John Leo Dato
# John Leo Dato

John Leo Olpindo Dato (born June 9, 1993) is a Filipino professional boxer.

## Personal life

Dato was born in Bangar, La Union, Philippines. Dato is a son of Filipinos who worked as caregivers in the US, his family migrated to Bakersfield, California when he was seven years of age.

Dato attended Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria, California. During his high school days Dato was a wrestler, track and field player and footballer. Dato pursued his career in boxing after graduating high school when he was 17-years old.

Dato runs the JLD Boxing Academy and also currently works as a personal trainer.

## Boxing career

### Featherweight division

On 15 December 2016, Dato made his professional debut in boxing. Dato defeated Mexican boxer Manuel Bernal via a Round 3 knockout (KO). Following the bout, Dato defeated Mexican boxer Guadalupe Arroyo, winning a majority decision (MD) through four rounds.

On 15 July 2017, Dato extended his winning streak in just 4 months after his win against Arroyo by defeating Mexican boxer Eduardo Ronquillo via a Round 3 knockout (KO). 5 months later, Dato registered another victory by defeating Mexican boxer Victor Manuel Martinez Flores via a Round 1 knockout (KO).

On 19 January 2018, just 1 month from his previous fight, Dato defeated American boxer Michael Gaxiola, winning a unanimous decision (UD) through four rounds, all judges scored 40–35 in favor of Dato. 6 months later, Dato received his first draw of his boxing career against Mexican boxer Pedro Antonio Rodriguez, the match ended in a technical draw (TD).

A month later following his technical draw (TD) against Rodriguez, Dato once again defeated American boxer Michael Gaxiola via a Round 4 knockout (KO).

### Super Featherweight division

Following the bout, Dato moved up one division, to super featherweight, defeated Mexican boxer Jose Iniguez two months after his second fight with Gaxiola, winning a knockout (KO) in the first round. Dato once again defeated Mexican boxer Guadalupe Arroyo, winning a unanimous decision (UD) through four rounds, all judges scored 40–35 in favor of Dato.

On 11 January 2019, one month after his second win against Arroyo, Dato defeated American boxer Aaron Jamel Hollis via a Round 4 knockout (KO).

### Lightweight division

Dato moved up one division, to lightweight, defeated Mexican boxer Miguel Villalobos via a Round 3 knockout (KO).

### Return to Super Featherweight

Following the bout, Dato moved down one division, back to Super featherweight, defeated Mexican boxer Germán Meraz, winning a unanimous decision (UD) through six rounds.

### Return to Featherweight

**Pacquiao vs. Thurman**

Dato returned to featherweight and defeated Mexican Boxer Juan Antonio Lopez via a Round 5 knockout (KO). The match was one of the undercard bouts in Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman pay-per-view fight.

In October 2019, Dato once again defeated Mexican boxer Germán Meraz, winning a unanimous decision (UD) through six rounds, all judges scored 60–53 in favor of Dato.

In December 2019, Dato defeated Mexican boxer David Godinez via a Round 5 KO.

Dato was scheduled to fight Dominican boxer Angel Luna in April 2020, but the fight was moved to June 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2020, after months of waiting, Dato finally returned to the ring and defeated Mexican boxer Angel Guevara via a Round 3 TKO. Following the bout, more than two months after his win against Guevara, Dato defeated Mexican boxer Jorge Romero via a Round 5 TKO extending his unbeaten streak to 17.

**Pacquiao vs. Ugás**

In August 2021, it was announced that Dato is scheduled to fight Mexican Boxer Angel Antonio Contreras. The match was one of the undercard bouts in Manny Pacquiao vs. Yordenis Ugás pay-per-view fight.

### Return to Super Featherweight

After more than seven months from his first professional loss, Dato moved up one division and returned to super featherweight. He was scheduled to fight Mexican veteran boxer Rodrigo Guerrero on 1 April 2022 at Chumash Casino, Sta. Ynez, California. He defeated Guerrero via a round 5 TKO.

His next fight was then scheduled on 13 January 2023 against American boxer Jesus Rizo. He defeated Rizo via a unanimous decision (UD) through eight rounds.

## Professional boxing record

| 20 fights | 18 wins | 1 loss |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 12 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Jesus Rizo | UD | 8 | 13 Jan 2023 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Rodrigo Guerrero | TKO | 5 (8) | 1 Apr 2022 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 18 | Loss | 16–1–1 | Angel Antonio Contreras | UD | 8 | 21 Aug 2021 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Jorge Romero | TKO | 5 (8) | 13 Nov 2020 | Papas & Beer, Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Angel Guevara | TKO | 3 (8) | 28 Aug 2020 | Papas & Beer, Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | David Godinez | KO | 5 (6) | 13 Dec 2019 | Big Punch Arena, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Germán Meraz | UD | 6 | 4 Oct 2019 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Juan Antonio Lopez | KO | 5 (6) | 20 Jul 2019 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Germán Meraz | UD | 6 | 1 Jun 2019 | Sobobo Casino Resort, San Jacinto, California, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Miguel Villalobos | KO | 3 (4) | 3 May 2019 | Centro de Eventos, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Aaron Jamel Hollis | KO | 4 (4) | 11 Jan 2019 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Guadalupe Arroyo | UD | 4 | 8 Dec 2018 | Industry Hills Expo Center, La Puente, California, U.S. | Won GBO California State super featherweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Jose Iniguez | KO | 1 (4) | 13 Oct 2018 | La Officina Bar & Eventos, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Michael Gaxiola | KO | 4 (4) | 18 Aug 2018 | Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Draw | 5–0–1 | Pedro Antonio Rodriguez | TD | 4 | 6 July 2018 | Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Michael Gaxiola | UD | 4 | 19 Jan 2018 | California Education and Performing Arts Center, Ontario, California, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Victor Manuel Martinez Flores | KO | 1 (4) | 9 Dec 2017 | Gimnasio Independencia, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Eduardo Ronquillo | KO | 3 (4) | 15 Jul 2017 | Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Guadalupe Arroyo | MD | 4 | 19 Mar 2017 | Marconi Automotive Museum, Tustin, California, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Manuel Bernal | KO | 3 (4) | 15 Dec 2016 | AS Boxing Arena, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |

## Titles in boxing

### Minor titles

* GBO California State Super Featherweight title (128 lbs)
