Canto Robledo

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.

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.

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.

• 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