[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RECOGNIZING BOXING WORLD CHAMPION AND LAREDO NATIVE ORLANDO CANIZALES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2022

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Orlando 
Canizales, a former boxing world champion and native son of Laredo, 
Texas.
  Born in Laredo in 1965, Mr. Canizales began boxing at the age of ten 
at the local Boys and Girls Club. After going 108-12 as an amateur, he 
turned professional in 1984. He would become one of the world's best 
fighters in the late 1980s to early 1990s.
  In 1988, Mr. Canizales became a world champion after winning the 
International Boxing Federation bantamweight title, knocking out the 
defending titlist in the fifteenth round. He would go on to make a 
division record 16 title defenses. Mr. Canizales continued fighting 
until 1999, until he decided to hang up his gloves. He retired with a 
record of 50-5-1 with 37 knockouts.
  Mr. Canizales was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame 
in 2009. He gave a rousing speech in which he spoke about the life 
lessons that boxing had given him. ``Boxing has taught me a lot in 
life.'' he said. ``That dedication, discipline and determination will 
pay off in the long run and not to be easily swayed by obstacles and 
bumps in the road.''
  His brother, Gaby, was also a world champion. A boxing gym on 
Guadalupe Street in my hometown of Laredo now bears both of their 
names. Today, Mr. Canizales spends much of his days working with young 
boxers, continuing the South Texas tradition of producing some of 
America's finest fighters.
  On behalf of the 28th District of Texas, I would like to again invite 
my colleagues to recognize Mr. Canizales, a truly legendary Laredoan, 
and celebrate all his accomplishments.

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