He was a globe-trotting stylist, more skilled than a journeyman, and loved getting in the ring and letting his hands fly. here, Eric Armit The film focuses on the charismatic and controversial boxer who idolized Sugar Ray Robinson, had a turbulent personal life, and fought some of the biggest names in martial arts.
to be born: May 9, 1937 in Havana, Cuba
Died: June 1, 2000 in Cuba
Turning pro: July 23, 1955
Department: From super featherweight to super welterweight
record: His record is 239 fights, 138 wins (55 KO/TKO), 80 losses and 21 draws.
defeat: Bobby Bell, Alfredo Urbina, Tommy Tibbs (twice), Jose Stable*, Rolando Morales, Pastor Marrero, Mario Becchiatto, Valerio Nunez, Fernando Nolet, Giordano Campari, Ray Adigun, Francois Pavila, Rafiu King*, Joe Tette (twice), Andres Navarro, Kid Tano, LC Morgan, Paul Armstead, Bobby Arthur, Jonathan Dele, Bunny Grant*, Marcos Gerald, Perry Abner.
lost: Frankie Riff, Doug Vaillant (twice)*, Vicente Rivas*, Jose Stable*, Jose Napoles (twice)**, Carlos Hernandez (twice)**, Alfredo Urbina, Bunny Grant *, Rafiu King, Jean Joselin*, Eddie Perkins** (3 times), Antonio Ortiz*, Ismael Laguna **, Connie Rudhoff, Oli Maki*, Andres Navarro (2 times), Maurice Cullen, Bruno Acari **, Antonio Ortiz*, Carmelo Bossi**, Borge Clough, Paul Armstead, Ken Buchanan**, Pedro Carrasco**, Chris Fernandez, Silvano Bertini*, Jose Hernandez* (twice), Jonathan Dele (twice) ), Jose Duran**, Roger Menetrey*, Roberto Duran**, Esteban de Jesus* *, Saul Manby**, Sugar Ray Shields, Johnny Gant*, Wilfredo Benitez*, Larry Bonds*, Adriano -Marrero*, Josue Marquez*, Billy Backus**, Clyde Gray*, Willie Monroe, Ralph Paladin.
Scottish legend Ken Buchanan defeats Robinson Garcia
I drew: Carlos Hernandez**, Doug Vaillant*, Carmelo Bossi*, Andres Navarro (twice), Francois Pavila*, LC Morgan, Paul Armstead, Miguel Velasquez*, Jose Hernandez*, Antonio・Ortiz*
** Indicates past or future owner of the version of the world title
*World title challenger
Angel Robinson Garcia's story
Unlike many boxers, Angel Garcia did not have a disadvantaged childhood. He was one of six children, and as his father was an officer in the Cuban army, they had a good standard of living as he grew up.
Garcia started boxing in his early teens and turned professional after winning all of his amateur bouts and winning several trophies. He was such a fan of Sugar Ray Robinson that he incorporated Robinson into his ring name.
Angel was a good technical boxer with great skills and he was a fair puncher as his 55 wins by KO/TKO show. Despite those qualities, a fighter with 80 losses is not a candidate for greatness in boxing, but Garcia has to be in the running to be a top journeyman on the road and one of the toughest chins in boxing.
He compiled a 29-2 record in Cuba and began competing outside of Cuba in 1958. Cuba banned professional boxing in 1962, so he was forced to fight outside his home country for the rest of his career. He fought anyone and everyone, and he fought often.
He played 12 games in one six-month period, and 17 and 20 games in another two years. Sometimes the time between important matches was ridiculous. In the space of a month in October 1960, he drew with Doug Vaillant and faced future WBA/WBC light welterweight titleholder Carlos Hernandez, losing twice on points.
On another occasion, he fought an eight-round fight in Italy on July 9, 1967, and again nine days later in Italy against future WBA/WBC super welter champion Carmelo Bossi.
On February 13, 1974, they lost on points to the undefeated Sugar Ray Shields, and just five days later they lost on points to Josue Marquez in San Juan. That was right after Marquez lost a split decision to Antonio Cervantes for the WBA super lightweight title. In that case, there would be two big matches in five days.
During his career, Garcia has traveled to Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela.
In the United States, he fought in eight states: Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, and Texas. He faced 14 fighters who have won or will win a world title and 17 fighters who have challenged or will challenge for some version of the title.
Jose Napoles: Robinson fought the legend twice
He fought Jose Napoles twice, defeated Carlos Hernandez (who broke Davey Moore's jaw), Eddie Perkins, Esteban de Jesus, Ken Buchanan, Ismael Laguna, Wilfredo Benitez, and won 26 matches. He faced the young Roberto Duran, who lost 0 and won with 23 KOs/TKOs. Robinson went far with all of them. After the match with Garcia, Duran reportedly said:This Cuban bastard knows a lot about boxing and he wants me to teach him a little bit of what he knows.”
In 239 matches, he has only failed to finish three times. His losses to Carmelo Bossi and Boots Monroe were due to cuts, and the only bona fide stoppage victory over Garcia in March 1961 was Alfredo Urbina, whom Garcia had previously defeated. Later that year, Urbina drew with Sugar Ramos, and in 1963, he won over Jose Napoles. .
Garcia's only title was the Latin American junior lightweight title, which was announced at a show in Havana on February 26, 1958, but received little attention. The show was performed as part of the Grand Prix. Defending Grand Prix winner Juan Fangio was kidnapped by Fidel Castro's July 26th Movement the day before the race.
The race continued and a car skidded into the crowd, killing seven people. A boxing show was also held, with many celebrities in attendance, from Joe Louis to cowboy star Gene Autry.
That night, two Cubans, Oscar Suarez and Jose Ramon Flores, suffered losses to their Mexican opponents. Flores lost on points to Alvaro Gutierrez, but more seriously suffered a brain hemorrhage. Thankfully, Flores survived and recovered.
A third Cuban, Orlando Echevarria, was knocked out in the first round by Joe Brown. Because of these events, Garcia's nine-round stoppage of Panama's Isidro Martinez went largely unnoticed.
Garcia built a huge following in France and Spain during his stay, and continued to compete against the likes of Benitez, Billy Backus, Clyde Gray and Willie Monroe as he approached his 40s, winning Belgium's Pol Payen in 2019. He defeated them 17-1 and retired. February 1978, 40 years old.
Rise of the superstar: Robinson fought Benitez (above)
Away from the ring, Garcia was not a carbon cut, but a real human being with deep flaws. He spent all his earned money. He was a habitual womanizer, almost a sex addict, and was said to sometimes have sex before, after, and after weigh-ins.
Robinson also struggled with alcohol and drugs and often got into trouble with the law. Early in his career, the Cuba Commission suspended him for his “dissolute” lifestyle. His love affair with France ended after he deserted his pregnant wife and spent two months in prison on prostitute charges. The French federation handed him a seven-year suspension.
He was jailed for scuffling with Sudanese sailors in Genoa, and fighter Ferdy Pacheco said he had learned from Garcia that he had spent six months in an Italian prison for assaulting a woman.
He eventually caught up to Garcia in the 2005 boxing round. After his retirement he returned to Paris. He had liver and kidney problems and was nearly blind.
Sleeping poorly, the traveling warrior was homeless, powerless, and destitute. It is said that French movie star Jean-Paul Belmondo recognized Garcia and appealed to Fidel Castro, who allowed Garcia to return to Cuba and spend the rest of his life there.
