Manuel Medina (boxer)

Manuel Medina
Manuel Medina
Born	Juan Manuel Rubio Medina; March 30, 1971 (age 53); Tecuala, Nayarit, Mexico
Other names	Mantecas ("Lard")
	Statistics
Weight(s)	Featherweight ; Super featherweight ;
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach	69 in (175 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
	Boxing record
Total fights	84
Wins	67
Wins by KO	32
Losses	16
Draws	1

Last updated November 22, 2024

Manuel Rubio Medina (born March 30, 1971) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2008. He is a five-time featherweight champion, having held the IBF title thrice between 1991 and 2002, the WBC title in 1995, and the WBO title in 2003.

Professional boxing career

Manuel Medina began his professional boxing career on September 9, 1985, beating Daniel Flores by a four-round decision in Mexicali, Mexico. Medina was only fourteen years old when his first professional fight took place.

Medina won one more fight, then lost two bouts in a row: on December 5, he lost a four-round decision to Gerardo Martinez in his first fight abroad, held in San Jose, California, United States. On January 16, 1986, he suffered his first knockout defeat, being stopped because of a cut by Alex Madrid in San Diego.

After losing to Madrid, Medina had a streak of twenty seven wins in a row. That streak was stopped by Juan C. Salazar, who outpointed Medina over ten rounds on July 10, 1989, in Tijuana. After two more victories, however, Medina contended for his first championship belt, the regional WBA "International" super featherweight title, which he won by a seventh round disqualification victory against Edgar Castro, on December 11 of that same year, in Inglewood. Medina retained that title twice, then defeated Tyrone Jackson on May 21, 1990, also at Inglewood by a twelve-round decision. In his next fight on 5 July, he outpointed former world featherweight champion and Barry McGuigan conqueror, Steve Cruz over ten rounds.

1st Championship Reign

Medina won four bouts, then had his first chance at becoming a world champion, when, on August 12, 1991, he faced IBF featherweight champion Troy Dorsey in Inglewood. Medina was knocked down twice early, but became a world champion by getting up and defeating Dorsey by a twelve-round decision. He made four defenses of his title, including victories against Tom Johnson, beaten by a nine rounds technical decision and Fabrice Benichou, another world champion boxer, outpointed by Medina over twelve rounds. His first reign as world featherweight champion took him to places like France and Italy.

Medina lost the championship to Johnson by a twelve-round decision on their February 26, 1993 rematch, held in France. He turned to the super featherweight division, where he won one fight, then attempted to become world champion there also. But, on June 26 of the same year, he lost to IBF super featherweight champion John John Molina by a twelve-round decision, in Atlantic City.

2nd Championship Reign

Medina then returned to featherweight, where he won two more fights before facing Johnson in a rubber match, held on January 28, 1995 at Atlantic City. Johnson retained the IBF featherweight title he had won from Medina by beating him via a twelve-round decision. In his next fight, Medina won the WBC's regional Fecarbox title by defeating Juan Polo Perez by a twelve-round unanimous decision on March 15 in Miami, Florida.

Medina's next fight was televised nationally in the United States, as he became world Featherweight champion for the second time, defeating Alejandro González on September 23 of '95, with a twelve-round unanimous decision, at Sacramento, California, for the WBC featherweight title. He lost the title in his first defense, losing a twelve-round decision to Luisito Espinosa on December 11 at Tokyo, Japan.

After a win, Medina tried to become a three time world featherweight champion by challenging Naseem Hamed for Hamed's WBO title, but he was defeated by Hamed with an eleventh-round knockout on August 31, 1996 in Dublin, Ireland. He followed that loss with a win, and another attempt at winning a world featherweight championship for a third time, this time around in a rematch with Espinosa. held on May 17, 1997. He lost to the Asian champion, this time by an eight rounds technical decision at Intramuros, Philippines. Medina then lost his next fight, by a ninth-round knockout on August 7, to future world champion Derrick Gainer.

On October 18, he recovered from his two loss streak to defeat Jose Ayala in Homestead, Florida, winning the WBA's Fedecentro regional championship, and setting himself in a position to obtain another chance at winning the world featherweight title for the third time. He knocked Ayala out in the eighth round.

3rd Championship Reign

On April 24, 1998, Medina joined Carlos De León, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Edwin Rosario, Evander Holyfield and a small number of other boxers in the exclusive group of fighters to reign as world champions three or more times in the same division, when he outpointed defending IBF title holder Hector Lizarraga over twelve rounds in San Jose, California. He retained the title on April 16, 1999, in Las Vegas with a nine rounds technical decision over former world super featherweight champion Victor Polo, then proceeded to lose the championship to Paul Ingle.

The fight against Ingle, held on November 13 of the same year, in Hull, England, went on to be considered one of the fights of the year by boxing fans, experts and magazine writers alike. Floored in the second and tenth rounds, Medina almost saved his title when he dropped Ingle in the twelfth and last round. He ended up losing a unanimous decision, however.

Medina then met future world champion Frank Toledo, beating him in Las Vegas by a ten-round decision on May 19, 2000. Toledo then went on to win the IBF title by outpointing Mbulelo Botile, who had defeated Ingle. Medina, meanwhile, picked up two more wins, including a fourth-round knockout over future world title challenger Mike Juarez.

4th Championship Reign

Medina and Toledo had a rematch on November 16, 2001, with Medina joining Robinson as a four-time world champion in the same division when he knocked Toledo out in the sixth round.

His next fight was filled with controversy. Faced against former two division world champion Johnny Tapia on April 27, 2002, Medina lost the title by a twelve-round majority decision at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. The decision was criticized for months to come by writers from such publications as Ring and KO Magazine. The official scorecards reflected a very close fight, with two judges scoring it 115-113 for Tapia and a third scoring the fight a 114-114 tie.

Medina's first attempt at tying Robinson's record as the only boxer to win a world title in the same division five times came on February 1, 2003, when he and Juan Manuel Márquez faced off in Las Vegas for the IBF championship vacated by Tapia. Medina was knocked out in the seventh round by Marquez, however.

5th Championship Reign

After two more wins, Medina got his second chance at becoming world featherweight champion for the fifth time against WBO champion Scott Harrison. The two boxers fought for the first time on July 12 at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Medina made history and joined Robinson as the only two fighters in history to be five-time world champions in the same division, by defeating Harrison, who until then had been defeated only once, by a twelve-round split decision. A boxing magazine from the United States then called Medina the gambler's nightmare, because of his tendency to win world featherweight titles, lose them quickly, then regain them just as quick.

Medina and Harrison were rematched on November 29 of the same year, and Harrison regained the WBO title with an eleventh-round knockout of Medina, again, at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.

Super featherweight

Medina only fought once in 2004, defeating Leonardo Resendiz on July 23 at Rancho Mirage, California by a third-round knockout, to win the WBA's regional NABA super featherweight title.

He was to fight José Miguel Cotto on August 20, 2005 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Had he beaten Cotto, he would have put himself in a position to challenge for the WBO super featherweight title. Cotto was not able to reduce weight to the super featherweight weight limit, however, so the fight was suspended.

On 31-05-2006 he fought Cassius Baloyi for the IBF super featherweight title, the same title he'd challenged Molina for back in 1993, and lost by 11th-round TKO.

Medina returned to outpoint Kevin Kelley by a twelve-round majority decision, then fought a rematch with Baloyi on 05-07-2007 which was scored a technical draw after Medina suffered a cut from an accidental clash of heads. In his final fight, Medina lost by a two-round TKO to Malcolm Klassen. These final three bouts were all IBF super featherweight Title Eliminators.

Medina has a record of 64 wins and 15 losses in 78 professional boxing bouts, with 30 wins by way of knockout.

Professional boxing record

84 fights	67 wins	16 losses
By knockout	32	8
By decision	34	8
By disqualification	1	0
Draws	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Age	Location	Notes
84	Loss	67–16–1	Malcolm Klassen	TKO	2 (12), 1:49	Aug 29, 2008	37 years, 152 days	Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, North-West, South Africa
83	Draw	67–15–1	Cassius Baloyi	TD	4 (12)	Jul 5, 2007	36 years, 98 days	Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa
82	Win	67–15	Kevin Kelley	MD	12	Nov 11, 2006	35 years, 226 days	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
81	Loss	66–15	Cassius Baloyi	TKO	11 (12), 2:19	May 31, 2006	35 years, 62 days	Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, Washington, U.S.	For IBO and vacant IBF super featherweight titles
80	Win	66–14	Javier Osvaldo Alvarez	UD	12	Mar 24, 2006	34 years, 359 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
79	Win	65–14	Miguel Angel Galindo	RTD	5 (10), 0:10	Sep 9, 2005	34 years, 163 days	El Foro, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
78	Win	64–14	Leonardo Resendiz	TKO	3 (12)	Jul 23, 2004	33 years, 115 days	Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.	Won vacant NABA super featherweight title
77	Loss	63–14	Scott Harrison	TKO	11 (12), 0:31	Nov 29, 2003	32 years, 244 days	Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.	Lost WBO featherweight title
76	Win	63–13	Scott Harrison	SD	12	Jul 12, 2003	32 years, 104 days	Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.	Won WBO featherweight title
75	Win	62–13	Pedro Cruz	KO	1 (?)	Jun 6, 2003	32 years, 68 days	Auditorio Municipal, Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico
74	Win	61–13	Juan Ruiz	TKO	5 (8)	Apr 28, 2003	32 years, 29 days	Hotel Camino Real, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
73	Loss	60–13	Juan Manuel Márquez	TKO	7 (12), 1:18	Feb 1, 2003	31 years, 308 days	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	For vacant IBF featherweight title
72	Loss	60–12	Johnny Tapia	MD	12	Apr 27, 2002	31 years, 27 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Lost IBF featherweight title
71	Win	60–11	Frank Toledo	TKO	5 (12), 0:05	Nov 16, 2001	30 years, 231 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Won IBF featherweight title
70	Win	59–11	Mike Juarez	KO	4 (10), 2:42	Apr 27, 2001	30 years, 28 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
69	Win	58–11	Daniel Rodriguez	U	10	Oct 20, 2000	29 years, 204 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
68	Win	57–11	Frank Toledo	UD	10	May 19, 2000	29 years, 50 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
67	Loss	56–11	Paul Ingle	UD	12	Nov 13, 1999	28 years, 228 days	K.C. Sports Arena, Cottingham, Hull, Yorkshire, England, U.K.	Lost IBF featherweight title
66	Win	56–10	Victor Polo	TD	9 (12), 3:00	Apr 16, 1999	28 years, 17 days	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	Retained IBF featherweight title
65	Win	55–10	Héctor Lizárraga	UD	12	Apr 24, 1998	27 years, 25 days	San Jose Arena, San Jose, California, U.S.	Won IBF featherweight title
64	Win	54–10	Jose Ayala	TKO	8 (12)	Oct 18, 1997	26 years, 202 days	Curt Ivy PAL Gym, Homestead, Florida, U.S.	Won WBA Fedecentro featherweight title
63	Loss	53–10	Derrick Gainer	KO	9 (12), 1:20	Aug 7, 1997	26 years, 130 days	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.	For NABU super featherweight title
62	Loss	53–9	Luisito Espinosa	TD	8 (12)	May 17, 1997	26 years, 48 days	Luneta Park, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines	For WBC featherweight title
61	Win	53–8	Rosario Hernandez	KO	1 (?)	Dec 16, 1996	25 years, 261 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
60	Loss	52–8	Naseem Hamed	TKO	11 (12), 3:00	Aug 31, 1996	25 years, 154 days	The Point, Dublin, Ireland	For WBO featherweight title
59	Win	52–7	Benito Rodriguez	UD	10	Apr 12, 1996	25 years, 13 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
58	Loss	51–7	Luisito Espinosa	UD	12	Dec 11, 1995	24 years, 256 days	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan	Lost WBC featherweight title
57	Win	51–6	Alejandro González	SD	12	Sep 23, 1995	24 years, 177 days	Convention Center, Sacramento, California, U.S.	Won WBC featherweight title
56	Win	50–6	Juan Polo Perez	UD	12	Apr 15, 1995	24 years, 16 days	Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.	Won vacant WBC FECARBOX featherweight title
55	Loss	49–6	Tom Johnson	UD	12	Jan 28, 1995	23 years, 304 days	Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	For IBF featherweight title
54	Win	49–5	Jose Luis Martinez	UD	12	Sep 26, 1994	23 years, 180 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.	Won vacant NABF featherweight title
53	Win	48–5	Lorenzo Tiznado	TKO	2 (?)	Jun 3, 1994	23 years, 65 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
52	Loss	47–5	John John Molina	UD	12	Jun 26, 1993	22 years, 88 days	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	For IBF super featherweight title
51	Win	47–4	Francisco Valdez	TKO	8 (?)	May 11, 1993	22 years, 42 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
50	Loss	46–4	Tom Johnson	SD	12	Feb 26, 1993	21 years, 333 days	Salle de Fetes, Melun, France	Lost IBF featherweight title
49	Win	46–3	Moussa Sangare	MD	12	Oct 23, 1992	21 years, 207 days	La Salle du Sportica, Gravelines, France	Retained IBF featherweight title
48	Win	45–3	Jorge Rodriguez	UD	8	Sep 12, 1992	21 years, 166 days	Patinoire de Toulouse, Blagnac, France
47	Win	44–3	Fabrizio Cappai	RTD	10 (12)	Jul 22, 1992	21 years, 114 days	Palazzo Dello Sport, Capo d'Orlando, Sicilia, Italy	Retained IBF featherweight title
46	Win	43–3	Fabrice Benichou	SD	12	Mar 14, 1992	20 years, 350 days	Espace Piscine, Antibes, France	Retained IBF featherweight title
45	Win	42–3	Tom Johnson	TD	9 (12)	Nov 18, 1991	20 years, 233 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.	Retained IBF featherweight title
44	Win	41–3	Troy Dorsey	UD	12	Aug 12, 1991	20 years, 135 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.	Won IBF featherweight title
43	Win	40–3	Agustin Salinas	TKO	8 (?)	May 30, 1991	20 years, 61 days	Acapulco, Gurerro, Mexico
42	Win	39–3	Mario Gomez	KO	5 (?)	May 17, 1991	20 years, 48 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
41	Win	38–3	Edward Parker	MD	10	Dec 6, 1990	19 years, 251 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
40	Win	37–3	Bruno Rabanales	UD	10	Sep 3, 1990	19 years, 157 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
39	Win	36–3	Steve Cruz	UD	10	Jul 8, 1990	19 years, 100 days	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
38	Win	35–3	Tyrone Jackson	UD	12	May 21, 1990	19 years, 52 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
37	Win	34–3	Ben Lopez	TKO	8 (12)	Mar 26, 1990	18 years, 361 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.	Retained WBA inter-continental super featherweight title
36	Win	33–3	Rafael Ortega	TKO	8 (12), 2:25	Feb 16, 1990	18 years, 323 days	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Retained WBA inter-continental super featherweight title; Not to be confused with Rafael Ortega
35	Win	32–3	Edgar Castro	DQ	7 (12)	Dec 11, 1989	18 years, 256 days	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.	Won WBA inter-continental super featherweight title
34	Win	31–3	Jose Mendez	KO	3 (?)	Nov 16, 1989	18 years, 231 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
33	Win	30–3	Juan Manuel Vega	TKO	6 (?)	Sep 16, 1989	18 years, 170 days	Monumental Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
32	Loss	29–3	Juan Carlos Salazar	TKO	10 (?)	Jul 10, 1989	18 years, 102 days	Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
31	Win	29–2	Ashby Dancy	TKO	1 (?), 3:00	May 21, 1989	18 years, 52 days	Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
30	Win	28–2	Ashby Dancy	TKO	1 (?)	May 21, 1989	18 years, 52 days	Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
29	Win	27–2	Jose Luis Calderon	TKO	3 (?)	Apr 3, 1989	18 years, 4 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
28	Win	26–2	Miguel Molina	KO	6 (?)	Mar 11, 1989	17 years, 346 days	Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
27	Win	25–2	Mariano Canete	TKO	4 (?)	Feb 20, 1989	17 years, 327 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
26	Win	24–2	Manuel Camacho	TKO	4 (?)	Dec 5, 1988	17 years, 250 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
25	Win	23–2	Ramiro Rodriguez	UD	10	Oct 17, 1988	17 years, 201 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
24	Win	22–2	Santiago Parra	KO	6 (?)	Aug 22, 1988	17 years, 145 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
23	Win	21–2	Luis Mora	UD	10	May 9, 1988	17 years, 40 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
22	Win	20–2	Marco Antonio Santos	KO	3 (?)	Feb 8, 1988	16 years, 315 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
21	Win	19–2	Julio Valle	PTS	10	Oct 16, 1987	16 years, 200 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
20	Win	18–2	Jorge Aguilar	KO	4 (?)	Oct 5, 1987	16 years, 189 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
19	Win	17–2	Antonio Flores	PTS	6	Aug 10, 1987	16 years, 133 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
18	Win	16–2	Martin Juarez	UD	4	Jul 16, 1987	16 years, 108 days	El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, U.S.
17	Win	15–2	Jorge Salas	KO	4 (?)	Jun 15, 1987	16 years, 77 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
16	Win	14–2	Chiqui Ruiz	PTS	6	Mar 30, 1987	16 years, 0 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
15	Win	13–2	Jose Enriquez	PTS	6	Feb 9, 1987	15 years, 316 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
14	Win	12–2	Jose Nunez	PTS	6	Dec 6, 1986	15 years, 251 days	Mexico
13	Win	11–2	Jaime Reyes	PTS	6	Dec 1, 1986	15 years, 246 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
12	Win	10–2	Pablo Carrasco	KO	3 (?)	Sep 8, 1986	15 years, 162 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
11	Win	9–2	Oldemar Soto	TKO	6 (?)	Aug 8, 1986	15 years, 131 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
10	Win	8–2	Roberto Garcia	KO	3 (?)	Jul 19, 1986	15 years, 111 days	Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
9	Win	7–2	Oldemar Soto	PTS	4	May 9, 1986	15 years, 40 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
8	Win	6–2	Aquilino Ceballos	KO	1 (?)	Apr 25, 1986	15 years, 26 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
7	Win	5–2	Jose Venegas	PTS	4	Apr 4, 1986	15 years, 5 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
6	Win	4–2	Jose Trujillo	KO	2 (?)	Mar 12, 1986	14 years, 347 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
5	Win	3–2	Victor Mendoza	PTS	4	Feb 10, 1986	14 years, 317 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
4	Loss	2–2	Alex Madrid	TKO	4 (5)	Jan 16, 1986	14 years, 292 days	El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, U.S.
3	Loss	2–1	Gerardo Martinez	PTS	4	Dec 5, 1985	14 years, 250 days	Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Roberto Garcia	PTS	6	Nov 10, 1985	14 years, 225 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
1	Win	1–0	Daniel Flores	PTS	4	Oct 9, 1985	14 years, 193 days	Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

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References

1 2 Sky Sports tale of the tape prior to the Scott Harrison rematch.

External links

Boxing record for Manuel Medina from BoxRec (registration required)

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title	WBA super featherweight champion Inter-Continental title December 11, 1989 – August 12, 1991 Won IBF featherweight title	Vacant Title next held by Tontcho Tontchev
Vacant Title last held by Victor Polo	WBC featherweight champion FECARBOX title April 15 – 23 September 1995 Won world title	Vacant Title next held by Damian Brazoban
World boxing titles
Preceded by Troy Dorsey	IBF featherweight champion August 12, 1991 – February 26, 1993	Succeeded by Tom Johnson
Preceded by Alejandro González	WBC featherweight champion September 23, 1995 – December 11, 1995	Succeeded by Luisito Espinosa
Preceded by Hector Lizarraga	IBF featherweight champion April 24, 1998 – November 13, 1999	Succeeded by Paul Ingle
Preceded by Frank Toledo	IBF featherweight champion November 16, 2001 – April 27, 2002	Succeeded by Johnny Tapia
Preceded by Scott Harrison	WBO featherweight champion July 12, 2003 – November 29, 2003	Succeeded by Scott Harrison
Achievements
Previous: Sugar Ray Robinson	Quintuple Champion in One Division July 12, 2003	Most Recent

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[taleofthetape-1] 1 2 Sky Sports tale of the tape prior to the Scott Harrison rematch.

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