Ludwig Lightburn: Boxing Career and Key Results
Ludwig Lightburn was a lightweight boxer from British Honduras, now Belize, who rose to the top ten of The Ring magazine’s division rankings in the 1950s. He fought at Madison Square Garden and later entered the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.
A Belizean contender in the 1950s
Lightburn competed internationally during a period when detailed records from his home country were rarely preserved. A contemporaneous March 1956 ranking printed in the Washington Afro-American placed him fifth among lightweights. A later 7 News Belize retrospective describes his eight appearances at Madison Square Garden and notes that documentation of his career in Belize is limited.
One notable result came on December 16, 1955, when Lightburn defeated Ralph Dupas over 10 rounds at Madison Square Garden. Fight records also show two meetings with Orlando Zulueta in 1956: Zulueta won their July contest by decision, and Lightburn won the rematch a month later. The first bout’s BoxRec record reproduces Associated Press commentary about the close fight; the BoxerList chronology lists the rematch and the Dupas win.
Lightburn’s standing is also recognized in New Jersey, where he was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. His story combines a notable record in the U.S. boxing scene with the challenges of preserving sports history from Belize’s earlier decades.
Selected Recorded Results
- 1961-02-18: Ludwig Lightburn lost to Alfredo Cota in Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara.
- 1960-11-26: Ludwig Lightburn won against Don Jordan in Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara.
- 1960-10-29: Ludwig Lightburn drew with Alfredo Cota in Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara.
- 1960-10-01: Ludwig Lightburn won against Gildo Montoya in Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara.
- 1960-09-03: Ludwig Lightburn won against Bobby Cervantes in Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara.
- 1960-02-12: Ludwig Lightburn won against LC Morgan in Monterrey.
- 1959-03-24: Ludwig Lightburn lost to Al Malone in Mobile.
- 1958-12-15: Ludwig Lightburn lost to Arthur Persley in Coliseum Arena, New Orleans.
Sources
Washington Afro-American; 7 News Belize retrospective; Biographical source.
Article Tags
Ludwig Lightburn, Boxing, Sports History
