Pete Ranzany

Who is Pete Ranzany?

Pete Ranzany was an amateur boxer who represented the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973. He defeated future welterweight champion Carlos Palomino at the 1972 Olympic Trials, but lost to eventual gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales in the finals.

A conventional boxer with a solid jab and vicious left hook he utilized to the body of his opponents, he was known to take opponents out with one single shot to the liver. His trainer, Joey Lopes—also a one-time fighter in the Sacramento region—was often criticized for protecting Ranzany, thus giving Ranzany the label of a "hometown fighter."

Ranzany rose to the rank of number-one challenger in the world in the late 1970s where he fought as a welterweight. Ranzany knocked out Randy Shields on February 14, 1978, in the 11th round to earn the NABF welterweight title.

On September 9, 1978, Ranzany fought for the world WBA welterweight title against title holder Jose "Pipino" Cuevas, before a crowd of over 17,000 people in the outdoor Charles C. Hughes Stadium. After doing well in the first round, Ranzany was knocked out by a right-hand blow from Cuevas in the 2nd round.

One year later on August 12, 1979, Ranzany lost to Sugar Ray Leonard at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, getting knocked out in the 4th round. Ranzany came back to Hughes Stadium the following year to defeat Sal Lopez with a 6th-round knockout on September 5, 1980. After this victory Ranzany got one more shot at a premier welterweight, losing to Wilfred Benítez on December 12, 1980, in a controversial 10-round unanimous decision.