Legendary Mexican boxer Miguel Canto, one of the best fighters in the history of the bantamweight division, has died at the age of 78, reports BoxingScene. Earlier, the boxing legend, whose career ended with a Ukrainian, was found dead in England.
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Miguel Canto, the fourth of nine siblings, grew up in Merida, Mexico, helping his father run a snack stand in a former movie theater. He initially dreamed of becoming a baseball player, but his dreams changed at age 14 after his older brother took him to see a boxing match between two local heroes, Silverio Ortiz and Carlos Navarrete.
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Kanto fought 36 amateur fights before turning professional. During his career, he traveled extensively, competing in Venezuela, the United States, Japan, Chile, and South Korea, as well as fighting on numerous occasions in his homeland.
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In 1975, Canto became the WBC world lightweight champion by defeating Japan's Seiji Oguma. After that, the Mexican successfully defended the title 14 (!) times before losing it in 1979 to Jang Hee Park in South Korea (he drew an immediate rematch – also away).
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In total, Miguel Canto fought 74 fights in the professional ring, in which he won 61 (15 of them by knockout), suffered 9 defeats, and ended 4 fights in a draw.
In 1998, the Mexican was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, and in 1999, the Associated Press recognized him as one of the best lightweight boxers in history.
Previously, “FACTS” reported that a famous Ukrainian boxer who fought for a million in the final of a TV show had died.
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