👑 World Champion

Small “Benjamin Jamito Gan” Montana

February 24, 1913 – August 4, 1976

📍 Place of Birth: Bacolod City, Philippines

81 Wins

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22 Losses

–

10 Draws

11 KOs

Career: 1930 – 1941

World Titles

NYSAC NYSAC World Flyweight

Won: Sep 16, 1935 UD Midget Wolgast; 1 DefenseLost: Dec 15, 1936 Vacated

Regional Belts

USA USA Hawaii State Bantamweight

Won: Jul 03, 1936 UD Augie CurtisLost: Jul 03, 1937 Vacated

About Small Montana

Small Montana (born Benjamin Jamito Gan, February 24, 1913 – August 4, 1976) was a Filipino flyweight boxer from Bacolod, Negros Occidental. Standing 5’4” and fighting as an orthodox stylist, he was known for his speed and cleverness rather than knockout power, scoring 83 wins with only 13 stoppages across 118 professional bouts. Inspired by Pancho Villa, Montana turned pro in 1932 and captured the American Flyweight Title in 1935 with victories over Midget Wolgast. He later fought abroad, losing to Benny Lynch in London in 1937, and faced notable opponents including Manuel Ortiz, Speedy Dado, and Little Dado. Though he never secured a universally recognized world championship, Montana was regarded as one of the Philippines’ prominent flyweights of the 1930s. He passed away in La Carlota, Negros Occidental, in 1976 at the age of 63.

Fight Record 114 bouts

No.	Date	Location	Opponent	Division	Result	Rds	At Stake
114	18 Jul 1941	Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, US	Mario Chico Morales 6-8-1		W-UD	8
113	07 Jun 1941	Arena Nacional, Mexico City, MX	Leonardo Lopez 14-8-1		L-UD	10
112	31 May 1941	Arena Nacional, Mexico City, MX	Pedro Ramirez 6-2-2		W-UD	10
111	10 May 1941	Palacio de Deportes, Havana, CU	Lorenzo Safora 14-1-2		D	10
110	02 May 1941	Arena Cristal, Havana, CU	Luis Castillo 16-2-2	Super Flyweight	L-UD	12
109	26 Apr 1941	Palacio de Deportes, Havana, CU	Bobby Leyvas 39-18-8		W-KO	2/10
108	05 Apr 1941	Palacio de Deportes, Havana, CU	Luis Castillo 15-2-1	Flyweight	L-UD	12
107	13 Feb 1941	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, US	Tommy Forte 35-8-2	Super Bantamweight	L-MD	8
106	30 Jan 1941	Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, US	Lou Transparenti 25-17-0	Super Bantamweight	L-UD	10
105	10 Dec 1940	Haft's Acre, Columbus, US	Freddie Pope 24-0-0	Super Flyweight	L-UD	10
104	02 Dec 1940	Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, CA	Lou Salica 50-10-12	Bantamweight	L-TKO	3/15
103	21 Oct 1940	Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, US	Cyril Joseph 28-26-8	Super Bantamweight	W-UD	6
102	10 Jan 1940	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Little Pancho 90-12-22	Super Flyweight	L-UD	10
101	04 Oct 1939	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Jackie Jurich 39-6-5	Super Flyweight	L-UD	10
100	25 Aug 1939	Olympic Arena, Reno, US	Al Robinson 21-21-9	Flyweight	W-KO	10
99	21 Jul 1939	Watsonville Civic Auditorium, Watsonville, US	Al Robinson 21-20-9	Flyweight	W-UD	10
98	03 Mar 1939	Legion Stadium, Hollywood, US	Jackie Jurich 37-4-4	Super Flyweight	L-TKO	7/10
97	02 Jan 1939	Memorial Civic Auditorium, Stockton, US	Manuel Ortiz 13-4-0	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10
96	19 Dec 1938	National Hall, San Francisco, US	Little Caesar 6-23-3	Bantamweight	NC	1/8
95	30 Nov 1938	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Little Dado 44-4-4	Flyweight	L-UD	10	CSAC-California World Flyweight
94	17 Oct 1938	City Arena, Richmond, US	Pete Powell 30-27-8	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10
93	03 Oct 1938	Griffith Stadium, Washington, US	Aurelien Lamothe 2-4-4	Flyweight	W-TKO	8
92	17 Aug 1938	Madison Square Garden, New York, US	Tommy Forte 24-4-1	Bantamweight	W-UD	6
91	03 Aug 1938	Queensboro Arena, Long Island City, Queens, US	Katsumi Morioka 28-27-11	Flyweight	W-UD	15
90	13 Jun 1938	Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, CA	Panchito Villa 22-6-0	Bantamweight	W-SD	10
89	30 May 1938	Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, CA	Baby Yack 15-4-0	Super Bantamweight	W-UD	10
88	09 May 1938	Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, CA	Frankie Jarr 55-17-9	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
87	14 Dec 1937	San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, US	Jackie Jurich 33-1-3	Flyweight	L-UD	10
86	26 Oct 1937	San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, US	Jackie Jurich 33-1-2	Flyweight	D	10	CSAC California Flyweight
85	27 Aug 1937	Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, US	Little Dado 31-4-2	Super Flyweight	D	10
84	27 Apr 1937	Empire Pool, Wembley, GB	Pat Palmer 22-7-2	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10
83	04 Mar 1937	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, GB	Pat Palmer 22-6-2		W-UD	10
82	08 Feb 1937	King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, GB	Tiny Bostock 57-15-4	Super Flyweight	L-UD	12
81	19 Jan 1937	Empire Pool, Wembley, GB	Benny Lynch 80-10-16	Flyweight	L-UD	15	NBA (WBA) World Flyweight · National World Flyweight
80	20 Nov 1936	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Star Frisco 51-19-12	Super Flyweight	L-UD	10
79	10 Nov 1936	Memorial Civic Auditorium, Stockton, US	Mauricio Seria 14-2-5	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
78	28 Oct 1936	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Peppy Sanchez 48-23-15	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
77	15 Aug 1936	Armory, Minneapolis, US	Abe Konaaihele 6-3-3	Bantamweight	W-UD	8
76	18 Jul 1936	Volcano Arena, Hilo, US	Augie Curtis 44-13-11	Super Flyweight	D	8
75	03 Jul 1936	Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, US	Augie Curtis 44-12-11	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10	USA Hawaii State Bantamweight
74	17 Apr 1936	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Jimmy Uchida 7-13-5	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10
73	20 Mar 1936	Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, US	Lou Salica 27-3-4	Bantamweight	L-UD	10
72	12 Feb 1936	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Bobby Leyvas 22-3-0	Bantamweight	L-UD	10
71	16 Dec 1935	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Tuffy Pierpont 21-3-4	Flyweight	W-UD	10	NYSAC World Flyweight
70	05 Nov 1935	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, US	Midget Wolgast 150-18-12	Super Bantamweight	L-UD	10
69	21 Oct 1935	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Tuffy Pierpont 20-3-3	Super Flyweight	D	10
68	01 Oct 1935	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, US	Bobby Olivas 14-10-4	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
67	16 Sep 1935	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Midget Wolgast 148-17-12	Flyweight	W-UD	10	NYSAC World Flyweight
66	31 Aug 1935	Memorial Civic Auditorium, Stockton, US	Speedy Dado 100-27-15	Super Bantamweight	W-UD	10
65	12 Aug 1935	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Bobby Olivas 13-9-4	Bantamweight	W-TKO	3/10
64	05 Aug 1935	Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, US	Antal Kocsis 21-12-5	Bantamweight	W-UD	8
63	03 Jul 1935	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, US	Midget Wolgast 144-16-12	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
62	24 May 1935	Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, US	Joe Tei Ken 40-18-14	Super Bantamweight	W-UD	10
61	07 May 1935	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, US	Antal Kocsis 21-11-4		W-UD	10
60	08 Mar 1935	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, US	Joe Tei Ken 40-16-14	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
59	30 Nov 1934	Watsonville Civic Auditorium, Watsonville, US	Augie Curtis 37-7-9	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10
58	12 Nov 1934	Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, US	Tony Marino 16-5-1	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
57	25 Oct 1934	L Street Arena, Sacramento, US	Tony Marino 16-4-1	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
56	04 May 1934	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Joe Tei Ken 36-11-11	Bantamweight	L-UD	10
55	26 Jan 1934	Watsonville Civic Auditorium, Watsonville, US	Chato Laredo 46-33-10		W-UD	10
54	15 Dec 1933	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Chato Laredo 46-32-8	Super Flyweight	D	10
53	21 Jun 1933	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Young Sport 23-17-4	Bantamweight	W-UD	10
52	09 Jun 1933	Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, US	Billy McLeod 11-6-20	Super Flyweight	W-UD	6
51	31 May 1933	Golden Gate Arena, San Francisco, US	Felix Ignacio 21-12-4	Super Flyweight	W-TKO	5/8
50	24 May 1933	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Young Sport 23-16-4	Bantamweight	W-TKO	4/6
49	10 May 1933	Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, US	Peppy Sanchez 29-12-7	Flyweight	W-UD	10
48	03 May 1933	Golden Gate Arena, San Francisco, US	Tuffy Pierpont 14-2-3	Flyweight	W-KO	2/6
47	05 Apr 1933	Auditorium, Oakland, US	Tuffy Pierpont 13-2-3	Super Flyweight	L-UD	4
46	02 Mar 1933	Memorial Civic Auditorium, Stockton, US	Billy McLeod 10-3-18	Super Flyweight	D	10
45	27 Jan 1933	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, US	Billy McLeod 10-3-17	Super Flyweight	D	10
44	30 Dec 1932	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, US	Joe Tei Ken 24-1-10	Super Flyweight	W-UD	10
43	15 Dec 1932	Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, US	Al Robinson 19-16-6	Minimumweight	W-KO	1/10
42	10 Nov 1932	Houston Arena, Honolulu, US	Frisco Dencio	Light Flyweight	W-TKO	3/8
41	20 Aug 1932	Wailuku, Hawaii, US	Sadato 'KO' Kuratsu 4-6-3	Flyweight	W-UD	8
40	05 Aug 1932	Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, US	Young Sport 22-13-3	Flyweight	W-UD	8
39	18 Jun 1932	Wailuku Stadium, Wailuku, US	Henry Kudo 4-3-1	Flyweight	W-UD	8
38	21 May 1932	Houston Arena, Honolulu, US	Frankie Baron 1-0-1	Flyweight	W-UD	6
37	14 May 1932	Wailuku Stadium, Wailuku, US	Joe Doclen 0-5-1		W-TKO	2/6
36	06 May 1932	Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, US	Sadato 'KO' Kuratsu 4-5-3		W-UD	8
35	01 Mar 1932	PH	Young Silva 0-2-0		W-UD	10
34	01 Feb 1932	Manila, PH	Kid Kelly		D	10
33	09 Jan 1932	Olympic Stadium, Manila, PH	Dommy Reyes 2-1-0	Flyweight	W-UD	10
32	01 Dec 1931	PH	Rush Jolly		W-UD	10
31	14 Nov 1931	Olympic Stadium, Manila, PH	Dommy Reyes 1-1-0		L-UD	8
30	01 Nov 1931	PH	Kid Bakong		W-UD	10
29	01 Oct 1931	PH	Young Domingo 0-2-0		D	10
28	10 Sep 1931	PH	Young Vicente		W-UD	8
27	01 Sep 1931	PH	Young Radiola		W-UD	8
26	15 Aug 1931	PH	Fighting Obsiman		W-UD	6
25	06 Jun 1931	Olympic Stadium, Manila, PH	Little Reynes		W-UD	4
24	01 May 1931	PH	Kid Agustin		W-UD	6
23	10 Apr 1931	PH	Young Silva		W-UD	6
22	01 Apr 1931	PH	Kid Iloilo		W-UD	6
21	01 Mar 1931	PH	Kid Leonard		W-UD	6
20	10 Feb 1931	PH	Rush Ribo		W-UD	6
19	01 Feb 1931	PH	Kid Felipe 0-1-0		W-UD	6
18	01 Jan 1931	PH	Young Johnson		W-UD	6
17	01 Dec 1930	PH	Kid Aviola		W-UD	6
16	10 Nov 1930	PH	Fighting Quenubatan		W-UD	6
15	01 Nov 1930	PH	Kid Felipe		W-UD	6
14	01 Oct 1930	PH	Young Alvarez 5-3-4		W-UD	4
13	01 Sep 1930	PH	Fighting Sorsegon		W-KO	3/
12	01 Aug 1930	PH	Little Domaguillas 0-1-0		W-UD	4
11	10 Jul 1930	PH	Doc Olaso 0-1-0		W-UD	6
10	01 Jul 1930	PH	Little Domaguillas		W-UD	4
9	10 Jun 1930	PH	Jack Silver		W-UD	4
8	01 Jun 1930	PH	Little Ligaspe 0-2-0		W-UD	4
7	03 May 1930	Manila, PH	David Dencio		L-UD	4
6	19 Apr 1930	Manila, PH	Camel Joe		W-UD	4
5	15 Mar 1930	Manila, PH	Al Aguirre 0-1-0		W-UD	4
4	01 Feb 1930	Manila, PH	Little Ligaspe 0-1-0		W-UD	4
3	20 Jan 1930	PH	Al Garcia		W-UD	4
2	10 Jan 1930	PH	Doc Olaso		W-UD	4
1	01 Jan 1930	PH	Little Ligaspe		W-UD	4