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José Soares Santa (25 December 1902 – 5 April 1968), known as Santa Camarão ("Camarão" being a family nickname meaning Shrimp in English)[1] or Zé Santa in Portugal, and as Jose Santa or Joe Santa in the United States, was a Portuguese boxer. At 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) he was one of the tallest heavyweight boxers in history.

The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for sports and athletics. (December 2020)

José Santa
Statistics
Real name	José Soares Santa
Nickname(s)	Camarão
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	2.02 m (6 ft 7.5 in)
Nationality	Portuguese
Born	(1902-12-25)25 December 1902 Ovar, Portugal
Died	5 April 1968(1968-04-05) (aged 65) Ovar, Portugal
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	95
Wins	69
Wins by KO	48
Losses	20
Draws	4
No contests	2

Life and career

Son of António Soares Santa and Josefa Pereira dos Santos, Santa was a remarkable individual growing up to 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) at a time when the average height for a man in Portugal was 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in). He was born in Ovar, and in 1911 moved to Lisbon, where his father was earning for his family. There he had a brief career in wrestling, before changing to professional boxing in 1922.[1]

Santa's professional boxing career lasted until 1934, which he mostly spent in Portugal (1922–26, with a few fights later in 1929), Brazil (1926–28 and 1933–34), and the United States (1930–33) where he was widely popular with the Portuguese immigrants livings in southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He contested the European title in 1929 against Pierre Charles, but lost by points; he also lost to heavyweight champions Max Baer and Primo Carnera. He also signed for a three-round exhibition fight with former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson late in Johnson's career but the commission nixed it, fearing for Johnson's life.[2]

Santa played himself in two boxing movies, Love in the Ring (1930) and The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933), alongside the boxing celebrities Max Schmeling, Max Baer and Jack Dempsey.[3] Love in the Ring was the first international movie where Portuguese was spoken on screen, by Santa Camarão. He received US$8,000 for The Prizefighter and the Lady, which was his largest ever single payment.[1]

In 1932, while fighting in the United States, Santa married the Portuguese American woman Mary Loreta de Oliveira. After retiring from the ring, in 1935 he took her back to his hometown. The same year Mary Loreta gave birth to his son, Renaldo José Santa. She separated from her husband in 1949, taking Renaldo with her.[1]

Santa Camarão died in 1968 in Ovar, in the same house where he was born.[1] Later a street in Lisbon was named Rua José Santa Camarão in his honor.[4] In 2003, he was posthumously awarded the Medal for Good Sports Services (Medalha de Bons Serviços Desportivos) by the Government of Portugal.[5]

Until Nikolay Valuev (2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)) became a professional boxer in 1993, Santa was the tallest heavyweight in boxing history. He enjoyed a sizable reach advantage over most rivals, and when seen on fight footage, he seems like a towering giant compared to many heavyweights of his era, who were usually shorter than him.

Professional boxing record

69 Wins (48 knockouts), 20 Losses (7 knockouts), 4 Draws, 2 No Contests[6]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	69-20-4 (2)	Claudio Villar	TKO	9 (10)	11 November 1934	Praca de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal
Loss	69-19-4 (2)	Victorio Campolo	TKO	3 (10)	7 July 1934	Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	69-18-4 (2)	Norman Tomasulo	KO	4 (10)	16 June 1934	Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	68-18-4 (2)	Arturo Costarelli	TKO	5 (10)	5 May 1934	Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss	67-18-4 (2)	Mario Lenzi	PTS	10	1 February 1934	Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	67-17-4 (2)	Guillermo Silva	TKO	4 (10)	25 November 1933	Estadio Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	66-17-4 (2)	Gene Brown	TKO	5 (10)	2 August 1933	Chestnut St. Arena, Reno, Nevada, USA
Win	65-17-4 (2)	Kenneth Lee	TKO	3 (10)	28 July 1933	F.D.E.S. Hall, Newman, California, USA
Loss	64-17-4 (2)	KO Christner	PTS	10	12 July 1933	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Loss	64-16-4 (2)	Gene Stanton	KO	9 (10)	24 May 1933	Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
Win	64-15-4 (2)	Gene Stanton	PTS	10	26 April 1933	Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
Win	63-15-4 (2)	Johnny Dixon	TKO	3 (6)	2 March 1933	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Win	62-15-4 (2)	Jim Maloney	TKO	5 (10)	20 January 1933	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA	Stopped after round 4 due to a cut
Win	61-15-4 (2)	Vinko Jakasa	KO	2 (10)	19 December 1932	New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
Loss	60-15-4 (2)	Primo Carnera	TKO	6 (10)	18 November 1932	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States	Santa down in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th, referee stoppage.
Win	60-14-4 (2)	Sammy Ward	PTS	10	28 October 1932	North Street Rink, Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Win	59-14-4 (2)	Jack Meyer	TKO	2 (10)	14 September 1932	10th Street Arena, Modesto, California, USA
Win	58-14-4 (2)	Bucky Harris	TKO	2 (10)	2 September 1932	Stockton, California, USA
Loss	57-14-4 (2)	Ray Impelletiere	TKO	9 (10)	8 August 1932	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	57-13-4 (2)	Jack Gardner	KO	2 (10)	23 July 1932	Chestnut St. Arena, Reno, Nevada, USA
Win	56-13-4 (2)	Cecyl Myart	KO	5 (10)	13 July 1932	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	55-13-4 (2)	Ernie Stout	TKO	2 (10)	24 November 1931	Tulare County Fairgrounds, Tulare, California, USA
Loss	54-13-4 (2)	Max Baer	KO	10 (10)	21 October 1931	Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, United States
Draw	54-12-4 (2)	Tom Heeney	PTS	12	5 October 1931	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Loss	54-12-3 (2)	Tom Heeney	PTS	12	10 September 1931	Mark's Stadium, Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA
Win	54-11-3 (2)	Leon Chavelier	PTS	10	3 August 1931	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	53-11-3 (2)	Roberto Roberti	PTS	10	15 July 1931	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	52-11-3 (2)	Hans Birkie	RTD	6 (10)	1 July 1931	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA	Taking a beating during the entire bout, Birkie quit at the end of round 6 claiming a broken hand
Loss	51-11-3 (2)	Hans Birkie	PTS	10	8 June 1931	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	51-10-3 (2)	Johnny Grosso	KO	2 (10)	11 May 1931	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	50-10-3 (2)	Jack Beasley	KO	1 (10)	27 April 1931	Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
Win	49-10-3 (2)	Salvatore Ruggirello	KO	6 (10)	20 March 1931	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, USA	Ruggirello down 13 times
Win	48-10-3 (2)	Jack Singer	KO	1 (?)	12 March 1931	Clark's Audtorium, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Loss	47-10-3 (2)	Salvatore Ruggirello	KO	2 (10)	5 March 1931	Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
NC	47-9-3 (2)	Knute Hansen	NC	2 (10)	4 February 1931	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA	Declared a no contest when Hansen fell without being hit
Win	47-9-3 (1)	Jack Silver	KO	1 (?)	12 January 1931	Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	46-9-3 (1)	Roberto Roberti	PTS	10	1 January 1931	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Win	45-9-3 (1)	Carl Carter	KO	3 (10)	31 October 1930	Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Win	44-9-3 (1)	Tiny Hoffner	KO	1 (10)	21 October 1930	Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Win	43-9-3 (1)	Gordon Munce	TKO	3 (10)	13 October 1930	Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Win	42-9-3 (1)	Riccardo Bertazzolo	PTS	10	3 October 1930	Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Win	41-9-3 (1)	Otis Gardner	KO	1 (10)	22 September 1930	Mark's Stadium, Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA
Win	40-9-3 (1)	Umberto Torriano	TKO	4 (10)	15 September 1930	Velodrome, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	39-9-3 (1)	Emilio Solomon	PTS	10	10 September 1930	Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Win	38-9-3 (1)	Jack Shaw	KO	2 (?)	5 September 1930	Velodrome, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	37-9-3 (1)	Al Tottinger	KO	2 (10)	22 August 1930	Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
Win	36-9-3 (1)	Al Shearing	KO	3 (10)	14 August 1930	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, USA
Win	35-9-3 (1)	Andres Castano	KO	3 (10)	1 August 1930	Miller Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, USA
Loss	34-9-3 (1)	Ernst Guehring	PTS	10	11 April 1930	Festhalle Frankfurt, Germany
Win	34-8-3 (1)	Rudi Wagener	PTS	10	2 February 1930	Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
Win	33-8-3 (1)	Ernst Roesemann	TKO	5 (10)	5 January 1930	Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
Draw	32-8-3 (1)	Jack Stanley	PTS	10	17 December 1929	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, UK
Win	32-8-2 (1)	Robert Villard	TKO	2 (10)	7 December 1929	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
Loss	31-8-2 (1)	Hans Schoenrath	PTS	8	22 November 1929	Sportpalast Schoeneberg, Germany
Win	31-7-2 (1)	Jack Stanley	PTS	10	1 November 1929	Estadio do Covelo, Gondomar, Portugal
Loss	30-7-2 (1)	Pierre Charles	PTS	15	30 June 1929	Praca de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal	European title fight
Win	30-6-2 (1)	Constant Barrick	KO	2 (10)	14 April 1929	Praca de Touros do Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	29-6-2 (1)	Jack Humbeeck	KO	6 (10)	6 March 1929	Palacio de Cristal, Porto, Portugal
Loss	28-6-2 (1)	Armando de Carolis	PTS	12	3 November 1928	Campo de Moraes e Silva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss	28-5-2 (1)	Armando de Carolis	PTS	10	5 August 1928	Estadio da Floresta, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Win	28-4-2 (1)	Orlando Reverberi	PTS	10	9 June 1928	Campo de Moraes e Silva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	27-4-2 (1)	Epifanio Islas	PTS	12	15 April 1928	Estadio da Floresta, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Win	26-4-2 (1)	Carlos Oldani	PTS	12	22 December 1927	Estadio Manoel Schwartz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss	25-4-2 (1)	Carlos Oldani	PTS	10	14 November 1927	Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	25-3-2 (1)	Paul Rod	KO	1 (10)	23 October 1927	Estadio da Floresta, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Win	24-3-2 (1)	Epifanio Islas	PTS	15	7 September 1927	Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	23-3-2 (1)	Juan Moragues	PTS	10	5 July 1927	Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	22-3-2 (1)	Paul Hams	KO	15 (15)	4 June 1927	Campo Riachuelo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	21-3-2 (1)	Miguel Ferrara	DQ	9 (10)	14 May 1927	Teatro Republica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	20-3-2 (1)	Jaime Escobar	KO	2 (10)	4 March 1927	Teatro Republica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	19-3-2 (1)	Erwin Klausner	TKO	2 (10)	1 January 1927	Teatro Republica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss	18-3-2 (1)	Epifanio Islas	PTS	10	1 December 1926	Estadio Manoel Schwartz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss	18-2-2 (1)	Epifanio Islas	PTS	10	17 November 1926	Estadio da Floresa, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Win	18-1-2 (1)	Paul Hams	PTS	10	7 September 1926	Campo do Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Draw	17-1-2(1)	Miguel Ferrara	PTS	10	24 July 1926	Campo do Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	17-1-1 (1)	Roberto di Lorenzo	KO	1 (10)	10 July 1926	Campo do Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	16-1-1 (1)	Marc Lunaud	KO	6 (10)	7 May 1926	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	15-1-1 (1)	Rozi	KO	2 (10)	21 April 1926	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	14-1-1 (1)	Joe Mullings	DQ	3 (10)	12 April 1926	Palacio de Cristal, Porto, Portugal
Draw	13-1-1 (1)	Constant Barrick	PTS	10 (10)	30 March 1926	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
NC	13-1 (1)	Soldier Jones	NC	1 (10)	18 February 1926	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal	Fight stopped after first round due to very poor quality
Win	13-1	Guardsman Charlie Penwill	KO	3 (10)	11 February 1926	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	12-1	Constant Barrick	PTS	10	8 January 1926	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	11-1	Jack Taylor	PTS	12	22 December 1925	Porto, Portugal
Loss	10-1	Jack Humbeeck	PTS	10	3 November 1925	Palacio de Cristal Porto, Portugal
Win	10-0	Jack Humbeeck	PTS	10	9 September 1925	Palacio de Cristal Porto, Portugal
Win	9-0	Andres Balsa	TKO	2 (10)	19 August 1925	Palacio de Cristal Porto, Portugal
Win	8-0	Laurent Mahieu	TKO	1 (10)	4 August 1925	Porto, Portugal
Win	7-0	Marcel Nilles	TKO	3 (10)	26 July 1925	Estadio do Lumiar, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	6-0	Paul Journee	KO	2 (10)	20 June 1925	Porto, Portugal
Win	5-0	Laurent Mahieu	PTS	10	4 June 1925	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	4-0	Leon Derensy	KO	1 (10)	12 May 1925	Porto, Portugal
Win	3-0	Arthur Vermaut	TKO	2 (10)	22 April 1925	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	2-0	Georges Morgan	TKO	4 (10)	8 April 1925	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal
Win	1-0	Albert Demoor	KO	2	3 April 1925	Palacio de Cristal, Porto, Portugal

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Camarão.

• José Santa (III) (1902–1968). IMDb
• Movie clip with Max Schmeling and Jose Santa (YouTube)
• "Com o Mundo nos Punhos", by Luís Filipe Maçarico. CML Edition (2003). N. Dep. Legal 200844/03 PT
• "Santa Camarão", by Xavier Almeida. Chili com Carne Edition (2017)

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