''Kid Chocolate''
He was born to box and did it elegantly. Short, skillful, fast... That was Eligio Sardinas Montalvo, who was born in El Cerro. At twelve years of age, Eligio already knew to wield boxing gloves on a ring. At nineteen and world famous by the nickname "Kid Chocolate", the new promise of Cuban boxing was forced to "jump" to professionalism.
He debuted as a professional boxer on December 8th, 1927, when he beat Johnny Cruz in Havana. A year later Luis Felipe Gutiérrez, "Pincho" took him to New York as his representative. In August, he wins his first fight and a year later he became a record holder in lightweights. On July 15th, 1931 he won the world title by defeating Bennny Bass in Philadelphia. Then, he became famous. ''Kid Chocolate'' fought for ten years and had 136 victories.
Considered among the top 10 lightweights of all time, Eligio Sardinas Montalvo, "Kid Chocolate" was a shinning fighter. Fantastic abilities and speed marked his stay in boxing. A true artist of the boxing ring. His boxing was smart, safe, technical and even musical. He used to say "Boxing is me’’. That is true, Kid. You were boxing.
