Wednesday, 29 July 2026 · Philippines
News

'RAYITO' GARCIA RETAINS TITLE

Last December 13 in Loreto, Baja Southern California, Mexico, Raul "Rayito" Garcia retained his IBF Mini-Flyweight Title with a repeat unanimous decision win over Venezuelan Jose Luis "Olimpico" Varela, whom he had beaten in his first defense last September 13, 2008 at the Gimnasio Medardo Meza Dominguez before a roucous and highly partisan crowd of about 15,000.

Judges Alejandro Lopez of Mexico City and Fritz Werner of Chula Vista, California both had identical scores of 120-108, while Jonny Davis of Anaheim, California scored it 119-109, all for Rayito Garcia.

The Mexican Champion, egged on by his countrymen, stalked his Venezuelan challenger in every round, but managed to score the only knockdown of the fight, in the 11th round when Olimpico Varela deliberately dropped down to one knee from sheer exhaustion.

The championship bout, beamed live throughout Mexico and in San Diego and Southern California by Mexican TV Cadena Tres, owned by former three division World Champ?on Eric Morales had been fought cleanly through most of the 12 rounds, although Referee Wayne Hedgepeth of Los Angeles, warned Olimpico Varela in the 4th round for a low blow. Next on the drawing board for Rayito Garcia is a mandatory defense against the no. 1 challenger, Ronald Barrera of Columbia early next year.

In the companion mainer for the regional title, David Gaspar of Tijuana, Mexico, knocked down local hero Panchito Reyes in the opening round, and coasted on to eke out a majority decision victory, and crowned himself the new FedeCaribe Association Mundial de Boxeo Super Flyweight Champion.

Other Results:

Juan Castaneda won over Abel Berrelleza by 1st round KO

Alejandro Sanabria beat Francisco Valdez by 4th round TKO

Ramon Garcia-Hirales by 2nd round TKO over German Cota

Manuel Cardenas by 1st round KO over Ramiro Reducindo

Rafael Gutierrez by UD over Raul Hirales, Jr.

Juan Murillo by 4th round KO over Luis Luna

Other results:

Juan Castanedo Abel Berrelleza 10 rds

Alejandro Sanabria vs Francisco Valdez 8 rds

Ramon Garcia Hirales vs. German Cota 8rds

Manuel Cardenas vs. Ramiro Reducindo 8 rds.

Rafael Guttierez vs. Raul Hirales, Jr. 6rds

Juan Murillo vs. Luis Luna 4rds.

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