Kid Chocolate

Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo was born in the Cerro neighborhood of Havana, Cuba. Learning boxing by studying newsreel footage of Jack Johnson and Joe Gans at local cinemas, he fought amateur bouts in Havana while working as a newspaper delivery boy. Moving to New York City in 1928, the dapper, charismatic Cuban captivated Harlem and Broadway with his flamboyant tailored suits, fedoras, and breathtaking ring artistry, being christened 'The Cuban Bon Bon.'

Kid Chocolate compiled an astounding 56-fight undefeated streak to start his career. On 15 July 1931 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, before 60,000 spectators, Chocolate knocked out defending champion Benny Bass in the seventh round to capture the World Junior Lightweight Championship, becoming the first Cuban in history to win a professional world title.

In October 1932, Chocolate captured the World Featherweight Championship by knocking out Lew Feldman at Madison Square Garden. Blessed with blinding hand speed, rhythm, and defensive elusiveness, Chocolate was described by Sugar Ray Robinson as his primary idol: 'I never saw anyone box like Kid Chocolate. I tried to copy everything he did.' Retiring with 136 wins and 51 knockouts in 152 professional bouts, Chocolate returned to Havana, where he was revered as the founding father of Cuban boxing greatness.