Sacramento's Pete Ranzany enjoyed a short, but excellent amateur boxing career fighting for the U.S. Army boxing team. He went as far as the semi-finals of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials, defeating Carlos Palomino in the quarter-finals, but then losing to Sugar Ray Seales in the semi-final match. He fought at the top level in the amateurs, and that wouldn't change as a pro.
His professional campaign opened on Oct. 2, 1973 and he gave a hint as to the excitement to come as he went down in round 1, only to get off of the deck and come roaring back to stop Marc Thomas in round 3 by knockout.
He stopped his next 4 opponents, and then won a decision over Jimmy "Mean Machine" Jackson by decision. That 5 round decision win over Jackson was a good one, and called for a rematch. It was Oct. 22, 1974 that Ranzany tasted defeat for the first time - losing an 8-round unanimous decision in the rematch with Jackson. That loss didn't sit well with Ranzany, and after 2 more knockout wins, he got the rubber match with Jackson, and this time it was Ranzany winning the unanimous decision. Ranzany was fighting often - nearly every 2 weeks - and just about 2 months later, with 3 more wins under his belt, he found his self in the ring for a 4th and final time with Jimmy Jackson. Just like the other 3 meetings, it was another barn-burner, but this time, Ranzany ended things with a knockout in round 8. It was a very satisfying win, avenging his only loss with 2 impressive wins and ending the 4-bout saga with "Mean Machine" Jimmy Jackson.
Pete's first big step-up bout came in August of '75 when he ventured for his first pro bout outside of California and faced off with well regarded Quincy Daniels (13-3) of San Diego, California at the Silver Slipper resort casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was Ranzany's night to shine as he tko'd Daniels in round 7. It was an important win, and in his next two fights, Pete was matched against two more experienced veterans with winning records - Dave Oropeza (49-11-1), and Renato Garcia (32-5) - It was the same result. Pete Ranzany stopped them both to boost his record to 17-1 and began to be considered a serious threat for a world title in the not to distant future.
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| Sacramento Boxing fans were confident! |
It was just about 3 months and 4 more solid wins after the knockout win over Renato Garcia that Ranzany got his first shot at a title belt. Feb. 24, 1976 was the night that Ranzany faced off with New Jersey's undefeated Adolfo Viruet (13-0) for the vacant NABF Welterweight Title. Viruet was the former USBA Jr. Welterweight champion and now had his sights set on a 147 Lb. title belt. It was a great matchup of two rising contenders with a meaningful title belt on the line to bring out the best from both warriors. The fight was everything that boxing fans expected, and when the final bell was sounded the judges cards read: Referee Henry Elespuru 6-3 with 3 even rounds, Mario Duccini 7-2 with 3 even, and Terry Smith saw it even at 4-4 with 4 even rounds. The winner by hard fought majority decision was Pete Ranzany!
With his pro record now standing at 21-1, having avenged his only defeat - TWICE, and now holding the NABF Welterweight title, Ranzany's ranking and reputation soared. Pete continued his winning ways and ran off an 8-0, 6 ko streak which included a very tough and somewhat controversial bout against Chilean Welterweight champion Julio Gomez. In what was an all-out war, Ranzany was busted open by an accidental head butt and the bout went to the scorecards with Ranzany ahead on 2 of the 3, and 1 judge having it even at the time. Howls of protest from the Chilean's management team resulted in a rematch just 3 months later, but this time it was for Ranzany's NABF title belt. The rematch was another war, but Ranzany looked sharp and won the unanimous decision over 12 rounds on scores of: 118-111, 118-113, and 119-113 a clear win for the champion in his first title defense. The NABF Welterweight champion now stood at 31-1.
Ranzany defeated unbeaten prospect Bruce Finch (13-0-1) in his next fight handing Finch his first loss via 5th round tko. 3 more wins, and it was time for his 2nd title defense against another highly regarded California contender - Randy Shields (30-2). The bout didn't make it past round 2 due to an injury and the bout was declared a technical draw. Ranzany remained NABF champion, but the fans demanded a rematch. That rematch would have to wait as Ranzany defeated tough Jose Luis Baltazar of Mexico, and then stepped up to face World title challenger - Mexico's Armando Muniz (43-12-1). In a non-title bout that Ranzany was leading on all 3 scorecards, the bout was stopped on a cut, resulting in a tko win for Muniz. Ranzany suffered his 2nd loss, but had performed well. His next fight would be his 3rd defense of the NABF title in a rematch with Randy Shields. Feb. 14, 1978 was the date, and the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento was the venue. It was the war that everyone anticipated, Randy Shields was knocked down in the 9th round, and stopped via tko in round 11 of a back-and-forth war that left the fans roaring! It was a huge win that defined Pete Ranzany as no doubt, and officially - "World Class".
3 fights, and 3 sparkling wins later, Pete Ranzany would get the call that he had been waiting for. Sept. 9, 1978 - his first chance at a coveted World Title against defending champion - Mexico's Jose "Pipino" Cuevas (22-6, 19 ko).
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| It was a huge event in Sacramento! |
The defending WBA champion was willing to travel to Ranzany's home town of Sacramento, California to make the title defense! Ranzany was not able to take that title as Cuevas stopped him in round 2 of the bout scheduled for 15 rounds. It was an overwhelming offensive display put on by the Mexican KO king. Ranzany still heald the NABF title and would have to shake off the disappointment in losing his first world title try. He bounced back very nicely winning a decisive 10-round non-title main event against Rafael "The Rifle" Rodriguez before making another defense of his NABF title against world ranked "Irish" Jimmy Heair (71-16-1). Ranzany proved his superiority with a lopsided, dominant unanimous decision victory in his 3rd NABF title defense. After wins over Sammy Masias (18-7-1), and Bernardo Prada (23-7-2), it was time to make another defense of that NABF title belt. His 4th defense of that NABF title came against British Welterweight champion, and World title challenger Clyde Gray (65-7-1) and it was a spectacular win that saw Ranzany in control from the opening bell winning every round until a bad cut caused the referee to halt the fight - another tko win for powerful Pete.
Pete's next fight was a huge one. He would make his 5th NABF title defense against a young up-and-coming contender looking for his first title belt. A young phenom from the amateur ranks - an Olympic gold medalist and undefeated professional. A kid named "Sugar" Ray Leonard (23-0). Ranzany was considered to possibly be Leonard's biggest test to date.
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| A big test for both boxers |
The bout was carried on national live television before a big crowd at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a big step for both fighters, but Ray Leonard showed his legendary skills in stopping the determined and rugged Ranzany in round 4. It was a huge starting point for Leonard who, from this point on, would remain at world class status until the very end of his incredible career. Ranzany had plenty of fights ahead of him, but this would be his last one with a title belt at stake. It was a very nice reign as NABF champion for sure.
After the loss to Sugar Ray Leonard, Ranzany picked up and continued his winning ways going 5-0-1 in his next 6 with the draw coming on an unfortunate clash of heads resulting in a Technical decision draw against Ray Hammond. That fight was "unfinished business" and the two would meet again down the line but for now it was a draw.
In December of 1980 another big name was added to Ranzany's ledger. he faced off with former world champion Wilfred Benitez (40-1-1).
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| A showdown of sorts |
Ranzany remained a constant member of the "top 20 club" in the welterweight rankings, and this was an important crossroads match of sorts as the two contenders squared off. The legendary boxing wizard - Benitez - was able to come into Sacramento and get the unanimous decison win.
It was a unanimous decision, but it certainly was not easy. The scores were 99-92 on Referee Larry Rozadilla's score card. It was much closer on the score cards of the two judges at ringside - Henry Elespuru and Terry Smith both seeing it 97-94 for Benitez. It was a loss, but it didn't hurt Ranzany's reputation at all.
Ranzany could feel good about his showing against another legend, and now it was time to take care of some "unfinished business". He secured the rematch with New York's Ray Hammond - the man who had left Sacramento with a technical draw in their last meeting. It was Feb. of 1981 at the same Memorial Arena venue where the first meeting took place. Ranzany was on a mission, and it showed. he won every round on every judge's score card right up until he scored the technical knockout in round 7. It was a powerful performance for the Sacramento, California boxing hero. With another "wrong" having been "righted", Ranzany continued on with his campaign hoping to land just one more title fight.
He ran off another win streak, this time it was 5 in a row before taking back-to-back defeats at the hands of Pat Hallacy (28-7-1) via split decision loss over 10 rounds, and then traveling to Michigan to face off with an undefeated fast-rising prospect Milton McCrory (17-0) dropping another 10 round decision.
Ranzany would fight 4 more times. Impressive wins over Rick Noggle (15-3), Sean O'Grady (80-3), and Frankie Moultrie (17-12-1) led him to a big fight in Italy that turned out to be his final pro bout, against an undefeated contender - Nino LaRocca (50-0). Pete lost his farewell fight on scores of 100-92 across the board over 10 rounds. It was the end of a remarkable and memorable professional boxing career.
The California fighter remains a fan favorite whose name brings a brightness to the faces of boxing fans that enjoyed his battles. He finished a wonderful career with a final mark of 59 wins, 8 losses, and 3 draws, winning 38 by knockout! A record and career to be proud of for sure.
Check out his complete pro record on: BOXREC.COM - PETE RANZANY
Boxing fans contact me at: The Boxing Guru via E-mail
If you would like to see Pete Ranzany in action on DVD, I have the following bouts available:
PETE RANZANY vs
PIPINO CUEVAS [tko-by-2] [WBA Welter Title}
SUGAR RAY LEONARD [tko-by-4] {NABF Welter Title}
WILFREDO BENITEZ [L-10]
SEAN O'GRADY [w-10]
NINO LAROCCA [L-10] (*Ranzany's LAST pro bout)
