Paul Gonzales
Encyclopedia
Paul Garza Gonzales (born April 18, 1964 in East Los Angeles, California
) was a Mexican American
boxer
, who won the light flyweight gold medal
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
.
for Outstanding Boxer at those Games, after having won a silver medal the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games
.
for the IBF
Bantamweight
title in 1990 in a rematch of a 1986 bout in which Gonzales won by unanimous decision. In the rematch, Gonzales was stopped by TKO in the 2nd due to cuts. After two more losses against lackluster competition, Gonzales hung up his gloves in 1991.
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
) was a Mexican American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
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...
, who won the light flyweight gold medal
Olympic medalists in boxing
This is the complete list of Olympic medalists in boxing from 1904 to 2008.-Light flyweight:*1968 - : up to 48 kg.-Flyweight:*1904: up to 105 lb *1920-1936: up to 112 lb *1948-1964: up to 51 kg...
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
.
Amateur career
Gonzales was the winner of the Val Barker TrophyVal Barker Trophy
The Val Barker Trophy, named for boxer Val Barker, is presented every four years to an Olympic boxing athlete who exemplifies style during competition.-Recipients:...
for Outstanding Boxer at those Games, after having won a silver medal the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1983 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1983 Pan American Games was held in Caracas, Venezuela, from August 14 to August 29. The super heavyweight division was included for the first time.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
.
Amateur Highlights
- 1983 United States Amateur Light Flyweight Champion
- 1984 Olympic Light-Flyweight Gold Medalist at Los Angeles Games. Results were:
- Defeated Kwang-Sun Kim (South Korea) 5-0
- Defeated William Bagonza (Uganda) 5-0
- Defeated John LyonJohn Lyon (boxer)John Patrick Lyon is a retired boxer from Great Britain. A member of the Greenall St. Helens Amateur Boxing Club he twice competed at the Summer Olympics and won the gold medal in the men's flyweight division at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.-References:*...
(Great Britain) 4-1 - Defeated Marcelino BolivarMarcelino BolivarJosé Marcelino Bolivar is a retired minimumweight boxer from Venezuela, who won the bronze medal in the flyweight division at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California...
(Venezuela) 5-0 - Defeated Salvatore TodiscoSalvatore TodiscoSalvatore Todisco was a flyweight boxer from Italy, who won the silver medal in the light flyweight division at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. In the final he was defeated by Paul Gonzales of the United States...
(Italy) walk-over
Professional career
Gonzales began his professional career in 1985 and went on to challenge Bantamweight legend Orlando CanizalesOrlando Canizales
Orlando Canizales is an American boxer who won the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title and defended it a record sixteen consecutive times.-Boxing career:...
for the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
title in 1990 in a rematch of a 1986 bout in which Gonzales won by unanimous decision. In the rematch, Gonzales was stopped by TKO in the 2nd due to cuts. After two more losses against lackluster competition, Gonzales hung up his gloves in 1991.