Armando “The Man” Muniz was born on May 3rd, 1947 in Chihuaha, Mexico. Armando eventually moved to California and represented the United States in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in the welterweight division. After his Olympic performance, he won the AAU National Championships two years in a row in 1969 and 1970. He then turned pro in 1970 and a year later he captured the NABF Welterweight title with a knockout victory over Clyde Gray in Long Beach, California. Muniz won his first 17 professional fights with 12 of those coming by way of knockout. 1975 was the year for Muniz, where he faced Jose Angel Napoles twice for the WBC welterweight crown, once in March and again in July. The second of these bouts proved to be a bloody war with both fighters damaged and bleeding by the time the final bell rang in the 15th round. Armando dominated the ring for the next two years and earned another shot at the WBC welterweight title, this time facing great Carlos Palomino. This fight made headlines not only in the epic battle but this was also the first time in boxing history where two college graduates faced off for a world title. Both fought with great skill and technicality in an exciting filled “box until the final bell rings” type fight. Muniz controlled the fight early knocking down Palomino in the first, and the two warriors exchanged blows for the next 15 rounds before Muniz was knocked down and subsequently lost. Armando would fight five more times in 1977 before facing Carlos Palomino once again. Yet again the two warriors would go to war for 15 rounds and put on a show for boxing history. Armando’s resilience in the ring proved to be of historic proportions, thus enshrining him as a WBC Legend of Boxing.
