Jorge Páez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jorge Adolfo Febles Páez (born October 27, 1965, in Mexicali, Baja California) is a Mexican boxer, actor and circus performer. Paez is nicknamed "Maromero," in honor of the acts he performs at the circus. Paez has been a circus performer in his northwest Mexico hometown since he was very young. There, he learned acrobatic moves that he would later use in the boxing ring. Jorge Paez currently lives in Yuma, Arizona.
[edit] Professional career
He began boxing professionally on November 16, 1984, knocking out Efren Treno in three rounds. From there on, he built a string of wins that led him to challenge IBF featherweight champion Calvin Grove, in what was a historic fight because it was boxing's last 15 round world title fight ever. Paez was trailing on all three scorecards, but he dropped the champion three times in the last round. These knockdowns proved to give him an edge on the scorecards and he become the IBF featherweight champion by a unanimous decision. He defended the title eight times, including a knockout in 11 against Grove in a rematch, decisions over former world champions Louie Espinoza and Stevie Cruz, and a decision against future world champion Troy Dorsey. He vacated the featherweight title and moved up in weight, only to lose to IBF super featherweight champion Tony Lopez.
Paez continued to fight, but he had mixed results versus former world champions Lupe Suarez, Tracy Spann and future world champion Rafael Ruelas: he and Suarez drew in 10 rounds, he beat Spann by a 10 round decision, and he lost by knockout in the 10th to Ruelas.
In 1991 he made the movie Pelo Suelto, where he starred alongside Gloria Trevi, which was filmed in 1991. On July 17, 1993, he lost to Freddie Pendleton by a decision in twelve for the IBF lightweight title, and on July 29, 1994, he was given a shot at the WBO's vacant lightweight title against Oscar de la Hoya. Paez lost to de la Hoya by a knockout in round two.
In 1996, he made his Hollywood acting debut in the low budget movie Dirty Money. In 1997, he lost by a knockout in eight to Angel Manfredy.
Paez was supposed to fight Jesús Chávez on March 29, 2003. However, it was discovered that Paez suffers from brain swelling, putting the fight with Jesús Chávez and his career in serious jeopardy.
Despite these findings, Paez fought on, and on December 5, 2003, in Phoenix, Arizona, he defeated Scott McCraken by a ten-round split decision.
Paez currently holds a career record of 79 wins, 15 losses and 5 draws, with 41 wins by knockout. His son, Jorge "El Maromerito" Paez Jr, is a professional boxer.
| Preceded by Calvin Grove |
IBF Featherweight Champion 4 Aug 1988– 1990 Vacates |
Succeeded by Troy Dorsey |
| Preceded by Louie Espinoza |
WBO Featherweight Champion 7 Apr 1990– 8 May 1992 Vacates |
Succeeded by Maurizio Stecca |
[edit] Outside the Ring
Paez's name surfaced in the 2004 FBI investigation against promoter Bob Arum. The FBI is investigating whether Paez's win over Verdell Smith was a fixed fight or not.
Paez had a brief supporting role with World Wrestling Entertainment as an associate of Rey Mysterio, and accompanied him to the ring at the No Way Out pay-per-view event on February 15, 2004. Paez also appeared in Mysterio's music video for his song from the WWE Originals album, "Crossing Borders."
