Memorial Tribute to Blind Trainer

Preview Pics of new Canto Robledo Bronze!

What most of us take for granted, Canto “TNT” Robledo learned to live without. With the tragic loss of his eyesight, the former fighter chose to enter a new profession as a boxing trainer–even though he was blind.

With the loss of his two eyes, the Pasadena, California icon built a stable of worthy champions contenders, both professional and amateur. He died in 1999 but with his family, his city of residence and the fight community behind him, the venerable coach will always live on through a new city monument scheduled for a special unveiling THIS SATURDAY, July 17. “Canto and Kids,” a large bronze wall relief by Steve Harpst, will make its debut this weekend at the Villa Parke Community Center.

In this exclusive sneak peek, see some of the behind-the-scenes photos as the new sculpture progressed!

Robledo was a Crown City (Pasadena’s nickname) fixture for decades. The pug, who was also a Pacific Coast bantamweight titlist, tragically lost his eyesight when he was just barely in his 20s. Back then, medical knowledge and the protection of fighters wasn’t like it is today. Think of more modern-day fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Israel Vazquez, two warriors who both suffered detached retinas while boxing.

Those are just two examples of athletes (with much better paychecks than most fighters of yesteryear ever received) whose vision was saved due to advanced medical technology that they were fortunate to receive. But back in the 1930s Robledo wasn’t as lucky to have that advantage. After a few jabs too many, the young fighter’s first eye was injured, only to have his right eye also maimed due to many of his battles in the ring. There were several operations to repair the severe retina damage he suffered but after a few unsuccessful surgeries, the young man’s life was forever changed–both inside and outside the ropes.

Here’s a promising young champ in the prime of his life with all the chips stacked in his favor…when the unthinkable happens and all plans go awry in a horrible and tragic twist of fate.

What would you do if you lost not only your precious eyesight but also the only career you’ve ever known?

Well, after a brief bout with depression Canto picked himself off the canvas once again–this time to dedicate the rest of his life to boxing as a manager and trainer.

And that is just one of the reasons this brand new bronze, sculpted by SoCal boxing trainer and artist Harpst, will be erected on a community center wall in Pasadena, the city where Robledo resided and raised his family. His gym was located in his backyard and many of his relatives still reside in neighboring areas. He passed away in 1999, but after the loss of vision, dedicated the rest of his 86 years to the area youth. Working alongside hundreds of boxers, both amateur and pro, who entered the doors of his Crown City Boxing Stable, Canto continued to pursue his lifelong passion of boxing.

This weekend salute has been a long time coming. In the last few years, I’ve attended many fundraisers organized by Canto’s son, Joe, the Pasadena Mexican American History Association, and their friends, family and supporters as they all worked tirelessly to make this public monument a reality.

Their efforts paid off as they will see this new work of art as a beloved tribute to a unique member of the boxing fraternity.

I’ve met several of his descendants who have regaled me with stories of Canto’s personality and his special way in dealing with others. He may have been sightless, but he used his ingenuity–and his other working senses–in making quite an impression on those he met along the way.

Several of his nieces and great nieces have told me humorous family stories from when Robledo would be able to tell boxers apart by the cadence of their footsteps, voices and skills in their workouts. And he was also able to gauge the levels of beauty in the fairer sex. They said he’d tell his pals which women were worth pursuing–all by a touch of the hand. Apparently, as legend has it, the sightless trainer, upon meeting a female acquaintance would shake her hand and pause briefly at her wrist. Remarkably, as those would attest, he could tell who were the real lookers just from that intuition alone! After hearing many warm and funny stories, I can tell how much Canto Robledo was loved and respected by anyone and everyone who ever crossed paths with the local hero.

On Saturday afternoon, city officials, trainers, fighters, the San Gabriel Valley community and more have all been invited to attend the ceremony, with special guests scheduled to speak as the blind boxing trainer receives accolades from those who knew him and worked with him. Robledo has been a genuine inspiration to many. He may have been robbed of sight, but he was a true visionary who enriched the lives of many underprivileged young kids who took up boxing instead of perhaps falling to a life of drugs and gangs.

Joining the fight community in lending their support will be Don Fraser, a legendary promoter, who knew Canto well. He began the fight nights at the Irvine Marriott and in the ’80s presented Robledo with an award. As founder of the California Boxing Hall of Fame and its reigning President, Fraser also gave a posthumous award to Canto’s brother, Joseph just last month. The three Robledo boxers, Joe, Canto and Ceferino all fought in the ’30s-’50s era. Canto, himself, received his own induction in 2005.

Also planning to attend is the West Coast nonprofit organization, the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF), where Canto was also inducted in 1988. President Mando Muñiz, Executive Committee Members Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia and Sergeant-at-Arms Gwen Adair will present another special award at the bronze unveiling.

The bronze relief sculptor, Steve Harpst, is also a WBHF member, who was first contacted by Canto’s son Joe Robledo about four years ago. The award-winning artist and boxing coach has spent an infinite amount of hours in completing this large-scale bronze relief. The plaque measures over two feet by three feet and, in a fitting tribute, will also feature three custom nameplates below the bronze with text in English, in Español–and in Braille!

After working in clay, wax and bronze, Harpst made sure each and every detail was in place as he prepped it for its foundry casting. The finished piece, entitled “Canto and Kids,” has also been enriched by a beautiful patina in a classic sepia shade.

“I’m very proud to be part of this. Canto is such an amazing man, especially when you think of all he had accomplished,” says Harpst. “Canto inspired so many kids; he really deserves this monument. And if this bronze inspires just one kid to stay in the gym and stay off the streets, then that’s an added bonus.”

Tomorrow, in its public unveiling sponsored by the Pasadena Mexican American History Association, the City of Pasadena and Vice Mayor Victor M. Gordo, the legacy of Canto Robledo will be forever installed into the annals of history, as he is captured doing what he loved to do and what he did best–coaching young boxers.

For more information: www.pmaha.org

Sculpture photos courtesy of Ray Flores and Steve Harpst