Miguel Ángel García (boxer)

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Cortez.
Miguel Ángel García

García at the event supporting brain health study at the United States Capitol in February 2014
Statistics
Real name Miguel Ángel García Cortez
Nickname(s) Mikey
Rated at Featherweight
Super Featherweight
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Reach 70 in (178 cm)
Nationality American
Born December 15, 1987
Ventura, California
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 34
Wins 34
Wins by KO 28
Losses 0
Draws 0
No contests 0

Miguel Ángel (Mikey) García Cortez (born December 15, 1987 in Ventura, California) is an undefeated Mexican American professional boxer in the Super Featherweight division.[1][2] García is the former Ring Magazine, WBO Featherweight, and WBO Super Featherweight Champion.[3] Garcia is currently ranked number one by Boxrec and number two by The Ring Magazine and ESPN.com in the Super Featherweight division.

Miguel Ángel is trained by his father Eduardo García and his brother, former World Champion Roberto García.[4][5][6]

Early life and Education

His father Eduardo García was an amateur boxer and trainer of world champion boxer Fernando Vargas at La Colonia Youth Boxing Club.[7] His older brother Roberto García was a professional boxer and a former IBF Super Featherweight Champion who lost his belt to the late Diego Corrales. His oldest brother, Daniel, was also a boxer and is the former trainer of boxer Victor Ortíz.[8]

Miguel Angel is a graduate of the Ventura County Police Academy.[9] He's also been featured on ABC's show American Latino TV and he talked about balancing studies with the demands of boxing.[10]

Amateur career

Miguel started his amateur career at the age of fourteen and has a win over the current Ring Magazine, WBC and WBA (Super) Light Welterweight Champion, Danny García. In 2003, he won a silver medal at the National Junior Olympic Championships in the 125 lb division. In 2004, he won a gold medal at the National Junior Golden Gloves Championships and a silver medal at the National Police Athletic League Championships, both in the 132 lb division. In 2005, he won a bronze medal at the National Golden Gloves Championships and a gold medal at the National Police Athletic League Championships, both in the 132 lb division.[11]

Amateur highlights

Professional career

Featherweight

García is known as a patient fighter with good punching power, a natural right-hander who likes to switch to southpaw during some of his fights. He turned pro in 2006 and signed with Bob Arum's Top Rank.[12]

In April 2010, Miguel Ángel beat the veteran Tomas Villa by T.K.O. in the first round, to win the USBA Featherweight Championship.[13] He then beat Matt Remillard to win the WBO NABO Featherweight Championship. This would not only be the last boxing bout but also the last event Nick Charles would broadcast, Charles would die a few days later from cancer.[14]

In his next fight HBO asked García to turn down a world title shot against Billy Dib to fight on the undercard of Julio César Chávez, Jr. vs. Sebastian Zbik. After his win over Rafaël Guzmán, García sent his well wishes to Genaro Hernández who was struggling with cancer, Hernández would die a few days later.[15] Months later he beat Juan Carlos Martinez in under four rounds at the Madison Square Garden in New York.[16]

García vs. Salido

Garcia's first major step up in competition came on January 19, 2013 against WBO Featherweight champion and Ring No. 1 ranked Featherweight, Orlando Salido. Garcia dominated the bout from the very beginning, keeping Salido at range with the jab. Garcia knocked Salido down four times early on in the fight, building up a large lead on the scorecards. During the 8th round, Salido accidentally clashed heads with Garcia, causing Garcia's nose to break. The fight was stopped between rounds, with the decision going to the scorecards. Garcia won a wide unanimous decision, to win his first world title.[17]

Garcia vs Lopez

Garcia was scheduled to make his first title defense against Juan Manuel Lopez in Dallas on June 15, 2013. Garcia failed to make 126 lb weight limit coming in two pounds overweight. He was stripped of the title. The fight went ahead after Garcia paid Lopez a penalty of $150,000 for missing weight. Garcia won the fight with a fourth round knockout.[18]

Super Featherweight

Garcia vs. Martinez

Garcia challenged Puerto Rican WBO Super featherweight champion Rocky Martinez for Martinez's title on November 9, 2013 in his first fight since failing to make weight and having to relinquish his featherweight title. Garcia went down in the second round from a Martinez counter right hand. Garcia, however, recovered and dominated the rest of the fight before knocking out Martinez with a left hook to the body in the eighth round. The victory meant Garcia is the 130 lbs WBO champion.[19]

Garcia vs. Burgos

On January 25, 2014, Garcia made his first title defense against mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Burgos at Madison Square Garden in New York City on HBO Boxing After Dark. After being staggered in the second round, Garcia took control of the fight and won close to every round for the remainder of the bout. At the end of the fight, Garcia won via unanimous decision, improving to 34-0. In the post fight interview, Garcia called out Yuriorkis Gamboa for a potential fight.

Future Plans

Although in arbitration with his promoter, Garcia has expressed plans of returning to the ring under a new contract with Top Rank. On October 15, 2014, Garcia announced that he will vacate his WBO Super Featherweight title, and move up to the Super Lightweight division.

Summit for Brain Health

In February 2014, Garcia along with Bernard Hopkins and a few other athletes attended a summit at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the United States Capitol, in support of furthering research of preventing brain damage and other mental risk in competitive activity. The summit consisted of speeches about preventing brain damage and research to aid already suffering victims.

Professional record

34 Wins (28 knockouts), 0 Losses, 0 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location 'Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 34–0 Mexico Juan Carlos Burgos UD 12 2014-01-25 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Retained WBO Super featherweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33–0 Puerto Rico Roman Martinez KO 8 (12), 0:56 2013-11-09 United States American Bank Center Corpus Christi, Texas Won WBO Super featherweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32–0 Puerto Rico Juan Manuel Lopez TKO 4 (12) 2013-06-15 United States American Airlines Center in Texas, United States Retained the Ring Magazine Featherweight Title.
Garcia stripped of WBO featherweight title for failing to make weight.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31–0 Mexico Orlando Salido TD 8 (12) 2013-01-19 United States Madison Square Garden in New York, United States Won the WBO & the Ring Magazine Featherweight Titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30–0 Argentina Jonathan Victor Barros TKO 8 (10), (2:24) 2012-11-10 United States Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29–0 Colombia Mauricio Pastrana KO 2 (10), (1:05) 2012-09-01 Mexico Arena TKT Box Tour in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28–0 Philippines Bernabe Concepcion TKO 7 (10), (2:33) 2012-03-10Puerto Rico Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico WBO Featherweight Title Eliminator.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27–0 Mexico Juan Carlos Martinez TKO 4 (10), (2:40) 2011-10-22United States Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, United States Retained his NABF Featherweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26–0 Mexico Rafaël Guzmán KO 4 (12), (1:55) 2011-06-04 United States Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States Retained his NABF and the WBO NABO Featherweight Titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25–0 United States Matt Remillard RTD 10 (12), (3:00)2011-03-26United States Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won the NABF and the WBO NABO Featherweight Titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24–0 Cameroon Olivier Lontchi KO 5 (10), (1:30)2010-12-04United States Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23–0 United States Cornelius Lock TKO 11 (12), (1:09) 2010-08-14 United States Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, United States IBF Featherweight Title Eliminator.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22–0 Mexico Pedro Navarrete UD 8 2010-05-08Mexico Plaza Monumental in Aguascalientes, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–0 Mexico Tomas Villa TKO 1 (12), (1:07) 2010-04-03 United States American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States Won the USBA Featherweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–0 Mexico Arturo Gomez TKO 5 (8), (2:35) 2010-01-30 United States Restaurante Arroyo in Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–0 Colombia Yogli Herrera KO 3 (8), (2:19) 2009-12-19 United States Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–0 United States Carlos Rivera TKO 7 (10), (0:40) 2009-08-29 United States QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–0 Kenya Anthony Napunyi TKO 3 (10), (1:04) 2009-05-16 United States Buffalo Bill's Star Arena in Primm, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–0 Puerto Rico Lucian Gonzalez RTD 5 (8), (3:00) 2009-02-06 United States Maywood Activity Center in Maywood, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–0 Colombia Walter Estrada UD 8 2008-10-31 United States Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–0 Mexico Jose Hernandez TKO 8 (8), (0:24) 2008-08-02 United States Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–0 South Korea Jae-Sung Lee TKO 4 (8), (1:14) 2008-06-26United States Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–0 Mexico Robinson Castellanos TKO 5 (?), (0:11) 2008-05-17 Mexico Plaza Monumental in Aguascalientes, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–0 Cuba Jorge Ruiz TKO 5 (6), (1:35) 2008-02-16 United States MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–0 Mexico Manuel Sarabia UD 6 2007-09-20 United States Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–0 United States Reggie Sanders KO 3 (6), (2:23) 2007-07-13 United States Congress Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–0 United States Carlos Zambrano TKO 2 (6), (2:45) 2007-05-25 United States Isleta Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–0 United States Steve Trumble TKO 2 (6), (2:30) 2007-04-27 United States Grand Plaza Hotel in Houston, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–0 Mexico Gabriel Rangel TKO 2 (4), (1:56) 2007-03-09 United States Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 United States Frankie Martinez TKO 2 (4), (1:51) 2007-01-19 United States Dodge Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 United States Baladan Trevizo KO 1 (?), (2:18) 2006-12-08 United States Florentine Gardens in El Monte, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 United States Mario Franco KO 2 (4), (0:52) 2006-09-29 United States Performing Arts Center in Oxnard, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 United States Andrew Gannigan KO 1 (4), (2:19) 2006-08-12 United States Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Mexico Herrera Mendoza UD 4 2006-07-14 United States Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California, United States Garcia's Professional Debut.

Titles in boxing

Major World Titles:

The Ring/Lineal Championship Titles:

Regional/International Titles:

Filmography

Television Series
Year Series Role Notes
2010 American Latino TV Himself Documentary
2013 2 Days: Mikey Garcia Himself Documentary
2013 24/7:Pacquiao/Rios Himself Documentary
2014 All Access: Mayweather vs. Maidana Himself Documentary
2014 All Access: Mayweather vs. Maidana II Himself Documentary

See also

References

  1. "Garcia grateful with Top Rank". Ringtv.com. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
  2. "Passion to Go with Garcia’s Precision". MaxBoxing.com. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
  3. "Miguel Angel Garcia Vs Tomas Villa". Fightwriter.com. 2010-04-02. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  4. "Garcia dethrones Salido, becomes new Sheriff at 126 pounds - Ring TV". Ringtv.craveonline.com. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  5. "Eduardo Garcia (boxer) - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  6. Iole, Kevin (2013-06-14). "Mikey Garcia’s body ‘shuts down,’ he misses weight and drops his featherweight title at the scales | Boxing Experts Blog - Yahoo Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  7. "Fernando Vargas". CNN. 1994-07-18.
  8. "Sub Lead - Breakout Year for 'Mikey' Garcia?". Max Boxing. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  9. Velin, Bob (2010-01-17). "Mikey Garcia goes from police academy to the prize ring". USA Today.
  10. "Boxing News | Q&A: Miguel "Mikey" Garcia". Fightnews.com. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  11. "Miguel Angel Garcia featured on ABC's American Latino TV » Ventura County Star". Vcstar.com. 2014-02-05. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  12. "Miguel Garcia - Fighters – Top Rank Boxing". Toprank.com. 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  13. "Mikey Garcia, Mike Alvarado Swift And Emphatic In Texas - Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  14. "Boxing Announcer Nick Charles Calls His Final Fight - TVNewser". Mediabistro.com. 2011-03-28. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  15. Garcia to take on Beltran Jr. on Chavez / Zbik card. "Garcia to take on Beltran Jr. on Chavez / Zbik card | Boxing News - Boxing, UFC and MMA News, Fight Results, Schedule, Rankings, Videos and More". 15rounds.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  16. "Sub Lead - A Step Backward, a Step Forward for Garcia". Max Boxing. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  17. Dan Rafael (January 20, 2013). "Garcia banged, but brutalizes Salido". ESPN.
  18. Eric Raskin (June 16, 2013). "Cool, calm, concussive: Garcia and Crawford stay perfect with KOs". HBO Boxing.
  19. Scott Christ (November 9, 2013). "Martinez vs Garcia results: Mikey Garcia adds 130 pound title with body shot KO". Bad Left Hook.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miguel Ángel García (boxer).
Achievements
Preceded by
Orlando Salido
WBO Featherweight Champion
January 19, 2013 June 14, 2013
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Orlando Salido
Preceded by
Manny Pacquiao
Vacated
The Ring Featherweight Champion
January 19, 2013 November 09, 2013
Incumbent
Preceded by
Roman Martinez
WBO Super Featherweight Champion
November 09, 2013 October 15, 2014
Vacated
Succeeded by
Orlando Salido
Interim champ promoted