Garcia snubbed by boxing body

NEW JERSEY – Former world middleweight boxing champion Ceferino Garcia, the fighter widely known for introducing the bolo punch, is mysteriously not enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York.

Garcia turned pro in 1923 and compiled a record of 102-27-12, with 67 KOs. He racked up a total of l41 bouts in his 22-year career highlighted by his seventh round stoppage of Fred Apostoli for the middleweight crown at Madison Square Garden in New York City in October 1939.

In his first championship defense, Garcia knocked out Glen (The Nebraska Wildcat) Lee in the 13th round before a wildly cheering crowd of over 40,000 at the Rizal Football Stadium in December 1939.

Garcia was born in Biliran, moved to Cebu City when he was 15, transplanted to Tondo and left for the US to pursue his fistic career in 1932. Garcia returned to the Philippines for several visits, the last in 1964. He died in San Diego in 1981 at the age of 74, leaving behind daughters Maureen and Vicki and son Ceferino Jr.

Last May, Garcia was honored posthumously by the Philippine Sports Commission and inducted into the country’s first Sports Hall of Fame in ceremonies at the Manila Hotel. No descendant attended to claim the grass trophy symbolic of his induction and a P100,000 cash prize. But last Monday, Garcia’s daughter Maureen Hess received the trophy, cash (converted into $2,148) and the PSC book “Quest For Glory – A Journey Through Philippine Sports” at her home in The Villages, a senior citizen community, in Freehold here.

Maureen was not aware of her father’s exclusion in the IBHOF. “I’m very proud of my father even without the recognition from the International Boxing Hall of Fame,” she said. “It’s special to our family that he is recognized by the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame. The award would have given him such joy to know that he was remembered for his accomplishments by the Filipino people and his sports peers.”

There is no question Garcia belongs in Canastota. He was the first man to floor World War II hero Barney Ross and one of only six fighters to draw with the legendary Henry Armstrong. Ross, Armstrong and the man he dethroned as middleweight champion – Apostoli – are in the IBHOF. Garcia, who retired in 1945, is the heaviest Filipino world boxing champion ever.

Ironically, Garcia was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the California-based World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1981. The IBHOF was organized in June 1989 and inducted its first batch of Hall of Famers the next year. The IBHOF names Hall of Famers in five categories – modern (last bout no earlier than 1943), old-timers (last bout no earlier than 1893 and no later than 1942), pioneer (last bout in or prior to 1892), non-participants (major contributors to the sport aside from fighters or observers, such as promoters and matchmakers) and observers (writers, historians, photographers and artists).

“When Daddy was alive, everyone knew him,” said Maureen. “As a fighter, I know he was well-loved and admired. He was inducted in several other Halls of Fame. At Knott’s Berry Farm, there’s a portrait of Daddy to acknowledge his world championship. And in a bar somewhere in Florida, there are portraits of the greatest Filipino world boxing champions ever and Daddy is among them.”

Garcia was a popular figure in the US even after his retirement from the ring. He appeared in several movies, including “Hollywood Canteen” in 1944, “Joe Palooka Champ” in 1946, “Body and Soul” in 1947 and “Whiplash” in 1948. Maureen said Garcia had a cameo role in the John Wayne film “Back To Bataan” in 1945. And in 1944, he joined Shirley Temple in a radio promotion calling on US soldiers to continue the fight for victory during World War II. Former US president Dwight Eisenhower cited Garcia for his contribution in inspiring soldiers, including Filipinos.

When Garcia was buried in Los Angeles in 1981, his funeral was attended by hundreds of fans, friends and relatives. Among those who paid their respects were Archie Moore, Mushy Callahan, Armstrong and “Iron” Mike Mazurki.

“Daddy used to train fighters with Archie Moore in San Diego and was a good friend of a famous world women’s wrestling champion,” recalled Maureen. “He often talked about his two fights against Armstrong, especially the second bout which was a draw. Everybody thought Daddy won that fight.”