Orlando Canizales (born November 25, 1965) is an American former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

who competed from 1984 to 1999. He held the IBF

bantamweight Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In MMA, bantamweight is . The name for the class is derived from bantam chickens. Bra ...

title between July 1988 and December 1994.

Early life

Canizales who is of

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

descent was born in Laredo, the seat of

Webb County Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 267,114. Its county seat is Laredo. The county was named after James Webb (1792–1856), who served as secretary of the treasury, secreta ...

South Texas South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of—and includes—San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 4.96 ...

. 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 Jose 'Gaby' Canizales (born May 1, 1960) is an American former professional boxer who won the Lineal championship in the bantamweight division. Early life Canizales was born in Laredo in Webb County, Texas. Pro career Canizales turned pro in ...

. 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 Paul Garza Gonzales (born April 18, 1964) is an American former professional boxer, who won the light flyweight gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Amateur career Gonzales was the winner of the Val Barker Trophy for Outstanding Boxer at ...

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 Kelvin Seabrooks (born March 10, 1963 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a retired American boxer who won the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title and defended it four times. Boxing career Amateur career Seabrooks started boxing w ...

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 Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of bo ...

champion

Rolando Bohol Rolando Bohol (born December 25, 1965) is a Filipino former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1994. He held the IBF flyweight title in 1988, and challenged once for the IBF bantamweight title in 1994. Professional career Bohol turne ...

, British champion

Billy Hardy Billy Hardy (born 5 September 1964 in Sunderland) is a former bantamweight and featherweight boxer champion. He held the British championship at bantamweight and featherweight, as well as the European and Commonwealth featherweight titles. Th ...

, 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 Super bantamweight, also known as junior featherweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from and up to . There were attempts by boxing promoters in the 1920s to establish this weight class, but few sanctioning organizations o ...

division.

World Boxing Association The World Boxing Association (WBA), formerly known as the National Boxing Association (NBA), is the oldest and one of four major organizations which sanction professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxi ...

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 The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), located in Canastota, New York, honors boxers, trainers and other contributors to the sport worldwide. Inductees are selected by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America. The I ...

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 The ''Laredo Morning Times'' is a daily newspaper publication based in Laredo, Texas, USA. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation Hearst Communications, Inc., often referred to simply as Hearst, is an American multinational mass media and busi ...

'', May 2, 2014, p. 1

Professional boxing record

References

External links

*
Dog House Boxing interview
, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Canizales, Orlando 1965 births Living people Bantamweight boxers World bantamweight boxing champions International Boxing Federation champions International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees American boxers of Mexican descent People from Laredo, Texas Boxers from Houston World boxing champions American male boxers