Rodolfo Blanco

Biography

Rodolfo Blanco, born June 14, 1966, in San Onofre, Colombia, is a former professional boxer who fought between 1982 and 2002. His debut on March 5, 1982, ended in a four-round points defeat to fellow debutant Jose Iriarte, but this did nothing to deter Blanco, whose journey in boxing was marked by his determination as he navigated weight classes, including light flyweight and flyweight.

Blanco's amateur career is not extensively documented, but his professional career was filled with notable achievements. Following his loss to Jose Iriarte, he suffered another three defeats with only one win in his first five bouts. Still, Rodolfo persevered. One of his most significant early fights was against Agustin Garcia, whom he defeated to win the Colombian light flyweight title in 1986. However, his first major world title challenge came in 1987 when he faced Myung Woo Yuh for the World Boxing Association (WBA) light flyweight title, losing by an eighth-round knockout. This setback did not deter him, as he continued to push forward, eventually challenging for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title.

In 1990, Blanco faced Dave McAuley for the IBF flyweight title but lost by a unanimous decision. However, he did not give up. Two years later, on June 11, 1992, Blanco and McAuley met again, with Blanco emerging victorious by a unanimous decision to claim the title. His reign as champion was short-lived, as he lost the title in his first defence to Pichit Sitbangprachan in a third-round knockout on November 11, 1992. Despite this setback, Blanco continued to compete at a high level, winning the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super flyweight title in 1997. He also challenged Johnny Tapia for the IBF and WBO super flyweight titles in 1998, though he lost by a unanimous decision.

Blanco faced numerous world-class fighters throughout his career, including Myung Woo Yuh, Dave McAuley, Pichit Sitbangprachan, and Johnny Tapia. These bouts showcased his ability to compete against the best in the sport. Blanco's final professional outing was on August 10, 2002, when he lost to Ricardo Medina by a fourth-round knockout at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. By the end of his career, Blanco had amassed a record of 30 wins, 22 losses, and one draw, with 19 of his wins coming by knockout. His legacy as a resilient and determined boxer who reached the pinnacle of his division remains a testament to his enduring spirit and dedication to the sport.