9. Orlando Canizales (50-5-1, 37 KO, 1 NC)

Born: Nov. 25, 1965

 

The fighting pride of Laredo, TX, Canizales was born November 25, 1965 and turned pro in his hometown on August 25, 1984.

 

In 1986 he was unsuccessful in an NABF flyweight title bout with Olympian Paul Gonzales (L 12). However, Canizales rebounded to win the title from Armando Velasco (KO 4) in 1987 and in 1988 added the USBA super flyweight title with a 2nd round TKO over Olympian Louis Curtis.

 

The slick-boxing Canizales moved up in weight and on July 9, 1988 he won the IBF bantamweight championship with a 15th round TKO over Kelvin Seabrooks.  Over the next six years, Canizales would successfully defend his title a division record 16 consecutive times, including wins over Seabrooks, Gonzales, Clarence (Bones) Adams and 1992 Olympian Sergio Reyes.

 

After struggling to make the bantamweight limit (118 lbs), Canizales abdicated the belt in 1994 to campaign as a super bantamweight.  He challenged WBA champion Wilfredo Vazquez in January 1995, dropping a 12-round split decision.  Canizales, whose brother Gaby was the WBA / WBO bantamweight champion, continued boxing until 1999 when he retired following a 10-round split decision loss to Frank Toledo.

 

In May 2003 he graduated from Texas A&M International University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.