On This Day: Baby Arizmendi Claims Mexico's First World Boxing Title in 1935

Date: 1 January 1935

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

The Result: A new world champion and the birth of a boxing legacy.

If you ask boxing historians about the "Mexican Style", that relentless, pressure-heavy, body-punching spirit, they might point to legends like Julio César Chávez or Salvador Sánchez. But the DNA of that fighting spirit can be traced back to New Year’s Day in 1935, and a man with a boyish smile named Alberto "Baby" Arizmendi.

On that day, Arizmendi didn't just win a bout; he etched his name in stone as the first widely recognised world champion born in Mexico, defeating one of the greatest fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves: Henry Armstrong.

The Man Behind the Smile

Born in Torreón (or Tampico, depending on the account), Coahuila, Alberto Arizmendi was an unlikely gladiator. As a child, he suffered from polio, a disease that could have left him unable to walk, let alone fight. Boxing became his physiotherapy, a way to strengthen his frail limbs.

By the time he was a teenager, the frailty was gone, replaced by a granite chin and an engine that never stopped. He turned pro at just 13 years old (hence the nickname "Baby"), and while his face remained youthful, his style was pure violence. Arizmendi was a "crowder"—he didn't dance; he suffocated opponents, forcing them into a war at close quarters where he thrived.

The Battle of Mexico City

By 1935, the 20-year-old Arizmendi was already a seasoned veteran. Standing across the ring from him in Mexico City was Henry "Homicide Hank" Armstrong.

To understand the magnitude of this win, you have to understand Armstrong. Henry Armstrong is often ranked among the top three boxers of all time, a man who would later hold world titles in three weight classes simultaneously. He was a buzzsaw.

But Arizmendi was the buzzsaw's wrench.

They had met just two months prior in a non-title bout where Arizmendi, fighting with a broken wrist from the second round onwards, still managed to outwork Armstrong. Now, on New Year's Day, the stakes were higher: the World Featherweight Championship (recognised by Mexico and California).

The fight was a gruelling 12-round affair. It wasn't a tactical chess match; it was a collision. Arizmendi, fuelled by a raucous home crowd, met Armstrong’s legendary volume punch for punch. He didn't just survive Armstrong; he backed him up. When the final bell rang and the decision was read, Arizmendi’s hand was raised.

He hadn't just beaten a champion; he had beaten a future legend, and in doing so, he brought the first legitimate world title home to Mexico.

Why It Matters Today

While historians sometimes debate the technical "first" (citing figures like Solly Smith or Battling Shaw, who were often tied to the US by birth or career), Arizmendi is the spiritual godfather of Mexican boxing. He was the first born on Mexican soil to capture a world title and defend it on the global stage.

His rivalry with Armstrong (they fought five times!) proved that Mexican fighters were not just tough journeymen—they were elite technicians of infighting.

Arizmendi’s legacy is the blueprint for the Mexican champions who followed:

• The Chin: He was never knocked out in his prime.

• The Heart: Fighting through broken bones and cuts.

• The Pressure: Never taking a backward step.

So, the next time you see a Mexican fighter smiling before the bell rings, remember "Baby" Arizmendi. He proved that sometimes the most dangerous fighter in the room is the one with the baby face.