Paul Gonzales

Paul Garza Gonzales (born April 18, 1964 in East Los Angeles, California) was an American boxer, who won the light flyweight gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Amateur career

He was the winner of the Val Barker Trophy for Outstanding Boxer at those Games, after having won a silver medal the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games.

Amateur Highlights

*1983 United States Amateur Light Flyweight Champion
*1984 Olympic Light-Flyweight Gold Medalist at Los Angeles Games. Results were:
**Defeated Kwang-Sun Kim (South Korea) 5-0
**Defeated William Bagonza (Uganda) 5-0
**Defeated John Lyon (Great Britain) 4-1
**Defeated Marcelino Bolivar (Venezuela) 5-0
**Defeated Salvatore Todisco (Italy) walk-over

Professional career

Gonzales began his professional career in 1985 and went on to challenge Bantamweight legend Orlando Canizales for the IBF Bantamweight Title in 1990 in a rematch of a 1986 bout in which Gonzales won by unanimous decision. In the rematch, Gonzales was stopped by TKO in the 2nd due to cuts. After two more losses against lackluster competition, Gonzales hung up his gloves in 1991.

External links

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Personal life

Gonzales grew up in the Aliso Village Housing Projects. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE2DC103EF931A25755C0A964958260 OLYMPICS; A Promise, a Death and a Dream - New York Times ] ]

References