Robert Garcia (American boxer)

Roberto Garcia Cortez (born January 29, 1975) is an 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]

Not to be confused with Roberto García (Mexican boxer).
Robert Garcia
Garcia in 2011
Statistics
Real nameRoberto Garcia Cortez
Nickname(s)Grandpa
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm)
Reach67 in (170 cm)
Born (1975-01-29) January 29, 1975
San Pedro, Los Angeles,
California, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins34
Wins by KO25
Losses3

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

Garcia had an extensive amateur career, which included a fight with future Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya.[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.

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.

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 formally 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 fights 34 wins 3 losses
By knockout 25 3
By decision 9 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
37 Win 34–3 John Trigg TKO 4 (6), 3:00 Sep 22, 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
36 Loss 33–3 Joel Casamayor TKO 9 (12), 1:14 Jan 6, 2001 Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For WBA super featherweight title
35 Win 33–2 Sandro Marcos UD 8 Jul 29, 2000 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
34 Loss 32–2 Ben Tackie TKO 10 (10), 0:35 Jun 3, 2000 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
33 Loss 32–1 Diego Corrales TKO 7 (12), 0:48 Oct 23, 1999 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Lost IBF super featherweight title
32 Win 32–0 John John Molina UD 12 Jan 16, 1999 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained IBF super featherweight title
31 Win 31–0 Ramon Ledon KO 5 (12), 0:58 Oct 24, 1998 Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained IBF super featherweight title
30 Win 30–0 Harold Warren UD 12 Mar 13, 1998 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. Won vacant IBF super featherweight title
29 Win 29–0 Roy Simpson TKO 1 Jul 19, 1997 Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
28 Win 28–0 Angel Aldama TKO 5, 1:09 Jun 28, 1997 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27 Win 27–0 Ramon Sanchez KO 2 Dec 7, 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
26 Win 26–0 Jose Herrera TKO 4 Oct 13, 1996 Port Hueneme, California, U.S.
25 Win 25–0 Jose Luis Madrid KO 3 Jun 29, 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 Darryl Pinckney UD 12 Mar 23, 1996 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. Won vacant NABF featherweight title
23 Win 23–0 Eduardo Montes TKO 4 (10), 2:20 Jan 27, 1996 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Francisco Segura TKO 12 (12), 1:10 Jul 29, 1995 Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Retained NABF super featherweight title
21 Win 21–0 Julian Wheeler UD 12 Apr 21, 1995 Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada Won vacant NABF super featherweight title
20 Win 20–0 Israel Gonzalez Bringas TKO 4 (8), 1:17 Mar 21, 1995 Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada
19 Win 19–0 Lorenzo Tiznado TKO 7 (10), 3:00 Feb 18, 1995 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Roberto Villareal TKO 5 Dec 10, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Derrick Gainer UD 10 Nov 18, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Bobby Brewer KO 3 (10) Sep 24, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Frank Avelar KO 2 (10) Aug 27, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Orlando Euceda TKO 6 (8), 3:00 Jul 29, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Raul Contreras KO 6 Jun 24, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Gabriel Castro PTS 6 Mar 20, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Jose Herrera PTS 6 Mar 12, 1994 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 James Dean KO 2 (8) Feb 4, 1994 Civic Auditorium, Oxnard, California, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Hector Diaz KO 2, 2:56 Jan 9, 1994 Del Mar, California, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Agapito Navarro KO 1 Dec 23, 1993 Barona Casino, Lakeside, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Fred Hernandez TKO 3 Oct 30, 1993 America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Abel Hinojosa TKO 1 (6), 1:35 Aug 5, 1993 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Victor Flores UD 6 Mar 22, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Francisco Arroyo RTD 5 (6), 3:00 Mar 1, 1993 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Jun Peat Hitachi TKO 5 Nov 20, 1992 Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
2 Win 2–0 Ikuma Shigehara KO 2 Sep 5, 1992 Tokyo, Japan
1 Win 1–0 Tsutomu Hitono KO 2 Jul 15, 1992 Convention Center, Fukuoka, Japan

See also

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", 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. Oscar De la Hoya|Roberto 'Grandpa' Garcia (a) 1/1. YouTube (2009-04-17); retrieved 2012-05-17.
  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.
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