Eder Jofre 80th Birthday Special Part III

The Heyday and the Fall: how Eder made history dominating the division and the world for 4 years, the fights against Harada and the first retirement. Check the third part of Eder Jofre's 80th Birthday Special, a homage written by Round13 about the best Bantamweight boxer of all time. http://round13.com.br/images/uploads//EderJofreJohnnyCaldwell.jpg To read Part I, click here. To read Part II, click here. Part III: The Heyday and the Fall The heyday as a bantamweight: how Eder dominated the division and the world for 4 years Thousands of people welcomed Eder at the airport in Sao Paulo following his win over Sanchez, scene that would happen over and over again during Eder's international disputes. Still in 1960, in the beginning of the heyday of his popularity, Eder would fight once again in Sao Paulo, knocking out the American Billy Pea**** in the second round, less than a month after winning the world champion belt. The year of 1961 would be remarkable for the Brazilian. In addition to the successful title defenses, and also the wins in fights where the belt was not on the line, this was the year when Eder married Maria Aparecida, or Cidinha , his first girlfriend, and with whom Eder would spend 52 years married. Cidinha, another main character in the history of the greatest Brazilian boxer of all time, passed away in July 2013, at the age of 74, having been married to Eder for 52 years. In March of 1961, Eder would defend his belt for the first time. After the refusal of Alphonse Halimi and Freddie Gilroy, it was decided that Jofre would face the Italian Piero Rollo, national bantamweight champion. Rollo, who was 34 at that time, had been undefeated in his last 10 fights, and got into the ring of the Estádio General Severiano (General Severiano Stadium), in Rio de Janeiro, trying to pressure the Brazilian. Although the first rounds were balanced, the European pugilist ended up being gradually overcome by Jofre. Recurring victim of Eder's counterpunches, Rollo was getting his face badly hurt and cut. In the interval for the 10th round, after a decision made by the local committee’s doctor and the Italian boxer's manager, Jofre's win was confirmed. Eder would knock out the Dutch Sugar Ray and the Nipponese Sadao Yaoita in the following months until scheduling his next title defense. In August, Jofre would go to Venezuela, where he would defend his belt for the second time, and the first one abroad. It is worthy to emphasize that Arias was truly a local idol, having been the first Venezuelan boxer to challenge for a world title in 3 years before, when he lost to the Argentinian Pascual Perez in a fight for the world flyweight title. (continue in the website) http://round13.com.br/?pg=conteudo&artigo=295