Remembering Tough As Nails Boxer Pedro Pena

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By Daniel Sisneros

Los Angeles, California Flyweight – “Dangerous” Pedro Pena was a standout amateur who won the National Golden Gloves. He turned professional Nov. 29, 1996 scoring a 2nd round knockout and serving notice that he was a new force on the pro boxing scene.

Guided by manager Tom Loeffler, he quickly moved his record to 10-0, 6 ko’s and challenged Mexico City’s Julio Cesar Alfaro (8-6, 3 ko) for the California State Jr. Bantamweight Title. It was all Pena as Pedro scored a decisive unanimous decision over 8 rounds to win the State Title Belt.

In Pedro’s next fight he moved up in weight and took on former Amateur Star Orlando “Quick Draw” Malone for the California State Bantamweight Title and was most impressive winning his 2nd title belt with a 3rd round knockout.

Pena wasted no time defending his title against Mexico City’s Edgar Garcia, winning a 10 round decision.

Less than 2 months after his title defense against Garcia, Pena challenged former World Title challenger – Sammy Stewart for the USBA Flyweight Championship. He pitched a 12 round shutout, exhibiting total domination to take the USBA belt. In what turned out to be Stewart’s last pro bout.

After a quick tune-up bout (scoring a 2nd round KO) and a successful USBA Title defense against Mariano Gonzalez (15-2-2, 11 ko), Pena turned to the big prize – the IBF World Flyweight Championship. He faced the undefeated World Champion – Irene Pacheco (25-0, 20 ko) at the Don Haskins Arena in El Paso, Texas in a main event title bout broadcast on ESPN2. It went as expected, and was very close going into the 11th round. But Pedro Pena got caught by the powerful champion and was KO’d at 2:32 of round 11.

Pena bounced back with back-to-back knockouts over Mexicali, Mexico’s Porfirio Torres. He was stunned in his next bout by rugged trialhorse Marcos “El Rojo” Badillo (13-15, 5 ko), being ko’d at the end of round 8 of a fight he was winning.

Pena would fight just one more time, March 29, 2001 at The Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA, against a fellow contender Carlos Madrigal (14-2, 9 ko). It was a short night as Madrigal shocked the entire arena
with a first round knockout over the favored Pena.

Pedro’s career was like a fast moving comet in the sky. In just a little over 4 years, he had 21 pro fights, was world ranked, won the State Jr. Bantam and Bantam Titles, as well as the USBA Flyweight Championship belt, fought for the World Title, and earned respect and adoration from his fans.

Pedro’s final career record was a good one: 18 wins, 3 losses, with 10 knockouts.

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