Mando Muñiz–New WBHF Prez

Former Olympian elected as group’s leader

The World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) held their election this past weekend and it’s official: Armando Muñiz has been voted the new President of the non-profit organization. The former welterweight’s two-year term begins immediately.
The WBHF was founded in 1979 and is based in Los Angeles, California. Muñiz joined the group just one year after its inception, giving him the distinction of having the most “seniority” on the board. He also helps plan their annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, an event held in the summer since 1998. And Muñiz is no stranger with being the group’s leader. In his 29 years with the organization, he served a previous term as President in 2005 and 2006. A highlight of this first tenure was having Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran fly in for the 2006 banquet weekend.

Muñiz has a lengthy list of boxing credentials. In 1968, he represented the United States in the Mexico City Olympics and was a National AAU Welterweight Champion in 1969 and 1970. Turning pro, Muñiz (44-14-1, 30 KOs) fought Gil King, Emile Griffith, Eddie Perkins, Hedgemon Lewis, Carlos Palomino and Sugar Ray Leonard among many others. He’s frequently referred to as the “uncrowned champion” in the aftermath of his 1975 fight against Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles that resulted in a controversial decision that went to Napoles. 

That bout in Mexico, a personal injustice to Muñiz, is something that he has come to grips with over the years, “Ironically, the highlight of my career was the loss of my first title fight to Jose Napoles. I lost it–but I won in the long run because people treat me like I won. I wouldn’t be here without the fans. I don’t want to give up trying to do the best I can but…I didn’t get the full benefits of winning. Things would be much, much different if I had won. But at the same time, God did it for a reason.”

Married for over 40 years to Yolanda, the Riverside couple has three children and five grandchildren. A former full-time teacher, he now works as a substitute teacher and has a bail bonds business with one of his sons. Their company motto is “I’ll Fight Until You’re Out.” A supportive bunch, the Muñiz family always volunteers their services at the banquet–you’ll find the friendly Yolanda in charge of the WBHF souvenir booths at the yearly gathering. And the pugilistic gene runs in the Muñiz clan; his nephew is boxer Oscar Muñiz (39-8-4, 23 KOs), who fought Jeff Chandler twice and was a regular on Olympic Auditorium fight cards.

To celebrate his victory, Muñiz said he wants to keep having fundraising events that will generate funds to help others while also allowing boxing fans to interact with the champs as well. As President, he will rely on his Executive Committee and dedicated Board of Directors, “I will involve them in the decisions I make and the Board of Directors and I will decide together what our next fundraiser will be.”
Muñiz is a boxing purist and a proud representative of the sport, “Please don’t compare our sport to MMA. I know we’re losing a lot of fans to it, but I want people to know boxing is sport of art, integrity, responsibility and kindness–and it should be admired.”

The former fighter has been honored by his peers many times. The most recent was his June 2008 induction into the inaugural World Boxing Council (WBC) Hall of Fame at their grand opening of the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum. He was also an inductee in the California Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2007 class.

Muñiz has remained close to the boxing community through the years and continues to work with youth programs. With his renewed role as WBHF President, he has the opportunity to reach out and help others in need, especially with other boxers. The ex-boxer will be attending the January 17 benefit dinner for former WBC Champion Genaro Hernandez, who was diagnosed with cancer three months ago. His compadre Muñiz welcomes the chance to support a fellow fighter, “I would like to be a big help to “Chicanito” and others. We have to find a way to take care of our boxers when insurance won’t take of them. He isn’t the first to need help and he won’t be the last.”
The 2007 and 2008 President Adolfo Perez was also running for reelection and will stay on as a Board of Director. Under the guidance and leadership of Perez, the WBHF held various fundraisers through his presidency including a Women in Boxing Awards Banquet, a Thanksgiving charity event and last week’s toy giveaway at an L.A. school, which was his last public event as President.

New President Muñiz will continue the group’s fundraising efforts to have their own museum where they can showcase boxing memorabilia while honoring fighters of the past. Their mission statement is “Where champions live forever” and the new leader promises to continue their quest, “I want to make (founder) Everett Sanders’ first dream a reality. We can’t waste time; we want to produce a museum for the fans.”

He has many goals for this year but the WBHF’s annual banquet is always their main focus, “I want to make sure we have an outstanding dinner with the Banquet of Champions. I want it to be a success and choose credible electees to the Hall. I’m a diehard. I will not be part of it unless it’s a quality Hall of Fame with the best in history entitled to become Hall of Famers.”

The WBHF will continue to work towards their ultimate goal of building a museum. 
For updates on all WBHF events, please continue to check this website.   Photos courtesy of Michele Chong and Mando Muñiz: Muñiz with two young fans; Mia St. John and Mando at a WBHF event; With wife Yolanda (right) and Board of Directors Josie Arrey-Mejia, Gwen Adair, Steve Harpst and Trudie Latka; “El Hombre”