His win over Joey Giardello and Johnny Bratton helped propel him to fight with Kid Gavilán (or Gavilan) in 1954 for the world welterweight championship. He beat Gavilan via a fifteen-round decision to take the title.
The win over Joey Giardello and Johnny Bratton propelled him to a fight with Kid Gavilán (or Gavilan) in 1954 for the world welterweight championship. He emerged victorious by winning a fifteen-round decision against Gavilán, claiming the title.