Ceferino Montano Garcia (August 26, 1906 – January 1, 1981) was a Filipino professional boxer, born in Naval, Biliran, Philippines, who held the NYSAC world middleweight title from 1939 to 1940, winning the title by knocking out Fred Apostoli at Madison Square Garden and later lost it to Ken Overlin. Garcia is regarded as one of the most successful Filipino boxers of his era, holding the most victories ever achieved by a Filipino boxer with a professional record of 120 wins, 30 losses and 14 draws, including 76 knockout victories. He is also the only boxer from the Philippines to become world champion in the middleweight division. Garcia is commonly credited to as the first well known user of the bolo punch, which was later popularized by Cuban fighter Kid Gavilán. He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.

Early life Ceferino Garcia was the son of Fortunato Garcia and Pascuala Montano and was the oldest of six children. He never completed first grade, and by age 15 he took in the streets for odd jobs in sugar cane fields, as a blacksmith, and indulged rather frequently in gambling. At 17, he was feared by so many that nobody would take him in a street fight. While working at a bakery in Cebu City, Garcia met a boxing promoter. This was where his career as boxer started. In 1932, his manager Jes Cortez brought in to California, where he became a full-time prizefighter.

Boxing career On September 23, 1937 at the Polo Grounds in NY, Garcia first had a shot for a world title in the welterweight division opposing for the third time Barney Ross, who bested him by unanimous decision. Ross won the three bouts on points.

Ceferino Garcia fought twice legendary bouts with Henry Armstrong in 1938, which he lost by decision, and in 1940, this time with the referee declaring the fight a draw.

On October 2, 1939, Garcia fought Fred Apostoli for the world Middleweight title in the United States and won it by TKO in the 7th round. He defended that title three times until he lost to Ken Overlin on points. He was managed, during the final years of his career by George Parnassus.

Bolo punch Garcia is still generally associated with the bolo punch, an unorthodox punch whose motion has been compared to the swinging action of a Filipino bolo knife used in cutting vegetation. The punch is generally described as a wide, circular blow combining elements of a hook and an uppercut, often thrown with a looping arm motion. Garcia has often been credited with popularizing the bolo punch in professional boxing, and some accounts have described him as its inventor. Other sources, however, have noted that an earlier Filipino boxer, Macario Flores, was reported using a similar punch in the 1920s. Later fighters associated with the punch included Kid Gavilán, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Roy Jones Jr.

Life after boxing After retiring from the ring he made a few uncredited appearances in Hollywood films with the exception of "Joe Palooka, Champ" in which he plays himself.Ceferino García - Internet Movie Database (IMDb) He was also employed for a time by actress Mae West as her chauffeur and bodyguard.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Garcia lived on 1042 S. Rowan St., in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles."Filipino Boxer's Home Robbed of Radios" Los Angeles Times, May 9, 1940.

Garcia died on January 1, 1981, while in San Diego, California. His grave is located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.The Freeman

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes164Loss Bill McDowellPTS10Jan 15, 1945 163Win120–29–14 George BaratkoKO3 (?)Oct 16, 1944 162Win119–29–14 Kid AztecaPTS10Oct 6, 1944 161Win118–29–14 Willis JohnsonTKO10 (10)Sep 25, 1944 160Loss117–29–14 California Jackie WilsonUD10Feb 24, 1942 159Loss117–28–14 Anton ChristoforidisPTS10Dec 1, 1941 158Draw117–27–14 Billy SooseTD8 (12)Sep 15, 1941 157Win117–27–13 Bobby PachoKO3 (10)Aug 19, 1941 156Win116–27–13 Jimmy CasinoTKO8 (10)Jul 11, 1941 155Loss115–27–13 Steve BelloisePTS10Sep 12, 1940 154Loss115–26–13 Ken OverlinUD15May 23, 1940 153Win115–25–13 Allen MatthewsTKO4 (10)Apr 24, 1940 152Draw114–25–13 Henry ArmstrongPTS10Mar 1, 1940 151Win114–25–12 Glen LeeTKO13 (15)Dec 23, 1939 150Win113–25–12 Fred ApostoliKO7 (15)Oct 2, 1939 149Win112–25–12 Bobby PachoKO5 (10)Aug 8, 1939 148Win111–25–12 Bobby PachoPTS10Jul 4, 1939 147Win110–25–12 Walter WoodsKO4 (10)Jun 15, 1939 146Win109–25–12 Al RomeroTKO10 (10)Apr 21, 1939 145Win108–25–12 Chief ParrisKO3 (10)Mar 28, 1939 144Win107–25–12 Lloyd MarshallTKO5 (10)Mar 17, 1939 143Win106–25–12 Lloyd MarshallPTS10Feb 22, 1939 142Win105–25–12 Al TrulmansKO2 (10)Feb 7, 1939 141Win104–25–12 Dick FosterTKO8 (10)Jan 27, 1939 140Loss103–25–12 Henry ArmstrongUD15Nov 25, 1938 139Win103–24–12 Jackie BurkeTKO2 (15)Jul 25, 1938 138Win102–24–12 Jackie BurkeKO4 (10)Jul 4, 1938 137Win101–24–12 Frankie BlairTKO3 (10)Jun 17, 1938 136Win100–24–12 Glen LeePTS10May 6, 1938 135Win99–24–12 Tony RoccaforteKO1 (10)Mar 25, 1938 134Win98–24–12 Otto BlackwellKO9 (10)Mar 19, 1938 133Win97–24–12 Otto BlackwellKO7 (10)Mar 12, 1938 132Win96–24–12 Manuel VictoriaKO4 (10)Feb 18, 1938 131Win95–24–12 Mickey SerrianKO2 (10)Jan 28, 1938 130Win94–24–12 Otto BlackwellKO2 (10)Jan 1, 1938 129Loss93–24–12 Barney RossUD15Sep 23, 1937 128Win93–23–12 Bobby PachoTKO9 (10)Jul 22, 1937 127Win92–23–12 Phil FurrPTS10Jun 11, 1937 126Win91–23–12 George SalvadorePTS10May 21, 1937 125Win90–23–12 Phil McQuillanKO2 (10)May 7, 1937 124Win89–23–12 Aaron WadeTKO1 (10)Mar 23, 1937 123Loss88–23–12 Glen LeePTS10Feb 23, 1937 122Win88–22–12 Chief ParrisKO4 (10)Feb 5, 1937 121Win87–22–12 Otto BlackwellKO1 (10)Jan 12, 1937 120Win86–22–12 Ray AcostaKO1 (10)Dec 18, 1936 119Draw85–22–12 Izzy JannazzoPTS15Oct 30, 1936 118Win85–22–11 Cleto LocatelliPTS10Sep 11, 1936 117Win84–22–11 Leon ZorritaKO5 (10)Aug 11, 1936 116Win83–22–11 Kid AztecaKO5 (10)Jul 17, 1936 115Win82–22–11 Young Peter JacksonPTS10Jun 9, 1936 114Win81–22–11 Jackie BurkeTKO8 (10)May 8, 1936 113Win80–22–11 Lou HalperTKO6 (10)Mar 27, 1936 112Draw79–22–11 Jackie BurkePTS10Mar 2, 1936 111Win79–22–10 Gordon WallacePTS10Feb 7, 1936 110Loss78–22–10 Al ManfredoPTS10Jan 13, 1936 109Loss78–21–10 Barney RossUD10Nov 29, 1935 108Win78–20–10 Gordon WallaceMD12Nov 20, 1935 107Win77–20–10 Otto BlackwellPTS10Nov 12, 1935 106Draw76–20–10 Gordon WallacePTS10Oct 23, 1935 105Win76–20–9 Joe BernalPTS10Oct 18, 1935 104Loss75–20–9 Barney RossPTS10Sep 13, 1935 103Win75–19–9 Sammy BrownKO3 (10)Aug 16, 1935 102Win74–19–9 Baby Joe GansKO3 (10)Jul 19, 1935 101Win73–19–9 Sammy O'DellKO5 (10)Jul 4, 1935 100Win72–19–9 Al RomeroPTS10Jun 21, 1935 99Win71–19–9 Meyer GraceKO1 (10)May 31, 1935 98Win70–19–9 Al ManfredoPTS10May 17, 1935 97Win69–19–9 Guy McKinneyKO1 (10)Apr 26, 1935 96Loss68–19–9 Al ManfredoPTS10Apr 18, 1935 95Win68–18–9 Baby Joe GansKO1 (10)Mar 26, 1935 94Loss67–18–9 Bep van KlaverenPTS10Dec 7, 1934 93Win67–17–9 Manuel VictoriaKO3 (10)Nov 16, 1934 92Win66–17–9 Bep van KlaverenPTS10Oct 30, 1934 91Win65–17–9 Erwin BigeKO2 (10)Sep 28, 1934 90Win64–17–9 Flash ButlerKO2 (10)Sep 24, 1934 89Win63–17–9 Tony RoccaforteKO2 (10)Sep 11, 1934 88Win62–17–9 Joe GlickKO2 (10)Sep 1, 1934 87Win61–17–9 Jimmy EvansPTS10Aug 9, 1934 86Win60–17–9 Mike PayanTKO1 (10)Jul 27, 1934 85Win59–17–9 Andy DiVodiKO1 (10)Jul 3, 1934 84Win58–17–9 Tommy HermanKO3 (10)Jun 14, 1934 83Win57–17–9 Billy BoggsTKO5 (10)Jun 1, 1934 82Win56–17–9 Johnny MartinezTKO3 (10)May 18, 1934 81Win55–17–9 Tommy MartinezKO4 (10)May 4, 1934 80Win54–17–9 Baby Sal SorioKO4 (10)Apr 20, 1934 79Loss53–17–9 Young Peter JacksonKO3 (10)Apr 10, 1934 78Win53–16–9 Tommy HermanKO2 (10)Mar 23, 1934 77Win52–16–9 Eddie CerdaTKO6 (10)Mar 6, 1934 76Win51–16–9 Paulie WalkerPTS10Feb 9, 1934 75Win50–16–9 Bobby PachoKO3 (10)Jan 16, 1934 74Win49–16–9 Mike PayanPTS10Dec 22, 1933 73Win48–16–9 Baby Joe GansPTS10Dec 12, 1933 72Win47–16–9 Vincent MartinezPTS6Nov 25, 1933 71Loss46–16–9 Andy CallahanPTS10Oct 27, 1933 70Win46–15–9 King TutKO7 (10)Oct 13, 1933 69Win45–15–9 Meyer GraceKO10 (10)Sep 22, 1933 68Win44–15–9 Eddie FriscoTKO7 (10)Aug 25, 1933 67Loss43–15–9 Kid AztecaTKO8 (10)Jul 25, 1933 66Win43–14–9 Lloyd SmithKO4 (10)Jul 18, 1933 65Loss42–14–9 Kid AztecaPTS10Jul 11, 1933 64Win42–13–9 Johnny MartinezKO5 (10)Jul 3, 1933 63Loss41–13–9 Eddie RanDQ3 (10)May 29, 1933 62Win41–12–9 Leonard BennettPTS6May 9, 1933 61Win40–12–9 Howard FritzTKO8 (10)Apr 28, 1933 60Win39–12–9 Tommy HuffmanPTS10Apr 19, 1933 59Win38–12–9 Jesus MaciasKO1 (10)Apr 12, 1933 58Draw37–12–9 Mike PayanPTS10Mar 24, 1933 57Win37–12–8 Johnny RomeroPTS10Mar 10, 1933 56Win36–12–8 Frankie DiazKO2 (10)Mar 3, 1933 55Win35–12–8 Johnny RomeroKO8 (10)Feb 10, 1933 54Win34–12–8 Charlie CobbTKO5 (10)Jan 27, 1933 53Loss33–12–8 Tommy KingPTS10Jan 20, 1933 52Win33–11–8 Andy DiVodiKO4 (10)Nov 22, 1932 51Loss32–11–8 Young Corbett IIIPTS10Oct 25, 1932 50Loss32–10–8 Freddie SteeleKO2 (4)Sep 20, 1932 49Draw32–9–8 Tommy KingPTS10Sep 2, 1932 48Draw32–9–7 Jimmy BrittMD6Jul 13, 1932 47Win32–9–6 Oakland Jimmy DuffyTKO7 (10)Jun 22, 1932 46Loss31–9–6 Joey GoodmanPTS10May 24, 1932 45Loss31–8–6 Freddie SteeleKO2 (6)May 18, 1932 44Win31–7–6 David VelascoPTS10May 6, 1932 43Loss30–7–6 Young Corbett IIIPTS10Apr 12, 1932 42Win30–6–6 Joe SaldivarKO1 (10)Apr 1, 1932 41Loss29–6–6 Tommy HermanTKO10 (10)Mar 11, 1932 40Win29–5–6 Vearl WhiteheadTKO7 (10)Feb 19, 1932 39Win28–5–6 David VelascoPTS10Jan 26, 1932 38Win27–5–6 Alfredo GaonaTKO4 (10)Jan 19, 1932 37Win26–5–6 Tony GoraPTS10Nov 14, 1931 36Win25–5–6 Ignacio FernandezPTS12Jul 18, 1931 35Win24–5–6 Ignacio FernandezDQ9 (12)May 16, 1931 34Win23–5–6 Frank MalinaoPTS12Apr 18, 1931 33Win22–5–6 Joe HallPTS12Mar 7, 1931 32Loss21–5–6 Jimmy HillPTS12Dec 22, 1928 31Win21–4–6 Joe SacramentoKO4 (?)Nov 26, 1928 30Draw20–4–6 Irineo FloresPTS10Oct 3, 1928 29Win20–4–5 Joe HallDQ6 (12)Aug 4, 1928 28Loss19–4–5 Kid MoroPTS12Apr 28, 1928 27Win19–3–5 Luis LoganPTS12Feb 18, 1928 26Win18–3–5 Young Harry WillsPTS12Dec 10, 1927 25Win17–3–5 Joe SacramentoKO4 (?)Nov 26, 1927 24Win16–3–5 Irineo FloresPTS12Jul 9, 1927 23Win15–3–5 Pedro CampoPTS12Jun 18, 1927 22Win14–3–5 Pedro CampoPTS12May 7, 1927 21Win13–3–5 Ignacio FernandezPTS12Feb 26, 1927 20Draw12–3–5 Harry StonePTS10Dec 18, 1926 19Loss12–3–4 Kid MoroPTS12Nov 6, 1926 18Loss12–2–4 Irineo FloresPTS12Sep 18, 1926 17Win12–1–4 Harry StonePTS12Sep 4, 1926 16Draw11–1–4 Irineo FloresPTS12Jul 3, 1926 15Draw11–1–3 Irineo FloresPTS12May 29, 1926 14Win11–1–2 Fighting NelsonPTS12Mar 6, 1926 13Win10–1–2 Fighting NelsonDQ3 (?)Feb 6, 1926 12Win9–1–2 Irineo BoisonPTS12Jan 16, 1926 11Win8–1–2 Max JimKO1 (?)Jan 2, 1926 10Win7–1–2 Jimmy HallKO4 (?)Dec 19, 1925 9Draw6–1–2 Young Harry WillsPTS6Nov 14, 1925 8Win6–1–1 Pedro SyapTKO1 (?)Oct 31, 1925 7Win5–1–1 Terrible DaguaTKO4 (?)Oct 17, 1925 6Win4–1–1 Harry TunneyPTS6Oct 3, 1925 5Loss3–1–1 Antonio GarciaTKO4 (?)Jun 28, 1924 4Win3–0–1 Cornelio CoronelKO3 (?)Jun 14, 1924 3Win2–0–1 G VargasPTS4Sep 22, 1923 2Win1–0–1 M FloresPTS4May 12, 1923 1Draw0–0–1 Pedro del MundoPTS6May 5, 1923

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