[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E964-E965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING WBA SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION RONNY RIOS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2019

  Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor lifelong Santa Ana 
resident and the WBA Super Bantamweight Champion of the World, Ronny 
Rios.
  Ronny was born in Compton, California and his family moved to Santa 
Ana when he was just a toddler. Ronny grew up in Santa Ana and attended 
Monroe Elementary School, McFadden Intermediate School and graduated 
from Saddleback High School, where he was a proud Roadrunner.
  Ronny was introduced to boxing at the age of 13, when he joined the 
local boxing club, TKO Boxing. Ronny immediately demonstrated talent in 
the sport and became one of the top prospects at TKO Boxing.
  Ronny began to make a name for himself as an amateur boxer. He was a 
finalist in the Olympic Trials, narrowly missing a spot on the 2008 
Olympic Team. He was a two-time U.S. Amateur National Champion and 
national Golden Gloves Champion. Ronny was one of the most decorated 
amateurs to hit the boxing scene in many years.
  In 2009, Ronny made the step to become a professional boxer and 
signed with Golden Boy Promotions, the boxing promotion company run by 
legendary boxer Oscar De La Hoya.
  As a professional boxer, Ronny racked up an impressive list of wins, 
going 23-0 in his first 5 years as a professional with 12 knockouts. He 
scored NABF and WBA Silver Championships and sought a world champion 
title.
  After a couple of losses, Ronny went into semi-retirement in early 
2018, choosing to enter a career in real estate. A year later, Ronny 
returned to the sport to take one last shot at a title. The comeback 
began with a win over Daniel Olea on April 26.
  Ronny's next fight was for a title was against the undefeated Diego 
De La Hoya, cousin of Oscar De La Hoya, and a rising star in the sport 
of boxing. Ronny was considered the underdog.

[[Page E965]]

  The two faced off at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on July 13, 
2019 for the titles of NABF Super Bantamweight and the WBA Super 
Bantamweight Champion. In an ending that could be written for a movie, 
Ronny completed his comeback and achieved his dream of a world title 
with a 6-round knockout of De La Hoya, who suffered his first loss.
  With this win, Ronny was crowned the NABF Super Bantamweight Title 
and the WBA Super Bantamweight Champion. Ronny Rios has truly made 
Santa Ana and America proud. Please join me in recognizing world boxing 
champion and my constituent, Ronny Rios.

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