Raúl Horacio Balbi

Raúl Horacio Balbi
Statistics
Real name Raúl Horacio Balbi
Nickname(s) Pepe
Weight(s) Light Welterweight
Lightweight
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Nationality Argentina Argentine
Born (1973-10-07) 7 October 1973
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 68
Wins 55
Wins by KO 38
Losses 11
Draws 2

Raúl Horacio Balbi (born October 7, 1973) is an Argentine professional boxer. Although Balbi currently competes in the light welterweight division, he is most notable for having won the WBA world lightweight title.

Professional career

Balbi made his professional debut on November 19, 1993 in Mercedes, Corrientes, Argentina. Balbi made a victorious start to his career by knocking out Juan Bautista Sosa in the first round. One of the highlights of Balbi's early career came on June 3, 1995 when he beat Simon Canache to claim the South American lightweight title. The first loss of Balbi's career came on September 9, 1995 when he lost to Manuel Alberto Billalba via a ten round points decision, Balbi avenged this defeat later on in his career by beating Billalba twice.

On February 22, 1997 Balbi travelled to Hamburg, Germany to challenge the Uzbek champion Artur Grigorian for the WBO lightweight title. Balbi's challenge proved to be unsuccessful, as Grigorian scored an eleventh round technical knockout. After the fight Balbi returned to Argentina, where he put together a run of five wins before losing a split decision to Walter Hugo Rodriguez.[1]

Balbi remained undefeated over his next sixteen bouts, earning him a chance to fight Alberto Esteban Sicurella in a WBA title eliminator. Balbi won the fight by tenth round technical knockout, which led to a world title challenge against the French champion Julien Lorcy on October 8, 2001 in Paris. In the third round of the contest Balbi was able to open a large cut above the champion's right eye and had further success when he knocked Lorcy down in the seventh. The fight lasted the twelve round distance and Balbi was announced as the winner via a majority decision.[2]

The first defence of Balbi's title took place on January 5, 2002 against Leonard Dorin in San Antonio, Texas. After a toe-to-toe battle which lasted the full twelve rounds, the Romanian challenger Dorin was announced the winner by split decision. After the fight a surprised Balbi claimed that he was "robbed".[3] A rematch occurred five months later, this time in Bucharest, Romania. On this occasion Dorin won a unanimous decision with scores of: 118-111, 117-112 and 118-110.[4]

A run of six consecutive wins earned Balbi another shot at the WBA title, this time for the vacant light welterweight belt. The fight took place in Bolton, United Kingdom on September 2, 2006, against the Frenchman Souleymane M'baye. Balbi was knocked down twice en route to a fourth round loss via technical knockout, thus handing the title to M'baye.[5] Since his light welterweight title challenge Balbi has lost three times. His most recent match, a draw against Bolivian boxer Franklin Mamani, took place on May 28, 2010.[1]

Professional boxing record

55 Wins (38 knockouts), 11 Losses (4 knockouts), 2 Draws[1]
Res. Record Opponent Type Round
Time
Date Location Notes
Draw55–11–2Bolivia Franklin Mamani TD 3 (9)
2:55
2010–05–28 Bolivia Coliseo Julio Borelli Viteritto, La Paz, La Paz For vacant WBA Fedebol Welterweight title.
Loss55–11–1Argentina Guillermo de Jesus Paz UD 6 2009–09–11 Argentina Estado José María Gatica, Villa Domínico, Buenos Aires
Loss55–10–1Russia Denis Shafikov TD 6 (8)
0:28
2008–11–28 Finland Hartwall Areena, Helsinki, Uusimaa
Loss55–9–1Romania Ionuţ Dan Ion KO 3 (10)
1:45
2008–04–19 Romania Polyvalent Hall, Bucharest For WBA NABA Light welterweight title.
Win55–8–1Argentina Diego Ponce KO 2 (8)
1:03
2007–10–27 Argentina Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Loss54–8–1France Souleymane M'baye TKO 4 (12) 2006–09–02 United Kingdom Bolton Arena, Bolton, Greater Manchester For WBA Light welterweight title.
Win54–7–1Colombia Jorge Luis Noriega Medrano TKO 2 (12)
1:28
2005–12–02 Argentina Luna Park, Buenos Aires For WBA Fedelatin Lightweight title.
Win53–7–1Argentina Walter Diaz TKO 6 (10)
0:31
2005–10–07 Argentina Luna Park, Buenos Aires Won WBA Fedelatin Lightweight title.
Win52–7–1Argentina Guillermo de Jesus Paz UD 10 2005–09–03 Argentina Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Win51–7–1Venezuela Carlos Donquiz KO 5 (10)
1:11
2005–05–26 Argentina Luna Park, Buenos Aires
Win50–7–1Argentina Carlos Adán Jerez UD 10 2005–04–30 Argentina Estadio Aldo Cantoni, San Juan, San Juan
Win49–7–1Argentina Norberto Acosta KO 2 (8)
0:45
2005–03–12 Argentina Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Loss48–7–1Dominican Republic Jose Rosa Gomez KO 8 (10) 2003–03–08 Argentina Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Loss48–6–1Romania Leonard Dorin UD 12 2002–05–31 Romania Polyvalent Hall, Bucharest For WBA Lightweight title.
Loss48–5–1Romania Leonard Dorin SD 12 2002–01–05 United States Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas Lost WBA Lightweight title.
Win48–4–1France Julien Lorcy MD 12 2001–10–08 France Palais des Sports, Paris Won WBA Lightweight title.
Win47–4–1Guyana Vincent Howard KO 3 (10) 2001–07–14 Argentina Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Win46–4–1Argentina Alberto Sicurella TKO 10 (12) 2001–03–17 Argentina Ce. De. M. No. 2, Caseros, Buenos Aires
Win45–4–1Argentina Justo Martinez RTD 10 (12) 2000–08–26 Argentina Salon Tattersall, San Isidro, Buenos Aires For South American Lightweight title.
Win44–4–1Argentina Ariel Aparicio KO 1 (10) 2000–06–08 Argentina San Justo, Buenos Aires
Win43–4–1Argentina Walter Rodriguez RTD 8 (12) 2000–04–22 Argentina Club Los Indios, Moreno, Buenos Aires Won South American Lightweight title.
Win42–4–1Argentina Ruben Oliva TKO 5 (10) 1999–12–18 Argentina Club Argentino de Quilmes, Quilmes, Buenos Aires
Win41–4–1Venezuela Santos Rebolledo UD 12 1999–11–17 Panama Hotel El Panamá, Panama City, Panamá Won WBA Fedelatin Lightweight title.
Win40–4–1Colombia Roberto Ortega UD 10 1999–07–31 Argentina Villa Domínico, Buenos Aires
Win39–4–1Argentina Luis Sosa UD 10 1999–05–08 Argentina Club Argentino de Quilmes, Quilmes, Buenos Aires
Win38–4–1Paraguay Jorge David Gomez TKO 2 (10)
1:09
1999–02–26 Argentina Club Atlético Quilmes, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires
Win37–4–1Argentina Carlos Vilches KO 2 (10) 1998–11–28 Argentina Buenos Aires
Draw36–4–1Argentina Ruben Oliva PTS 8 1998–10–10 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win36–4Argentina Hector Martinez KO 1 (10) 1998–07–25 Argentina Canal 9 Studios, Buenos Aires
Win35–4Argentina Daniel Zielinski UD 10 1998–05–23 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win34–4Argentina Marcelo Cesar KO 1 (10) 1998–04–04 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win33–4Argentina Victor Hugo Sanchez TKO 2 (10) 1998–02–28 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win32–4Argentina Angel Vera KO 2 (10) 1998–01–24 Argentina Canal 9 Studios, Buenos Aires
Win31–4Argentina Hector Martinez TKO 4 (10) 1997–12–20 Argentina Canal 9 Studios, Buenos Aires
Loss30–4Argentina Walter Rodriguez SD 10 1997–11–22 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win30–3Argentina Manuel Billalba PTS 10 1997–10–04 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win29–3Argentina Raul Cardenas KO 3 (10) 1997–08–16 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win28–3Argentina Victor Hugo Sanchez DQ 5 (8) 1997–07–19 Argentina Villa Gesell, Buenos Aires
Win27–3Argentina Angel Vera RTD 7 (10) 1997–06–07 Argentina Canal 9 Studios, Buenos Aires
Win26–3Argentina Ramon Collado PTS 10 1997–05–10 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Loss25–3Uzbekistan Artur Grigorian TKO 11 (12)
1:10
1997–02–22 Germany Sporthalle, Hamburg For WBO Lightweight title.
Win25–2Brazil Rildo Jose Oliveira KO 2 (12) 1996–12–25 Argentina Buenos Aires Won WBO Latino Lightweight title.
Loss24–2Argentina Alberto Roda PTS 10 1996–08–17 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win24–1Argentina Ramon Collado RTD 5 (10) 1996–07–27 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win23–1Argentina Manuel Billalba PTS 10 1996–05–25 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win22–1Argentina Sergio Atilio Martinez TKO 8 (10) 1996–04–13 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win21–1Argentina Ricardo Vega KO 2 (10) 1996–03–09 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win20–1Venezuela Simon Canache UD 12 1995–10–28 Argentina Canal 9 Studios, Buenos Aires For South American Lightweight title.
Loss19–1Argentina Manuel Billalba PTS 10 1995–09–09 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win19–0France Philippe Binante PTS 8 1995–07–25 France Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Win18–0Argentina Faustino Martires Barrios PTS 10 1995–07–15 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win17–0Venezuela Simon Canache DQ 5 (12) 1995–06–03 Argentina Buenos Aires Won South American Lightweight title.
Win16–0Argentina Daniel Zielinski TKO 5 (8) 1995–05–13 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win15–0Chile Pedro Villegas TKO 3 (8) 1995–04–07 Argentina La Rioja, La Rioja
Win14–0Argentina Ruben Astorga KO 6 (8) 1995–04–01 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win13–0Argentina Fabian Bazan TKO 3 (8) 1995–03–03 Argentina La Rioja, La Rioja
Win12–0Brazil Marco Antonio Dos Santos TKO 2 (8) 1995–01–21 Argentina Canal 9 Studios, Buenos Aires
Win11–0Argentina Rene Adelqui Collado TKO 5 (8) 1994–12–28 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win10–0Argentina Omar Victoriano Alegre TKO 2 (8) 1994–12–03 Argentina Estadio Delmi, Salta, Salta
Win9–0Argentina Daniel Zielinski PTS 8 1994–11–19 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win8–0France Stephan Galtier TKO 1 (8) 1994–10–01 France Arena de Cosets, Carpentras, Vaucluse
Win7–0Argentina Marcelo Gutierrez TKO 4 (6) 1994–08–27 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win6–0Argentina Gustavo Cuello KO 1 (6)
2:09
1994–07–02 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win5–0Argentina Raul Notti KO 1 (6) 1994–06–25 Argentina Buenos Aires
Win4–0Nigeria Philippe Mohammed Udofe KO 5 (6) 1994–05–21 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win3–0Argentina Jorge Carballo DQ 3 (6) 1994–04–21 Argentina Club Nolting, Ciudadela, Buenos Aires
Win2–0Argentina Leonardo Tissera KO 1 (6) 1993–12–04 Argentina Estadio F. A. B., Buenos Aires
Win1–0Argentina Juan Bautista Sosa KO 1 (6) 1993–11–19 Argentina Mercedes, Corrientes

References

  1. 1 2 3 "boxer: Raul Horacio Balbi". Boxrec. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  2. "Balbi takes lightweight title from Lorcy by majority decision, Manila Standard - Oct 10, 2001". Google News. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  3. Mannion, Ken (7 January 2002). "Boxing: Title goes to Dorin in bruising contest". London: The Independent. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  4. "Article: Box: Romanian Doroftei retains WBA title on points". AAP Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  5. "M'Baye claims vacant WBA crown". BOXNEWS. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
Preceded by
Julien Lorcy
WBA Lightweight Champion
October 8, 2001 January 5, 2002
Succeeded by
Leonard Dorin
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