ISRAEL “Pito” CARDONA

Pro Record: 36-6 (28 KOs)
Age: 32
Born: November 30, 1974 in Hartford, CT
Hometown: Hartford, CT
Former USBA & NABF lightweight title holder
Ex-IBO super featherweight & light welterweight champion

Despite no amateur boxing background, Israel “Pito” Cardona rocketed to stardom as a professional, starting in 1993 and ending in 2002. Frustrated by boxing politics, Cardona abruptly retired at the tender age of 27 with a 34-6 (26 KOs) record and world-class status.

“Pito” didn’t have an amateur career because, between the ages of 15 and 19, he was too busy as head boxing coach for the Hartford P.A.L. Giving back to his community is something Cardona has continued to do right to the present, whether it has involved starting Cub Scout Pack #49 or making countless speeches to youths at schools and juvenile detention centers.

Nearly four years since hanging up his gloves, “Pito” decided to return to the ring and he won his first comeback fight March 17 2006, registering a TKO at 2:39 of the first round against Bobby McAndrews.

Cardona’s goal is to exceed his well-documented success and capture a major world title for the first time.

Born and raised in Hartford (CT), Cardona won his first 24 fights, all in New England, 18 by knockout. In 1995, he captured his first championship belt, winning a unanimous 12-round decision against Jeff Mayweather (30-7-4) for the IBO super featherweight title. Three fights later, “Pito” stopped New England rival Mike Cappiello (29-4) in the fifth round of his 1996 title defense.

Cardona’s first fight outside of New England resulted in his first loss. Hector Lopez (34-5-1) won a 10-round decision in Kansas City (MO), but Cardona bounced back in his next bout, registering a sixth-round TKO of Steve Larrimore (24-17) for the IBO light welterweight title.

A 10-round loss by split decision to former IBF welterweight champion Charles “The Natural” Murray (39-4) was quickly followed by arguably Cardona’s most significant victory, a third-round stoppage of “Mighty” Ivan Robinson (23-1) for the USBA lightweight championship. In his previous bout, Robinson had lost the IBF welterweight belt to Philip Holiday and three fights after his loss to Cardona, Ivan beat Arturo “Thunder” Gatti for the first of two times in their 1998

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2 – Cardona bio

Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

“Pito” went on to win six in a row, including four USBA title defenses against (17-3-1) San Girard (KO3), (11-1-3) Richard Kiley (TKO8), (15-1-2) Golden Johnson (DEC12), which was also fought for the NABF belt, and (24-2-2) Joel Perez (TKO7).

In Cardona’s only major world title fight, undefeated Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora (26-0) won a 12-round decision for the vacant IBF lightweight championship. In his next fight, “Pito” was stopped for the only time in his career, by Julio Alvarez (20-5-1) in the 10th round of their 2000 match.

Three tune-up victories against Larrimore (TKO5), Matt Hill (TKO5) and Mike Rios (TKO2), were followed by decision losses to Julian Wheeler (19-6-1) in eight round and, in his last fight (July 12, 2002) to Miguel Figueroa in 10.

In his last fight (Sept. 23, 2006), “Pito” stopped cross-state rival Shaka Moore in the third round of their bout held in Cardona’s hometown of Hartford at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Cardona works as a lieutenant for a security company in Hartford, as well as a boxing trainer at LA Boxing in Hartford.

Cardona, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, managed by Bret Hallenbeck, and trained by John Scully, fights out of LA Boxing in Hartford, Connecticut.

-PC-