By Eric Thomas: Boxing great Eusebio Pedroza passed away on Friday of pancreatic cancer in Panama City, Panama. The 62-year-old Pedroza was a sensational fighter during his career in holding down the WBA featherweight title during an incredible seven-year period from 1978 to 1985, when it was arguably tougher for champions to hold onto their titles.
Blessed with power and height at 5’9″, Pedroza enjoyed a 19-year pro career, and retired from the sport in 1992. He’s a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, which he was voted into in 1995.
Nicknamed, ‘El Alacrán,’ Pedroza is remembered for his wins over Rocky Lockridge, Juan Laporte, Pat Ford, Ruben Olivares, Johnny Aba, Royal Kobayashi, as well as his draw against Bernard Taylor, and his losses to Barry McGuigan and Edgar Castro. When Pedroza did finally start to slip in losses to McGuigan and Casto, he looked great in those fights.
McGuigan had this to say about Pedroza today on social media:
“A sad day for me as my rival and outstanding World Featherweight Champion Eusebio Pedroza passes away aged 62 RIP. Pedroza is one of the longest reigning Featherweight Champion in history, it was a pleasure to share the ring with him 🙏”
McGuigan wasn’t able to hold onto the WBA title for long unfortunately. He lost his title to Steve Cruz after just 2 successful defenses. Pedroza set the bar high for what a champion should be like, and the guys that came after him fell short of the mark. McGuigan’s own career was finished four years after his win over Pedroza.
During Pedroza’s seven-year run as the WBA 126 lb champion, he defended his title and incredible 19 times. You just don’t see that anymore in this day and age.
Earlier in his career, Pedroza lost back to back fights to Oscar Arnal (30-2 and WBA bantamweight champion Alfonso Zamora (33-5, 32 KOs). After Pedroza’s loss to Arnal in 1976, he didn’t lose another fight for nine years, which is phenomenal. It’s not surprising that Pedroza lost to Zamora early in his career. Zamora was a furious puncher, who was knocking everyone out. It wasn’t until Zamora ran into unbeaten Carlos Zarate in 1977, that he suffered his loss, and his career was never the same.
Two years after losing to Oscar Arnal, Pedroza defeated Cecilio Lastra by a second round knockout to capture the WBA featherweight title on April 15, 1978. At that point, Pedroza went on an incredible seven-year run as the WBA champion that lasted until 1985, when he was beaten by McGuigan by a grueling 15 round decision. After Pedroza’s defeat at the hands of McGuigan, he fought five more times before wrapping up his career. McGuigan also was much done shortly after his win over Pedroza, as he finished his own career seven fights later. This writer remembers how exciting the Pedroza vs. McGuigan fight was. It was a back and forth fight that had the boxing fans at ringside screaming. It was a great fight by both guys.