Orlando Canizales Interview Part I
By Boxing Reporter and Writer Chris Cercola
Orlando Canizales was born in Laredo, Texas on November 25, 1965. He turned professional in August of 1984, scoring a second round knockout, after compiling an amateur record of 108 wins and only 12 defeats.
Orlando would face Paul Gonzales, the Olympic gold medalist who was undefeated in four fights of his own. They would meet for the NABF lightweight championship. Despite dropping Gonzales in round three, Orlando would suffer the first loss of his career, and fail in his shot at the NABF championship. After the depression from losing wore off a little, Orlando decided to commit himself more. And after a few more wins together, Orlando would get another shot at the same title against Armando Velasco, and Orlando would shine, stopping Velasco four rounds. Orlando moved up to the super flyweight division after that fight and captured the USBA championship, defeating Louis Curtis in two rounds.
He felt ready for the world. Orlando would move up yet another division, to the bantamweight division, and this is where he would cement himself as boxing legend. On July 9, 1988, Orlando would fight IBF bantamweight champion Kelvin Seabrooks. Orlando made a sandwich that night, knocking down Seabrooks in the first and 15th round. Seabrooks would not hear the final bell. An era in the bantamweight division had begun.
Orlando’s legendary run got started with a first round knockout of Jimmy Navarro before beating Seabrooks for a second time, only this time Orlando did it faster, stopping Seabrooks in the 11th this time. The champion would take his title to England and win a split decision in a tough fight against local contender Billy Hardy in a very tough fight. A couple of fights after that, Orlando would avenge his only loss when he stopped Paul Gonzales in the second round. After defeating Eddie Rangel in five, Orlando invited Billy Hardy over to this side of the pond and his hometown of Laredo Texas for a rematch of their hotly contested fight in Hardy’s hometown, this time the champ stopped Hardy in eight. Orlando followed that with a unanimous decision over Fernie Morales and stopped Ray Minus in 11.
Feeling like the champion of the world, Orlando took his title overseas and won a unanimous decision over Francisco Alvarez in Paris. He then fought a nontitle fight in Monte Carl, knocking out Fernando Ramos in eight rounds. After coming back home to defend his title with a decision over Samuel Duran, Orlando went back to France and stopped fellow American Clarence ‘Bones’ Adams in 11 rounds. He then fought a three round no contest with Derrick Whiteboy, winning a 12 round decision in South Africa over Colombian Juvenal Berrio, stopping Gerardo Martinez in four, and Rolando Bohol in five. Orlando would then fight Sergio Reyes, knock him down in the third round before winning a unanimous decision, This would turn out to be Orlando’s last bantamweight title defense, setting a record that may never be broken with 18 defenses of his crown. A reign that lasted six years and three months.
Orlando then moved up to the super bantamweight division to fight Wilfredo Vazquez, the Puerto Rican legend, for the WBA super bantamweight championship of the world. Orlando would be unsuccessful, losing a close 12 round split decision.
Orlando went on a four fight winning streak, during which he picked up the lightly regarded IBC super bantamweight championship, and it led him to a crossroads fight with another fighter trying to rejuvenate his career, New Yorker ‘Poison’ Junior Jones in Madison Square Garden. After an entertaining 12 round fight, Jones was declared the winner by split decision.
Canizales then went to Japan and added the IBA featherweight championship to his resume with a 10 round stoppage of familiar foe, Sergio Reyes. A couple of more wins later, Orlando fought tough, Edwin Santana, winning a 12 round majority decision. Three more wins over limited opposition, was followed by Orlando dropping a 10 round majority decision to Richard De Jesus. He avenged the loss to De Jesus via sixth round TKO, and finished his career in a fitting place, the ‘Legendary’ Blue Horizon in Philadelphia against tough, capable Frankie Toledo, losing a 10 round split decision.
After his loss to Toledo, Orlando Canizales retired from active boxing, finishing up with a career record of 50 – 5 – 1 – 37 KO’s, with 1 no contest. Orlando Canizales was inducted into the international boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. He continues to pass on the knowledge that he picked up from the sport that he was born to do at 2201 Zacatecas Street in Laredo Texas. This interview was recorded March 2012
I was born and raised in Laredo Texas. I have four brothers no sisters. I’m the youngest of five. I always I looked up to my brothers and like they say, I was the gopher go for this go for that… Like I said, I was the youngest. My parents were very strict with me and they always want me to participate in sports. Ever since I was five or six years old when I was in elementary school, I always pursued all kinds of sports, ya know, I played basketball, flag football, and Little League baseball, so I was active in sports that’s how I was brought along. I was a good kid I was never in trouble. I would never get into fights, I would just come home from school and practice, and ya know, that’s about it, I would get good grades.
My brother Gaby, because he’s older than me, started boxing first, and one time, I just went to the gym and that’s how it started. I really started boxing because of him, because he started boxing first. I was ten years old. At that age, I was doing multiple sports at that time. I was boxing, I was with the seasons, like flag football, so I didn’t know that I was going to be a professional boxer until I was about 15 or 16, but when I was little I would watch Muhammad Ali, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, ya know, those were my role models growing up.
I was 108 and 12 in the amateurs my best memories were, I won the State Golden Gloves once and I fought in the National Golden Gloves, I was a finalist, and I would get to train with the Olympic hopefuls. I sparred with Paul Gonzales before he won the Olympic gold medal so I have good memories.
My first pro fight was in August of 84’, I don’t remember who I fought at that time but I won…(laughter)… It was exciting, I was excited because I won and I was just looking forward to my next fight. Back then, I would fight every month ya know, after every fight, just go back to the gym and train. My first two fights, I was trained by Tony Ayala, from San Antonio. My first two fights were with him, my third fight was under Jesse. Jesse was a good person, he was a very positive man, he was very encouraging. Just, very positive. I like the way he would treat me and I like the way he would train me, I just thought he was a real positive guy and I just thought that we worked real well together. I was with Jesse Reid throughout all my career right to my last fight.
At the time of the Paul Gonzales fight- I think it was kind of my fault, it was early in my career, it was a big fight for me, it was my first national title, it was for the NABA title, it’s going to be televised on CBS Live, it was outdoors in Lake Tahoe. I knew what to expect, I knew he was an Olympian ya know, but after that, he was a better man that day he beat me fair and square. That loss affected me, I was disappointed because I have high expectations, it was a setback in my career ‘cause my goal was to be a world champion, it was a stepping stone, winning the NABF, from there, looking for bigger and better things… But I said, “Ya know what, I’ll just work harder and bounce back”.
Stay tuned for part II of this incredible interview with the great former bantamweight champion and International Hall of Famer Orlando Canizales.
Orlando talks about his fights with tough Charlotte, NC native Kelvin Seabrooks, Puerto Rican sensation Wilfredo Vasquez Sr, Brooklyn’s Junior “Poison” Jones and so much more!
Join our FACEBOOK for the latest up to date fight news Real Combat Media.COM
Follow Boxing Writer Chris Cercola on TWITTER @REALCOMBATMEDIA
Add us to your circle on GOOGLE PLUS: plus.google.com/Real Combat Media.
JOIN OUR NEW INTEGRATED FACEBOOK FORUMS :realcombatmedia.com/forum
English
No Comments Yet