Canto Robledo

Canuto Cimental Robledo (January 19, 1913 – November 29, 1999) better known as Canto “TNT” Robledo (Robleto) was a Mexican-American professional boxer, trainer, and manager. Robledo was scheduled to face world bantamweight champion Panama Al Brown in late 1932 but during a tune up fight he was left blind in both eyes. After retiring from boxing for a few years Robledo became best known as being the only licensed blind boxing trainer in the history of the sport. He trained both amateur and professional fighters by what he called his "sense of touch” technique.

Early life Canto Robledo was born Canuto Cimental Robledo on January 19, 1913. He was born in Tyrone, New Mexico a small town known for its copper mining. He is the third child of seven from Felipe and Soledad Robledo who immigrated from Cienega De Escobar, Durango Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. Canto’s father worked at the mines but in 1921 copper prices dropped thus closing the mines and eventually the town. In 1922 at the age of nine Canto & his family moved west to California to find better opportunities eventually settling in Pasadena, California.

Canto attended Grover Cleveland Elementary and Washington Jr High School, the same schools where Jackie Robinson would later attend. He was an honor student and a superb athlete winning various awards in soccer & track, at age 13 he won the city championship in tennis. After completing the 9th grade Canto dropped out of school due to financial difficulties, he would work picking oranges from the nearby orange groves. He briefly trained boxing with his father for the sake of being able to defend himself, and in 1928 at Brookside Park after a scuffle with a bully a 15-year-old Canto was discovered by local Pasadena boxing promoter Morrie Cohan.

Boxing career Robledo began his training at the Pasadena Arena which was owned and operated by his promoter Morrie Cohan. He would be trained in both the amateur and pro ranks by German Otto. After several months of rigorous training his first bout would take place at the Los Angeles Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament in 1927. The tournament was held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Robledo would go on to win his first bout by split decision and the remaining bouts in his weight class. After turning 16 years old he decided to turn pro and on June 29, 1929 he won his first professional fight which was held at the Main Street Athletic Club versus Johnny Gabucco.

Personal life Robledo married his longtime love Concha Jimenez in 1932, they were a couple for over 60 years until her death in 1988. They had four children: Gloria Robledo Romero, Raymond “Bobby” Robledo, Irene Robledo Tellez, and Joseph Canto Robledo.

Professional boxing record + Boxing Record Date Opponent Result Place 1932-09-07 Hill Hernandez Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1932-08-26 Rodolfo Teglia Draw Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1932-08-03 Speedy Dado Lost PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1932-07-27 Speedy Dado Draw Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1932-05-04 Ros Dumaguilas Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1932-04-22 Benny Gallup Won KO Stockton 1932-03-11 Young Tommy Lost PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco 1932-02-12 Young Tommy Lost TKO Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco 1931-12-11 Midget Wolgast Lost TKO Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco 1931-12-04 Young Sport Won PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco 1931-11-06 Speedy Dado Won PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco 1931-10-01 Bobby Mars Won KO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1931-09-07 Sid Torres Won RTD Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach 1931-08-31 Sid Torres Won RTD Eastside Arena, Los Angeles 1931-07-15 Johnny Jones Won DQ Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1931-05-06 Joe Calder Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1931-04-29 Abie Israel Won DQ Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1931-04-15 Abie Israel Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle 1931-03-21 Clever Sencio Won KO Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles 1931-02-07 Tony Atizado Won KO Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles 1931-01-23 Peppy Sanchez Won TKO Legion Stadium, Hollywood 1930-12-01 Young Sport Lost DQ Orange County A.C., Santa Ana 1930-10-31 Speedy Dado Draw Legion Stadium, Hollywood 1930-09-04 Pete Sarmiento Lost TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-08-08 Midget Wolgast Lost PTS Legion Stadium, Hollywood 1930-06-12 Speedy Dado Draw Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-05-29 Delos 'Kid' Williams Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-05-08 Pedro Villa Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-04-24 Chalky Wright Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-04-15 Emil Jure Won PTS Orange Belt A.C., San Bernardino 1930-03-06 Johnny Jordan Lost DQ Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-02-06 Johnny Navarro Draw Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-01-16 Johnny Navarro Lost RTD Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1930-01-02 Johnny Jordan Won TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-12-12 Young Sport Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-11-27 Young Sport Lost PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-10-31 Jess Gabuco Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-10-24 Mickey Erno Won TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-09-26 Faster Manalo Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-08-22 Jimmy Martinez Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-08-08 Jimmy Martinez Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-07-25 Johnny Gabucco Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-07-11 Regino Palmini Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena 1929-06-29 Johnny Gabucco Won PTS Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles

Awards & recognitions 1950 – Orv Mohler Award by Pasadena Sports Ambassadors – Humanitarian efforts in the sport of boxing 1956 – Helms Athletic Foundation Award by Southern California Boxing Writers Association 1958 – Mirror Award by the Boxing Association – Contributions to the art & science of boxing 1969 – Order of Eagles Award 1979 – Eyewitness News on ABC – Special segment by Ines Pedroza 1982 – Real People television show on NBC – Season 4 Episode 22 aired March 17, 1982 – "Blind Boxing Coach" segment by Byron Allen 1987 – KCOP Sports Star of the Week by KCOP 13 – Honoring extraordinary abilities & his community humanitarian efforts 1988 – Humanitarian Award by the World Boxing Hall of Fame – Humanitarian accomplishments in and outside the ring 1988 – Los Angeles City Proclamation Award by L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich – Efforts for his contributions to the sport of boxing and working with the youth 2005 – World Boxing Hall of Fame, posthumous 2010 – Joe Louis Humanitarian Medal Award by the California State Athletic Commission – For exemplified community affairs for the good of humanity 2010 – Canto Robledo Memorial plaque at Villa Park by Pasadena Mexican American History Association – Honoring his legacy in boxing and community humanitarian efforts. 2017 – Pasadena Sports Hall of Fame, posthumous 2018 – West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame, posthumous