Robert Garcia (American boxer)
Robert Garcia | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Garcia in December 2011 | |
| Born | Roberto García Cortez January 29, 1975 |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Grandpa |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Lightweight Super Featherweight Featherweight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Reach | 68 in (174 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 37 |
| Wins | 34 |
| Wins by KO | 25 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Roberto García Cortez (born January 29, 1975) is a retired Mexican-American professional boxer in the Lightweight division. García is the former IBF Super Featherweight Champion and was the 2011 RING Trainer of the Year. [1][2]
Roberto was trained by his father Eduardo García at the popular La Colonia Youth Boxing Club[3][4] and is the older brother of Miguel Ángel García, the WBO, and Ring Magazine Featherweight Champion.[5]
Early life
Born in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, Garcia grew up and still resides in Oxnard, California. He trained world champions with his Father at La Colonia Boxing Club.
Amateur career
Garcia had an extensive amateur career, which included a fight with future Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar De La Hoya.[6]
Professional career
Known as "Grandpa", García won his pro debut against Tsutomu Hitono at the International Center in Fukuoka, Japan.[7] He accumulated a record of 20–0, which included a win against future champion Derrick Gainer, before challenging for his first regional title.
NABF Super Featherweight Championship
In 1995 he took down the previously unbeaten American Julian Wheeler to win his first belt, the NABF Super Featherweight Championship.[8] Garcia successfully defended his Championship just three months later against Francisco Segura.[9]
NABF Featherweight Championship
At the Miami Arena, Garcia would move down to Featherweight and beat Darryl Pinckney to win the NABF Featherweight Championship.[10]
IBF Super Featherweight Championship
On March 13, 1998 a then undefeated García (29–0) captured the vacant IBF Super Featherweight Championship with a unanimous decision win over Harold Warren.[11] In his first title defense he knocked out Cuban Ramon Ledon at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey.[12]
Garcia's next fight was against two-time World Champion, Puerto Rico's John John Molina. García defeated Molina over twelve rounds, that fight card also featured Mike Tyson, Zab Judah, and Fres Oquendo.[13]
He lost the belt in an upset to rising undefeated Mexican American phenom Diego Corrales. After a win over title contender Sandro Marcos he moved back up in the world rankings.
WBA Super Featherweight Championship
In January 2001, he earned a shot at the undefeated WBA Super Featherweight champion Joel Casamayor. Casamayor won the fight and Garcia retired shortly after beating veteran John Trigg by knockout.
Training career
Garcia formally worked as a trainer at La Colonia Gym in Oxnard, California. Notable fighters who have trained under Garcia include Nonito Donaire. Most recently he opened his own boxing gym named Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California.[14][15]
Notable boxers Trained.
- Miguel Ángel García, the current WBO, and Ring Magazine Featherweight Champion.
- Fernando Vargas, a former two-time World Light Middleweight Champion.
- Brandon Ríos, a former WBA World Lightweight Champion.
- Steven Luevano, a former WBO World Featherweight Champion and made five successful defenses.
- Nonito Donaire, a four division World Champion and current Ring Magazine pound for pound fighter.
- Evgeny Gradovich, a former IBF Featherweight Champion.
- Kelly Pavlik, a former Lineal Middleweight Champion.[16]
- Marcos René Maidana, a former WBA Welterweight Champion and former WBA Light Welterweight champion.
- Antonio Margarito, a former two-time World Welterweight Champion.
- Hernán Márquez, the current WBA World Flyweight Champion.
- Marco Antonio Rubio, the current WBF World Super Middleweight Champion.
- Mia St. John, a , former WIBA, WIBF Lightweight, and WBC Light Middleweight, Champion.
- Brian Viloria, a former WBC and IBF Light Flyweight Champion.
- Joan Guzmán, a former two divisions WBO World Champion.
- Jesus Cuellar, the current WBA Fedelatin Featherweight Champion.
- Christopher Algieri, the current WBO World Light Welterweight Champion.
- Javier García Calderón, a Lightweight prospect.
- David García, a Welterweight prospect.
- Irving García, a Lightweight prospect.
- Felipe Campa, a former WBC Youth World Super Bantamweight Champion.
- Andrew Ruiz, an undefeated Light Welterweight prospect.
- Erik Ruiz, a Super Bantamweight prospect.
- Saúl Rodríguez, an undefeated Super Featherweight prospect.
- Hanzel Martínez, a Bantamweight prospect and the brother in law of Antonio Margarito.
- Herbert Acevedo, a Lightweight prospect.
- Marcos Reyes, a Middleweight contender.
- Victor Pasillas, an undefeated Featherweight prospect.
- Egidijus Kavaliauskas, he represented Lithuania at the 2008, 2012 Olympics Games and is a 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships bronze medalist.
- Michael Finney, a Light Welterweight prospect.
- Jesús Antonio Hernández, a Lightweight prospect.
- Ronald Ellis, an undefeated Super Middleweight prospect.
- Manuel Quezada, a Heavyweight contender.
- Allan Benitez, a Lightweight prospect.
- Alfonso Blanco, an undefeated Light Middleweight prospect.
- Alfonso Gómez, a competitor on The Contender.
- Mark Suárez, a former WBO NABO Welterweight Champion.
- Francisco Contreras, a Lightweight contender.
- Victor Ortíz, a former WBC welterweight champion.
See also
References
- ^ Fischer, Doug (2011-12-27). "Trainer of the Year for 2011". The Ring Magazine. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ Roberto Garcia – Boxrec. Boxrec.com (2012-04-01). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Eduardo Garcia (boxer) – Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia. Boxrec.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Boxing News | Robert Garcia Fundraiser a success. Fightnews (2010-10-18). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Velin, Bob (January 17, 2010). "Mikey Garcia goes from police academy to the prize ring". USA Today.
- ^ Oscar De la Hoya | Roberto 'Grandpa' Garcia (a) 1/1. YouTube (2009-04-17). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Wednesday 15 July 1992. International Center, Fukuoka, Japan. . BoxRec Boxing Records. Boxrec.com (1992-07-15). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Friday 21 April 1995. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. BoxRec Boxing Records. Boxrec.com (1995-04-21). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Saturday 29 July 1995. Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, United States. BoxRec Boxing Records]. Boxrec.com (1995-07-29). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Saturday 23 March 1996. Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, United States. BoxRec Boxing Records. Boxrec.com (1996-03-23). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Friday 13 March 1998. Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, United States. BoxRec Boxing Records. Boxrec.com (1998-03-13). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Roberto Garcia vs. Ramon Ledon – Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia. Boxrec.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ BoxRec Boxing Records. Boxrec.com (1999-01-16). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Viloria back to warrior's mentality » The Dean's Corner by Quinito Henson | Sports. philstar.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Victor Ortiz, Somehow With a Smile. Boxing.fanhouse.com (2009-03-07). Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
- ^ Rafael, Dan. (2011-01-02) Dan Rafael Blog – ESPN. Espn.go.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
External links
- Robert Garcia on Twitter
- Robert Garcia Boxing Academy on Facebook
- Boxing record for Robert Garcia from BoxRec (registration required)
- American boxers of Mexican descent
- Boxers from California
- Sportspeople from Oxnard, California
- World boxing champions
- International Boxing Federation champions
- World super-featherweight boxing champions
- Sportspeople from Los Angeles, California
- American boxing trainers
- Living people
- 1975 births
- American male boxers