Luis Estaba

{{Short description|Venezuelan boxer (1938–2025)}} {{Infobox boxer |name=Luis Estaba |realname=Luis Alberto Estaba |nickname=Lumumba |weight={{plainlist| *Light flyweight}} |height=5 ft 3+1/2 in |nationality=Venezuelan |birth_date={{Birth date|1938|8|13|mf=y}} |birth_place=Güiria, Venezuela |death_date={{Death date and age|2025|2|16|1938|8|13|mf=y}} |death_place= |style=Orthodox |total=52 |wins=41 |KO=27 |losses=9 |draws=2 |no contests=0 }}

'''Luis Alberto Estaba''' (August 13, 1938 – February 16, 2025) was a Venezuelan boxer. Born in Güiria,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BoxRec |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/51390 |url-access=registration |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=boxrec.com}}</ref> he was nicknamed ''Lumumba'', most commonly said to be because of his resemblance to Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.<ref name="Sheinin-2020">{{Cite journal |last=Sheinin |first=David M. K. |date=2020 |title=Boxing Cultures and Perceptions of Violence in Venezuela |url=https://eialonline.org/index.php/eial/article/view/1677/1788 |journal=Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe |language=en |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=51–52 |doi=10.61490/eial.v31i2.1677 |issn=0792-7061|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Biography== A late starter into boxing, Estaba became a professional in 1967, at the relatively old (for boxing) age of 29. He beat Pedro Garcia by a knockout in one on February 28 of that year.

He kept his winning streak until losing a ten round decision to Natalio Jimenez in Caracas in 1968. He avenged that loss immediately by beating Jimenez in his next fight, by decision. After two more wins, he had his first fight abroad, when he lost to Jimenez, again by decision, at Santo Domingo.

On September 13, 1975, Estaba became boxing's second world champion ever in the Jr. Flyweight division, when he obtained the vacant WBC title by knocking out Rafael Lovera in the fourth round, who was making his professional debut during this world title bout. He defended the title 12 times, including victories over former or future world champions Franco Udella, Rafael Pedroza, and Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh.<ref name="PIÑA-2015">{{Cite web |last=PIÑA |first=SIMÓN |date=2015-09-18 |title=Hace 40 años Luis “Lumumba” Estaba se coronó campeón mundial minimosca |url=https://www.soloboxeo.com/2015/09/19/hace-40-anos-luis-lumumba-estaba-se-corono-campeon-mundial-minimosca/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |language=es}}</ref> In 1977, he was named ''Venezuelan Athlete of the Year''.

His luck ran out on February 19, 1978, when he lost the title to Mexico's Freddie Castillo by a knockout in round 14.<ref name="Sheinin-2020" /> After beating Ricardo Estupinan by a decision in 15 to win the ''Central American'' title in his division, he challenged Vorasingh (who had beaten Castillo) for the world title. Estaba lost by a knockout in five rounds on July 29,<ref name="PIÑA-2015" /> in what he knew would be his last fight as a professional, because local Venezuelan boxing laws ban anyone over 40 years old to box professionally, and Estaba turned 40 only two weeks after that fight.

Being forced into retirement, he left the sport of boxing with 41 wins, 9 losses and 2 draws, 27 wins having been by knockout.

Estaba died on February 16, 2025, at the age of 86.<ref>[https://2001online.com/deportes/luto-en-el-boxeo-fallece-el-excapeon-venezolano-luis-lumumba-estaba--202521615510/amp Luto en el boxeo: Fallece el excapeón venezolano Luis “Lumumba” Estaba] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Boxrec|id=051390}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach|ach}} {{s-break}} {{s-vac|last=Franco Udella}} {{s-ttl|title=WBC light flyweight champion |years=September 13, 1975 – February 19, 1978}} {{s-aft|after=Freddy Castillo}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Estaba, Luis}} Category:1938 births Category:2025 deaths Category:People from Güiria Category:Sportspeople from Sucre (state) Category:Venezuelan male boxers Category:World Boxing Council champions Category:World light-flyweight boxing champions Category:20th-century Venezuelan sportsmen