Roberto Garcia Cortez
| Roberto García Cortez | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Roberto García Cortez |
| Nickname(s) | Grandpa |
| Rated at | Lightweight Super Featherweight Featherweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (174 cm) |
| Reach | 68 in (174 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 29, 1975 San Pedro, California |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 37 |
| Wins | 34 |
| Wins by KO | 25 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Roberto García Cortez, (born on January 29, 1975 in San Pedro, California), is a retired Mexican-American professional boxer in the Lightweight division and is currently considered one of the best trainers in boxing.[1] He is also the former IBF Super Featherweight Champion[2] and was trained by his father Eduardo Garcia at the popular La Colonia Youth Boxing Club.[3][4] He's brother is considered one of the best Featherweight contenders, Miguel Ángel García.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
García grew up and still resides in Oxnard, California. He even trained world champions with his Father at La Colonia Boxing Club.
[edit] Amateur career
Roberto had a very good amateur career and even fought future Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar De La Hoya.[6]
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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] Roberto successfully defended his Championship just three months later against Francisco Segura.[9]
[edit] NABF Featherweight Championship
At the Miami Arena, Roberto would move down to Featherweight and beat Darryl Pinckney to win the NABF Featherweight Championship.[10]
[edit] 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]
Roberto'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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Training career
Garcia formally worked as a trainer at La Colonia Gym in Oxnard, California. Notable fighters who have trained under Nonito Donaire. Most recently he opened his own boxing gym named Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California.[14][15]
[edit] Boxers Trained
- Miguel Ángel García, the top rated contender in the Featherweight division.
- Fernando Vargas, a former two-time World Light Middleweight Champion.
- Antonio Margarito, a former two-time World Welterweight Champion.
- Brandon Ríos, the current WBA World Lightweight Champion.
- Steven Luevano, a former WBO World Featherweight Champion and made five successful defenses.
- Nonito Donaire, a three division World Champion and current Ring Magazine pound for pound fighter.
- Kelly Pavlik, a former Lineal Middleweight Champion.[16]
- Joan Guzmán, a former two divisions WBO World Champion.
- Mia St. John, a former WIBA and WIBF Lightweight Champion.
- Brian Viloria, a former WBC and IBF Light Flyweight Champion.
- Alfonso Blanco, an undefeated Light Middleweight prospect.
- Javier García Calderón, a Lightweight prospect.
- David García, a Welterweight prospect.
- Felipe Campa, a former WBC Youth World Super Bantamweight Champion.
- Andrew Ruiz, an undefeated Light Welterweight prospect.
- Erik Ruiz, an undefeated Super Bantamweight prospect.
- Jesús Antonio Hernández, an undefeated Lightweight prospect.
- Herbert Acevedo, an undefeated Lightweight prospect.
- Evgeny Gradovich, an undefeated Featherweight prospect.
- Alfonso Gómez, a competitor on The Contender.
- Mark Suárez, a former WBO NABO Welterweight Champion.
- Francisco Contreras, a Lightweight prospect.
- Victor Ortíz, a former WBC welterweight champion.
[edit] Reality Show
García is the first boxing trainer in history to star in his own reality show, titled 'The Roberto García Reality Show'. The show is produced by award winning reporter Elie Seckbach.[17]
| Preceded by Arturo Gatti Vacates |
IBF Super Featherweight Champion 13 Mar 1998– 23 Oct 1999 |
Succeeded by Diego Corrales |
[edit] See also
- List of Mexican boxing world champions
- List of IBF world champions
- List of Super Featherweight boxing champions
- Notable boxing families
[edit] References
- ^ Fischer, Doug (2011-12-27). "Trainer of the Year for 2011". The Ring Magazine. http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170873-readers-vote-roberto-garcia-the-qtrainer-of-the-yearq-for-2011. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ^ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Roberto_Garcia
- ^ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Eduardo_Garcia_(boxer)
- ^ http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/robert-garcia-fundraiser-a-success-63639
- ^ Velin, Bob (January 17, 2010). "Mikey Garcia goes from police academy to the prize ring". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2010-01-15-miguel-garcia-top-rank-live_N.htm.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btq6Z9Krksg
- ^ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=24859
- ^ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=6428
- ^ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=6614
- ^ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=7031
- ^ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=8186
- ^ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Roberto_Garcia_vs._Ramon_Ledon
- ^ http://boxrec.com/show_display.php?show_id=8564
- ^ http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=444187
- ^ http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/03/07/victor-ortiz-somehow-with-a-smile/
- ^ http://espn.go.com/boxing/blog/_/name/rafael_dan/id/7138303/kelly-pavlik-making-big-changes-salvage-career
- ^ http://www.esnewsreporting.com/the-robert-garcia-relity-show-episode-16-who-took-a-crap-in-the-ring
