Don Jordan
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Don Jordan (June 22, 1934 – February 13, 1997) was an American boxer born in Los Angeles, California and was the Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World from 1958 to 1960. His nickname was ‘Geronimo’.[1] He was of Mexican and African American descent.[2]
Career
Born 22 June 1934 in Los Angeles, Jordan’s brief spell as an amateur shows that he began boxing as a Middleweight and – unusually – worked his way down to Welterweight as a professional. His amateur career spanned just fifteen contests, of which he lost only one.
Jordan fought professionally for the first time in April, 1953. Standing 5 feet 9 inches and typically weighing around 147 lbs, Jordan was well-proportioned and quickly showed himself to be an effective performer, winning nine in a row before dropping a decision in March 1954, to a fighter he had out-pointed just two months previously. He beat Art Ramponi to pick up the California State Welterweight title in October of that year and opened his 1955 campaign with a victory over former World Lightweight Champion Lauro Salas. From that point on, Jordan would be mixing it with the best.
Jordan’s progress over the next three years – including two notable victories over Gaspar Ortega – were rewarded when he challenged Virgil Akins for the World Welterweight Championship on 5 December 1958, winning by unanimous decision. Akins – who disputed the decision – would suffer an identical reverse when he met Jordan in a championship return five months later. That was the first of Jordan’s two successful title defences (the second was against Denny Moyer on 10 July 1959), before losing the title to Benny Paret, eighteen months after being crowned.
Once he lost his title, Jordan also seemed to lose his way. The last years of his career saw him record more defeats than victories and he was effectively – if ignominiously – ‘retired’ by the man refereeing his October 1962 contest with Battling Torres. When Jordan refused to get up after a knockdown in the first, referee Jimmy Wilson ruled that Torres had not actually hit Jordan hard enough to put him down and the fight was declared a ‘no contest’. Subsequently, the California State Athletic Commission suspended Jordan indefinitely. In 1961 Lucchese crime family mobster Frankie Carbo, known as "the Czar of Boxing" was charged with extortion and conspiracy regarding Jordan, convicted and given a 25-year federal sentence.[3] Others convicted were Louis Tom Dragna (conviction overturned), Truman Gibson, Joe Sica, and Frank "Blinky" Palermo.
Death
After being robbed and seriously assaulted in a Los Angeles parking lot in September 1996, Don Jordan went into a coma, and died in a nursing home in San Pedro, California, on 13 February 1997.
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | NC | 51–22–1 (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Battling Torres | NC | 1 (10) | Oct 5, 1962 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Jordan refused to get up and fight following a knockdown which the referee felt came from a punch that wasn't hard enough to knock him downScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 75 | Loss | 51–23–1 | Joey Limas | UD | 10 | Jul 26, 1962 | Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 74 | Loss | 51–22–1 | Giancarlo Garbelli | PTS | 10 | Apr 27, 1962 | Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, Lazio, ItalyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 73 | Loss | 51–21–1 | Tony DeMarco | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 19, 1961 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 72 | Loss | 51–20–1 | Rodolfo Diaz | UD | 10 | Nov 14, 1961 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 71 | Loss | 51–19–1 | Hilario Morales | TKO | 7 (10) | Aug 15, 1961 | Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 70 | Loss | 51–18–1 | Benny Medina | UD | 10 | Aug 1, 1961 | Kearney Bowl, Fresno, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 69 | Loss | 51–17–1 | Carmen Basilio | UD | 10 | Mar 11, 1961 | War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 68 | Loss | 51–16–1 | Ludwig Lightburn | PTS | 10 | Nov 26, 1960 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 67 | Template:DrawDraw | 51–15–1 | Alfredo Cota | PTS | 10 | Oct 16, 1960 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 66 | Win | 51–15 | Julian Valdez | MD | 10 | Aug 16, 1960 | Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 65 | Win | 50–15 | Jesse Bogart | KO | 1 (10) | Aug 6, 1960 | Nogales, Sonora, MexicoScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 64 | Loss | 49–15 | Phil Moyer | UD | 10 | Jul 15, 1960 | Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 63 | Loss | 49–14 | Benny 'Kid' Paret | UD | 15 | May 27, 1960 | Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 62 | Loss | 49–13 | Marvin 'Candy' McFarland | UD | 10 | May 16, 1960 | Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 61 | Loss | 49–12 | Luis Federico Thompson | KO | 4 (10) | Dec 12, 1959 | Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 60 | Win | 49–11 | Fernando Barreto | PTS | 10 | Dec 5, 1959 | Ginásio Estadual do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 59 | Win | 48–11 | Denny Moyer | UD | 15 | Jul 10, 1959 | Meadows Race Track, Portland, Oregon, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 58 | Win | 47–11 | Virgil Akins | UD | 15 | Apr 24, 1959 | Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 57 | Win | 46–11 | Alvaro Gutierrez | TKO | 3 (10) | Jan 22, 1959 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 56 | Win | 45–11 | Virgil Akins | UD | 15 | Dec 5, 1958 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 55 | Win | 44–11 | Gaspar Ortega | SD | 12 | Oct 22, 1958 | Lafayette Hotel, Long Beach, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 54 | Win | 43–11 | Gaspar Ortega | SD | 10 | Sep 17, 1958 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 53 | Win | 42–11 | Lahouari Godih | UD | 10 | Aug 29, 1958 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 52 | Win | 41–11 | Issac Logart | SD | 10 | Jul 2, 1958 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 51 | Win | 40–11 | Alfredo Cota | PTS | 10 | May 18, 1958 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 50 | Win | 39–11 | Kid Centella | KO | 2 (10) | May 5, 1958 | Plaza de Toros, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 49 | Win | 38–11 | Francisco Echevarria | TKO | 3 (10) | Apr 15, 1958 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 48 | Win | 37–11 | Karl Heinz Guder | SD | 10 | Feb 15, 1958 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 47 | Loss | 36–11 | Dave Charnley | PTS | 10 | Jan 28, 1958 | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 46 | Win | 36–10 | Willie Morton | MD | 10 | Jan 4, 1958 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 45 | Win | 35–10 | Ray Portilla | TKO | 6 (10) | Nov 29, 1957 | Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 44 | Win | 34–10 | Orlando Zulueta | UD | 10 | Oct 12, 1957 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 43 | Win | 33–10 | Juan Padilla | UD | 10 | Aug 12, 1957 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 42 | Win | 32–10 | Alfredo Cota | KO | 1 (10) | Jul 23, 1957 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 41 | Win | 31–10 | Arnoldo Gil | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 15, 1957 | Plaza de Toros, Tijuana, Baja California, MexicoScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 40 | Loss | 30–10 | LC Morgan | UD | 10 | Jun 15, 1957 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 39 | Win | 30–9 | Jesse Bogart | KO | 1 (10) | May 11, 1957 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 38 | Win | 29–9 | Ezequiel Uribe | PTS | 10 | Mar 19, 1957 | Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MexicoScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 37 | Loss | 28–9 | Charley Tombstone Smith | UD | 12 | Jan 24, 1957 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 36 | Loss | 28–8 | Al Nevarez | PTS | 10 | Jan 1, 1957 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 35 | Win | 28–7 | Archie Whitewater | UD | 10 | Dec 27, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 34 | Win | 27–7 | Enrique Esqueda | KO | 1 (10) | Nov 18, 1956 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 33 | Loss | 26–7 | Orlando Zulueta | MD | 10 | Oct 16, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 32 | Win | 26–6 | Frankie Skidmore | TKO | 7 (10) | Jun 28, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 31 | Win | 25–6 | Timmie Jefferson | UD | 10 | Jun 7, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 30 | Loss | 24–6 | Joey Lopes | SD | 12 | May 5, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 29 | Loss | 24–5 | Jimmy Carter | UD | 10 | Mar 29, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 28 | Win | 24–4 | Paddy DeMarco | TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 2, 1956 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 27 | Loss | 23–4 | Art Aragon | UD | 10 | Dec 15, 1955 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Woody Winslow | UD | 10 | Oct 20, 1955 | Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 25 | Win | 22–3 | Woody Winslow | UD | 10 | Sep 3, 1955 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 24 | Win | 21–3 | Joe Miceli | UD | 10 | Aug 18, 1955 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 23 | Loss | 20–3 | Art Aragon | UD | 10 | Jun 2, 1955 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Lauro Salas | SD | 12 | Mar 31, 1955 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Frankie Cockrell | UD | 10 | Mar 3, 1955 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 20 | Win | 18–2 | Gaby Macias | UD | 10 | Feb 15, 1955 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Lauro Salas | UD | 12 | Jan 13, 1955 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Manny Renteria | KO | 7 (12) | Nov 29, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 17 | Win | 15–2 | Art Ramponi | UD | 12 | Oct 4, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Billy Hartman | TKO | 4 (10) | Sep 20, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Art Ramponi | UD | 10 | Aug 30, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Freddie Herman | SD | 10 | Jun 28, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 13 | Loss | 11–2 | Dickie Wong | UD | 10 | May 31, 1954 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Manuel Montes | TKO | 2 (10) | Apr 17, 1954 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | Andy Escobar | UD | 10 | Mar 20, 1954 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Raul Esqueda | PTS | 10 | Feb 1, 1954 | Mexicali, Baja California, MexicoScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Date uncertainScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Andy Escobar | UD | 10 | Jan 16, 1954 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | David Cervantes | UD | 6 | Dec 16, 1953 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Marvin Smith | TKO | 5 (6) | Nov 7, 1953 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Marvin Smith | TKO | 5 (6) | Oct 17, 1953 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Gaby Macias | TKO | 5 (6) | Sep 26, 1953 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Chi Chi Martinez | PTS | 4 | Aug 8, 1953 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Chi Chi Martinez | UD | 6 | Jul 4, 1953 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Al Barbero | PTS | 4 | May 18, 1953 | Arena, South Gate, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ray Serna | PTS | 4 | Apr 27, 1953 | Arena, South Gate, California, U.S. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Titles in boxing
Major world titles
- NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs)
- NBA (WBA) welterweight champion (147 lbs)
The Ring magazine titles
- The Ring welterweight champion (147 lbs)
Undisputed titles
See also
References
Sources
1. Biographical information: (i) The Ring Record Book & Boxing Encyclopedia 1959 (Nat Fleischer, The Ring Book Shop Inc., 1959). See p. 8 for a very brief cameo. (ii) WBA Online [1], offers confirmation of the date and manner of Jordan’s death.
2. Ring Record: (i) The Cyber Boxing Zone [2]. This source misses Jordan’s first defence of the Welterweight Championship, taking place 24 April 1959. (ii) The Boxing Records Archive [3]. This source also provides information about the manner of the end of Jordan's career. (iii) The Ring Record Book & Boxing Encyclopedia 1959 (Nat Fleischer, The Ring Book Shop Inc., 1959), P.276.
External links
- Template:Boxrec
- https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1958
- https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1959
- https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1960
- http://www.thecruelestsport.blogspot.com/2009/04/catastrophist-troubled-world-of-don.html