Young Tommy: In the Gaze of Dempsey, In the Shadow of Villa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Apr 2025
In the small town of Silay in the sugar bowl region Negros Occidental, a Filipino boy named Fernando Opao was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1910. Years later, the boxing world would come to know him by another name— Young Tommy.
Before he ever set foot in America, he was already a champion in the making. His speed, reflexes, and fearless heart made him the flyweight and bantamweight king of the Orient. That was no small feat. Most fighters would have been content. But not Tommy. He wanted more.
Like every young Filipino fighter, he had a hero— Pancho Villa. Villa had shattered ceilings, becoming the first Filipino world champion and proving his people belonged on boxing’s biggest stage. But his story ended too soon. In 1925, at just 23 years old, Villa died suddenly.
Young Tommy never forgot.
So in 1929, with nothing but his gloves and a dream, he left the Philippines behind. He wasn’t just fighting for a career. He was fighting for something bigger.
Earning Respect in America
Life in the U.S. wasn’t easy. Back home, he was already a champion. But in America? That meant nothing. If he wanted respect, he had to earn it all over again.
He fought anyone, anywhere. No easy matchups. No favors. Just battles. And by 1932, the National Boxing Association ranked him the fifth-best bantamweight in the world. That changed everything. Now, the big fights were coming.
One of the toughest was Newsboy Brown. A veteran. Durable, slick, and hard to beat. Tommy had to be faster. The match was brutal. Round after round, they traded bombs. Brown kept pressing forward, but Tommy’s speed and movement were too much. When the final bell rang, Tommy’s hand was raised. He was now the California State Bantamweight Champion. That night in Sacramento, a new attendance record was set. The Filipino kid from Silay had arrived.
Source: THE KNOCKOUT, Vol. Б, SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1932, No. 12
The Jack Dempsey Stamp of Approval
One of the men watching that night? Jack Dempsey. Dempsey wasn’t just any fight fan. He was The Man. A heavyweight legend. A king of the ring. And after seeing Young Tommy in action? He liked what he saw.
Dempsey wasn’t just a boxing icon—he was a kingmaker. If he believed in a fighter, the world took notice. And he believed in Young Tommy. With Dempsey’s backing, Tommy’s career exploded. He started getting bigger fights, bigger venues, bigger names. He was no longer a rising star—he was one step from greatness. But his next fight? That one was personal.
Getting Payback for Pancho Villa
Everyone knew Frankie Genaro. Olympic gold medalist. Former world champion. A veteran with a deep bag of tricks. But for Filipinos? He was the man who had beaten Pancho Villa. Not once. Twice. Villa never got his shot at revenge. But Young Tommy? He did.
Genaro started sharp, using his experience to dictate the pace. He cut off Tommy’s movement, kept him in the corners, and forced the fight on his terms. But Tommy was too quick. He slipped out, countered clean, and started dictating the action himself.
By round two, the momentum had shifted. Genaro was on his heels. By the third round, Tommy was in full control.
Then it happened.
Boom. A fake right. Genaro bit. That was his mistake.
Left hook.
Genaro’s head snapped back. His legs buckled. He stumbled. Then came the right hand. Flush on the chin. Genaro hit the canvas. The referee started counting, but it was over before it even began. Young Tommy had just done what Pancho Villa never got the chance to do. He knocked out Frankie Genaro. The Filipino fans went wild.
One Step from a World Title
Every fighter dreams of one moment. The night when all the years of work pay off.
For Young Tommy, that moment came in 1935. He fought Pablo Dano for the California version of the bantamweight world title. Dano was bigger. Stronger. A natural bantamweight. But Tommy had spent his whole life proving people wrong.
The fight started with Tommy at his best. Fast hands. Crisp counters. He moved in and out, landing clean shots and making Dano miss. But Dano wouldn’t break. He kept coming forward. Walking through fire. Pressuring Tommy every second. Tommy gave everything he had. But it wasn’t enough. By the eighth round, the fight was stopped. Dano had won. The title had slipped away.
Fighting Until the End
That loss didn’t stop Young Tommy. He wasn’t built like that. He kept fighting. He even got a rematch with Pablo Dano. This time? A draw.
But time was catching up. By the late 1930s, Tommy’s reflexes weren’t as sharp. The punches he once dodged started landing. The fights got tougher. The crowds got smaller. And then? One day, the headlines stopped. No farewell fight. No grand sendoff. Just silence.
Source:THE KNOCKOUT, Vol. 5, SAT., FEB. 27, 1932, No. 8
A Fighter Worth Remembering
Young Tommy wasn’t just another fighter. He was a symbol. A fighter who stepped into the ring for something bigger than himself. A warrior who gave Filipinos a reason to believe.
And he proved— time and again— that Filipino fighters belonged on the world stage.
Career Record
• Career Span (1929-1938)
• Height: 5’3” (160 cm)
• 65 Wins (24 KO)
• 18 Losses (12 KO)
• 12 Draws
• Notable Opponents: Frankie Genaro, Pablo Dano, Speedy Dado, Little Pancho, Joe Tei Ken, Benny Schwartz, Canto Robleto
Sources and recommended readings:
• Top Photo of Young Tommy: THE KNOCKOUT, Vol. 5 Published Weekly, SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1932
• Young Tommy Boxing Record: https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/41264
• Young Tommy Boxing Record: https://boxerlist.com/boxer/young-tommy/34243
• All photos and references in this article are properly attributed and comply with the U.S. Fair Use Doctrine
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.
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