Pete Ranzany was a former American boxer….who while fighting as an amateur, represented the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973….where he defeated future welterweight champion Carlos Palomino at the 1972 Olympic Trials….but lost to eventual gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales in the finals. Ranzany was a conventional boxer with a solid jab and vicious left hook….which he utilized to the body of his opponents….as he was known to take opponents out with one single shot to the liver.
Ranzany rose to the rank of number-one challenger in the world in the late 1970’s….when he fought as a welterweight….knocking 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….where after doing well in the first round 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 by getting knocked out in the 4th round….as seen in this video herewith….then Ranzany came back the following year to defeat Sal Lopez (older brother of future junior lightweight champion, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez) with a 6th-round knockout. After this victory Ranzany got one more shot at a premier welterweight when he lost to Wilfred Benítez in a controversial 10-round unanimous decision. On October 30, 1982, Ranzany defeated former lightweight champion Sean O’Grady in a 10-round unanimous decision…..ending his career with 58 wins 8 losses 3 draws with 38 KO’s….for Pete Ranzany was a really good boxer who has gotten lost in the ranks of great to super great to legendary boxers during the golden age of boxing from 1964 to 1995.
In this fight against a true boxing legend in the golden age of boxing, Sugar Ray Leonard…..the viewer gets to see Sugar Ray Leonard at his best as he destroys a really good fighter in Pete Ranzany for the NABF welterweight title…..a title Ranzany had held for for 3 1/2 years….for this was the first of 17 different titles that Leonard would win in five (5) different divisions of boxing by the time he retired.
