'The Hawaiian Punch' Andy Ganigan

Honolulu Register
February 19, 1980

"Ganigan Wins Rematch With Chamaco Vasquez, Scores TKO 7'

Below, Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' Ganigan batters 'Chamaco' Vasquez in the 7th Round'

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The Hawaiin Punch returned last night at the Honolulu Arena, with a
7th Round TKO over Robert "Chamaco' Vasquez, to regain the vacant
NABF Lightweight Championship.

Just 7-Months ago, in July 1979, Andy Ganigan, was upset by Vasquez by a 7th Round Knock-out,
but returned the favor last night by hammering the smaller Vasquez with an
all-out attack, forcing Referee Wilbert Minn to call halt to the bout at 1:22 of the
7th Round.

The bout was not without excitement, as Andy and 'Chamaco' took turns landing
heavy punches throughout the fight. Ganigan hurt Vasquez in the 2nd Round, and
had the Texan Lightweight in serious trouble, as he pinned the smaller fighter in
the corner and pummeled him with a volley of hard punches.

In the 3rd Round, Ganigan backed Vasquez up again, and pummled him in the corner,
but Vasquez was able to counter, and nailed Ganigan with a right hand which
dropped the Hawaiian. Andy got up, but was met by a Vasquez rush, and Ganigan was
on shaky legs throughout the rest of the round.

Ganigan boxed defensively in the 4th and 5th rounds to clear his head, and then
returned to his aggressive style in the 6th Round, where he caught the Texan with
a big left hand, which staggered Vasquez.

Ganigan came out for the 7th Round, and returned to his all-out attack, forcing the
stoppage, as 'Chamaco' was unable to defend himself.

Andy Ganigan improved his record to 30-2-0 (26 KO's), and regained the vacant
NABF Lightweight Title. He will continue to aim for a World Lightweight Championship
challenge.

Robert Vasquez, the #10 WBC-ranked Lightweight, falls to 20-6-2. He last fought
in November, when he was stopped in 9 Rounds by Jim Watt, in a bout for the
WBC Lightweight Title.

Larry Inchonise, Ganigan's Manager is hoping for a chance at the WBC Lightweight Championship
by June 1980.

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan...... $18,000
Robert Vasquez.....$15,000

 

April 1980

Andy Ganigan, the #4 WBC Lightweight and NABF Lightweight Champion has signed
to fight Jim Watt, the WBC Lightweight Champion, for a proposed bout for June 1980, to take place in the United Kingdom.

The bout is to be televised on CBS-Sports.

 

May 1980

'Andy Ganigan Breaks Hand In Training'

Andy Ganigan wll not be able to go forth with his quest for a World Championship.
The powerful Hawaiian has broke his left hand, in training for his scheduled upcoming
fight with the WBC Lightweight Champion, Jim Watt.

Ganigan will be replaced by American boxer, Howard Davis, the 1976 Olympic Gold Medal Winner.

Andy hopes to fight the winner of that June bout in the late fall, or he may challenge
the WBA Lightweight Champion Hilmer Kenty later this year also.

Ganigan will be out of action for 3-months, and will resume with his boxing profession
later this year.

 

November 12, 1980

"Ganigan Returns With A Bang'

Andy Ganigan returned to the Honolulu Arena last night with a TKO 7 over
Mexican Lightweight Gerardo Venzor.

Ganigan, who has been out of action since breaking his left hand in training in April 1980,
fought for the first time in '9-Months'. The powerful Hawaiian used his right hand as the
key weapon, scoring with crosses and hooks to dominate Venzor.

Referee Wilbert Minn stopped the bout at 2:09 of the 7th round, as the Mexican
fighter was reeling, after taking a right hook to the jaw.

Ganigan said, 'I wanted to take it easy for the first few rounds, as we heard that he had a
hard head. I didn't want to break my left hand again, so I just used my right as the primary weapon.
I had him going in the 5th Round, but I didn't want to go all-out, because I was a bit winded. I haven't
fought in 9-months, and I needed the rounds.'

Andy Ganigan improves to 31-2-0. Gerardo Venzor drops to a reported 14-5-0.

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan......$14,000
Gerardo Venzor.....$3000

 

Honolulu Register
November 17, 1980

'The Hawaiian Punch Challenges Bobby Chacon'

Andy Ganigan, the Top-Rated Lightweight from Hawaii, has issed a challenge
to 'Schoolboy' Bobby Chacon.

While waiting for a World Title shot at the 135 lb. Lightweight division, Ganigan
is hoping the Californian Chacon will come to Hawaii to fight for the NABF Lightweight Title next month.

Ganigan said; 'We can offer Bobby some big dollars for this fight. It will be the biggest
fight in Hawaii if he comes. We have offers from CBS-Television to broadcast this
fight. I hope Bobby will accept our offer and come here.'

WBA Ratings
*... Hilmer Kenty
1... Claude Noel
2...Vilomar Fernandez
3...Alexis Arguello
4...Sean O'Grady
5...Andy Ganigan
6...Howard Davis Jr.
7...Ernesto Espana
8...Gaetan Hart
9...Rodolfo Gonzalez
10...Johnny Lira
11..Eduardo Iriarte

WBC Ratings
*...Jim Watt
1...Alexis Arguello
2...Vilomar Fernandez
3...Sean O'Grady
4...Howard Davis Jr.
5...Jose Luis Ramirez
6...Gonzallo Montellano
7...Claude Noel
8...Rodolfo Gonzalez
9...Andy Ganigan
10..Herman Montes
11..Charlie Nash

 

Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' Ganigan

A good kid.
A great fighter.
Will be missed,,,,,,,,,,,,

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Honolulu Register
December 10, 1979

'The Hawaiian Punch, Does It Again'

Last night (Tuesday) Andy Ganigan continued on his quest for a World Championship
bout by clobbering Oregon's Curtis Ramsey by a TKO in the 2nd Round, in a Light-Welterweight contest.

The 28 year-old southaw, and one of the top lightweight boxers in the world, improved his record
to 32-2-0, and registered his 28th 'knock-out'. It appears, that no one in the 135 lb. weight division
can stand up to 'The Hawaiian Punch'.

Approximately 6000 fans turned up last night at The Blaisdell Center, to see the
local 'Waipahu Fighter'. The fast-starting Ganigan opened immediately in the 1st-Round,
and staggered the durable Northwest-Pacific Light-Welterweight Champion.

Andy continued with his all-out attack in 2nd-Round, and again staggered Curtis Ramsey
with straight left-hand leads. As Ramsey wobbled back-wards, the fast Hawaiian landed
a right-hook and short left that dropped the tough 'main-land' fighter on the seat of his trunks.
Upon rising, Ramsey was dazed, forcing Referee Manuel Tolentino to call a halt to the bout at 1:59 of the 2nd-Round.

Both fighters weighed over the 135 lb. Lightweight Division level.

For now, the 32-2-0 (28 KO's) 'Hawaiian Punch' has to play the 'sit-and-wait' game in the Lightweight Division.

Curtis Ramsey, the 26 year-old from Oregon, and Northwest-Pacific Light-Welterweight
Champion, falls to 17-9-5 (9 KO's).

Fight Purses;
Andy Ganigan........$17,000
Curtis Ramsey........$3000

 

March 14, 1981
Aloha Stadium, Hawaii

#9 WBC/#4 WBA - Andy Ganigan gets some National Television attention, as portions of his bout
with tough Mexican-American Lightweight, Manuel Abedoy are broadcast on CBS-TV,
as part of the "Gerrie Coetzee vs. George Chaplin" Heavyweight-bout broadcast.

Andy's original opponent, was supposed to be the former Multi-Champion, Ruben Olivares,
but the Hawaii State Boxing Commission would not approve the 34 year-old
worn-out Champion as an opponent for the hard-punching Hawaiian.

27 year-old Manuel Abedoy, 27-5-2 (19 KO's), a tough Mexican-American Lightweight
from Pomona, California was approved by CBS-TV, as a fair opponent. Abedoy, the #24 WBC Lightweight, had gone
10-Rounds with Frankie Baltazar in 1979, and also had a 10-Round Draw with 'fringe contender'
Ernesto Garfias in his previous bout.

CBS-TV, would televise (via tape) the Andy Ganigan vs. Manuel Abedoy (Undercard) Lightweight-bout, in the event
that the Gerrie Coetzee vs. George Chaplin (Main-Event Bout) ended early,,,,,,,,,,,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1981.................'.LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION REPORT'

* March 16, 1981......#8 WBA Rodolfo Gonzalez upsets (W KO 2) #2 WBA Vilomar Fernandez

* March 24, 1981.....#1 WBA Claude Noel stops (TKO 3) #5 WBA Gaetan Hart, in a WBA-Elimination Bout.

* WBA Champion Hilmer Kenty will attempt to make his 4th 'Title Defense' versus #2 WBA Sean O'Grady on April 12, 1981.

* WBC Champion Jim Watt, will attempt to make his 4th 'Title Defense' versus #1 WBC Alexis Arguello in June 1981.

 

Ron Shop,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The Match 14, 1981 bout at Aloha Stadium,,,,,,,,,,On a Saturday.

Gerrie Coetzee vs. George Chaplin was the 'Main Event'.

20,000+ in Attendance.

The Andy Ganigan versus Manuel Abedoy bout was the 'opening bout' on the fightcard.

Andy Ganigan won by (TKO 3), when Referee Abraham Pacheco stopped the bout,
when Manuel Abedoy was being battered in the corner,,,,,,,,,,TKO 3 at 2:17.

Note: Manuel Abedoy was also seen on CBS-Sports Television, when he was stopped (L KO 2)
to Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini on December 26, 1981.

 

kikibalt,,,,,,,,

Manuel Abedoy,,,,,,,,,,,,,a pretty tough kid,,,,,,,,,,

Had a few earlier bouts in (1973) and in (1977) that were not recorded on his won-lost sheet.

I remember seeing him versus Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini (December 1981) ,,,,,,all '2' Rounds of the bout,,,,,,,,,,,

In his bout with Frankie (December 1979).,,,,,,,,,,,,,how was Manuel Abedoy on the 'overall'..??

Also, saw him versus Blaine Dickson in Las Vegas (June 1981), where he just kind of stopped trying after 5 Rounds.

Never saw any of the bout between 'Tony The Tiger' and Manuel, in October 1981.

Found an old boxing guide, where he was listed as 27-5-2 (19 KO's) prior to fighting Andy Ganigan in March 1981.

 

June 13, 1981

Andy Ganigan versus Rodolfo Gonzalez

The Particulars;

CBS-TV televised bout at 'The Forum', Inglewood, California

Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' Ganigan
Age; 28 1/2
33-2-0 (29 KO's)
#4 WBA / #9 WBC

Rodolfo 'Super Gato' Gonzalez
Age; 21 (1 month shy of 22)
17-0-1 (16 KO's)
#2 WBA / #4 WBC

Both fighters are to receive a fight purse of $60,000 for this 10-Round bout. The winner will be
guaranteed a WBA Title shot within 90-Days.

The Skinny;

Rodolfo Gonzalez, has just come off an impressive (March 1981) Knock-out (KO 2) destruction of the #2-Ranked,
Vilomar Fernandez, the experienced and iron-jawwed veteran. That win, 'sky-rocketed' Super Gato to the Top
of the Lightweight Rankings.

Andy Ganigan, has been waiting 3-Years for a World Title shot, and the 28 1/2 year-old is in his prime.

This bout will be held at The Forum, where Rodolfo Gonzalez will have a distinct advantage in fan support,
as this will be a hometown crowd.

For Andy Ganigan, this will be only his 'second-bout' out of 35 fights, that is fought away from his
home-base of the Hawaiian Islands.

Betting Odds; Rodolfo Gonzalez is a slight-favorite at 7 to 5.

 

June 13, 1981

"Super Gato Gonzalez Edges Out The Hawaiian Punch'

California-based Mexican Rodolfo 'Super Gato' Gonzalez won a 'hard-fought' battle over
Hawaii's Andy Ganigan in a 10-Round Lightweight bout, held at The Forum in California.

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The hard-punching Gonzalez, the #2 WBA Lightweight overcame a strong start by the
southpaw Ganigan, by scoring '2' knockdowns in the 6th-Round, and another in the
7th-Round. The fight was Even on the scorecards entering the last round, and
the 21 year-old Lightweight rallied to out-punch the veteran 28 year-old over the last
section of the round, to earn a Majorty 10-Round Decision.

The pro-Gonzalez crowd saw their fighter lose 4 of the first 5 Rounds, including
suffering a Knock-down in the 3rd Round. What was a large points lead for Ganigan,
was eliminated over the 6th and 7th Rounds, as Gonzalez had his best scoring
Rounds of the bout, and registered '3' Knock-downs.

A 'point' was taken away from Gonzalez in Round 9, as a result of a low-blow, which
Gonzalez had landed several earlier in the bout, without a deduction.

Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' started off quickly by out-punching the younger Gonzalez over
the first '2' rounds. Late in Round 3, Ganigan backed Rodolfo into a neutral-corner, and landed
his patented straight-left, dropping "Super Gato'. Ganigan continued to have success in Rounds 4 and 5,
before a 'disasterous' 6th and 7th Rounds. The hard-punching Ganigan, the #4 WBA Lightweight needed the last (10th) Round,
and started off well by scoring with several punches, but Gonzalez took the play away mid-way through the Round,
and scored with his own 'sharp' punches, to even out the round, and with it preserve the victory.

Scorecards;
Referee; Marty Denkin....
Rodolfo Gonzalez..................9...9...8...9...10......10..10..10...9..10...=...94
Andy Ganigan......................10.10.10..10 ..9........8...8....9...9...9....=...92

Judge; Chuck Hassett
Rodolfo Gonzalez..................10...9...8...9...10......10..10..10..9...9....=...94
Andy Ganigan.......................9..10..10..10..10.......7....8...9...9..10...=...92

Judge; Jae Kin
Rodolfo Gonzalez...................9...9...8...9...9........10..10..10..9..10...=...93
Andy Ganigan.......................10.10.10..10.10........7....8....9..9..10...=...93

Boxing Illustrated scored the bout the same as Judge James Jae-Kin (93-93).

Rodolfo Gonzalez improves to 18-0-1 (16 KO's)
Andy Ganigan drops to 33-3-0 (29 KO's)

 

Saturday, October 31, 1981 "Halloween"

World Athletic Association 'Lightweight Championship'

The Players


* Sean 'The Bubblegum Kid' O'Grady
* WAA Lightweight Champion
* #2 WBC Lightweight
* Age; 22 1/2
* Height; 5' 10"
* Reach; 70"
* Stance; Orthodox
* Style; Boxer-Puncher
* Record; 76-2-0 (65 KO's)
* Manager; Pat O'Grady
* Trainer; Ralph Citro


* Andy 'The Hawaiian Punch' Ganigan
* #2 WBA Lightweight
* Age; 29
* Height; 5' 7"
* Reach; 70"
* Stance; Southpaw
* Style; Wide-Open Puncher
* Record; 33-3-0 (29 KO's)
* Manager; Larry Inchonise
* Trainer; Mario Silva

The Setting
* Location; Convention Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
* Capacity; 1700
* CBS Television (Broadcaster)
* Fight Purses; (Sean O'Grady; $100,000) - (Andy Ganigan; $70,000)

The Event
Sean O'Grady, defends his Lightweight Championship of the newly developed WAA
(World Athletic Association), created by his father Pat O'Grady.

Part A;
Originally, Sean O'Grady was to defend his Title versus former 1976 Olympian, Howard
Davis Jr. 15-1-0 (6 KO's), but, Howard pulled out of this bout on Wednesday, 3-days before. The reported
reason was an injury, but further digging revealed that Davis was unhappy with the fight location
(Little Rock, Arkansas), a 'cheap promotion (by Pat O'Grady), fight purse, boxing ring
(16' x 16' square), and last but not least - signing over future 'promotional rights' to
Pat O'Grady in the event that he defeated Sean O'Grady for the WAA Lightweight Championship.

Part B;
Sean O'Grady, who was (April 1981) the #2 WBA Lightweight, had won the WBA Lightweight Championship
on April 12, 1981 by upsetting the heavily-favored WBA Champion Hilmer Kenty.
Prior to that bout, O'Grady had signed an agreement with the WBA and Top Rank Inc. (Bob Arum),
that stated - 'in the event that he won the WBA Lightweight Championship, O'Grady was to fight
the #1 WBA-rated challenger Claude Noel in his first defense, and within 90-Days, by July 12, 1981.'

Unhappy with the terms of that agreement, which included giving Top Rank (Bob Arum)
promotional rights to his first 'three defenses', Sean O'Grady/Pat O'Grady refused to comply
with their contractual agreement.

Part C;
On Andy Ganigan - he had lost a close 'razor-thin' Decision to #2 WBA Rodolfo Gonzalez in
June 1981. Now, 'The Hawaiian Punch' was the #2 WBA Lightweight, and was still in the
'thick' of the Lightweight Division.

Andy Ganigan, who was in Las Vegas, had been preparing for a November 10, 1981 10-Round
Lightweight bout against the 'tough and durable' fringe contender Arturo Leon, when
he got the call (on 3-days notice) to take on Sean O'Grady in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Part D;
The WBA had vacated the Lightweight Title in July 1981, when they withdrew it's recognition of
Sean O'Grady as Champion. On September 12, 1981 a Championship Bout for the vacant Title
was held in Atlantic City between #1 WBA Claude Noel and #2 WBA Rodolfo Gonzalez.

Claude Noel, the underdog despite being the #1 WBA-ranked Lightweight, outboxed the harder-hittting
Rodolfo Gonzalez, and earned the Decision, and with it the WBA Lightweight Championship.

Part E;
For the 'new' WAA Lightweight Championship, both Sean O'Grady and his father Pat O'Grady felt that
the 5' 7" Andy Ganigan would be an 'easy opponent' for the taller 5' 10" Sean. It was father Pat, who
felt that Andy Ganigan's 'wide-open style' was 'tailor-made' for the straight-punching and up-right Sean.

Sean, who was the CBS-TV boxing commentator for Andy's previous bout (vs. Rodolfo Gonzalez) in June 1981,
was also sure that Andy would be no problem, after he witnessed his performance against Rodolfo Gonzalez
up front and close at Ringside at The Forum in California, 4 1/2 months earlier.