Gaspar ortega biography
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Ortega passed away at the age 86 on Dec. 13 2021 in Naples, Florida, where he had had gone to live with a daughter following the death of his wife Iraida.
That was eclipsed by 22 fights in 1962.
When did Gaspar Ortega begin their professional boxing career? With his ridiculous schedule and 39 losses he might be dismissed as just a “super journeyman” but no journeyman would have beaten the fighters Ortega beat or have been as high as No 2 in the Ring Magazine ratings in 1956 and still in the top 10 in the early 1960’s and he crammed all of that in before his thirtieth birthday.!
In his 176 fights Ortega was only beaten inside the distance twice (by Emile Griffith and Sandro Mazzinghi) and fought 1,292 rounds yet despite all of those wars he showed very little wear and tear.
While the ultimate prize of a world championship eluded him, Gaspar Ortega's impact on boxing transcended titles, cementing his place as one of Mexico's finest welterweights and a true icon of boxing's television era.
Historical Fight Reports
Emile Griffith vs Gaspar Ortega 2
at Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Title: World Welterweight Title
Emile Griffith
Gaspar Ortega
Emile Griffith
Gaspar Ortega
Read Report →
Frequently Asked Questions About Gaspar Ortega
What division did Gaspar Ortega fight in?
Gaspar Ortega: From Humble Beginnings to Boxing Stardom
Name: GASPAR (EL INDIO) ORTEGA
Born: 31 October 1935 Mexicali, Mexico
Died: 13 December 2021 Naples Florida
Career 1953-1965
Record: 176 fights+, 131 wins (69 by KO/TKO), lost 39 (2 by KO/TKO), 6 draws
+ Ortega has been quoted as saying he started boxing professionally in 1950 at the age of 15 and had 21 consecutive wins which do not appear on his early record in the Ring Record Book and Encyclopaedia.
His first inside the distance defeat in 81 fights.
Gaspar Ortega competed in the Welterweight division (147 lbs (66.7 kg)) throughout a professional boxing career. He has since made a full recovery.
Gaspar Ortega remains one of the all-time greats in the welterweight division. Standing 5'9" with a 73-inch reach, he used his physical gifts effectively, though his indomitable spirit truly set him apart.
His trilogy with Tony DeMarco in 1956-57 captivated audiences, with Ortega claiming two memorable victories at Madison Square Garden before DeMarco evened the score in Boston. When one studies Ortega’s ring record and the great fighters he fought, it becomes apparent that he was one of the finest warriors of his generation.
In retirement, Ortega has worked with troubled youths in a program called Project More in New Haven, CT.
In 1995, Ortega was diagnosed with life threatening throat cancer. Ortega spent his formative years in Tijuana where it is said that the home he shared with his parents and 11 siblings had no electricity and a dirt floor.
Gaspar Ortega was originally from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico and represented Mexico with pride throughout a distinguished boxing career.
Because of his outstanding record as a fighter in the ring and his exemplary conduct as a gentleman out of it, Ortega is inducted tonight into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Slow down? In a career spanning the golden age of television boxing, Ortega amassed an incredible 176 professional fights, crafting a legacy that would influence generations of fighters to come.
Born on Halloween 1935, Ortega's journey into professional boxing began precociously at age 17, when he outpointed Miguel Ocana in San Luis Río Colorado.
When he passed away in December 2021 at age 86, he left behind a blueprint for Mexican fighters: toughness, dedication, and an unwavering willingness to face any challenge.
His combined record against future Hall of Famers and champions, including Griffith, Gavilán, DeMarco, Paret, and Basilio, reads like a who's who of boxing's golden age.
His style was a war of attrition.