Ceferino Garcia
Ceferino Garcia | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | Ceferino Garcia |
Nickname(s) | Bolo Punch |
Rated at | Middleweight |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Nationality | Filipino |
Born |
August 26, 1906 Naval, Philippines |
Died |
January 1, 1981 74) San Diego, California | (aged
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 142 |
Wins | 102 |
Wins by KO | 67 |
Losses | 28 |
Draws | 12 |
Ceferino Garcia (August 26, 1906 β January 1, 1981) was a champion boxer born in Naval, Biliran, Philippines. He holds the most victories ever achieved by a Filipino boxer and is also the only boxer from the Philippines to become world champion in the middleweight division.[1] Garcia is commonly credited to as the first well known user of the bolo punch, which was later popularized by Cuban fighter Kid Gavilan.[2] He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.[3]
Early life
Ceferino Garcia was the son of Fortunato and Pascuala Garcia and was the oldest of six children.[4] He never completed first grade and became quite indulged in gambling.[4] At 17, he was feared by many that nobody would take him in a street fight. He was also a skilled blacksmith.
Boxing success
While working at a bakery in Cebu City, Garcia met a boxing promoter. This was where his career as boxer started.[4]
On September 23, 1937, Garcia first had a shot for a world title in the welterweight division. However, Barney Ross bested him by unanimous decision.
On October 2, 1939, Garcia fought for the world Middleweight title in the United States and won it. He defended that title three times until he lost to Ken Overlin on points. He was managed, during the final years of his career by George Parnassus.
Life after boxing
After retiring from the ring he made a few uncredited appearances in Hollywood films with the exception of "Joe Palooka, Champ" in which he plays himself.[5] He was also employed for a time by actress Mae West as her chauffeur and bodyguard.
Garcia died on January 1, 1981 while in San Diego, California.[6] His grave is located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.[7]
Notable bouts
Result | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes[8] |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Kid Azteca | PTS | 10 | 1944-10-06 | Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Anton Christoforidis | PTS | 10 | 1941-12-01 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | |
Draw | Billy Soose | TD | 8 (12) | 1941-09-15 | Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Ken Overlin | UD | 15 | 1940-05-23 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | Lost NYSAC World Middleweight Title. |
Draw | Henry Armstrong | PTS | 10 | 1940-03-01 | Gilmore Field, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Fred Apostoli | KO | 7 (15) | 1939-10-02 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | Won NYSAC World Middleweight Title. |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Lloyd Marshall | TKO | 5 (10) | 1939-03-17 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Lloyd Marshall | PTS | 10 | 1939-02-22 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Henry Armstrong | UD | 15 | 1938-11-25 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | For World Welterweight Title. |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Barney Ross | UD | 15 | 1937-09-23 | Polo Grounds, New York, New York | For World Welterweight Title. |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Kid Azteca | KO | 5 (10) | 1936-07-17 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California | |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Young Peter Jackson | PTS | 10 | 1936-06-09 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Barney Ross | UD | 10 | 1935-11-29 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Barney Ross | PTS | 10 | 1935-09-13 | Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Bep van Klaveren | PTS | 10 | 1934-12-07 | Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California | |
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | Bep van Klaveren | PTS | 10 | 1934-10-30 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Young Peter Jackson | KO | 3 (10) | 1934-04-10 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Kid Azteca | TKO | 8 (10) | 1933-07-25 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Kid Azteca | PTS | 10 | 1933-07-11 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | 1932-10-25 | Civic Auditorium, Fresno, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Freddie Steele | KO | 2 (4) | 1932-09-20 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | 1932-04-12 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | Freddie Steele | KO | 2 (6) | 1932-05-18 | Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington |
References
- β "Ceferino Garcia the first Filipino Champ of the World!". Boxing360.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- β "Ceferino Garcia - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- β "Ceferino Garcia". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- β 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Where Is Ceferino Garcia?". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- β Ceferino GarcΓa - Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
- β AP (1981-01-02). "Ceferino Garcia, Former Boxer - Won Middleweight Crown in '39". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- β "Ceferino Garcia (1906 - 1981) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
- β Ceferino Garcia's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
External links
Awards and achievements | ||
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Preceded by Fred Apostoli |
NYSAC World Middleweight Champion Oct 2, 1939β May 23, 1940 |
Succeeded by Ken Overlin |