Robert Garcia (American boxer)

Last updated
Robert Garcia
Robert Garcia (American boxer).jpg
Garcia in 2011
Born
Roberto Garcia Cortez

(1975-01-29) January 29, 1975 (age 49)
San Pedro, Los Angeles,
California, U.S.
Other namesGrandpa
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins34
Wins by KO25
Losses3

Roberto Garcia Cortez (born January 29, 1975) is a Mexican-American former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2001, and held the IBF junior lightweight title from 1998 to 1999. He has since worked as a boxing trainer, and was voted Trainer of the Year by The Ring magazine in 2011, and by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2012. [1] [2] He is the older brother of professional boxer Mikey Garcia, who was a world champion in four weight classes. [3]

Contents

Early life

Born in San Pedro, Los Angeles, Garcia grew up and still resides in Oxnard, California, and was trained by his father Eduardo Garcia at the La Colonia Youth Boxing Club. [4] [5] Garcia said that he has been in Oxnard, California, since he was two years old. [6] He considers himself to be Mexican, and has said that his father and mother are both of Mexican descent. [7] He said that his parents were illegal immigrants until the eighties. [8] He said that he grew up speaking Spanish, and that he learned to speak English when he went to school. [9] [10]

Amateur career

Robert Garcia had an extensive amateur career, but rumors about him fighting De La Hoya are unfounded. Although, Garcia has acknowledged sparring and training with the Hall of Famer.

Even so, his professional and amateur career are internationally recognized. [11]

Professional career

Known as "Grandpa", Garcia won his pro debut against Tsutomu Hitono at the International Center in Fukuoka, Japan. [12] He accumulated a record of 20–0, which included a win against future champion Derrick Gainer, before challenging for his first regional title.[ citation needed ]

NABF super featherweight champion

In 1995 he took down the previously unbeaten American Julian Wheeler to win his first belt, the NABF Super Featherweight Championship. [13] He successfully defended his championship just three months later against Francisco Segura. [14]

NABF featherweight champion

At the Miami Arena, Garcia moved down to Featherweight and beat Darryl Pinckney to win the NABF Featherweight Championship. [15]

IBF super featherweight champion

On March 13, 1998 a then undefeated Garcia (29–0) captured the vacant IBF Super Featherweight Championship with a unanimous decision win over Harold Warren. [16] In his first title defense he knocked out Cuban Ramon Ledon at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey. [17]

His next fight was against two-time World Champion, Puerto Rico's John John Molina. Garcia defeated Molina over twelve rounds; that fight card also featured Mike Tyson, Zab Judah, and Fres Oquendo. [18] He lost the belt in an upset to rising undefeated phenom Diego Corrales. After a win over title contender Sandro Marcos he moved back up in the world rankings.[ citation needed ]

WBA super featherweight title challenge and retirement

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 worked as a trainer at La Colonia Gym in Oxnard, California. Notable fighters who have trained under Garcia include Nonito Donaire and Tony Ferguson. [19] Most recently he opened his own boxing gym named Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California. [20] [21]

Notable boxers trained

Professional boxing record

37 fights34 wins3 losses
By knockout253
By decision90
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37Win34–3John TriggTKO4 (6), 3:00Sep 22, 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
36Loss33–3 Joel Casamayor TKO9 (12), 1:14Jan 6, 2001 Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For WBA super featherweight title
35Win33–2Sandro MarcosUD8 Jul 29, 2000 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
34Loss32–2 Ben Tackie TKO10 (10), 0:35Jun 3, 2000MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
33Loss32–1 Diego Corrales TKO7 (12), 0:48 Oct 23, 1999 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost IBF super featherweight title
32Win32–0 John John Molina UD12 Jan 16, 1999 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super featherweight title
31Win31–0 Ramon Ledon KO5 (12), 0:58Oct 24, 1998 Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained IBF super featherweight title
30Win30–0 Harold Warren UD12Mar 13, 1998 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant IBF super featherweight title
29Win29–0Roy SimpsonTKO1Jul 19, 1997 Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
28Win28–0Angel AldamaTKO5, 1:09 Jun 28, 1997 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27Win27–0Ramon SanchezKO2Dec 7, 1996Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
26Win26–0Jose HerreraTKO4Oct 13, 1996 Port Hueneme, California, U.S.
25Win25–0Jose Luis MadridKO3Jun 29, 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
24Win24–0Darryl PinckneyUD12Mar 23, 1996 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant NABF featherweight title
23Win23–0Eduardo MontesTKO4 (10), 2:20Jan 27, 1996 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
22Win22–0Francisco SeguraTKO12 (12), 1:10Jul 29, 1995 Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained NABF super featherweight title
21Win21–0Julian WheelerUD12Apr 21, 1995Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, NevadaWon vacant NABF super featherweight title
20Win20–0Israel Gonzalez BringasTKO4 (8), 1:17Mar 21, 1995 Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada
19Win19–0Lorenzo TiznadoTKO7 (10), 3:00Feb 18, 1995MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
18Win18–0Roberto VillarealTKO5Dec 10, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
17Win17–0 Derrick Gainer UD10 Nov 18, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16Win16–0Bobby BrewerKO3 (10)Sep 24, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15Win15–0Frank AvelarKO2 (10)Aug 27, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
14Win14–0Orlando EucedaTKO6 (8), 3:00Jul 29, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13Win13–0Raul ContrerasKO6Jun 24, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12Win12–0Gabriel CastroPTS6Mar 20, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
11Win11–0Jose HerreraPTS6Mar 12, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10Win10–0James DeanKO2 (8)Feb 4, 1994Civic Auditorium, Oxnard, California, U.S.
9Win9–0Hector DiazKO2, 2:56Jan 9, 1994 Del Mar, California, U.S.
8Win8–0Agapito NavarroKO1Dec 23, 1993 Barona Casino, Lakeside, California, U.S.
7Win7–0Fred HernandezTKO3Oct 30, 1993 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
6Win6–0Abel HinojosaTKO1 (6), 1:35Aug 5, 1993 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0Victor FloresUD6Mar 22, 1993Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Francisco ArroyoRTD5 (6), 3:00Mar 1, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
3Win3–0Jun Peat HitachiTKO5Nov 20, 1992 Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Ikuma ShigeharaKO2Sep 5, 1992 Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Tsutomu HitonoKO2Jul 15, 1992 Convention Center, Fukuoka, Japan

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Fischer, Doug (2011-12-27). "Trainer of the Year for 2011". The Ring Magazine. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  2. ↑ Roberto Garcia profile, Boxrec.com, 2012-04-01; retrieved 2012-05-17.
  3. ↑ Velin, Bob (January 17, 2010). "Mikey Garcia goes from police academy to the prize ring". USA Today.
  4. ↑ Eduardo Garcia (boxer) profile, Boxrec.com; retrieved 2012-05-17.
  5. ↑ "Robert Garcia Fundraiser a success" Archived 2010-10-21 at the Wayback Machine , Fightnews (2010-10-18); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  6. ↑ In a video which was published to YouTube on February 20, 2012, Garcia then said, "...this is where I'm from. This is where I grew up. I been in Oxnard since I was two years old. Uh, I know Oxnard. I love Oxnard." This quote starts at the 7:48 mark of the video, and ends at the 7:59 mark of the video.
  7. ↑ In a video which was published to YouTube on December 2, 2015, Garcia said, "Both my dad and my mom are both fucking a hundred percent Mexican. That makes me a Mexican. Right? Right? That makes me a Mexican." This quote starts at the 0:55 mark of the video, and ends at the 1:05 mark of the video.
  8. ↑ In a video which was published to YouTube on December 2, 2015, Garcia said, "Fool! My parents were illegal until I, the eighties! My parents were illegal until the eighties!" This quote starts at the 2:22 mark of the video, and ends at the 2:29 mark of the video.
  9. ↑ In a video which was published to YouTube on December 2, 2015, Garcia said, "We grew up Mexican, fool! We grew up fucking speaking Spanish. We grew up fucking Mexican." This quote starts at the 0:18 mark of the video, and ends at the 0:22 mark of the video.
  10. ↑ In a video which was published to YouTube on December 2, 2015, Garcia said, "Hey! I was raised fucking straight up Mexican, fool! I didn't learn Span- I didn't learn English until fucking I was in school!" This quote starts at the 2:05 mark of the video, and ends at the 2:12 mark of the video.
  11. ↑ "Who is Robert Garcia? Career, titles and tactics of the man Anthony Joshua has picked to mastermind Oleksandr Usyk's downfall | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  12. ↑ Tsutomu Hitono v Garcia, Boxrec.com (1992-07-15); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  13. ↑ NABF Super Featherweight Championship, boxrec.com (1995-04-21); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  14. ↑ Saturday 29 July 1995. Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, United States, BoxRec.com (1995-07-29); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  15. ↑ Darryl Pinckney v Garcia, Boxrec.com (1996-03-23); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  16. ↑ Harold Warren v Garcia, Boxrec.com (1998-03-13); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  17. ↑ Roberto Garcia vs. Ramon Ledon, Boxrec.com; retrieved 2012-05-17.
  18. ↑ BoxRec Boxing Records. Boxrec.com (1999-01-16); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  19. ↑ Tony Ferguson Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gjZfCmDqhg&t=147s]
  20. ↑ Quinito Henson, Viloria back to warrior's mentality » The Dean's Corner, philstar.com; retrieved 2012-05-17.
  21. ↑ "Victor Ortiz, Somehow With a Smile". Boxing.fanhouse.com (2009-03-07); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  22. ↑ Allan Benitez
  23. ↑ Rafael, Dan. (2011-01-02) Dan Rafael Blog – ESPN. Espn.go.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Eddie Hopson 		NABF super featherweight champion
April 21, 1995 – March 23, 1996
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Jesús Chávez
Vacant
Title last held by
Derrick Gainer 		NABF featherweight champion
March 23, 1996 – August 1996
Vacated
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Arturo Gatti 		IBF super featherweight champion
March 13, 1998 – October 23, 1999 		Succeeded by
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