| Ceferino Garcia | |
| Nationality: | Filipino |
| Nickname: | Bolo Punch Pedro |
| Weight: | Middleweight |
| Birth Name: | Ceferino Montano Garcia |
| Birth Date: | August 26, 1906 |
| Birth Place: | Naval, Biliran, Philippine Islands[1] |
| Death Place: | San Diego, California, United States[2] |
| Style: | Orthodox |
| Total: | 164 |
| Wins: | 120 |
| Ko: | 76 |
| Losses: | 30 |
| Draws: | 14 |
Ceferino Montano Garcia (August 26, 1906 – January 1, 1981) was a champion boxer born in Naval, Biliran, Philippines. He holds the most victories ever achieved by a Filipino boxer and is also the only boxer from the Philippines to become world champion in the middleweight division.[3] Garcia is commonly credited to as the first well known user of the bolo punch, which was later popularized by Cuban fighter Kid Gavilán.[4] He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.[5]
Ceferino Garcia was the son of Fortunato Garcia and Pascuala Montano and was the oldest of six children.[6] He never completed first grade and indulged rather frequently in gambling.[6] At 17, he was feared by so many that nobody would take him in a street fight. He was also a skilled blacksmith.
While working at a bakery in Cebu City, Garcia met a boxing promoter. This was where his career as boxer started.[6]
On September 23, 1937, Garcia first had a shot for a world title in the welterweight division. However, Barney Ross bested him by unanimous decision.
On October 2, 1939, Garcia fought Fred Apostoli for the world Middleweight title in the United States and won it by TKO in the 7th round. He defended that title three times until he lost to Ken Overlin on points. He was managed, during the final years of his career by George Parnassus.
After retiring from the ring he made a few uncredited appearances in Hollywood films with the exception of "Joe Palooka, Champ" in which he plays himself.[7] He was also employed for a time by actress Mae West as her chauffeur and bodyguard.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Garcia lived on 1042 S. Rowan St., in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.[8]
Garcia died on January 1, 1981, while in San Diego, California.[9] His grave is located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.[10]
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 164 | Loss | 120–30–14 | Bill McDowell | PTS | 10 | Jan 15, 1945 | ||
| 163 | Win | 120–29–14 | George Baratko | KO | 3 (?) | Oct 16, 1944 | ||
| 162 | Win | 119–29–14 | Kid Azteca | PTS | 10 | Oct 6, 1944 | ||
| 161 | Win | 118–29–14 | Willis Johnson | TKO | 10 (10) | Sep 25, 1944 | ||
| 160 | Loss | 117–29–14 | California Jackie Wilson | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1942 | ||
| 159 | Loss | 117–28–14 | Anton Christoforidis | PTS | 10 | Dec 1, 1941 | ||
| 158 | Draw | 117–27–14 | Billy Soose | TD | 8 (12) | Sep 15, 1941 | ||
| 157 | Win | 117–27–13 | Bobby Pacho | KO | 3 (10) | Aug 19, 1941 | ||
| 156 | Win | 116–27–13 | Jimmy Casino | TKO | 8 (10) | Jul 11, 1941 | ||
| 155 | Loss | 115–27–13 | Steve Belloise | PTS | 10 | Sep 12, 1940 | ||
| 154 | Loss | 115–26–13 | Ken Overlin | UD | 15 | May 23, 1940 | ||
| 153 | Win | 115–25–13 | Allen Matthews | TKO | 4 (10) | Apr 24, 1940 | ||
| 152 | Draw | 114–25–13 | Henry Armstrong | PTS | 10 | Mar 1, 1940 | ||
| 151 | Win | 114–25–12 | Glen Lee | TKO | 13 (15) | Dec 23, 1939 | ||
| 150 | Win | 113–25–12 | Fred Apostoli | KO | 7 (15) | Oct 2, 1939 | ||
| 149 | Win | 112–25–12 | Bobby Pacho | KO | 5 (10) | Aug 8, 1939 | ||
| 148 | Win | 111–25–12 | Bobby Pacho | PTS | 10 | Jul 4, 1939 | ||
| 147 | Win | 110–25–12 | Walter Woods | KO | 4 (10) | Jun 15, 1939 | ||
| 146 | Win | 109–25–12 | Al Romero | TKO | 10 (10) | Apr 21, 1939 | ||
| 145 | Win | 108–25–12 | Chief Parris | KO | 3 (10) | Mar 28, 1939 | ||
| 144 | Win | 107–25–12 | Lloyd Marshall | TKO | 5 (10) | Mar 17, 1939 | ||
| 143 | Win | 106–25–12 | Lloyd Marshall | PTS | 10 | Feb 22, 1939 | ||
| 142 | Win | 105–25–12 | Al Trulmans | KO | 2 (10) | Feb 7, 1939 | ||
| 141 | Win | 104–25–12 | Dick Foster | TKO | 8 (10) | Jan 27, 1939 | ||
| 140 | Loss | 103–25–12 | Henry Armstrong | UD | 15 | Nov 25, 1938 | ||
| 139 | Win | 103–24–12 | Jackie Burke | TKO | 2 (15) | Jul 25, 1938 | ||
| 138 | Win | 102–24–12 | Jackie Burke | KO | 4 (10) | Jul 4, 1938 | ||
| 137 | Win | 101–24–12 | Frankie Blair | TKO | 3 (10) | Jun 17, 1938 | ||
| 136 | Win | 100–24–12 | Glen Lee | PTS | 10 | May 6, 1938 | ||
| 135 | Win | 99–24–12 | Tony Roccaforte | KO | 1 (10) | Mar 25, 1938 | ||
| 134 | Win | 98–24–12 | Otto Blackwell | KO | 9 (10) | Mar 19, 1938 | ||
| 133 | Win | 97–24–12 | Otto Blackwell | KO | 7 (10) | Mar 12, 1938 | ||
| 132 | Win | 96–24–12 | Manuel Victoria | KO | 4 (10) | Feb 18, 1938 | ||
| 131 | Win | 95–24–12 | Mickey Serrian | KO | 2 (10) | Jan 28, 1938 | ||
| 130 | Win | 94–24–12 | Otto Blackwell | KO | 2 (10) | Jan 1, 1938 | ||
| 129 | Loss | 93–24–12 | Barney Ross | UD | 15 | Sep 23, 1937 | ||
| 128 | Win | 93–23–12 | Bobby Pacho | TKO | 9 (10) | Jul 22, 1937 | ||
| 127 | Win | 92–23–12 | Phil Furr | PTS | 10 | Jun 11, 1937 | ||
| 126 | Win | 91–23–12 | George Salvadore | PTS | 10 | May 21, 1937 | ||
| 125 | Win | 90–23–12 | Phil McQuillan | KO | 2 (10) | May 7, 1937 | ||
| 124 | Win | 89–23–12 | Aaron Wade | TKO | 1 (10) | Mar 23, 1937 | ||
| 123 | Loss | 88–23–12 | Glen Lee | PTS | 10 | Feb 23, 1937 | ||
| 122 | Win | 88–22–12 | Chief Parris | KO | 4 (10) | Feb 5, 1937 | ||
| 121 | Win | 87–22–12 | Otto Blackwell | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 12, 1937 | ||
| 120 | Win | 86–22–12 | Ray Acosta | KO | 1 (10) | Dec 18, 1936 | ||
| 119 | Draw | 85–22–12 | Izzy Jannazzo | PTS | 15 | Oct 30, 1936 | ||
| 118 | Win | 85–22–11 | Cleto Locatelli | PTS | 10 | Sep 11, 1936 | ||
| 117 | Win | 84–22–11 | Leon Zorrita | KO | 5 (10) | Aug 11, 1936 | ||
| 116 | Win | 83–22–11 | Kid Azteca | KO | 5 (10) | Jul 17, 1936 | ||
| 115 | Win | 82–22–11 | Young Peter Jackson | PTS | 10 | Jun 9, 1936 | ||
| 114 | Win | 81–22–11 | Jackie Burke | TKO | 8 (10) | May 8, 1936 | ||
| 113 | Win | 80–22–11 | Lou Halper | TKO | 6 (10) | Mar 27, 1936 | ||
| 112 | Draw | 79–22–11 | Jackie Burke | PTS | 10 | Mar 2, 1936 | ||
| 111 | Win | 79–22–10 | Gordon Wallace | PTS | 10 | Feb 7, 1936 | ||
| 110 | Loss | 78–22–10 | Al Manfredo | PTS | 10 | Jan 13, 1936 | ||
| 109 | Loss | 78–21–10 | Barney Ross | UD | 10 | Nov 29, 1935 | ||
| 108 | Win | 78–20–10 | Gordon Wallace | MD | 12 | Nov 20, 1935 | ||
| 107 | Win | 77–20–10 | Otto Blackwell | PTS | 10 | Nov 12, 1935 | ||
| 106 | Draw | 76–20–10 | Gordon Wallace | PTS | 10 | Oct 23, 1935 | ||
| 105 | Win | 76–20–9 | Joe Bernal | PTS | 10 | Oct 18, 1935 | ||
| 104 | Loss | 75–20–9 | Barney Ross | PTS | 10 | Sep 13, 1935 | ||
| 103 | Win | 75–19–9 | Sammy Brown | KO | 3 (10) | Aug 16, 1935 | ||
| 102 | Win | 74–19–9 | Baby Joe Gans | KO | 3 (10) | Jul 19, 1935 | ||
| 101 | Win | 73–19–9 | Sammy O'Dell | KO | 5 (10) | Jul 4, 1935 | ||
| 100 | Win | 72–19–9 | Al Romero | PTS | 10 | Jun 21, 1935 | ||
| 99 | Win | 71–19–9 | Meyer Grace | KO | 1 (10) | May 31, 1935 | ||
| 98 | Win | 70–19–9 | Al Manfredo | PTS | 10 | May 17, 1935 | ||
| 97 | Win | 69–19–9 | Guy McKinney | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 26, 1935 | ||
| 96 | Loss | 68–19–9 | Al Manfredo | PTS | 10 | Apr 18, 1935 | ||
| 95 | Win | 68–18–9 | Baby Joe Gans | KO | 1 (10) | Mar 26, 1935 | ||
| 94 | Loss | 67–18–9 | Bep van Klaveren | PTS | 10 | Dec 7, 1934 | ||
| 93 | Win | 67–17–9 | Manuel Victoria | KO | 3 (10) | Nov 16, 1934 | ||
| 92 | Win | 66–17–9 | Bep van Klaveren | PTS | 10 | Oct 30, 1934 | ||
| 91 | Win | 65–17–9 | Erwin Bige | KO | 2 (10) | Sep 28, 1934 | ||
| 90 | Win | 64–17–9 | Flash Butler | KO | 2 (10) | Sep 24, 1934 | ||
| 89 | Win | 63–17–9 | Tony Roccaforte | KO | 2 (10) | Sep 11, 1934 | ||
| 88 | Win | 62–17–9 | Joe Glick | KO | 2 (10) | Sep 1, 1934 | ||
| 87 | Win | 61–17–9 | Jimmy Evans | PTS | 10 | Aug 9, 1934 | ||
| 86 | Win | 60–17–9 | Mike Payan | TKO | 1 (10) | Jul 27, 1934 | ||
| 85 | Win | 59–17–9 | Andy DiVodi | KO | 1 (10) | Jul 3, 1934 | ||
| 84 | Win | 58–17–9 | Tommy Herman | KO | 3 (10) | Jun 14, 1934 | ||
| 83 | Win | 57–17–9 | Billy Boggs | TKO | 5 (10) | Jun 1, 1934 | ||
| 82 | Win | 56–17–9 | Johnny Martinez | TKO | 3 (10) | May 18, 1934 | ||
| 81 | Win | 55–17–9 | Tommy Martinez | KO | 4 (10) | May 4, 1934 | ||
| 80 | Win | 54–17–9 | Baby Sal Sorio | KO | 4 (10) | Apr 20, 1934 | ||
| 79 | Loss | 53–17–9 | Young Peter Jackson | KO | 3 (10) | Apr 10, 1934 | ||
| 78 | Win | 53–16–9 | Tommy Herman | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 23, 1934 | ||
| 77 | Win | 52–16–9 | Eddie Cerda | TKO | 6 (10) | Mar 6, 1934 | ||
| 76 | Win | 51–16–9 | Paulie Walker | PTS | 10 | Feb 9, 1934 | ||
| 75 | Win | 50–16–9 | Bobby Pacho | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 16, 1934 | ||
| 74 | Win | 49–16–9 | Mike Payan | PTS | 10 | Dec 22, 1933 | ||
| 73 | Win | 48–16–9 | Baby Joe Gans | PTS | 10 | Dec 12, 1933 | ||
| 72 | Win | 47–16–9 | Vincent Martinez | PTS | 6 | Nov 25, 1933 | ||
| 71 | Loss | 46–16–9 | Andy Callahan | PTS | 10 | Oct 27, 1933 | ||
| 70 | Win | 46–15–9 | King Tut | KO | 7 (10) | Oct 13, 1933 | ||
| 69 | Win | 45–15–9 | Meyer Grace | KO | 10 (10) | Sep 22, 1933 | ||
| 68 | Win | 44–15–9 | Eddie Frisco | TKO | 7 (10) | Aug 25, 1933 | ||
| 67 | Loss | 43–15–9 | Kid Azteca | TKO | 8 (10) | Jul 25, 1933 | ||
| 66 | Win | 43–14–9 | Lloyd Smith | KO | 4 (10) | Jul 18, 1933 | ||
| 65 | Loss | 42–14–9 | Kid Azteca | PTS | 10 | Jul 11, 1933 | ||
| 64 | Win | 42–13–9 | Johnny Martinez | KO | 5 (10) | Jul 3, 1933 | ||
| 63 | Loss | 41–13–9 | Eddie Ran | DQ | 3 (10) | May 29, 1933 | ||
| 62 | Win | 41–12–9 | Leonard Bennett | PTS | 6 | May 9, 1933 | ||
| 61 | Win | 40–12–9 | Howard Fritz | TKO | 8 (10) | Apr 28, 1933 | ||
| 60 | Win | 39–12–9 | Tommy Huffman | PTS | 10 | Apr 19, 1933 | ||
| 59 | Win | 38–12–9 | Jesus Macias | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 12, 1933 | ||
| 58 | Draw | 37–12–9 | Mike Payan | PTS | 10 | Mar 24, 1933 | ||
| 57 | Win | 37–12–8 | Johnny Romero | PTS | 10 | Mar 10, 1933 | ||
| 56 | Win | 36–12–8 | Frankie Diaz | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 3, 1933 | ||
| 55 | Win | 35–12–8 | Johnny Romero | KO | 8 (10) | Feb 10, 1933 | ||
| 54 | Win | 34–12–8 | Charlie Cobb | TKO | 5 (10) | Jan 27, 1933 | ||
| 53 | Loss | 33–12–8 | Tommy King | PTS | 10 | Jan 20, 1933 | ||
| 52 | Win | 33–11–8 | Andy DiVodi | KO | 4 (10) | Nov 22, 1932 | ||
| 51 | Loss | 32–11–8 | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | Oct 25, 1932 | ||
| 50 | Loss | 32–10–8 | Freddie Steele | KO | 2 (4) | Sep 20, 1932 | ||
| 49 | Draw | 32–9–8 | Tommy King | PTS | 10 | Sep 2, 1932 | ||
| 48 | Draw | 32–9–7 | Jimmy Britt | MD | 6 | Jul 13, 1932 | ||
| 47 | Win | 32–9–6 | Oakland Jimmy Duffy | TKO | 7 (10) | Jun 22, 1932 | ||
| 46 | Loss | 31–9–6 | Joey Goodman | PTS | 10 | May 24, 1932 | ||
| 45 | Loss | 31–8–6 | Freddie Steele | KO | 2 (6) | May 18, 1932 | ||
| 44 | Win | 31–7–6 | David Velasco | PTS | 10 | May 6, 1932 | ||
| 43 | Loss | 30–7–6 | Young Corbett III | PTS | 10 | Apr 12, 1932 | ||
| 42 | Win | 30–6–6 | Joe Saldivar | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 1, 1932 | ||
| 41 | Loss | 29–6–6 | Tommy Herman | TKO | 10 (10) | Mar 11, 1932 | ||
| 40 | Win | 29–5–6 | Vearl Whitehead | TKO | 7 (10) | Feb 19, 1932 | ||
| 39 | Win | 28–5–6 | David Velasco | PTS | 10 | Jan 26, 1932 | ||
| 38 | Win | 27–5–6 | Alfredo Gaona | TKO | 4 (10) | Jan 19, 1932 | ||
| 37 | Win | 26–5–6 | Tony Gora | PTS | 10 | Nov 14, 1931 | ||
| 36 | Win | 25–5–6 | Ignacio Fernandez | PTS | 12 | Jul 18, 1931 | ||
| 35 | Win | 24–5–6 | Ignacio Fernandez | DQ | 9 (12) | May 16, 1931 | ||
| 34 | Win | 23–5–6 | Frank Malinao | PTS | 12 | Apr 18, 1931 | ||
| 33 | Win | 22–5–6 | Joe Hall | PTS | 12 | Mar 7, 1931 | ||
| 32 | Loss | 21–5–6 | Jimmy Hill | PTS | 12 | Dec 22, 1928 | ||
| 31 | Win | 21–4–6 | Joe Sacramento | KO | 4 (?) | Nov 26, 1928 | ||
| 30 | Draw | 20–4–6 | Irineo Flores | PTS | 10 | Oct 3, 1928 | ||
| 29 | Win | 20–4–5 | Joe Hall | DQ | 6 (12) | Aug 4, 1928 | ||
| 28 | Loss | 19–4–5 | Kid Moro | PTS | 12 | Apr 28, 1928 | ||
| 27 | Win | 19–3–5 | Luis Logan | PTS | 12 | Feb 18, 1928 | ||
| 26 | Win | 18–3–5 | Young Harry Wills | PTS | 12 | Dec 10, 1927 | ||
| 25 | Win | 17–3–5 | Joe Sacramento | KO | 4 (?) | Nov 26, 1927 | ||
| 24 | Win | 16–3–5 | Irineo Flores | PTS | 12 | Jul 9, 1927 | ||
| 23 | Win | 15–3–5 | Pedro Campo | PTS | 12 | Jun 18, 1927 | ||
| 22 | Win | 14–3–5 | Pedro Campo | PTS | 12 | May 7, 1927 | ||
| 21 | Win | 13–3–5 | Ignacio Fernandez | PTS | 12 | Feb 26, 1927 | ||
| 20 | Draw | 12–3–5 | Harry Stone | PTS | 10 | Dec 18, 1926 | ||
| 19 | Loss | 12–3–4 | Kid Moro | PTS | 12 | Nov 6, 1926 | ||
| 18 | Loss | 12–2–4 | Irineo Flores | PTS | 12 | Sep 18, 1926 | ||
| 17 | Win | 12–1–4 | Harry Stone | PTS | 12 | Sep 4, 1926 | ||
| 16 | Draw | 11–1–4 | Irineo Flores | PTS | 12 | Jul 3, 1926 | ||
| 15 | Draw | 11–1–3 | Irineo Flores | PTS | 12 | May 29, 1926 | ||
| 14 | Win | 11–1–2 | Fighting Nelson | PTS | 12 | Mar 6, 1926 | ||
| 13 | Win | 10–1–2 | Fighting Nelson | DQ | 3 (?) | Feb 6, 1926 | ||
| 12 | Win | 9–1–2 | Irineo Boison | PTS | 12 | Jan 16, 1926 | ||
| 11 | Win | 8–1–2 | Max Jim | KO | 1 (?) | Jan 2, 1926 | ||
| 10 | Win | 7–1–2 | Jimmy Hall | KO | 4 (?) | Dec 19, 1925 | ||
| 9 | Draw | 6–1–2 | Young Harry Wills | PTS | 6 | Nov 14, 1925 | ||
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Pedro Syap | TKO | 1 (?) | Oct 31, 1925 | ||
| 7 | Win | 5–1–1 | Terrible Dagua | TKO | 4 (?) | Oct 17, 1925 | ||
| 6 | Win | 4–1–1 | Harry Tunney | PTS | 6 | Oct 3, 1925 | ||
| 5 | Loss | 3–1–1 | Antonio Garcia | TKO | 4 (?) | Jun 28, 1924 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Cornelio Coronel | KO | 3 (?) | Jun 14, 1924 | ||
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | G Vargas | PTS | 4 | Sep 22, 1923 | ||
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | M Flores | PTS | 4 | May 12, 1923 | ||
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Pedro del Mundo | PTS | 6 | May 5, 1923 | ||
| Number | Name | Year Inducted | Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | International Boxing Hall of Fame (1993) | NBA Super featherweight (130) The Ring Super Featherweight (130) WBC Super featherweight (130) | Holds the record at super featherweight division for longest title reign, spanning seven years. "Modern inductee" | ||
| 2 | International Boxing Hall of Fame (1993) | NYSAC Flyweight (112) NBA Flyweight (112) The Ring Flyweight (112) | First Filipino/Asian World Champion. "Old-timer inductee" | ||
| 3 | Ceferino Garcia | The Ring magazine Hall of Fame (1977) | NYSAC Middleweight (160) | Holds the most victories ever achieved by a Filipino boxer and is also the only boxer from the Philippines to become world champion in the middleweight division. Also credited as the first well known user of the "bolo punch". |