also outpointed former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, and boxed a draw with the legendary Archie Moore. He retired with a record of 63 wins (14 by KO), 13 losses and 8 draws. Perhaps in the high point of his career, Pastrano appeared on the cover of March 22, 1965, issue of Sports Illustrated with the caption reading "Light Heavyweight Willie Pastrano Ready to Defend His Title". Life after boxing After he retired from boxing, Pastrano became a spokesman for a local Miami, Florida milk company. On August 30, 1966 in the Milwaukee Sentinel, it was reported that Pastrano had been secretly training for a comeback, but an auto injury had sidelined it. In 1967, Pastrano became the official host of the Presidential Steak House in Miami Beach, Florida. However, urged on by his good friend, singer Steve Alaimo, Pastrano embarked on a film career which spanned from 1967 to 1971. In 1964, Pastrano appeared on the Jackie Gleason Show. Pastrano's best regarded acting role was in the "B" motorcycle gang film, The Wild Rebels, which starred Steve Alaimo. Pastrano said in a 1980 interview he was a heroin addict from 1966 to 1969. In the same interview, he claimed to have robbed to support his drug addiction. He became a drifter. Owen Thomas helped him out in his time of need. He worked as a host in a restaurant in Reno, Nevada; a chip runner in Las Vegas, and a bouncer in a strip-club in Miami His well-documented party life-style led to health problems, and Pastrano's film career ended. While living in Las Vegas in the early 1970s, he claimed to be training for a comeback when interviewed for the book, In This Corner. Pastrano was reported to be boxing in Puerto Rico in 1972, but a fighter was using a name similar to the former champion, Willie Pastrana. Pastrano never made a comeback. In 1980, Pastrano was the manager for pro-boxer, Chubby Johnson in New Orleans. After many years of failing health, Pastrano died of liver cancer on December 9, 1997 at the age of 62. Professional boxing record See also List of light-heavyweight boxing champions References External links Willie Pastrano - CBZ Profile |- |- |- |- 1935 births 1997 deaths American people of Italian descent American male boxers Light-heavyweight boxers World light-heavyweight boxing champions World Boxing Association champions World Boxing Council champions The Ring (magazine) champions