Pete Ranzany
Encyclopedia
Pete Ranzany was an amateur boxer
who represented the U.S. Army
from 1970 to 1973. He defeated future welterweight
champion Carlos Palomino
at the 1972 Olympic Trials, but lost to eventual gold medalist Sugar 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
. His trainer
, 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 out Randy Shields on February 14, 1978, in the 11th round to earn the NABF 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 outdoor Charles 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 to Sugar Ray Leonard
at Caesars 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 on September 5, 1980. After this victory Ranzany got one more shot at a premier welterweight, losing to Wilfred Benítez
on December 12, 1980, in a controversial 10-round unanimous decision.
On October 30, 1982, Ranzany defeated former lightweight champion Sean O'Grady in a 10-round unanimous decision.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who represented the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1970 to 1973. He defeated future welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
champion Carlos Palomino
Carlos Palomino
Carlos Palomino a retired Mexican professional boxer. Palomino is a former WBC Welterweight Champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Palomino is also an actor who has been featured in several television shows and films...
at the 1972 Olympic Trials, but lost to eventual gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales
Sugar Ray Seales
"Sugar" Ray Seales, was the only American boxer to win a gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics.-Personal:...
in the finals.
A conventional boxer with a solid jab and vicious left hook
Hook (boxing)
A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
he utilized to the body of his opponents, he was known to take opponents out with one single shot to the liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
. His trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
, 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
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
. Ranzany knocked out Randy Shields on February 14, 1978, in the 11th round to earn the NABF welterweight title.
On September 9, 1978, Ranzany fought for the world WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
welterweight title against title holder Jose "Pipino" Cuevas
Jose Cuevas
José Isidro "Pipino" Cuevas González is a Mexican former world champion boxer at the welterweight division.-Professional career:...
, before a crowd of over 17,000 people in the outdoor Charles C. Hughes Stadium. After doing well in the first round, Ranzany was knocked out
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
by a right-hand blow from Cuevas in the 2nd round.
One year later on August 12, 1979, Ranzany lost to Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
at Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, 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 on September 5, 1980. After this victory Ranzany got one more shot at a premier welterweight, losing to Wilfred Benítez
Wilfred Benitez
Wilfred Benítez , is a Puerto Rican boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 17...
on December 12, 1980, in a controversial 10-round unanimous decision.
On October 30, 1982, Ranzany defeated former lightweight champion Sean O'Grady in a 10-round unanimous decision.