Robert Garcia (American boxer)


Roberto Garcia Cortez, best known as Robert Garcia, 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. He is the older brother of professional boxer Mikey Garcia, who is a world champion in four weight classes.

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. Garcia said that he has been in Oxnard, California, since he was two years old. He considers himself to be Mexican, and has said that his father and mother are both of Mexican descent. He said that his parents were illegal immigrants until the eighties. He said that he grew up speaking Spanish, and that he learned to speak English when he went to school.

Amateur career

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

Professional career

Known as "Grandpa", Garcia won his pro debut against Tsutomu Hitono at the International Center in Fukuoka, Japan. 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. He successfully defended his championship just three months later against Francisco Segura.

NABF featherweight champion

At the Miami Arena, Garcia moved down to Featherweight and beat Darryl Pinckney to win the NABF Featherweight Championship.

IBF super featherweight champion

On March 13, 1998 a then undefeated Garcia captured the vacant IBF Super Featherweight Championship with a unanimous decision win over Harold Warren. In his first title defense he knocked out Cuban Ramon Ledon at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
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.
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. Most recently he opened his own boxing gym named Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California.

Notable boxers trained

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37Win34–3John TriggTKO4, 3:00Sep 22, 2001Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
36Loss33–3Joel CasamayorTKO9, 1:14Jan 6, 2001Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For WBA super featherweight title
35Win33–2Sandro MarcosUD8Jul 29, 2000Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
34Loss32–2Ben TackieTKO10, 0:35Jun 3, 2000MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
33Loss32–1Diego CorralesTKO7, 0:48Oct 23, 1999MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost IBF super featherweight title
32Win32–0John John MolinaUD12Jan 16, 1999MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super featherweight title
31Win31–0Ramon LedonKO5, 0:58Oct 24, 1998Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained IBF super featherweight title
30Win30–0Harold WarrenUD12Mar 13, 1998Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant IBF super featherweight title
29Win29–0Roy SimpsonTKO1Jul 19, 1997Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
28Win28–0Angel AldamaTKO5, 1:09Jun 28, 1997MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27Win27–0Ramon SanchezKO2Dec 7, 1996Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
26Win26–0Jose HerreraTKO4Oct 13, 1996Port Hueneme, California, U.S.
25Win25–0Jose Luis MadridKO3Jun 29, 1996Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
24Win24–0Darryl PinckneyUD12Mar 23, 1996Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant NABF featherweight title
23Win23–0Eduardo MontesTKO4, 2:20Jan 27, 1996Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
22Win22–0Francisco SeguraTKO12, 1:10Jul 29, 1995Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained NABF super featherweight title
21Win21–0Julian WheelerUD12Apr 21, 1995Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, NevadaWon vacant NABF super featherweight title
20Win20–0Israel Gonzalez BringasTKO4, 1:17Mar 21, 1995Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada
19Win19–0Lorenzo TiznadoTKO7, 3:00Feb 18, 1995MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
18Win18–0Roberto VillarealTKO5Dec 10, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
17Win17–0Derrick GainerUD10Nov 18, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16Win16–0Bobby BrewerKO3 Sep 24, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15Win15–0Frank AvelarKO2 Aug 27, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
14Win14–0Orlando EucedaTKO6, 3:00Jul 29, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13Win13–0Raul ContrerasKO6Jun 24, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12Win12–0Gabriel CastroPTS6Mar 20, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
11Win11–0Jose Herrera6Mar 12, 1994Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10Win10–0James DeanKO2 Feb 4, 1994Civic Auditorium, Oxnard, California, U.S.
9Win9–0Hector DiazKO2, 2:56Jan 9, 1994Del Mar, California, U.S.
8Win8–0Agapito NavarroKO1Dec 23, 1993Barona Casino, Lakeside, California, U.S.
7Win7–0Fred HernandezTKO3Oct 30, 1993America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
6Win6–0Abel HinojosaTKO1, 1:35Aug 5, 1993The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0Victor Flores6Mar 22, 1993Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Francisco Arroyo5, 3:00Mar 1, 1993Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
3Win3–0Jun Peat Hitachi5Nov 20, 1992Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Ikuma ShigeharaKO2Sep 5, 1992Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Tsutomu Hitono2Jul 15, 1992Convention Center, Fukuoka, Japan