Ceferino Garcia
Encyclopedia
Ceferino Garcia was a champion boxer
born in Naval, Biliran
, Philippines
. His number of victories are the most ever achieved by a Filipino boxer. He's also the only boxer from the Philippines ever to become world champion at middleweight. He was managed, during the final years of his career by George Parnassus. Ceferino Garcia is commonly referred to as the inventor of the bolo punch
. Though a Filipino boxer named Macario Flores was reported to be using the punch in 1924.
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.
His grave is located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
in North Hollywood, California.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
born in Naval, Biliran
Naval, Biliran
Naval is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Biliran. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,288 people in 9,575 households....
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. His number of victories are the most ever achieved by a Filipino boxer. He's also the only boxer from the Philippines ever to become world champion at middleweight. He was managed, during the final years of his career by George Parnassus. Ceferino Garcia is commonly referred to as the inventor of the bolo punch
Bolo punch
A bolo punch is a punch used in Martial arts. The bolo punch is among the traditional boxing punches . Used many times and can cause powerful knockouts....
. Though a Filipino boxer named Macario Flores was reported to be using the punch in 1924.
Early life
Ceferino Garcia was the son of Fortunato and Pascuala Garcia and was the oldest of six children. He never completed first grade and became quite indulged in gambling. At 15, 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.On September 23, 1937, Garcia first had a shot for a world title in the welterweight division. However, Barney Ross
Barney Ross
Barney Ross , born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.-Early life:...
bested him by unanimous decision.
On October 2, 1939, Garcia fought for the world Middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
title in the United States and won it. He defended that title three times until he lost to Ken Overlin on points.
His grave is located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, California.The cemetery has a special section called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for a number of aviation pioneers — barnstormers, daredevils and...
in North Hollywood, California.