"Frankie was the premier pro ... He (also) was one of the greatest amateur fighters, although he never won a national title," said Bobby Lee, former executive secretary and current consultant to the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission.

"Every time they talk about old-time boxing in Hawai'i, they always talk about Frankie Fernandez."

Lee should know how good Fernandez was.

Fernandez scored a third-round technical knockout over Lee in 1939.

"He made me famous," Lee said of the fight that has been called "the greatest amateur fight in Hawai'i history."

Born on Maui, Fernandez dominated the lightweight class (135 pounds) during the 1930s and '40s.

Fernandez finished second in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Nationals in 1939 and was the Territorial Amateur Lightweight champion in 1937, '39 and '41.

He turned pro in 1944, moved up in weight, and was on track to box Sugar Ray Robinson. But that fight never materialized.

Robinson won the welterweight (147) title with a 15-round split decision over Tommy Bell.

That year, Bell came to Hawai'i and fought Fernandez at Honolulu Stadium.

Fernandez knocked out Bell, the No. 1-ranked welterweight at the time, in the 10th round. But Fernandez later lost and that fighter assumed the No. 1 ranking and eventually fought Robinson.

"He should have fought Sugar Ray Robinson in 1948" said his son, Frank Jr.

Newspaper clippings corroborate this. Fernandez would finish his career at 29-8-1.

After boxing, Fernandez worked for Hawaiian Electric.

He married Eleanor Maldonado in 1948. The couple had four children, three are survivors. Their first child, also named Eleanor, died in 1955 also on March 31.

"I was truly blessed with the perfect marriage, aside from the daughter we lost," said Eleanor, his wife of 56 years. "Frank was the most perfect person. That's why he was so popular with his fans. He never boasted; never, ever went bragging around. Very quiet. I remember going to the old stadium, and, I mean, 19,000 people. We had to use binoculars."

Fernandez Jr. said his father "was a very religious man. Outside the ring, he was the super nice individual."

Inside the ring, the fighter had a different persona.

"They called him 'Fearless Frankie' Fernandez. He was totally opposite in the ring," the son said.

"He was noted for his outstanding condition," Lee said. "While he didn't knock you out with one punch, he'd work you over ... he bored in and kept throwing punches and overwhelm fighters."

Lee said he remembers Fernandez having only one style.

At an AAU National Championships in 1939, Fernandez and Lee prepared for the fights by sparring each other.

"We were sparring. I said, 'Frankie, take it easy, we're just sparring.'

"He said, 'Bobby, I am taking it easy.' "

Besides his wife, Fernandez is survived by daughters, Noreen, and Angela, son, Frankie Jr., six grandchildren and one great grandchild.