'The Hawaiian Punch' Andy Ganigan

Honolulu Advertiser
August 2, 1978

'LIRA KNOCKS GANIGAN COLD'

Un-ranked 26 year-old Johnny Lira made shock-filled believers out of the Blaisdell Center
crowd and a first-time loser out of 'The Hawaiian Punch' Andy Ganigan.

In a scheduled 12-Round bout for the USBA Lightweight title, the 5' 9" undefeated
brawler from Chicaco by-way-of-Las Vegas, caught the popular Ganigan
with a crushing right hand in the 6th round of a blistering fight. Ganigan was counted
out at 2:10 of the round by Referee Wilbert Minn.

In a bout which seemed to be going Ganigan's way for the first 3 rounds, turned
in favor of Lira in Round 4, as he caught the wide-open Hawaiian with a straight
right-hand which buckled his legs. Ganigan who was on the offensive, went into
survival-mode for the rest of the round. In Round 5, Ganigan recovered, and forced
Lira back with heavy left hands to regain control of the fight.

In Round 6, both fighters went toe-to-toe in a wild exchange to the thrill of the crowd,
as each fighter was rocked. But late in the round, Lira crashed a hard right to the head
of Ganigan which drove him back, and hurt the Hawaiian again with a left hook. As Ganigan
staggered, Lira drove in a crushing right hand to the jaw, driving Ganigan to the canvas
where he he remained for the full 10-count.

The 6800 fans at the Blaisdell Center had to comprehend what happened, as local hero
Andy Ganigan fell from the unbeaten ranks. Ganigan departed the Blaisdell Center on a stretcher,
and was taken to the Queens Medical Center by ambulance - where he is under observation while
being treated for a concussion.

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan...........$15,000
Johnyy Lira................$6000

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stonemammerjack

Andy Ganigan, was attacked and beaten on March 26, 2010, after leaving a bar/lounge in Hawaii.
Unfortunately, he suffered severe head injuries from the brutal attack.
He is living, but has no motor skills and can barely speak.
He will require 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

After he retired in 1983, Andy lived basically a quiet life in his hometown of Waipahu.

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Honolulu Register
January 31, 1979

'The Hawaiian Punch Returns With Win'

Andy Ganigan returned to the ring last night after a 6-month rest, following
his upset Knock-out loss to Johnny Lira. The popular Ganigan scored a 2nd Round
Knock-out over Mexican Lightweight Elpidio Valdez in Honolulu last night.

Ganigan at 136 lbs., picked the Mexican brawler apart with sharp right hand bangs, and
left hand crosses. The 137 lb. Valdez was dropped in the 1st round as the
Civic Center crowd cheered Ganigan's return.

Ganigan floored Elpidio again in the 2nd, and the challenger was counted out
at 0:56 of the round. Andy Ganigan improves to 26-1-0, and hopes to return
the top of the 135 lb. Lightweight division. Elpidio Valdez from Guadalajara, Mexico
falls to 12-6-0.

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan......$10,000
Elpidio Valdez........$3000

 

Honolulu Register
March 7, 1979

'Ganigan Back On Track, Stops Foe in Two'

Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' Ganigan flattened David Madrid in 2 Rounds
last night in a Lightweight bout held at the Blaisdell Center.

The hard punching Ganigan scored his 27th win in 28 fights by putting down his
Mexican opponent for the full-count in the 2nd round. Ganigan is back to
making a charge for the World Lightweight Title, and hopes to fight for
a version of the title later this year.

As for the fight, there was none. Ganigan came out swinging at the opening bell
and had his taller opponent 'Lenteja' Madrid on the defensive immediately,
by stunning him with straight left hand punches. Madrid who came here
with a reputation as a 'sharp boxer' was unable to box and move, as Ganigan swarmed
over him with an all-out attack.

In Round 2, Ganigan landed his famed 'Pineapple Punch, a straight left hand
to Madrid's jaw, sending the challenger to the floor. Madrid received the
mandatory 8-count, but was met with another Ganigan flurry, before crashing
again. Referee Wilbert Minn counted Madrid out at 1:33 of the round.
David 'Lenteja' Madrid falls to 37-7-0.

Andy Ganigan flashes 'two-fingers' indicating his 2-Round Knock-out over David Madrid.

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Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan.......$12,500
David Madrid........$3000

 

Honolulu Register
March 28, 1979

'Ganigan Repeats Win Over Mijares'

Andy Ganigan won a 12-Round Decision last night over Vicente Mijares Saldivar,
to win the NABF Lightweight Championship. Ganigan had defeated Mijares last year by
a Knock-out, and repeated his win with an unanimous decison over the World-Rated
Mexican.

The bout was fought at the Blaisdell Center, and was attended by over 6000 fans.
The southpaw 'Hawaiian Punch' utilized sharp right hands and straight lefts to
outscore the slick Mijares over the first-half of the fight, and build up a big points lead.
Ganigan boxed smartly over the second-half of the bout, to earn a comfortable
decision win.

The victory, Ganigans 28th against 1 loss, should put him in line for a World Title
for the WBC Championship. The WBC's Top-rated Lightweights, Columbian Alfredo Pitalua
and Scotland's Jim Watt will fight for the vacant WBC Title in a bout scheduled
for April 17, 1979 in England.

Ganigan who was previously the #1 WBC Lightweight has rebounded nicely with
3-straight wins since his upset loss to Johnny Lira last August. Larry Ichinose,
Andy's manager is hoping for a July bout with the Pitalua-Watt winner.

All scorecards were in favor of Andy Ganigan; 117-113, 117-112, 116-113
The Honolulu Register scored the bout in Rounds, 8-4-0 for Ganigan.

Ganigan who improves to 28-1-0, received $22,000 for the bout.
Vicente Mijares Saldivar drops to 30-4-0, was paid $15,000 for his fight purse.

Andy Ganigan's cornermen attend to the Waipahu Warrior before the 10th Round.

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Honolulu Register
April 5, 1979

Andy Ganigan, 'The Hawaiian Punch' has signed to fight 21 year-old Filipino
Sensation Celso 'Metro' Esmero later this month.

Ganigan, the WBC #4 Lightweight is hoping that a victory over Esmero will
secure his chance at the WBC Title. Later this month, Alfredo Pitalua and Jim Watt,
the two top WBC-rated lightweights will battle for the Championship Title that was
vacated by Roberto Duran earlier this year.

In Celso 'Metro' Esmero, Ganigan will be facing a young, fast and hard-punching
135 lb. fighter. The #6 WBC Lightweight, Esmero has posted a record of 27-1-0
with 26 KO's, and is regarded as the best Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation
lightweight. Esmero's only loss was in his 5th bout when he was 18 years-old.

The WBC will sponsor this bout as an Elimination-Match.

 

Honolulu Register
April 17, 1979

Andy Ganigan has to pull out of his highly anticipated April 27th bout with
Filipino Sensation Celso 'Metro' Esmero.

The bout, was to be held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in the Phillippines.
'The Hawaiian Punch' injured his right hand in training, and has been ordered to
rest his hand 3-weeks before he is to resume training.

A potential bout for May 30 is to be planned.

Korean Lightweight, Hyung Kil Chun will fill-in as Ganigan's replacement.

 

Honolulu Register
May 31, 1979

'Ganigan Decisions Korean In A Battle Of Southpaws'

Andy Ganigan scored a 12-Round Unanimous Decision over Korean
Hyung Kil Chun in a Lightweight bout last night held at the Blaisdell Center.

The 12-Round bout was billed as a WBC Lightweight Elimination bout.

6000 fans were on hand to witness the southpaw 'Hawaiian Punch' out-score his
southpaw opponent over the full-distance. The 26 year-old Waipahu fighter
improved his record to 29-1-0 by using his famous left hand leads and counter
right hooks to shake the 21 year-old Korean.

The victory over Kil Chun was not easy, as the Korean came back with
his own sharp left hand counters time and again. Ganigan was at his
sharpest in the early rounds, but missed many of his punches in the
middle rounds, where Kil Chun rallied. Ganigan began to score again
in the last 3-rounds as the Korean tired.

The judges scorecards were all in favor of Andy Ganigan; 116-112, 117-114, 117-111.
The Honolulu Register scored the bout in rounds for Ganigan; 7-3-2

'The Hawaiian Punch' is now the #1 rated WBC Lightweight, and is the
mandatory challenger for Scotland's Jim Watt, the newly crowned WBC Champion.

Hyung Kil Chun was hoping to score his second straight upset. Just
last month the Korean knocked-out Top 10 rated Filipino Celso Esmero.
Kil Chun, the #9 WBC Lightweight saw his record drop to 17-2-0 (6 KO's).
The loss should not hurt his WBC rating.

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan............$15,000
Hyung-Kil Chun..........$10,000

 

Kenmore,,,,,,,,Correct.

Howard Davis Jr. pulled out of the fight, claiming injury.

As for the fight, correct again as 'The Hawaiian Punch' pretty much
overwhelmed Sean O'Grady from the outset.

Why did the O'Grady camp except Ganigan as a challenger. Pretty simple,
Sean was the guest boxing announcer for the Rodolfo Gonzalez - Andy Ganigan 10-Round
fight a few months earlier on CBS, and the O'Grady's
saw no problem with Ganigan.

They were sure that Ganigan would go down as soon as he was hit.
Rumors were that Ganigan's chin was gone.

atsch,,,,,,,,Oh Boy,,,,,,,,was that an 'Hawaiian Punch'.

 

Honolulu Register
July 1979

'Ganigan, Mandatory Challenger For WBC Lightweight Title'

Andy Ganigan has been listed as the #1 WBC Lightweight in the
released ratings. 'The Hawaiian Punch' is working on negotiations
to secure a bout with WBC Champion Jim Watt for November
of this year. The bout will most likely take place in the United Kingdom.

Larry Inchonise, Ganigan's manager, does not want 'The Hawaiian Punch' to
sit around and wait for 5-months for that bout. Inchonise stated, that
Ganigan will have 2-more tune-up bouts before the championship bout,
to maintain his sharpness.

Ganigan has a scheduled bout at The Blaisdell Center for Tuesday, July 31.
His possible opponents are, the slick-boxing Philadelphia Lightweight Jerome Artis,
or Mexican-slugger Gerardo Aceves.

 

Honolulu Register
July 29, 1979

'Ganigan To Take On Chamaco Vasquez At The Blaisell Center'

Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' Ganigan will take on replacement Robert Vasquez
in an over-the-weight Lightweight bout Tuesday Night at the Blaisdell Center.

Ganigan, who is the #1 WBC Lightweight, will be looking to add Vasquez
to his 29-1-0 record. Both fighters agreed to a 137 lb. weight limit.

The original opponent for Ganigan, hard-punching Gerardo Aceves 20-3-0 (17 KO's),
injured his left hand in a sparring session last week, and hopes to fight
Andy in the future.

Robert 'Chamaco' Vasquez, who was training for a fight in California, was
available on short notice. The 20 year-old Vasquez from San Antonio, Texas
has a reputation as hard counter-pucher, with an explosive right hand.
Only at 5' 3", the short 'Chamaco' has a record of 19-4-2 (17 KO's).

Vasquez fought only 2-weeks ago in California, scoring a 10-Round decision over
Leonico Meza. Last year, at age 19, Vasquez had a earned a #10 Rating by the
WBC as a Super-Featherweight (130 lb. division). As a side note, Vasquez
was stopped in 9-Rounds by Gerardo Aceves (Ganigan's original opponent) in a
Super-Featherweright bout in Texas, in February 1978.

 

Honolulu Register
August 1, 1979

'Andy Ganigan Upset By 'Chamaco Vasquez'

Andy Ganigan's cornermen frantically attend to their shaken fighter
after a bad 6th round last night at The Blaisdell Center.

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Andy Ganigan's aspirations for a World Title shot were dashed last night, as little known
Robert 'Chamaco' Vasquez of Texas, scored a stunning 7th round knock-out over the popular
Hawaiian at the Blaisdell Center.

The 6800 fight fans, sat in stunned disbelief, as Ganigan suffered the same fate last night
as he did last year in his bout with un-ranked Johnny Lira.

What started out as a typical Ganigan fight, with complete dominance over
the first 5 1/2 rounds, turned into a disaster in the 6th round. After pummeling
the shorter Vasquez over the first 5 rounds with a perfect hit and move style,
Andy abandoned his fight plan in the 6th round and attacked 'Chamaco' with
a wide-open style after shaking him with a straight left hand.

As Ganigan drove Vasquez into the corner, Andy left his guard down as he moved in
to unload his vaunted left hand, but Vasquez beat him to the punch by dropping an
over-hand right to the jaw on a wide-open Ganigan. Ganigan went down like a rock,
but he did struggle to his feet at the 8-count. Upon arrising, Ganigan was met by a
Vasquez onslaught, and another right hand which dropped him. Ganigan did rise, and
just beat the count of Referee Wilbert Minn as Round 6 ended.

In between rounds, as seen in the above photo, Ganigan's corner frantically tried to
revive their fighter. The cornerman told Andy to box and move for the upcoming round,
to help him clear his foggy head. Ganigan still appeared stunned, when he left the corner
for Round 7.

In Round 7, Chamaco Vasquez sensing his opportunity, went right after the still stunned
Ganigan, and pinned him back up againt the ropes where he dropped in several right hands
before Ganigan collapsed to the canvas, where he was given the full 10-count by the referee at
0:45 of Round 7.

Andy Ganigan now drops to 29-2-0, and most likely will fall out of the WBC ratings.
Robert Vasquez improves to 20-4-2 and registers his 18th knock-out win.

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan.... $20,000
Robert Vasquez... $4000