Speedy Dado

Diosdado Posadas (December 25, 1906 – July 2, 1990), better known as Speedy Dado, was a Filipino boxer who contended for the world flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight championships.

His managers included Frank Churchill, and Jesus Cortez.

Dado was born Diosdado B. Posadas in Manila on December 25, 1906.

In an era when Asian boxers would often be referred to only by their nationality, he took the last two syllables of his birth name to use in the ring.

In his career, he would be a top-rated contender for world titles in three separate weight divisions, and fight championship matches in each weight class.

He began his boxing career in 1926.

Winning nearly all of his early bouts, he lost his first against Newsboy Brown on April 24, 1928, for the California version of the world flyweight title.

Brown defeated him by technical knockout due to Dado's shoulder injury in the sixth round.

The fighting was back and forth until the sixth, when Dado, taking a beating, suffered a dislocated shoulder.

He met Brown twice more, winning one fight and losing the other.

On February 10, 1931, Dado defeated Newsboy Brown at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles for the vacant USA California State bantamweight championship.

Dado took six rounds with Brown only one, and the rest were even.

Reigning world bantamweight champion Panama Al Brown fell to Dado in a non-title ten-round decision on January 4, 1932, at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Showing great speed, Dado won convincingly, according to the Los Angeles Times, taking nine rounds to only the fourth for Brown.

In the seventh, Dado unleashed a fury of punches that had Brown groggy.

The San Francisco Examiner gave Dado only six rounds, but agreed Dado's win was decisive.

Despite a six-inch disadvantage in height, and a significantly shorter reach, Dado had the speed to get close.

On November 15, 1932, Dado defeated Rodolfo Casanova in a well publicized main bout before 10,000 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Dado floored Casanova twice in the first round, once for counts of seven and five, but Casanova fought back and appeared to take the second.

The Los Angeles Times gave four rounds to Dado, with the fourth, sixth and tenth to Casanova, with three even.

Dado fought for world titles on three other occasions, losing both of them.

He lost a ten-round points decision in Los Angeles on January 25, 1933, to Baby Arizmendi for the California version of the world featherweight title.

Arizmendi, in a clear victory, was credited with five rounds to only one for his Filipino challenger.

Arizmendi handily took the fifth through seventh rounds.

In their two previous bouts, each boxer had won once.

Dado defeated Baby Palmore on March 10, 1933, in a ten-round points decision in Hollywood.

In a convincing victory, the Los Angeles Times wrote that Dado won all but the fourth round.

The fifth started with Palmore clipping Dado with three strong rights to the chin that left him reeling, but Dado retaliated getting Palmore against the ropes, and continued to take the lead in the sixth through tenth.

Earth tremors occurred during the bout.

In a previous meeting at Hollywood Stadium with Palmore on February 10, 1933, Dado had been embarrassed by a first-round knockout from a short overhand right to the jaw, 1:15 into the first round.

He lost on March 21, 1933, to Freddie Miller for the National Boxing Association featherweight title at the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles.

Miller won seven of the ten rounds, and had Dado on the floor for a six count from a strong right to the head in the second round.

Dado took only rounds three and seven.

In a widely publicized bout on June 9, 1933, Dado drew with former Canadian bantamweight champion Pete Sanstol in a ten-round points decision at Dreamland in San Francisco.

Both boxers boxed cautiously in the tame bout, though Sanstol appeared the aggressor.

Several local papers wrote that Dado may have had a very slight edge in points.

On October 24, 1933, Dado defeated Young Tommy, another Filipino boxer, in a ten-round points decision at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles for the USA California State Bantamweight title.

The crowd of 7,000 saw Dado use somewhat better defensive skills, and greater speed, though Tommy may have delivered the stronger blows at times.

In a close bout, Dado took five rounds, Tommy four, and one was even.

On May 19, 1933, Young Tommy won the state title against Dado in a ten-round points decision at Dreamland Auditorium in San Francisco.