Gaspar Ortega (131-39- 9) Ultimate TV WW "opponent" 50's & 60's

Gaspar Ortega (131-39- 9) Ultimate TV "opponent" 50's & 60's

Fought in several WW "Eliminators", and fighters like Gavilan,
Ralph Dupas, Basilio, Griffith, Florentino Fernandez, Denny Moyer,
Tony DeMarco, Benvenuiti.....and at his best lost MD's SD's to these guys
(and once beat Gavilan which was suppose to lead to a WW title fight).

But seemed to accept his "role" in the Boxing World.

(Classy Emile Griffith did give Ortega a WW title shot on 6/3/1961.)

Big WW:
division welterweight
stance orthodox
height 5′ 9″ / 175cm
reach 73″ / 185cm

131 Wins 39 losses 6 draws
69 KOs 2 KOs

Gaspar "Indio" Ortega (born October 31, 1935 in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico) was a Mexican professional boxer[1] and is considered one of the best Welterweight boxers from Mexico.[2]
In January 1953, Ortega was only seventeen years old when he won his pro debut against Miguel Ocana in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico.[3]
World Welter Championship
On June 3, 1961 Gaspar lost to Emile Griffith, the bout would be his first shot at a World Championship.[4]

In 1995 Ortega was elected into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.[5]
Ortega who was half Indian, half Mexican, was a top Welterweight contender from roughly 1956 till 1964. In his lone title shot, he showed up badly over-trained and was stopped in twelve rounds by the usually light-hitting Emile Griffith. Ortega beat many top fighters, including: Isaac Logart, Tony DeMarco, Kid Gavilan, Rudell Stitch, Stan Harrington, and Benny "Kid" Paret.

Ortega was also famous for wearing a headress into the ring very similar to the one that Yori Boy Campas has worn in recent years. In fact, it was Ortega who gave fellow Indian, Campas the idea for wearing the headdress.

In retirement Ortega has worked with troubled youths in a program called Project More in New Haven, Conneticut. In 1995, Ortega was diagnosed with life-threatening throat cancer, he has since made a full recovery.

1961-02-25 : Benny Kid Paret 154½ lbs lost to Gaspar Ortega 149½ lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Jimmy Wilson 3-4
• Judge: Frankie Van 4-6
• Judge: Dick Young 3-5

"Gaspar Ortega scored an upset unanimous 10 round decision last night over world welterweight champion Benny (Kid) Paret in a non-title bout. The decision in the nationally televised slugfest was a popular one with the Olympic Auditorium crowd, estimated at 3,000. Ortega at first stayed in close with Paret, but in the middle rounds held the champion at a distance and connected with good looping rights to the jaw. Ortega's fast left jab also was very effective in slowing down Paret. The only blood drawn came in the 8th round, when Ortega suffered a cut on his left eyebrow from what appeared to be a butt by Paret. The two welterweights started out at the opening bell as if it were a 4 rounder and slugged toe-to-toe and head-to-head throughout. Paret was booed loudly in the 1st round when he hit Ortega with a right below the belt. Again in the 2nd round, referee Jimmy Wilson warned the Cuban to keep his punches up as the crowd roared." -United Press International

• Between the 2nd and 3rd rounds, the pro-Ortega crowd became so incensed by the low blows by Paret, they doused the champion with beer in his corner.

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/9778