World Champion Correctional Officer

Loreto Garza:World Champion

Mr. Loreto Garza is currently a correctional officer at CMF but prior to his tenure as an officerhe had a very successful boxing career. Garza started boxing at 18 years old and did it for three years. He won the Golden Gloves award all three years and made the United States Boxing Team. He turned pro in 1983 at the age of 21. In 1988 he won the WBC Americas Light Welterweight Championship with a spectacular first-round knock-out of former World Champion Harry Arroyo. Later that year Garza knocked out former World Champion Charlie Brown in four rounds. In 1989, Garza, with a single right hand in the 7th round, knocked former world champion Joe Manley out cold. Later that year Garza won a unanimous decision in a 12-round battle to win the USBA Championship over #1 ranked contender Frankie Warren. Garza fought the last 5 rounds of that fight with his left eye swelled completely shut. Many boxing annals argued that Garza Vs. Warren should have been the fight of the year. On August 17, 1990, with only two weeks notice, Garza flew to Nice, France and won the WBA Light Welterweight world title by majority decision over Juan Coggi. Garza displayed beautiful counter punching in the fight. He came back to his hometown of Sacramento and defended his World Title against former World Champion Vinny Pazienza. Garza out-smarted and out-boxed Pazienza and had his face battered as Pazienza was being a dirty fighter. A frustrated fighter, Pazienza picked Garza up in the 11th round and tried to slam him in the ring. Pazienza would be disqualified for the incident. The following year Garza lost the belt to Edwin Rosario. He was promised another World Title shot but it seemed like all of the Champions would duck when it came to Garza. He retired from boxing in 1993.

Record: 32 Wins | 2 Losses | 1 Draw | 28 KOs

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