many boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
fans by defeating Castillo by a decision in 15 rounds and becoming WBC and The Ring world Flyweight champion.
In his first defense, Mercedes put the titles on the line against the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n Charlie Magri
Charlie Magri
Charlie Magri is a former English flyweight boxer. He is from a Maltese family that settled in Stepney, London where he grew up...
, British by birth but Tunisian by mother and father. In round seven, the fight had to be stopped because of a cut suffered by Mercedes, which had been determined to be from a punch by Magri. Mercedes then lost his world Flyweight championships by a technical knockout in that round.
After that, he kept on boxing, but was only able to win some and lose some for the rest of his career. He beat future world title challenger Alonzo Gonzalez by a decision, but lost to future world title challenger German Torres
Germán Torres
Germán Torres is a former Mexican world boxing champion. His nickname was Ozeki.- Pro career :Torres turned pro in 1975 at the age of fifteen, and won the vacant WBC light flyweight title in his fifth attempt at attempting to win that title, with a decision win over Soon-Jung Kang in 1988...
by a knockout in nine, to future world champion Raul Jibaro Perez
Raúl Pérez
Raúl Pérez is a former boxer from Mexico. He has won world titles in two weight divisions.- Professional career :...
by a decision in twelve, and to former world Bantamweight champion Alberto Davila
Alberto Davila
Albert "Alberto" Dávila is a Mexican-American boxer who boxed during the 1970s and 1980s in the bantamweight division. During parts of 1983 and 1984, he held the World Boxing Council championship. Dávila lost world bantamweight championships matches three times, and temporarily left the sport...
by a knockout in six.
Death
A few days before ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
in 1985, Mercedes was shot and killed by a policeman in his native La Romana, aged 28. In what could be called unclear circumstances, he was shot after allegedly pulling out a gun at the policeman. Mercedes had been drinking in a bar when he was shot to death.
He had a record of 14 wins, 12 losses and 2 draws, with 3 wins by knockout.