Fighting on
By André Coleman 07/26/2012
The Crown City Boxing Gym will hand over $1,500 worth of equipment to the Villa-Parke Community Center at a special presentation Saturday at the center.
The new gear is a gift to the community center’s gym from the Canto Robledo Living Memorial Scholarship, named for the former West Coast bantamweight champ who was blinded after suffering two detached retinas in a fight in 1935, but went on over the next five decades to train more than 500 fighters — 200 of whom turned pro — in the Crown City gym he started at his home on Manzanita Street in Pasadena.
Robledo died at age 86 in 1999. In 2010, a wall relief was mounted at Villa-Parke Community Center honoring Robledo’s accomplishments and contributions.
“It was my birthday and I asked people to donate to the scholarship fund instead of buying me gifts,” said South Pasadena Police Officer Shannon Robledo, Canto’s nephew.
In May, the Villa-Parke boxing gym produced three champions at the Police Athletic League National Championships in Oxnard: Paul Davis, fighting at 152 pounds; Christian Canarena, at 132 pounds; and Edward Lamb, at 85 pounds. Edgar Nava also competed in the tournament at 140 pounds.
“I am very proud the family and the community continue to honor Canto Robledo,” said Canto’s son, Joe. “I always think it is going to die down and then his name comes back again. It is our pleasure to help continue the great tradition of boxing at Villa-Parke.”
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