Robert Garcia | |
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Garcia in 2011
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Statistics | |
Real name | Roberto Garcia Cortez |
Nickname(s) | Grandpa |
Rated at | |
Height | 5 ft 7 1⁄2 in (171 cm) |
Reach | 67 in (170 cm) |
Nationality | American |
Born |
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
January 29, 1975
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 37 |
Wins | 34 |
Wins by KO | 25 |
Losses | 3 |
Roberto Garcia Cortez (born January 29, 1975), 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 currently works 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. Garcia is the older brother of professional boxer Mikey Garcia, who himself is a former junior lightweight world champion.
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. Garcia said that he considers himself to be a Mexican, and Garcia said that his father and mother are both of Mexican descent. Garcia said that his parents were illegal immigrants until the eighties. Garcia said that he grew up speaking Spanish, and Garcia said that he learned to speak English when he went to school.
Garcia had an extensive amateur career, which included a fight with future Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar De La Hoya.
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.
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.