Rocky Juarez
Born
Ricardo Juárez

(1980-04-15) April 15, 1980
Houston, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesRocky
Statistics
Weight(s)Featherweight
Super featherweight
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Reach69 in (175 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights42
Wins30
Wins by KO20
Losses11
Draws1
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's boxing
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney Featherweight
World Amateur Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Houston Featherweight

Ricardo "Rocky" Juárez (born April 15, 1980) is an American former professional boxer. He is a former WBC Silver featherweight champion and a multiple-time world title challenger. Juarez was known over his career for his aggressive fighting style and incredible durability.

Amateur career

Juarez had a lustrous amateur career with a 145–17 record, which included a 68 fight winning streak, a Featherweight Olympic silver medal and a Junior Olympic World and National gold medal. In 1999 he won the world title at the 1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships in his home town. During the 2000 Olympics Gold medal round, Juarez loss controversially against Bekzat Sattarkhanov who was warned several times for holding and not penalized. It should be also noted that by the end of the second round Juarez was losing 11 points and had only 4 points to lose the match by RSC.[1] Juarez accepted the silver medal.

  • 1998 United States Amateur Featherweight champion. Results were:
  • 1999 United States Amateur Featherweight champion. Results were:
  • 2000 United States Amateur Featherweight champion
  • Member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team as a Featherweight, winning a silver medal. Results were:

Professional career

Juarez turned pro on January 25, 2001, with a unanimous decision against Pascali Adorno. A highly touted prospect, Juarez rose up the ranks with wins against Hector Velazquez, and Joe Morales. Juarez's 10th-round knockout of Antonio Diaz was named Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year for 2003. His first challenge came from 1996 Olympian Zahir Raheem on July 17, 2004, in which he won by controversial decision, possibly due to the fight taking place at Juarez's hometown in Houston, Texas. Juarez's first career loss came to Humberto Soto, who was a late sub replacement to In Jin Chi. Soto won the Interim version of the WBC featherweight title. Juarez bounced back with back-to-back wins against Reynaldo Hurtado and Backlin Medrano and earned a shot against Mexican legend, Marco Antonio Barrera for his WBC Super featherweight title.

Juarez fought Barrera on May 20, 2006, in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Barrera used his jab to win the early rounds, but it was obvious from the start that Juarez wasn't backing down hurting Barrera's nose in the process. During the second half of the fight Juarez took control by rocking Barrera and making him spit out his mouthpiece several times. In a very close fight, the bout was announced originally as a draw, but later it was revealed that two of the judges scorecards had an error, as Barrera was granted the win by split decision.[2] Despite losing, Juarez gained notoriety by standing toe to toe with one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. Although not required by contract, Barrera and Juarez met in a rematch on September 16, this time Barrera winning comfortably on points through a unanimous decision (117-111, 115–113, 115–113).[3]

As a replacement for Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, Rocky Juarez stepped in and fought Juan Manuel Márquez for the WBC Super Featherweight title on November 3, 2007. He lost to Marquez on a unanimous decision. Juarez fought most of the fight with a bad cut above his left eye due to an accidental headbutt in the first round.[4]

On September 6, 2008, Rocky Juarez, (27-4, 19 KO's) won by TKO at 2:55 in the 11th round of the 12-rounder over former WBO Junior Lightweight Champion Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, (47-3-1, 34 KO's).[5][6]

In his fourth attempt at a title, Juarez fought Chris John to a controversial draw on February 28, 2009, in his hometown of Houston. Most ringside observers thought John won.[7] The two were supposed to fight a rematch on June 27 of that year but John withdrew from the fight due to problems with his blood tests.[7] The rematch finally took place on September 19 and the fight was won by John.[8]

Rocky Juarez fought Jason Litzau on April 3, 2010, losing by a controversial technical decision when the fight was halted in the seventh round due to a cut on Litzau's cheek which referee Jay Nady ruled was caused by an accidental head butt. The judges scored it 68-65 and 67-66 twice, in favour of the winner, Jason Litzau.[9]

Professional Boxing Record

References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8IrM2gywvo, Bekzat Sattarkhan vs. Rocky Juarez Sindey 2000 Final
  2. ↑ "HBO: Boxing: Event: Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Rocky Juarez: BARRERA BEATS JUAREZ IN NARROW DECISION". Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  3. ↑ "Marco Antonio Barrera vs Rocky Juarez 2: Boxing Results". Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  4. ↑ "Rafael: Calzaghe punches HOF ticket with stellar win". 4 November 2007.
  5. ↑ ringsidereport.com, Houston Fighters Juan Diaz and Rocky Juarez Win Big, but Judges are the Big Losers Archived 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ abs-cbnnews.com, Diaz takes IBO lightweight belt via split decision
  7. 1 2 Dan Rafael (2009-06-22). "John withdraws from bout with Juarez". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  8. ↑ "John tops Juarez, keeps WBA featherweight belt". 20 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "Rocky Juarez vs. Jason Litzau: Round by Round | April". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  10. ↑ "Rocky Juarez Professional boxing record". BoxRec.com.
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