View source for Paul Gonzales

{{Short description|American boxer (born 1964)}}
{{distinguish|Paul Gonzalez}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Paul Gonzales
| image = Paul Gonzales 2016.jpg
| caption = Paul Gonzales in 2016
| fullname = Paul Garza Gonzales
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|April 18, 1964}}
| birth_place = [[Pecos, Texas]], U.S.
| headercolor = lightsteelblue
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[boxing]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalGold| [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Light flyweight|Light flyweight]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1983 Pan American Games|1983 Caracas]] | Light flyweight}}
}}

'''Paul Garza Gonzales''' (born April 18, 1964) is an American former [[Professional boxing|professional boxer]], who won the [[Olympic medalists in boxing|light flyweight gold medal]] at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]].<ref>"Mexicanos: A History of Mexicans in the United States", Manuel G. Gonzales. Page 299. Indiana University Press, 2000. {{ISBN|0-253-21400-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-253-21400-3}}</ref><ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE2DC103EF931A25755C0A964958260 OLYMPICS; A Promise, a Death and a Dream – New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Amateur career==
Gonzales was the winner of the [[Val Barker Trophy]] for Outstanding Boxer at those Games, after having won a silver medal the previous year at the [[Boxing at the 1983 Pan American Games|1983 Pan American Games]].

=== Amateur highlights ===
* 1983 United States Amateur Light Flyweight Champion
* 1984 Olympic Light-Flyweight Gold Medalist at Los Angeles Games. Results were:
** Defeated [[Kwang-Sun Kim]] (South Korea) 5-0
** Defeated [[William Bagonza]] (Uganda) 5-0
** Defeated [[John Lyon (boxer)|John Lyon]] (Great Britain) 4-1
** Defeated [[Marcelino Bolivar]] (Venezuela) 5-0
** Defeated [[Salvatore Todisco]] (Italy) walk-over

==Professional career==
Gonzales began his professional career on August 11, 1985 and, in only his third fight, captured the NABF Flyweight title by defeating veteran Alonzo Strongbow Gonzalez. He defended his title once, winning a unanimous decision over legendary future Bantamweight Champion [[Orlando Canizales]] on July 20, 1986. After losing a controversial decision to Ray Medel for the USBA Flyweight title on June 17, 1988, he again challenged Canizales. This time on June 10, 1990, and for Canizales' [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] [[Bantamweight]] belt. In the rematch, Gonzales was stopped by TKO in the 2nd round due to cuts.  After two more losses against lackluster competition, Gonzales retired in 1991.

Gonzales tried to run for office, but was defeated.  He was a car salesman. 
Gonzales was the acting president of the Queensland Olympic Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itftennis.com/news/298681.aspx |title=ITF Tennis - ABOUT - Articles - Tennis stars honoured with OLY in Brisbane |website=www.itftennis.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106013624/https://www.itftennis.com/news/298681.aspx |archive-date=2019-01-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{BoxRec|508}}

{{Val Barker Trophy winners}}
{{Olympic Champions Boxing Light Flyweight}}
{{Footer USA Boxing 1984 Summer Olympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzales, Paul}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American boxers of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:Boxers from California]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1983 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers for the United States]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in boxing]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in boxing]]
[[Category:People from Pecos, Texas]]
[[Category:Light-flyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1983 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]


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