By Mike DeLisa
Kid Azteca passed away in the early hours this morning at Juarez Hospital. His end by all accounts was extremely painful.
At his side was his friend of 60 years, Carlos Moreno.
Azteca was born Luis Villanueva Páramo on June 21, 1913 in Tepito, Mexico; he moved with his family to Nuevo laredo as a young boy. He was Mexican welterweight champion from 1932 through 1949.
On a related note, Manuel Villanueva, a man who claims to be the son of Kid Azteca has surfaced in Colonia Guerrero. He claims he ran away as a young boy and that his father refused to ever see him again. Carlos Moreno denies that the Kid ever had any children. At the Kid's hospital bedside, an indignant Moreno called the putative son a liar: "God could not give him everything -- fame, money, victories. But not children. Let's not invent things. This guy who says he is [Azteca's} son is an imposter."
Kid Azteca dead at 88
Mike, I posted this one up on Boxing Central
http://www.boxing-central.com/article.p ... ed&order=0
Added a picture of the Kid as well.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: JohnShep on 2002-03-16 22:46 ]</font>
http://www.boxing-central.com/article.p ... ed&order=0
Added a picture of the Kid as well.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: JohnShep on 2002-03-16 22:46 ]</font>
Damn I hate to hear it, especially that he suffered a lot of pain. There hasn't been but a handful of fighters throughout history that was as active and that competed as successfully for as long as the "Kid." Kid Azteca, Jack Johnson, Bobby Dobbs, Duran...that's about all that comes to mind, and an excellent group to be in.