Harry Arroyo (born October 25, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight title from 1984 to 1985.

Harry Arroyo
Born (1957-10-25) October 25, 1957 (age 67)
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins40
Wins by KO30
Losses11

Early years

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Arroyo, of Puerto Rican descent, was born on the south side of Youngstown, Ohio, a steel-manufacturing center near the Pennsylvania border. As a child, he reportedly told his 15 siblings about his dream of becoming a nationally known fighter. In the 1980s, he became one of the most recognizable boxers on television and regularly appeared on the covers of boxing magazines. In 1984, Arroyo, with fellow Youngstown native Ray Mancini, was listed among the nation's top 10 contenders by the World Boxing Association. This was after Mancini had lost that organization's world title to Livingstone Bramble.

Boxing career

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Arroyo fought for nine years as an amateur boxer, winning several Golden Glove tournaments as well as eight AAU Regional Tournaments. As an amateur he had 110 wins and 15 losses. He worked up a record of 40 wins and 11 losses as a professional, and won the IBF's world lightweight title by beating Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown in the 14th round on April 15, 1984. Arroyo, a late substitute for Cornelius Boza Edwards, staggered Brown with two blows to the head, prompting referee Larry Hazzard to stop the fight. On September 1, 1984, Arroyo successfully defended his title against Charlie "White Lightning" Brown, in a bout held in Struthers, Ohio. The champion successfully defended his title once more against Terrence Alli,[1] before losing to Jimmy Paul on April 4, 1985.[2]

Professional boxing record

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51 fights 40 wins 11 losses
By knockout 30 4
By decision 10 7
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
51 Loss 40–11 Vinny Letizia UD 10 (10) 1993-02-26 Union Hall, Countryside, Illinois, U.S.
50 Win 40–10 Jerry Massey TKO 7 (?) 1992-05-29 Struthers, Ohio, U.S.
49 Loss 39–10 Javier Castillejo TKO 3 (8) 1992-04-10 Leganés, Spain
48 Win 39–9 Homknokkor Som Song PTS 10 (10) 1991-08-15 Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella, Spain
47 Loss 38–9 Tommy Small MD 12 (12) 1991-06-22 Greer Pavilion, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S. For vacant WBF light-middleweight title
46 Loss 38–8 Valery Kayumba TKO 7 (10) 1991-04-17 Paris, France
45 Loss 38–7 Carl Griffith UD 10 (10) 1990-08-24 Landerhaven Country Club, Mayfield, Ohio, U.S.
44 Loss 38–6 Roger Brown UD 10 (10) 1989-05-04 Diplomat Hotel, Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S.
43 Win 38–5 Bruce Strauss TKO 2 (10) 1989-01-26 War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S.
42 Win 37–5 Raul Torres SD 10 (10) 1988-11-19 Quality Inn, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
41 Loss 36–5 Loreto Garza TKO 1 (12) 1988-04-22 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. Lost WBC Continental Americas light-welterweight title
40 Win 36–4 Rick Souce TKO 8 (12) 1988-02-23 Dallas, Texas, U.S. Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light-welterweight title
39 Win 35–4 Nick Parker TKO 5 (10) 1987-11-18 Maronite Center, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
38 Win 34–4 Nick Parker TKO 7 (10) 1987-08-28 Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
37 Win 33–4 Reggie Robinson UD 10 (10) 1987-07-03 Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
36 Loss 32–4 Roger Brown MD 10 (10) 1987-02-19 Cascade Holiday Inn, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
35 Win 32–3 Derwin Richards SD 10 (10) 1987-01-17 Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
34 Win 31–3 Rick Kaiser TKO 2 (10) 1986-11-25 Harvey Hall, Tyler, Texas, U.S.
33 Win 30–3 Danny Ferris TKO 2 (10) 1986-11-01 Coliseum Theatre, Latham, New York, U.S.
32 Loss 29–3 Vinny Paz UD 10 (10) 1986-05-18 Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
31 Win 29–2 Paul Graham KO 8 (10) 1986-03-19 Warren, Ohio, U.S.
30 Win 28–2 Leo Simmons TKO 5 (10) 1986-02-04 Mr. Anthony's, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
29 Win 27–2 Darrell Jacobs TKO 6 (10) 1985-12-04 Mr. Anthony's, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
28 Loss 26–2 Sammy Fuentes KO 7 (10) 1985-10-09 Trump Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
27 Loss 26–1 Jimmy Paul UD 15 (15) 1985-04-06 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Lost IBF lightweight title
26 Win 26–0 Terrence Alli TKO 11 (15) 1985-01-12 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained IBF lightweight title
25 Win 25–0 Charlie Brown TKO 8 (15) 1984-09-01 High Stadium, Struthers, Ohio, U.S. Retained IBF lightweight title
24 Win 24–0 Charlie Brown TKO 14 (15) 1984-04-15 Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won IBF lightweight title
23 Win 23–0 Robin Blake UD 10 (10) 1984-01-14 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Danny Avery TKO 9 (10) 1983-10-20 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Steve Hilliard TKO 5 (10) 1983-10-06 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Tomas Chavez TKO 9 (10) 1983-06-15 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Roberto Garcia TKO 2 (10) 1983-04-03 Phoenix Civic Plaza, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Kelvin Lampkin PTS 10 (10) 1983-02-12 Buckner Fieldhouse, Fort Richardson, Alaska, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Joe Manley SD 10 (10) 1982-10-30 Sands Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Arnie Wells UD 10 (10) 1982-08-30 V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Kevin Austin TKO 5 (8) 1982-07-24 Mollenkopf Stadium, Warren, Ohio, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Paul Hodge KO 1 (10) 1982-07-08 Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Mike Soldier KO 2 (10) 1982-05-27 Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Robert Bo Moody TKO 10 (10) 1982-04-28 Field House, Struthers, Ohio, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Greg Young TKO 4 (?) 1982-04-17 Harrah's Marina Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Sam Gervins TKO 6 (8) 1982-03-17 V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Bruce Williams TKO 5 (6) 1982-03-13 Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Blas Dechamps PTS 6 (6) 1982-01-26 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Roberto Munoz TKO 2 (6) 1981-12-29 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Ken Payton TKO 1 (6) 1981-12-23 Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Leon Gardner TKO 6 (6) 1981-10-29 Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Kean McGill UD 6 (6) 1981-10-21 V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Tim Murphy KO 1 (6) 1981-08-15 Gannon College Auditorium, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Jesse Jackson TKO 2 (4) 1980-12-16 Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Dale Gordon TKO 4 (6) 1980-09-30 V.I.P. Club, Niles, Ohio, U.S.

Retirement

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Arroyo has expressed disappointment over the fact that he never had a chance to meet fellow Youngstown pugilist Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini in the ring. The possibility of a matchup between the two fighters emerged in the early 1980s, but circumstances intervened. Arroyo won the IBF title just two months before Mancini's first loss to Livingstone Bramble. Mancini took a break from boxing for several years after losing his title, and by the time he re-entered the ring, Arroyo's career had waned considerably. Both men were on hand, however, when fellow Youngstown native Kelly Pavlik took the WBC and WBO middleweight world championship in Atlantic City on September 29, 2007.

Even at the height of his popularity and while fighting main card events on network television, Arroyo continued to work as a police officer for the Mill Creek Park Police and was easily recognizable in the community. Arroyo was highly popular across the Mahoning Valley region and was readily accessible to his fans. He continued to work the park district long after retiring from boxing. [2]

Retired from the ring, Arroyo is married and has five children.

Officiating career

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After his retirement, Arroyo become a boxing referee, and has officiated dozens of fights, mainly in Ohio.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Katz, Michael (13 January 1985). "ARROYO RETAINS LIGHTWEIGHT CROWN". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  2. ^ a b "NY Times Harry Arroyo Profile - Champion and a Family Man". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
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Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Mauricio Rodriguez
WBC Continental Americas
light-welterweight champion

February 23, 1988 – April 22, 1988
Succeeded by
World boxing titles
Preceded by IBF lightweight champion
April 15, 1984 – April 6, 1985
Succeeded by