Boxingtalk salutes former champion Enrique Pinder of Panama who passed away a few days ago. His fine boxing style earned him the nickname ‘La Maravilla’ (The Wonder) and his fists gave Panama its fifth world champion. On Saturday night, June 15th, Pinder passed away at the age of 76. According to family sources, in recent months he had been suffering some health problems related to his heart. Born in the sector of ‘El Marañón’, capital city, Pinder made his debut as a professional boxer on August 20, 1966 when he beat Luis Jacobo by technical knockout in the first round at the Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Stadium. He remained undefeated in his first 13 fights before losing by knockout to Eugenio Hurtado in 1968 in a fight in which the national bantamweight crown was at stake.

 

On July 29, 1972, after winning the national bantamweight title, Pinder had his first world title shot against WBA/WBC world champion Rafael Herrera of Mexico at the Gimnasio Nuevo Panama (now the Roberto Duran Arena). After a 15-round battle,  Pinder was ruled the winner via unanimous decision to become the fifth world champion in Panama, following Teofilo ‘Panama All’ Brown, Ismael Laguna, Alfonso ‘Pepermin’ Frazer and Roberto Duran. 

 

In November 1972, Pinder made a non-title fight at the legendary Forum in Inglewood, California against former champion Chucho Castillo of Mexico, winning by majority decision over ten rounds. The WBC stripped Pinder for taking the Castillo fight over a questionable mandatory defense. Pinder then lost the WBA belt against the Mexico's Romeo Anaya, who dethroned him after knocking him out in three rounds at the Nuevo Panama in January 1973. Anaya gave Pinder a rematch in August 1973, but the Panamanian was again knocked out in three rounds. 

 

Pinder would make his last fight in November 1973 against the Puerto Rican Francisco Villegas in San Juan, which he lost by unanimous decision in ten rounds. Pinder retired with a professional record of 35 wins (13 by knockouts), 7 losses and 2 draws. He fought abroad in countries such as the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. For a long time he worked at the Jesús Máster Gómez de Barraza Gymnasium.

 

Boxingtalk sends its sympathy to the friends and family of Enrique Pinder. Rest in peace, champ.