Benjamin Villaflor (born November 10, 1952) is a Filipino former professional boxer who competed from 1966 to 1976. He was a two-time WBA and The Ring super-featherweight champion between 1972 and 1976.

Professional boxing career According to records, Villaflor began his career as a professional boxer when he was only thirteen years old, on October 1, 1966, beating Flash Javier by decision in four rounds. Most of Villaflor's early bouts' records were not well kept, therefore, although October 1, 1966 appears to have been the date of Villaflor's professional debut, this is not known with certainty, and neither is the location where the fight took place. Villaflor ran a record of twelve wins without a loss, with eight knockouts before he suffered his first loss, against Roger Boy Pedrano, by an eight-round decision in a fight apparently held on July 1, 1967, at the Philippines.

After winning his next fight, he faced Pedrano and again lost by decision, in another fight without much documented data.

Villaflor had his first documented fight on February 1, 1968, at Manila. Villaflor and Rod Sario had a technical draw (tie) after four rounds. Villaflor would have a total of seven draws in his professional boxing career, a relatively large number in that category.

Although Villaflor won nine, lost two and drew two of his next thirteen bouts, his fighting in the Philippines exclusively represented a problem for him to become known overseas. He began the 1970s by losing two ten-round decisions in a row, to Pedro Martinez on March 7, 1970, and to Alfredo Avila, six weeks later.

Villaflor won his next seventeen bouts, however, eleven of them by knockout. He moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, so he could get more exposure in the United States and the rest of the world. Villaflor liked Honolulu so much that he still lives in the Hawaiian city. He beat Rafael López by a first-round knockout, on April 13, 1971, in what represented both his first fight in Honolulu and also his first fight abroad. He also beat former world champion Raul Cruz, beaten by knockout in ten rounds, November 11, 1971.

On April 25, 1972, Villaflor was given his first opportunity at a world title, when faced with WBA and Lineal Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Marcano of Venezuela. Villaflor became world champion by defeating Marcano by a fifteen-round unanimous decision at Honolulu.

Villaflor then engaged in a series of non-title bouts, including one against Roberto Durán world title challenger Jimmy Robertson, beaten by Villaflor by a ten-round decision on November 15 of that year. Prior to that, he had retained the title with a fifteen-round draw against Victor Echegaray, on September 25.

On March 12, 1973, Villaflor lost his title for the first time, being beaten on points by Japan's Kuniaki Shibata over fifteen rounds in Honolulu. But, after two knockout wins, Villaflor had a rematch with Shibata, also in Honolulu, and he recovered the WBA world Jr. Lightweight championship with a first-round knockout, on October 17, also at Honolulu.

Next for Villaflor was a widely expected fight across Asia, as he met Japan's top rated challenger, Apollo Yoshio, on March 14, 1974, at Toyama. The two boxers fought to a fifteen-round draw. After another non-title win, Villaflor met future world champion Yasutsune Uehara, on August 24 in Honolulu, knocking out Uehara in the second round. After that, Villaflor made his mainland United States debut, when he and perennial challenger Ray Lunny III fought to a six-round technical draw on November 14, a cut on Villaflor's head which had been caused by a headbutt being the determining factor for the fight to end with such result.

Villaflor retained the title twice more, then met Samuel Serrano for the first time, on April 13, 1976, in Honolulu, and the two combatants fought to a fifteen-round draw. The draw was so controversial that the WBA ordered an immediate rematch. After winning a non-title bout by knockout, Villaflor traveled to Puerto Rico for the rematch, held on November 16, at Hiram Bithorn stadium, in San Juan. Serrano outpointed Villaflor over fifteen rounds in what turned out to be Villaflor's last professional bout.

He is currently involved in managing other boxers' careers. Villaflor was the Sergeant At Arms for the Hawaii State Senate, a position to which he was appointed by a vote of the Senate each year. He retired from his Sergeant At Arms position on September 30, 2026.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound(s),timeDateAgeLocationNotes68Loss56–6–6 Samuel SerranoUD15Oct 16, 197667Win56–5–6 Rogelio CastanedaUD10Aug 31, 197666Draw55–5–6 Samuel SerranoSD15Apr 13, 197665Win55–5–5 Morito KashiwabaKO13 (15), Jan 12, 197664Win54–5–5 Hyun Chi KimSD15Mar 13, 197563Draw53–5–5 Ray Lunny IIITD6 (10)Nov 14, 197462Win53–5–4 Yasutsune UeharaKO2 (15), Aug 24, 197461Win52–5–4 Takao MarukiTKO7 (10), Jul 19, 197460Draw51–5–4 Apollo YoshioSD15Mar 14, 197459Win51–5–3 Kuniaki ShibataKO1 (15), Oct 17, 197358Win50–5–3 Akihiro KawasakiKO3 (10), Aug 21, 197357Win49–5–3 Kenji IwataKO1 (10), Jul 18, 197356Loss48–5–3 Kuniaki ShibataUD15Mar 12, 197355Win48–4–3 Juan ColladoUD10Jan 30, 197354Win47–4–3 Jimmy RobertsonUD10Nov 14, 197253Draw46–4–3 Victor Federico EchegaraySD15Sep 5, 197252Win46–4–2 Carlos FernandezTKO3 (10), Jul 5, 197251Win45–4–2 Alfredo MarcanoUD15Apr 25, 197250Win44–4–2 Jose Luis LopezKO2 (10), Mar 7, 197249Win43–4–2 Frankie CrawfordTKO1 (10), Jan 25, 197248Win42–4–2 Ray VegaKO7 (10), Dec 14, 197147Win41–4–2 Raul CruzTKO8 (10), Nov 16, 197146Win40–4–2 Ricardo GarciaUD10Sep 28, 197145Win39–4–2 Tadashi OkamotoKO1 (10), Sep 14, 197144Win38–4–2 Manuel MendozaUD10Aug 10, 197143Win37–4–2 Memin HernandezKO1 (10), Jul 6, 197142Win36–4–2 Jesus MariscalTKO4 (10), Jun 22, 197141Win35–4–2 Delfino CamachoTKO2 (10)Jun 8, 197140Win34–4–2 Jose Luis MartinezKO5 (10), May 18, 197139Win33–4–2 Memo MoralesTKO6 (10), Apr 26, 197138Win32–4–2 Rafael LopezTKO1 (10), Apr 13, 197137Win31–4–2 Arturo "Baby" LoronaPTS10Nov 14, 197036Win30–4–2 Don JohnsonTKO7 (10)Sep 19, 197035Win29–4–2 Tony Jumao AsPTS10Jul 25, 197034Win28–4–2 Willie AsuncionPTS10Jul 12, 197033Win27–4–2 Ernie CruzPTS10Jun 6, 197032Draw26–4–2 Tony Jumao AsTD5 (10)Feb 28, 197031Win26–4–1 Arturo ErachoPTS10Dec 20, 196930Win25–4–1 Fil Del MundoPTS10Oct 4, 196929Win24–4–1 Marcial Macatangay Jr.KO7 (10)Aug 20, 196928Win23–4–1 Billy CangasPTS10Jul 7, 196927Win22–4–1 Boy TornoPTS10May 1, 196926Win21–4–1 Baby ParamountPTS10Mar 1, 196925Win20–4–1 Carlito KidPTS10Feb 1, 196924Loss19–4–1 Ely YaresPTS10Jul 1, 196823Win19–3–1 Flash BarbaKO8 (?)Jun 1, 196822Loss18–3–1 Baby ParamountPTS10Apr 10, 196821Win18–2–1 Tanny AmancioKO7 (10)Apr 1, 196820Win17–2–1 Ver QuizonPTS10Mar 1, 196819Win16–2–1 Rocky VillahermosaKO5 (?)Feb 10, 196818Draw15–2–1 Blackie OlympiaPTS10Jan 1, 196817Win15–2 Flash BarbaPTS10Nov 1, 196716Win14–2 Boy OlayanPTS8Oct 1, 196715Loss13–2 Roger Boy PedranoPTS8Sep 1, 196714Win13–1 Ben AranasKO8 (?)Aug 1, 196713Loss12–1 Roger Boy PedranoPTS8Jul 1, 196712Win12–0 Little PedringPTS6Jun 1, 196711Win11–0 Young FranciscoKO3 (?)May 1, 196710Win10–0 Luis ManuelPTS6Apr 1, 19679Win9–0 Matt VillaKO3 (?)Mar 1, 19678Win8–0 Johnny LozagaKO6 (?)Feb 1, 19677Win7–0 Eddie ValdezPTS6Jan 1, 19676Win6–0 Joe LouisKO1 (?)Dec 10, 19665Win5–0 Rocky RomeoKO4 (?)Dec 1, 19664Win4–0 Pat MasongKO4 (?)Nov 10, 19663Win3–0 Bob RulePTS4Nov 1, 19662Win2–0 Little TimoteoKO3 (?)Oct 10, 19661Win1–0 Flash JavierPTS4Oct 1, 1966

See also List of super featherweight boxing champions List of WBA world champions

References

External links

Villaflor Bio at Ringside Report Ben Villaflor - CBZ Profile