Bolo Garcia: RP's heaviest boxer

The heaviest Filipino boxer ever was Ceferino "The Bolo" Garcia, who fought in the middleweight division (145 to 160 lbs), who became the New York State Athletic Commission middleweight champ when he defeated American Fred Apostoli at Madison Square Garden on October 2, 1939. He defended that title twice against two other Americans — Glen Lee on December 23, 1940, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and Henry Armstrong on March 1, 1940, at the Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles. The bout against Lee, whom Garcia defeated by TKO, was made more memorable in that the referee was American boxing great Jack Dempsey. Garcia lost the title Ken Overlin on May 23, 1940, at the Madison Square Garden. Garcia, born on August 26, 1906, became famous for the so-called bolo punch. When he retired in 1945, he chose to live in the US with his family until his death on January 1, 1981 at the age of 77. In a career that started profesionally in 1923, Garcia chalked up 142 fights, with 102 wins, 28 loses, and 123 draws. Of his wins, 57 were knockouts. His death was noted by the New York Times in its April 2, 1981, issue, which has been preserved in its online archives. Garcia's name is now in the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. - GMANews.TV