Jose Medel vs. Danny Kid (1st meeting)

Jose Medel 117 lbs lost to Danny Kid 118 lbs by SD in round 12 of 12

• Date: 1959-09-24
• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Mushy Callahan 113-116
• Judge: Lee Grossman 114-115
• Judge: Joey Olmos 117-114

"Danny Kid of the Philippines retained his North American bantamweight title by gaining a split decision over Jose Medel of Mexico City in 12 rounds last night. Many in the crowd of 5,500 at the Olympic Auditorium booed the decision, thinking Medel had landed the harder punches. Both boys suffered eye cuts. There were no official knockdowns." -Associated Press

• Danny Kid was down in the 5th round from two right hands, but referee Mushy Callahan felt he was off balance and did not call it a knockdown.
• The day after this bout, Filipino promoter Estanislao Macaraeg wired bantamweight champion Jose Becerra an offer of $40,000 plus travel and training expenses to defend his 118 lb. title against Danny Kid in the Philippines in early 1960. However, nothing ever came of it.

Post fight comment

• "He was off-balance. I gave Medel a 10-8 round, anyway, so he didn't need the knockdown." -Referee Mushy Callahan on the controversy over the 5th round 'knockdown.'