Jimmy McLarnin vs. Pancho Villa

Jimmy McLarnin 121 lbs beat Pancho Villa 115 lbs by PTS in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1925-07-04
• Location: Oaks Ballpark, Emeryville, California, USA
• Referee: Bobby Johnson

• News wire report: [1]

Villa had an infected tooth extracted the morning of this bout, according to contemporary newspaper accounts. Against the advice of his physicians, and apparently not wanting to disappoint fans, Villa entered the ring with a badly swollen jaw to face McLarnin.

Later, on July 6, Villa had three more ulcerated teeth pulled out. He had to cancel a scheduled July 10 bout with Tommy O'Brien at Portland, Oregon, due to his ill health. Meanwhile, Vic Foley was training hard for their scheduled July 17 bout in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the contracted 118 pounds for some title (perhaps the Pacific Coast Bantamweight Title).

Then Villa suddenly died. Blood poisoning from his infected teeth, reported newspapers. Rafael Guilledo, Villa's putative father, and Philippine Islands Governor General Wood, immediately placed blame on manager Frank Churchill for Villa's death.

Meanwhile, back in Manila--the day before he died-- Pancho's wife gave birth to their son. In 1989, she swore that his death was caused by an intentional overdose of anesthesia: a gambling syndicate's conspiracy to murder Villa for losing to McLarnin.

The Flyweight World Title became vacant with the death of its reigning champion--Pancho Villa. The next day William Muldoon of the NYSAC proclaimed Frankie Genaro Pancho's "legitimate successor." But it was Fidel LaBarba who would become the next Undisputed Flyweight Champion of the World.