# Gaby Canizales

Jose 'Gaby' Canizales (born May 1, 1960) is an American former professional boxer who won the Lineal championship in the bantamweight division.

## Early life

Canizales was born in Laredo in Webb County, Texas.

## Pro career

Canizales turned pro in 1979 and in 1983 challenged Jeff Chandler for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title but lost a decision. In 1986 he landed a shot at Richie Sandoval for the Lineal and WBA bantamweight title. Canizales dominated, and knocked Sandoval down once in the 1st, once in the 5º, and three times in the 7th round, winning via a 7th-round knockout. He lost the belt in his first defense to Bernardo Pinango via decision. In 1990, he challenged Raúl Pérez for the World Boxing Council bantamweight title but lost a decision. In 1991, he fought Miguel Lora for the vacant World Boxing Organization bantamweight title and won via 2nd-round knockout, after being dropped in round one by the Colombian. He lost the belt in his first defense to Duke McKenzie via decision, and retired after the loss.
He is the brother of former bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales. Both brothers obtained the title of world boxing champion at the same age and weight.
The Orlando & Gaby Canizales Boxing Gym and Community Center on Guadalupe Street in Laredo is named in honor of the brothers. The facility was expanded in 2014.

## Professional boxing record

| 57 fights | 48 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 36 | 1 |
| By decision | 12 | 7 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
| 57 | Loss | 48–8–1 | Duke McKenzie | UD | 12 | Jun 30, 1991 | 31 years, 60 days | Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England, U.K. | Lost WBO bantamweight title |
| 56 | Win | 48–7–1 | Miguel Lora | KO | 2 (12) | Mar 12, 1991 | 30 years, 315 days | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | Won vacant WBO bantamweight title |
| 55 | Win | 47–7–1 | Felipe Torres | TKO | 10 (10) | Nov 14, 1990 | 30 years, 197 days | Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 46–7–1 | Jose Luis Soto | KO | 8 (10) | Sep 7, 1990 | 30 years, 129 days | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 53 | Draw | 45–7–1 | Francisco Valdez | PTS | 10 | Jul 16, 1990 | 30 years, 76 days | Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 45–7 | Raúl Pérez | UD | 12 | Jan 22, 1990 | 29 years, 266 days | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | For WBC bantamweight title |
| 51 | Win | 45–6 | Eduardo Lopez | TKO | 5 (10) | Dec 9, 1989 | 29 years, 222 days | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 44–6 | Greg Richardson | UD | 10 | Jul 17, 1989 | 29 years, 77 days | Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 44–5 | Carlos Castro | KO | 1 (?) | Apr 22, 1989 | 28 years, 356 days | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 43–5 | Carlos Castro | TKO | 3 (12) | Dec 15, 1988 | 28 years, 228 days | Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | Won vacant USA Arizona State bantamweight title |
| 47 | Win | 42–5 | Alejandro Valenzuela | SD | 10 | Oct 17, 1988 | 28 years, 169 days | Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 41–5 | Lucilo Nolasco | MD | 10 | Jul 21, 1988 | 28 years, 81 days | Holiday Inn Holidome, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 40–5 | Julio Blanco | KO | 7 (10) | Jun 3, 1988 | 28 years, 33 days | Holiday Inn Holidome, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 39–5 | Kenny Mitchell | SD | 12 | Mar 25, 1988 | 27 years, 329 days | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Lost USBA bantamweight title |
| 43 | Win | 39–4 | Louis Curtis | MD | 12 | Nov 27, 1987 | 27 years, 210 days | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won vacant USBA bantamweight title |
| 42 | Win | 38–4 | Alejandro Valenzuela | KO | 3 (10) | Sep 18, 1987 | 27 years, 140 days | Ramada Inn East, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 37–4 | Raúl Pérez | TKO | 9 (?) | Jul 6, 1987 | 27 years, 66 days | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 40 | Win | 37–3 | Julio Blanco | UD | 10 | May 5, 1987 | 27 years, 4 days | Fiesta Plaza Mall, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 36–3 | Mike Moreno | TKO | 3 (10) | Mar 31, 1987 | 26 years, 334 days | Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 35–3 | Mauro Diaz | UD | 10 | Jan 30, 1987 | 26 years, 274 days | Fiesta Plaza Mall, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 34–3 | Armando Morales Terron | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 11, 1986 | 26 years, 224 days | Marriot Brookhollow, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 33–3 | Bernardo Piñango | UD | 15 | Jun 4, 1986 | 26 years, 34 days | Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 35 | Win | 33–2 | Richie Sandoval | TKO | 7 (15) | Mar 10, 1986 | 25 years, 313 days | Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 34 | Win | 32–2 | Troy Townsend | TKO | 10 (10) | May 22, 1985 | 25 years, 21 days | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 31–2 | Jeff Whaley | UD | 10 | Jan 30, 1985 | 24 years, 274 days | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 30–2 | Kelvin Seabrooks | MD | 12 | Aug 25, 1984 | 24 years, 116 days | Riverdrive Mall Parking lot, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | Retained USBA bantamweight title |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Javier Diaz | TKO | 2 (10) | Jun 6, 1984 | 24 years, 36 days | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Pedro Rodriguez | TKO | 3 (?) | Feb 7, 1984 | 23 years, 282 days | Astro Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | James Pipps | TKO | 6 (12) | Nov 12, 1983 | 23 years, 195 days | Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, U.S. | Retained USBA bantamweight title |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Norberto Castellano | TKO | 1 (10) | Oct 19, 1983 | 23 years, 171 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Ron Cisneros | TKO | 10 (12) | May 13, 1983 | 23 years, 12 days | The Corral, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | Retained USBA bantamweight title |
| 26 | Loss | 24–2 | Jeff Chandler | UD | 15 | Mar 13, 1983 | 22 years, 316 days | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | For WBA and The Ring bantamweight titles |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Gustavo Martinez | KO | 3 (10) | Nov 23, 1982 | 22 years, 206 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Jose Luis Soto | TKO | 2 (10) | Oct 19, 1982 | 22 years, 171 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Franco Torregoza | TKO | 10 (12) | Sep 22, 1982 | 22 years, 144 days | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained USBA bantamweight title |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Jose Torres | UD | 10 | Aug 1, 1982 | 22 years, 92 days | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Diego Rosario | TKO | 5 (12) | Jun 24, 1982 | 22 years, 54 days | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won USBA bantamweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Ricardo Varela | UD | 10 | May 16, 1982 | 22 years, 15 days | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Ramon Guillen | KO | 5 (?) | Apr 22, 1982 | 21 years, 356 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Juan Castellanos | PTS | 12 | Mar 10, 1982 | 21 years, 313 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Eduardo Bonilla | KO | 2 (10) | Feb 9, 1982 | 21 years, 284 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Mario Nava | PTS | 10 | Dec 2, 1981 | 21 years, 215 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Mario Gomez | KO | 10 (10) | Oct 31, 1981 | 21 years, 183 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Franco Bejines | KO | 2 (?) | Sep 1, 1981 | 21 years, 123 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Jorge Cruz | KO | 1 (?) | Jul 27, 1981 | 21 years, 87 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Elias DeLeon | KO | 2 (?) | Jun 15, 1981 | 21 years, 45 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Calvin Sheppard | PTS | 10 | May 14, 1981 | 21 years, 13 days | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |
| 10 | Loss | 9–1 | Mario Nava | PTS | 10 | May 7, 1981 | 21 years, 6 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Cecilio Ostos | KO | 1 (?) | Mar 10, 1981 | 20 years, 313 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Miguel Medina | KO | 6 (8) | Dec 5, 1980 | 20 years, 218 days | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Guillermo Velasquez | KO | 1 (6) | Oct 14, 1980 | 20 years, 166 days | Civic Center Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Oscar Gomez | TKO | 6 (6) | Sep 13, 1980 | 20 years, 135 days | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Miguel Angel Meza | KO | 2 (?) | Sep 2, 1980 | 20 years, 124 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Jose Salas | KO | 2 (?) | Jul 15, 1980 | 20 years, 75 days | Laredo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Polin Flores | KO | 1 (?) | Jun 6, 1980 | 20 years, 36 days | Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jose Perez | KO | 1 (?) | Jun 30, 1979 | 19 years, 60 days | Monclova, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Juanin Bernal | KO | 1 (?) | May 7, 1979 | 19 years, 6 days | Monclova, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico | |