Remembering Miami Boxer Juan Arroyo

Juan Arroyo, 37-5-4, 16 KO’s was the USA Florida State super lightweight champion in the early 1980’s. Born in Puerto Rico, he would move to Miami at the age of three. After starting boxing at the age of 13, Juan would end up sparring with World Champions Wilfredo Gomez, Julian Solis and Jorge Lujan just a couple of years later. Arroyo would become a local celebrity with the Miami crowd, being featured regularly on ESPN, Telemundo and Fox Sports. Arroyo would fight 44 of his 46 fights in the Sunshine state, with the other two fights taking place outside the United States.

At the age of 16, Juan began his boxing career on September 30,1981, with a knockout win against Willie Jenkins. Enjoying tremendous success early on as a pro, Arroyo would win nineteen of his first twenty profession fights, with only one draw on his record. Most of the victories came against mediocre competition, with the exception of his bout against Fernando Martinez (who was undefeated in fourteen pro fights).

The highlight of his career would occur when, at the age of 17, Juan won the USA Florida State super lightweight title against Johnny Torres by majority decision on October 22, 1983. Torres, who was making his fifth title defense of the title, would only win twelve of the twenty-five bouts in his career. Less than two months later, Arroyo attempted to win the USA Florida State belt as well, but was disqualified in his bout against Clay Davis on December 8th.

After suffering his first pro loss, Arroyo won his next two fights, including a decision win over Efrain Nieves, who was coming off his second pro loss in nineteen bouts. However, Juan would suffer two straight knockout losses in his next two contests. In his first bout outside Florida (and the United States), Barry Michael would stop Arroyo in their match on November 30, 1984. Michael would go on and win the IBF Super Featherweight title on July 12, 1985 over Lester Ellis.

In 1988, Arroyo traveled to England with World Champion Roberto Duran and Boxing Historian Hank Kaplan to fight for UK boxing promoter Frank Maloney. On September 28th, Juan was defeated on points by Mike Durvan at Picketts Lock Stadium in London.

Juan would return home to Miami to win his next six fights. Only his unanimous decision over Carlton Haywood was against a fighter with a winning record though.

Attempting to re-establishing himself in the boxing rankings, Arroyo would fight Hector “Macho” Camacho on June 27, 1995 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The unanimous decision loss was the last defeat that Arroyo would suffer in his career.

Juan Arroyo would win nine of his last twelve fights, with the other three contests ending in a draw. Two of his final three victories came against Ilido Julio, who was in the midst of losing nine straight bouts. Juan defeated Celestino Rodriguez on July 18, 2008, by split decision to wrap up his career.

Despite never fighting for a world championship, Juan Arroyo was ranked as high as #5 in the world by the IBF and Latin America Boxing Association. Furthermore, in 2006, the 41-year old Arroyo was awarded Best Local Boxer by the Miami News Times newspaper. The Boxing commission awarded Juan for his dedication to the sport of boxing for helping kids in Washington DC.

Today, even at the age of 51, Juan is still involved in training fighters at the Matt Baiamonte Boxing Club. Still very passionate about the sport, Juan is dedicated to teaching and passing on his experience to younger boxers.

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