- Pete Ranzany
Pete Ranzany (born
April 6 ,1952 in Sacramento,California ) was an amateur boxer who represented the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973. He defeated futurewelterweight championCarlos Palomino at the 1972 Olympic Trials, but lost to eventual gold medalistSugar Ray Seales in the finals.A conventional boxer with a solid jab and vicious left hook he utilized to the body of his opponents, he was known to take opponents out with one single shot to the
liver . Histrainer ,Joey Lopes —also a one-time fighter in the Sacramento region—was often criticized for protecting Ranzany, thus giving Ranzany the label of a "hometown fighter."Ranzany rose to the rank of number-one challenger in the world in the late 1970s where he fought as a
welterweight . Ranzany knocked outRandy Shields onFebruary 14 ,1978 , in the 11th round to earn theNABF welterweight title.On
September 9 ,1978 , Ranzany fought for the world WBA welterweight title against title holder Jose “Pipino” Cuevas, before a crowd of over 17,000 people in the outdoorCharles C. Hughes Stadium . After doing well in the first round, Ranzany was knocked out by a right-hand blow from Cuevas in the 2nd round.One year later on
August 12 ,1979 , Ranzany lost toSugar Ray Leonard atCaesars Palace in Las Vegas, getting knocked out in the 4th round. Ranzany came back to Hughes Stadium the following year to defeat Sal Lopez (older brother of future Jr. Lightweight champion, Tony "The Tiger" Lopez) with a 6th-round knockout onSeptember 5 ,1980 . After this victory Ranzany got one more shot at a premier welterweight, losing toWilfred Benitez onDecember 12 ,1980 , in a controversial 10-round unanimous decision.On
October 30 ,1982 , Ranzany defeated former lightweight championSean O'Grady in a 10-round unanimous decision.References
* http://thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/1646
* Mladinich, Robert. " [http://www.fightbeat.com/article_detail.php?AT=308 Pete Ranzany: The Pride of Sacramento] ," FightBeat.com. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
* "Ranzany's Last Round," "The New York Times",September 29 ,1983 .
* Mulcahey, Marty. " [http://www.maxboxing.com/Mulcahey/Mulcahey090904.asp On This Day in Boxing History: September 9] ." MaxBoxing.com. Retrieved 2008-06-10.See also
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