The Coach
Raúl "Jíbaro"Pérez
Two-time world champion. One of the tallest bantamweights in boxing history. The skinny kid from Tijuana who was never supposed to win — and then won it all, twice.
WBC
Bantamweight World Champion
October 29, 1988 – February 25, 1991
WBA
Super Bantamweight World Champion
October 7, 1991 – March 27, 1992
The Story
Too skinny to lose.
Raúl Ruiz Pérez was born on February 14, 1967 in Tijuana, Baja California. They called him "Jíbaro" — the skinny one. He walked into the CREA gym at nine years old because his older brother trained there, and he never really left.
He turned professional at seventeen, on March 29, 1984, knocking out José Alvarado. Over the next four years he built a record of 41–1–1 and earned a shot at the WBC bantamweight title.
On October 29, 1988, at the Las Vegas Hilton — on the same card as Julio César Chávez — Pérez beat Colombia's Miguel "Happy" Lora by unanimous decision to take the WBC bantamweight championship of the world. At 5'10" he was one of the tallest bantamweights in history, and almost nobody had given the skinny challenger a chance.
He held that belt for more than two years, defending it against the best in the division, until Greg Richardson took it by decision in Inglewood on February 25, 1991.
He moved up in weight and went straight back for another one. On October 7, 1991, again at the Great Western Forum, he beat Luis Mendoza to win the WBA super bantamweight title — his second world championship in a second weight class.
He fought on for the rest of the decade, and retired on August 18, 2000 in Las Vegas. His final record: 61 wins, 6 losses, 3 draws — 42 by knockout.
- Pro record
- 61–6–3
- World titles
- 2
- Wins by KO
- 42
- Years pro
- 16
In the corner
- Head coach and founder, Jíbaro's Boxing Gym — Chula Vista, California
- Runs the boxing gym at the Benito Juárez sports complex, Tijuana, since 2005
- Founder of Jibaros Boxing Promotions (2016), developing professional prospects
- Trained and cornered professional and amateur fighters for two decades
- Member, Montebello Boxing Hall of Fame, California (2019)
- Member, Tijuana Salón de los Inmortales
Career
The road.
- February 14, 1967
Born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
- 1976
Walks into the CREA gym at nine years old, following his older brother.
- March 29, 1984
Professional debut at seventeen — knockout win over José Alvarado in Tijuana.
- August 1, 1988
Beats future champion Wilfredo Vázquez at the Great Western Forum.The win that put him in line for a world title shot.
- October 29, 1988
Wins the WBC bantamweight world title.Beats Miguel "Happy" Lora by unanimous decision at the Las Vegas Hilton.
- March 9, 1989
First title defense — unanimous decision over Lucio Omar López in Los Angeles.A brutal, bloody fight remembered as one of the great bantamweight title bouts.
- October 23, 1989
Defends the WBC title against Diego Ávila.Unanimous decision at the Great Western Forum, Inglewood.
- February 25, 1991
Loses the WBC bantamweight title to Greg Richardson in Inglewood.
- October 7, 1991
Wins his second world title — the WBA super bantamweight championship.Beats Luis Mendoza at the Great Western Forum, Inglewood.
- March 27, 1992
Loses the WBA title to Wilfredo Vázquez in Mexico City.
- August 18, 2000
Retires in Las Vegas.Final professional record: 61–6–3, with 42 knockouts.
- 2005
Takes over the boxing gym at the Benito Juárez sports complex in Tijuana's Zona Norte.Working with dozens of kids and young fighters from the neighborhood.
- 2016
Founds Jibaros Boxing Promotions to give his own fighters a stage.
- 2019
Inducted into the Montebello, California Boxing Hall of Fame.
Watch
The highlights.
His boxing was called beautiful — silky defense, sharp counters, and a jab that opened everything. Here is the tape.
Train where champions are built.
Jíbaro's Boxing Gym is coming to Chula Vista. Join the founding list and be first through the door.