Julio Gervacio
Encyclopedia
Julio Antonio Gervacio is a former boxer and Super Bantamweight champion titleholder from the Dominican Republic
.
As a child, he relocated to Puerto Rico
. He always expressed pride in his national background; and he considered himself a Dominican-Puerto Rican. In fact, he usually took both the flags of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to most of his fights.
. After two more wins, he participated, alongside Juan Carazo
, at an undercard held in Curaçao
on May 30, 1986.
On June 22, he knocked out Pedro Arroyo in three rounds, as part of an undercard headlined by Azumah Nelson
's successful world Featherweight championship defense against Danilo Cabrera. That win triggered off a streak of fourteen wins in a row, twelve of them by knockout, including another knockout win over Llanos, leading Gervacio to a match for the world championship.
WBA
world Super Bantamweight champion Louie Espinoza
of Phoenix, Arizona
, had defeated boxer Tommy Valoy by a knockout after a four round match at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
to win the vacant world title. many fans attended the November 27, 1987, world championship fight between Gervacio and Espinoza. Gervacio became a world champion by defeating Espinoza with a relatively close (scores of 117-114, 116-113 and 116-112) but unanimous decision over Espinoza at San Juan's Roberto Clemente Coliseum
.
On his first attempt to defend his newly acquired title defense and his undefeated record and his world title he lost to Bernardo Pinango
after a split decision (scores of 113-114, 114-115 and 114-113).
Despite reeling off four wins in a row after his first defeat, Gervacio's career began to slide after losing to Espinoza. In his next world title attempt for the world Super Bantamweight title, he lost by a twelve round unanimous decision to Kenny Mitchell
on April 29, 1989.
At his next bout held in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
on December 15, 1989, he lost by knockout for the first time in his career, sustaining a a broken jaw and requiring hospitalization after being defeated by Orlando Fernandez after nine round match. The days following the fight, Gervacio had to undergo reconstructive jaw surgery, having to be fed with intravenous
cables.
Although he would never regain his title, Gervacio nevertheless reeled off ten straight wins after that defeat. Among the boxers he beat during that streak were some top ranked fighters such as Julio Soto Solano,Pepillo Valdez, Lee Cargle and Lorenzo Tiznado, among others.
When given another chance to win a world title on March 11 of 1995, he lost to WBC
Super Bantamweight incumbent Hector Acero Sanchez by a twelve round unanimous decision.
His next fight on March 25, 1996 against Sergio Pena
was his debut in his birth country and it was was for the Dominican Super Bantamweight title. It resulted in a lost after a seven round no contest
decision. Gervacio lost his next three matches all by knockout, including one against future world champion Juan Manuel Márquez.
At his final professional match held on on October 4, 1997 he lost to former Cuban amateur boxer and future world champion Joel Casamayor
. Gervacio retired with a record of 32 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw, with 24 wins by knockout.
by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
officers after he illegally entered Puerto Rico (and thus also the United States
) after crossing the Mona Channel that separates the island from the Dominican Republic aboard a rickety fishing boat commonly known as a yola by locals. Criminal and immigration records showed that Gervacio was convicted by a New York
court in 2002 for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was deported from the United States by orders from an immigration judge in 2009. If convicted for illegal entry, Gervacio faces a ten-year prison sentence and repatriation to the Dominican Republic once his sentence is served.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
As a child, he relocated to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. He always expressed pride in his national background; and he considered himself a Dominican-Puerto Rican. In fact, he usually took both the flags of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to most of his fights.
Boxing career
Gervacio had an award winning amateur boxing career. His professional career as a boxer took off onn December 21, 1985, after he knocked out Felix Llanos during the first round at CaguasCaguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
. After two more wins, he participated, alongside Juan Carazo
Juan Carazo
Juan Carazo is a former boxer from Caguas, Puerto Rico.Carazo was considered to be a boxing reincarnation of Wilfred Benítez or Wilfredo Gómez by many of his fans, and he won his first five professional bouts by knockout in 1984...
, at an undercard held in Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
on May 30, 1986.
On June 22, he knocked out Pedro Arroyo in three rounds, as part of an undercard headlined by Azumah Nelson
Azumah Nelson
Azumah Nelson , a native of Ghana, is a former professional boxer. He is a three-time world champion in two weight classes.Nelson is the former Lineal and two-time WBC Super Featherweight Champion...
's successful world Featherweight championship defense against Danilo Cabrera. That win triggered off a streak of fourteen wins in a row, twelve of them by knockout, including another knockout win over Llanos, leading Gervacio to a match for the world championship.
WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
world Super Bantamweight champion Louie Espinoza
Louie Espinoza
Louie Espinoza is an American boxer in the Featherweight division. He now resides in Chandler, Arizona....
of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, had defeated boxer Tommy Valoy by a knockout after a four round match at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair...
to win the vacant world title. many fans attended the November 27, 1987, world championship fight between Gervacio and Espinoza. Gervacio became a world champion by defeating Espinoza with a relatively close (scores of 117-114, 116-113 and 116-112) but unanimous decision over Espinoza at San Juan's Roberto Clemente Coliseum
Roberto Clemente Coliseum
The Roberto Clemente Coliseum is a sporting events and concert arena in San Juan, Puerto Rico.It was, for many years, Puerto Rico's largest indoor event facility, and it continues being one of the largest....
.
On his first attempt to defend his newly acquired title defense and his undefeated record and his world title he lost to Bernardo Pinango
Bernardo Piñango
José Bernardo Piñango is a retired boxer from Venezuela, who won the silver medal in the Bantamweight division at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. In the final he lost to Cuba's Juan Hernández on points ....
after a split decision (scores of 113-114, 114-115 and 114-113).
Despite reeling off four wins in a row after his first defeat, Gervacio's career began to slide after losing to Espinoza. In his next world title attempt for the world Super Bantamweight title, he lost by a twelve round unanimous decision to Kenny Mitchell
Kenny Mitchell
- Amateur career :Mitchell won the New York Golden Gloves three times. He won the 112 lb Open Championships in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Mitchell was defeated in the 1977 112 lb Sub-Novice Championship by Gino Gelormino. Mitchell trained at the Morrisania Youth Center in 1977 and 1978. In 1979...
on April 29, 1989.
At his next bout held in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo...
on December 15, 1989, he lost by knockout for the first time in his career, sustaining a a broken jaw and requiring hospitalization after being defeated by Orlando Fernandez after nine round match. The days following the fight, Gervacio had to undergo reconstructive jaw surgery, having to be fed with intravenous
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
cables.
Although he would never regain his title, Gervacio nevertheless reeled off ten straight wins after that defeat. Among the boxers he beat during that streak were some top ranked fighters such as Julio Soto Solano,Pepillo Valdez, Lee Cargle and Lorenzo Tiznado, among others.
When given another chance to win a world title on March 11 of 1995, he lost to WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Super Bantamweight incumbent Hector Acero Sanchez by a twelve round unanimous decision.
His next fight on March 25, 1996 against Sergio Pena
Sergio Pena
Sergio Pena in Winchester, Virginia is an American NASCAR driver who is one of eleven drivers who is part of the Drive for Diversity program. He impressed people with his second place effort only to be behind Joey Logano at the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway after starting on the pole...
was his debut in his birth country and it was was for the Dominican Super Bantamweight title. It resulted in a lost after a seven round no contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
decision. Gervacio lost his next three matches all by knockout, including one against future world champion Juan Manuel Márquez.
At his final professional match held on on October 4, 1997 he lost to former Cuban amateur boxer and future world champion Joel Casamayor
Joel Casamayor
Joel "El Cepillo" Casamayor Johnson is a Cuban boxer, who turned pro after defecting to the United States on the eve of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The nickname "El Cepillo", literally translated to "the brush", comes from his uppercut, which rakes his opponents across the face...
. Gervacio retired with a record of 32 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw, with 24 wins by knockout.
Illegal immigration arrest
On June 20, 2011, Gervacio, who identified himself as Julio Antonio Gervacio-Lynch, was arrested in Aguadilla, Puerto RicoAguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
officers after he illegally entered Puerto Rico (and thus also the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) after crossing the Mona Channel that separates the island from the Dominican Republic aboard a rickety fishing boat commonly known as a yola by locals. Criminal and immigration records showed that Gervacio was convicted by a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
court in 2002 for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was deported from the United States by orders from an immigration judge in 2009. If convicted for illegal entry, Gervacio faces a ten-year prison sentence and repatriation to the Dominican Republic once his sentence is served.