Jose Legra, former WBC featherweight champion, passed away Wednesday at the age of 83 in Madrid, Spain.
Legra, 129-11-4 (49 KOs), started boxing at the age of 12 in Cuba where he was born in 1943. By the time he was 17, Legra was boxing professionally but Fidel Castro’s decision to ban boxing in 1962 forced Legra to pursue his dreams elsewhere. A spell in Mexico followed before he settled in Spain, the nation that would become home for the rest of his life.
In July 1968, Legra – by then European champion – broke local hearts when in Porthcawl, Wales, he stopped legendary Welshman Howard Winstone in five rounds to claim the WBC featherweight title for the first time.
“I am the best in the world today,” said Legra after avenging a 1965 points defeat to Winstone, “and I will be for a very long time.”
The following January, he would lose the title in his first defense, however. In a fight staged in London, England, Legra – by now already a veteran of 113 bouts – would be closely outpointed over 15 rounds by Australia’s Johnny Famechon.
A points loss over 10 rounds to the comebacking Vincente Saldivar curtailed his dreams of regaining the title, at least for a while. After thriving again at European level, he claimed the WBC featherweight crown a second time in 1972 with a 10th round stoppage of Clemente Sanchez, who surrendered his title on the scales after missing weight.
Another great fighter then awaited Legra. Eder Jofre, with home advantage in Brazil, won a 15-round majority decision to take the championship in 1973.
Legra would fight only twice more. A knockout loss, in the opening round, to the rising Alexis Arguello convinced Legra to call it quits at the age of 30. Survived by two nieces, Legra largely enjoyed his retirement as he opened a shoe business in Alicante and did some television work. In April 2020, Legra would survive coronavirus.
He would end his days in a nursing home in Madrid after suffering from dementia for several years.
“Another great has left the stage but although he has passed on, we’ll forever and a day remember him with the deepest of affection, admiration and respect,” said the WBC.
