Abel Evaristo Cestac (25 August 1918 – 16 January 1995)[1] was an Argentine boxer.

Abel Cestac
Cestac (left) with his manager Jack Dempsey (right), circa 1950.
BornAbel Evaristo Cestac
(1918-08-25)25 August 1918
Died16 January 1995(1995-01-16) (aged 76)
NationalityArgentina Argentina
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Fighting out ofBellocq - Carlos Casares - Buenos Aires
TrainerWhitey Bimstein
Years active1945-1951
Professional boxing record
Total56
Wins39
By knockout33
Losses14
By knockout3
Draws3
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec

Cestac was an amateur boxer when he was discovered by Luis Angel Firpo in July 1940. According to Firpo, he came across Cestac fighting a steer because he could not find any men his equal in strength. Firpo predicted that Cestac would be world heavyweight champion within three years. [2] Jack Dempsey and Luis Ángel Firpo agreed to jointly manage Cestac. When he came to New York in July 1945, the journalist Horacio Estol acted as his representative.[3] On 27 July 1945 he fought John Thomas at Madison Square Gardens, losing on the split decision after ten rounds.[4]

Despite the initial setback, he went on to win 39 professional fights, with 14 losses and three draws.[5] Abel Cestac became the South American heavyweight champion. In March 1951 he came to Toledo, Ohio to fight Archie Moore, who was forty pounds lighter. However, Moore defeated him in ten rounds on a unanimous decision. In June 1951, Moore came to Buenos Aires for a return match, again defeating Cestac, who retired in the tenth round.[6] Cestac fought twice more, being defeated by Arturo Godoy in August 1951 and by Cesar Brion in November 1951. After this he retired from the ring.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Roberto G. Vitry (December 22, 2011). "Boxeo: Abel Cestac en Salta". vitryboxeo. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Firpo discovers young wild bull of the pampas" (PDF). North Tonawanda Evening News. 15 January 1941. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  3. ^ "Cestac Remain Mystery Fighter". The Morning Herald, Bagerstown MD. 25 July 1945. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  4. ^ a b "Abel Cestac". FightsRec. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  5. ^ "Abel Cestac". BoxRec. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  6. ^ Mike Fitzgerald; Jake Lamotta; Bert Randolph Sugar (2004). The Ageless Warrior: The Life of Boxing Legend Archie Moore. Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 83–87. ISBN 1-58261-255-2.