Boxing has lost its oldest world champion.
Eder Jofre, two-time world champion and Hall of Famer from Brazil, has died at the age of 86 in his hometown of Sao Paulo after a long illness, according to multiple reports.
Some consider Jofre (72-2-4, 50 KOs) the greatest weight of all time. He can box and can stop any opponent instantly. He ranked 85th on The Ring Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest boxers of all time.
Hall of Fame boxing writer Bert Sugar placed Jofre at number 28 on their list of the 100 Greatest Boxers Ever Regardless of Weight.
“Remember, while most American fans don’t get a chance to watch [Jofre] in action, there was a moment in the early and mid-60s where he was considered the best boxer in the world,” Ed Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, told The Ring.
Jofre competed in the 1956 Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals, before turning professional the following year.
He was undefeated in his first 50 fights over a span of eight years, during which he won the bantamweight championship by stopping Eloy Sanchez for six rounds in 1960 and successfully defending seven. time.
He then clashed with his nemesis for the first time on two occasions, Japan’s Hall of Famer Fighting Harada, who defeated Jofre by a split decision in Nagoya to become the 118 pound king in May 1965. Harada overtook Jofre for the second time a year later.
Jofre “retired” after his second defeat and spent more than three years taking a break from boxing. He returned to featherweight in August 1969, making one of the most successful comebacks of all time.
He won 14 consecutive matches to claim Jose Legra’s title and beat the Cuban by majority decision to become a two-time champion at the age of 37 in May 1973.
Jofre fought seven more times – including knocking out Hall of Famer Vicente Saldivar in the fourth round in his only defense – before retiring.
