Raúl García (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Raúl "Rayito" García, born Raúl García Hirales, is a professional boxer from La Paz, Baja California Sur
, México
, and the former IBF
minimumweight
world champion. He has a record of 29 wins (17 KOs), 1 loss, and 1 draw. He is the twin brother of WBO
light flyweight champion Ramón García Hirales
.
and defeated him by a 12 round split decision in La Paz, Mexico. He defended his IBF title four times. Garcia lost the IBF mini flyweight title against South African Nkosinathi Joyi
on 26 March 2010 by a unanimous decision.
After losing his IBF title, Garcia went on to win the WBO interim minimumweight title on October 30, 2010 by a split decision against Luis dela Rosa. He was scheduled to face Donnie Nietes
on March 12, 2011 for the full championship, however, just two weeks prior to the fight date, Nietes announced that he would be vacating his world title and moving up in weight. Therefore, Garcia was promoted to full champion. On May 30, 2011, he successfully defended the title for the first time by third round tko against Rommel Asenjo. Garcia and his brother Ramón made history on this night when they became the first set of twin brothers to win world title fights on the same card.
La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and an important regional commercial center. The city had a 2010 census population of 215,178 persons, but its metropolitan population is somewhat larger because of surrounding towns like el Centenario, el Zacatal and San Pedro...
, México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and the former 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 :...
minimumweight
Minimumweight
Minimumweight is a weight class division in combat sports. The most notable of which is in professional boxing where boxers may weigh no more than . This is a relatively new weight category for professionals, first inaugurated by the major boxing sanctioning bodies between 1987 and 1990...
world champion. He has a record of 29 wins (17 KOs), 1 loss, and 1 draw. He is the twin brother of WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
light flyweight champion Ramón García Hirales
Ramón García Hirales
Ramón García Hirales is a Mexican professional boxer in the Light Flyweight division. He is the current WBO Light Flyweight Champion...
.
Professional career
On June 14, 2008, he challenged Filipino IBF Minimumweight champion Florante CondesFlorante Condes
Florante Condes, Jr. , is a Filipino professional boxer and a former IBF Minimumweight World Champion.-Boxing career:...
and defeated him by a 12 round split decision in La Paz, Mexico. He defended his IBF title four times. Garcia lost the IBF mini flyweight title against South African Nkosinathi Joyi
Nkosinathi Joyi
Nkosinathi Joyi , is a South African professional boxer with a southpaw stance who goes by the nickname of "Mabere"...
on 26 March 2010 by a unanimous decision.
After losing his IBF title, Garcia went on to win the WBO interim minimumweight title on October 30, 2010 by a split decision against Luis dela Rosa. He was scheduled to face Donnie Nietes
Donnie Nietes
Donnie Nietes is a Filipino professional boxer and the WBO Light Flyweight World Champion. He is also a former WBO Minimumweight World Champion. His cousin, Gerson Nietes, is also a boxer....
on March 12, 2011 for the full championship, however, just two weeks prior to the fight date, Nietes announced that he would be vacating his world title and moving up in weight. Therefore, Garcia was promoted to full champion. On May 30, 2011, he successfully defended the title for the first time by third round tko against Rommel Asenjo. Garcia and his brother Ramón made history on this night when they became the first set of twin brothers to win world title fights on the same card.