Orlando Canizales (born November 25, 1965) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1999. He held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title from 1988 to 1994.
Early life Canizales who is of Mexican descent was born in Laredo, the seat of Webb County in South Texas. There he began training at the age of ten at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is the younger brother of fellow bantamweight world champion Gaby Canizales. Both brothers obtained the title of world boxing champion at the same age and weight.
Professional boxing career
Canizales turned professional in 1984 and was undefeated in twelve fights (one fight was a draw) before meeting the 1984 Olympic gold medalist Paul Gonzales in 1986. Gonzales defeated him over twelve rounds. Canizales rebounded from that defeat, however, and on July 9, 1988, he won the IBF bantamweight title by knocking out defending titlist Kelvin Seabrooks in the fifteenth round. He tied the division record for consecutive title defences at 15 set by Manuel Ortiz. His victims included old foe Gonzales, former flyweight champion Rolando Bohol, British champion Billy Hardy, and future champion Clarence "Bones" Adams. Many people incorrectly state that Orlando Canizales made 16 consecutive defences. This is due to many of them counting a no contest with Derrick Whiteboy as a title defence. No contests are not title defences however as the champion can't defend his title in a match that isn't considered to be a proper boxing contest.
In January 1995, Canizales attempted to win a title in the junior featherweight division. World Boxing Association champion Wilfredo Vazquez prevented him from doing so, winning a twelve-round split decision.
He continued fighting until 1999, when future champion Frank Toledo defeated him via ten-round split decision. He retired after that loss.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on July 14, 2009. With his parents watching, an emotional Canizales approached the podium and delivered a heartfelt speech. "Boxing has taught me a lot in life -- that dedication, discipline and determination will pay off in the long run and not to be easily swayed by obstacles and bumps in the road."
The Orlando & Gaby Canizales Boxing Gym and Community Center on Guadalupe Street in Laredo is named in honor of Orlando and his brother Gaby.Malena Charur, "Orlando & Gaby Canizales Boxing Gym and Community Center: Brothers Honored: Facility Located on Guadalupe Street", Laredo Morning Times, May 2, 2014, p. 1
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes57Loss Frank ToledoSD10Sep 24, 1999 56Win50–4–1 Richard De JesusRTD6 (10), Jun 4, 1999 55Loss 49–4–1 Richard De JesusMD10Dec 11, 1998 54Win49–3–1 Tomas ValdezKO3 (10)Oct 22, 1998 53Win48–3–1 Javier DiazUD10May 29, 1998 52Win47–3–1 Jose Luis MontesKO7 (10), Mar 21, 1998 51Win46–3–1 Edwin Santana12Jul 25, 1997 50Win45–3–1 Manuel ArellanoRTD5 (10), May 9, 1997 49Win44–3–1 Roland GomezKO4 (10), Mar 1, 1997 48Win43–3–1 Sergio ReyesTKO10 (12), Nov 3, 1996 47Loss42–3–1 Junior JonesSD12Mar 23, 1996 46Win42–2–1 Julio Cesar Portillo TKO2 (12), Nov 4, 1995 45Win41–2–1 Danny AponteTKO7 (12), Sep 12, 1995 44Win40–2–1 Johnny LewusUD12Jul 15, 1995 43Win39–2–1 Kino Rodriguez KO2 (10), Jun 10, 1995 42Loss38–2–1 Wilfredo VazquezSD12Jan 7, 1995 41Win38–1–1 Sergio ReyesUD12Oct 15, 1994 40Win37–1–1 Rolando BoholKO5 (12), Jun 7, 1994 39Win36–1–1 Gerardo MartinezTKO4 (12), Feb 26, 1994 38Win35–1–1 Juvenal BerrioUD12Nov 20, 1993 3734–1–1 Derrick WhiteboyKO3 (12), Jun 19, 1993 36Win34–1–1 Clarence AdamsTKO11 (12), Mar 27, 1993 35Win33–1–1 Samuel DuranUD12Sep 18, 1992 34Win32–1–1 Fernando RamosKO8 (10)Jul 11, 1992 33Win31–1–1 Francisco AlvarezUD12Apr 23, 1992 32Win30–1–1 Ray MinusTKO11 (12), Dec 21, 1991 31Win29–1–1 Fernie MoralesUD12Sep 21, 1991 30Win28–1–1 Billy HardyTKO8 (12), May 4, 1991 29Win27–1–1 Francisco OrtizUD10Dec 14, 1990 28Win26–1–1 Eddie RangelKO5 (12), Aug 14, 1990 27Win25–1–1 Paul GonzalesTKO2 (12), Jun 10, 1990 26Win24–1–1 Jesus Portillo TKO6 (?)Apr 27, 1990 25Win23–1–1 Billy HardySD12Jan 24, 1990 24Win22–1–1 Kelvin SeabrooksTKO11 (12), Jun 24, 1989 23Win21–1–1 Jimmy NavarroKO1 (12), Nov 29, 1988 22Win20–1–1 Kelvin SeabrooksTKO15 (15), Jul 9, 1988 21Win19–1–1 Louis Curtis TKO2 (12), Apr 15, 1988 20Win18–1–1 Armando VelascoTKO4 (12), Nov 12, 1987 19Win17–1–1 Jose OlivaresKO4 (10), Sep 25, 1987 18Win16–1–1 Alonzo GonzalezUD10Jun 3, 1987 17Win15–1–1 Javier LucasKO9 (10), Feb 20, 1987 16Win14–1–1 Prudencio CardonaTKO6 (10), Jan 30, 1987 15Win13–1–1 Jorge VazquezKO2 (10), Dec 11, 1986 14Win12–1–1 Juan GarciaKO1 (8)Sep 27, 1986 13Loss11–1–1 Paul GonzalesUD12Jul 20, 1986 12Win11–0–1 Javier DiazUD10May 6, 1986 11Win10–0–1 Cuauhtémoc VillenuevaKO2 (6), Mar 12, 1986 10Win9–0–1 Jorge Fuentes MartinezKO5 (6)Dec 12, 19859Win8–0–1 Steve WhetstoneKO3 (6)Nov 20, 1985 8Win7–0–1 Armando CastroUD6Oct 18, 1985 7Win6–0–1 Rolando LunaKO1 (6)Oct 9, 1985 6Win5–0–1 Manuel GagoTKO2 (6), Jul 26, 1985 5Win4–0–1 Nelson GarciaTKO1 (6), May 9, 1985 4Win3–0–1 Juan CameroTKO1 (6)Apr 9, 1985 3Draw2–0–1 Rogelio LeanosPTS4Mar 5, 1985 2Win2–0 Reymundo EuresteKO1 (4), Nov 9, 1984 1Win1–0Juan Perez2 (4)Aug 25, 1984
References
External links
Dog House Boxing interview