Robert Quiroga

BOXING
IBF Bantamweight
World Champion 1990-91
San Antonio Sports - Hall of Fame - 2002

Robert Quiroga became San Antonio's first professional world boxing champion when he captured the International Boxing Federation Junior Bantamweight Championship in 1990. He successfully defended his title five times, still a record for that weight division. His overall professional record was 20-2. A graduate of Memorial High School, Quiroga began boxing with trainer Joe Lopez at the age of 10. He fought four years in the AAU Junior Olympic program and one year in Golden Gloves. He won 69 of 79 amateur fights before turning pro in 1987 when he was 17 years old. Quiroga's first professional championship was in 1988 when he won the WBC Continental Americas title over Joey Olivo. He then won the U.S. Boxing Association title in 1989 when he outpointed Ray Medel at Freeman Coliseum. Ring Magazine listed his 1991 title fight with Kid Akeem Anifowoshe as one of its top bouts of the 1990's. Quiroga outlasted Akeem in a 12 round slugfest at HemisFair Arena. He was selected as the Express-News Sportsman of the Year for 1991. Boxing champion Robert Quiroga was inducted into San Anton io's Sports Hall of Fame in the Year 2002 along with Dr. Ricardo Romo. University of Texas All-America in track. and Rudy Davalos. Southwest Texas All-America in basketball. Romo (1983) and Davalos (1976) arc also members of the Latin Sports Hall of Fame.