Yori Boy Campas
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Luis Ramón Campas (born August 6, 1971) is a Mexican boxer who was the IBF world Jr. Middleweight champion. He is better known as Yori Boy Campas. He is a native of Navojoa, Mexico, where the word Yori means strong. When he was young and he walked into a gym for the first time, the way he hit opponents that day impressed his trainer so much, he began to be nicknamed Yori Boy, as in strong boy. Most boxing fans worldwide now know him as Yori Boy, few actually know his real name is Luis Ramon.
Campas, whose brother Armando was also a respected professional fighter, began his professional career on July 7, 1987, by knocking out Gaby Vega in the first round at Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. His first thirteen fights were all won by knockout, and he built a record of 56-0 with 50 knockout wins by the time the IBF had him ranked as their number one world title challenger. Prior to that, he had won the Mexican and NABF regional Welterweight titles. He won the NABF one on his first fight abroad, defeating Roger Turner by a twelve round decision in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 19, 1992.
Campas also beat former world champion Jorge Vaca by a knockout in round two at Tijuana, before receiving his first world title fight, September 17 of 1994 against Félix Trinidad for the IBF's world welterweight title, as part of a Pay Per View undercard that featured Julio César Chávez's rematch against Frankie Randall for the WBC world Jr. Welterweight title. Campas, who had been considered by many Mexicans to be the next Chávez, dropped Trinidad in round two, but he lost by knockout in round four, for his first professional defeat in 57 bouts.
Campas came back with seven straight wins, including one that gave him the WBO's NABO regional Welterweight title, when he knocked out former world champion Genaro Leon in three rounds, August 7 of 1995. On September 6, 1996, he was given a second world title try, against José Luis Lopez, for the WBO world Welterweight title, in Los Angeles, California. Campas lost by knockout in round six.
Campas then decided to campaign in the Jr. Middleweight division, beating Fidel Avendano by a knockout in round two in his first fight there. Campas had four straight wins before challenging for a world title again, this time against the IBF's world Jr. Middleweight champion Raul Marquez. On December 6, 1997, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Campas became world Jr. Middleweight champion by knocking out Marquez in round eight. He defended his title three times, beating Anthony Stephens by a knockout in three at Ledyard, Connecticut, Pedro Ortega by knockout in eleven at Tijuana, and Larry Barnes, by knockout in three in Las Vegas. On December 12 of 1998, however, he lost the title, beaten by knockout in seven rounds by Fernando Vargas at Las Vegas.
After two wins in a row, he lost to Oba Carr by knockout in round eight. For his next fight, however, he became the first boxer to beat Tony Ayala, when Ayala was knocked out in round eight by Campas at San Antonio, Texas, on July 28, 2000.
On March 16 of 2002, he received his next world title shot, for the WBO's vacant world Jr. Middleweight title, against Puerto Rico's Daniel Santos, once again in Las Vegas. He lost by knockout in round eleven.
After one more knockout win, he tried to gain the WBC and WBA world Jr. Middleweight titles against Oscar de la Hoya, on May 5, 2003, again, in Las Vegas. He lost that fight, his last to date, by knockout in round seven.
During a press conference held at Phoenix, Arizona, on March 24, 2004, Campas announced he has moved to that city. Two days later, he returned to the ring after a ten month layoff, defeating Dumont Dewey Welliver by a ten round split decision.
On November 6 of that year, he followed his win over Welliver with an eight round decision win over Raul Munoz, also in Phoenix.
On January 20, 2005, Campas suffered a mild upset, when he was beaten by the relatively unknown Eric Regan by decision in twelve rounds, at Oroville, California.
His most recent fight, a loss to Ireland's John Duddy is a possible candidate for the 2006 Fight of the Year.
His records stands at 88 wins and 9 losses in 97 bouts, his 72 knockout wins making him a member of the exclusive group of boxers with 50 or more career knockout wins.
| Preceded by Raul Marquez |
IBF Light Middleweight Champion 6 December 1997–12 December 1998 |
Succeeded by Fernando Vargas |
