Ceferino Garcia

Ceferino Montano Garcia (August 26, 1906 – 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.[3] Garcia is commonly credited to as the first well known user of the bolo punch, which was later popularized by Cuban fighter Kid Gavilán.[4] He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.[5]

Ceferino Garcia
Statistics
Real nameCeferino Garcia
Nickname(s)Bolo Punch
Pedro
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
NationalityFilipino
BornCeferino Montano Garcia
August 26, 1906
Naval, Biliran, Philippine Islands[1]
DiedJanuary 1, 1981(1981-01-01) (aged 74)
San Diego, California, United States[2]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights162
Wins118
Wins by KO74
Losses30
Draws14

Early life

Ceferino Garcia was the son of Fortunato Garcia and Pascuala Montano and was the oldest of six children.[6] He never completed first grade and indulged rather frequently in gambling.[6] At 17, he was feared by so 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.[6]

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 Fred Apostoli for the world Middleweight title in the United States and won it by TKO in the 7th round. 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.[7] He was also employed for a time by actress Mae West as her chauffeur and bodyguard.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Garcia lived on 1042 S. Rowan St., in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.[8]

Garcia died on January 1, 1981 while in San Diego, California.[9] His grave is located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.[10]

Notable bouts
Result Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes[11]
Win Kid Azteca PTS 10 1944-10-06 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Distrito Federal
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
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
Win Fred Apostoli KO 7 (15) 1939-10-02 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Won NYSAC World Middleweight Title.
Win Lloyd Marshall TKO 5 (10) 1939-03-17 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Win Lloyd Marshall PTS 10 1939-02-22 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Loss Henry Armstrong UD 15 1938-11-25 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York For World Welterweight Title.
Loss Barney Ross UD 15 1937-09-23 Polo Grounds, New York, New York For World Welterweight Title.
Win Kid Azteca KO 5 (10) 1936-07-17 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California
Win Young Peter Jackson PTS 10 1936-06-09 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Barney Ross UD 10 1935-11-29 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss Barney Ross PTS 10 1935-09-13 Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Loss Bep van Klaveren PTS 10 1934-12-07 Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California
Win Bep van Klaveren PTS 10 1934-10-30 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Young Peter Jackson KO 3 (10) 1934-04-10 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Kid Azteca TKO 8 (10) 1933-07-25 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Kid Azteca PTS 10 1933-07-11 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Young Corbett III PTS 10 1932-10-25 Civic Auditorium, Fresno, California
Loss Freddie Steele KO 2 (4) 1932-09-20 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Young Corbett III PTS 10 1932-04-12 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Loss Freddie Steele KO 2 (6) 1932-05-18 Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington

References
  1. Ceferino Garcia on California, Los Angeles Passenger Lists, 1907-1948. Familysearch.org. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
  2. California Death Index, 1940-1997
  3. "Ceferino Garcia the first Filipino Champ of the World!". Boxing360.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  4. "Ceferino Garcia - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  5. "Ceferino Garcia". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  6. "Where Is Ceferino Garcia?". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  7. Ceferino García - Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
  8. "Filipino Boxer's Home Robbed of Radios" Los Angeles Times, May 9, 1940.
  9. AP (1981-01-02). "Ceferino Garcia, Former Boxer - Won Middleweight Crown in '39". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  10. The Freeman
  11. Ceferino Garcia's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-18.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Fred Apostoli		 NYSAC World Middleweight Champion
Oct 2, 1939– May 23, 1940		 Succeeded by
Ken Overlin
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