Miguel Lora Escudero (born April 12, 1961 in Montería, Córdoba), known as Miguel Lora or "Happy" Lora is a Colombian boxer. He reigned as the WBC bantamweight champion of the world from 1985 to 1988.

Miguel Lora
Born
Miguel Lora Escudero

(1961-04-12) April 12, 1961 (age 63)
Montería, Colombia
NationalityColombian
Other namesHappy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach63 in (160 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins37
Wins by KO17
Losses3

Beginnings and world title

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Lora started training in his native Montería and eventually represented his home department. In 1977 he won a gold medal in a local tournament. From 1980 to 1983 he won several national and regional titles. On August 9, 1985 he got his first chance to fight for the championship against Mexican Daniel Zaragoza. Lora defeated Zaragoza to become the fifth Colombian world champion.

Memorable bouts

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After the world title, Lora fought Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vázquez. He defended his belt eight times and fought boxers such as Alberto Davila,[1] Antonio Avelar, Ray Minus,[2] Lucio Omar López, until he lost against Raúl "Jíbaro" Pérez.

During the three years that Miguel "Happy" Lora kept his title, he was known for his defensive, methodical style.

Professional boxing record

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40 fights 37 wins 3 losses
By knockout 17 1
By decision 20 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
40 Loss 37–3 Rafael del Valle UD 12 (12) 1993-06-19 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico For WBO bantamweight title
39 Win 37–2 Cesar Polanco UD 10 (10) 1993-04-23 Coliseo El Salitre, Bogotá, Colombia
38 Win 36–2 Ricky Romero KO 3 (10) 1992-09-26 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
37 Win 35–2 Gabriel Bernal PTS 10 (10) 1992-04-12 Bogotá, Colombia
36 Win 34–2 Rolando Bohol PTS 10 (10) 1991-08-02 Coliseo El Campin], Bogotá, Colombia
35 Loss 33–2 Gaby Canizales KO 2 (12) 1991-03-12 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. For vacant WBO bantamweight title
34 Win 33–1 Bernardo Mendoza PTS 10 (10) 1990-12-14 Montería, Colombia
33 Win 32–1 Emilio Aponte TKO 3 (10) 1990-08-18 Montería, Colombia
32 Loss 31–1 Raúl Pérez UD 12 (12) 1988-10-29 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. Lost WBC bantamweight title
31 Win 31–0 Alberto Dávila UD 12 (12) 1988-08-01 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. Retained WBC bantamweight title
30 Win 30–0 Lucio Omar Lopez UD 12 (12) 1988-04-30 Plaza de Toros, Cartagena, Colombia Retained WBC bantamweight title
29 Win 29–0 Ray Minus UD 12 (12) 1987-11-27 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. Retained WBC bantamweight title
28 Win 28–0 Antonio Avelar KO 4 (12) 1987-07-25 Marine Stadium, Key Biscayne, Florida, U.S. Retained WBC bantamweight title
27 Win 27–0 Alberto Dávila UD 12 (12) 1986-11-15 Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Colombia Retained WBC bantamweight title
26 Win 26–0 Enrique Sánchez TKO 6 (12) 1986-08-23 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. Retained WBC bantamweight title
25 Win 25–0 Wilfredo Vázquez UD 12 (12) 1986-02-08 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. Retained WBC bantamweight title
24 Win 24–0 Daniel Zaragoza UD 12 (12) 1985-08-09 Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S. Won WBC bantamweight title
23 Win 23–0 Diego Avila TKO 8 (10) 1985-06-07 Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Ramon Antonio Nery TKO 2 (10) 1985-05-10 Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Jose Chacon PTS 10 (10) 1984-11-24 Estadio 18 de Junio, Montería, Colombia
20 Win 20–0 Juan Torres PTS 10 (10) 1984-07-03 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Edwin Rangel PTS 10 (10) 1984-02-18 Plaza de Toros, Cartagena, Colombia
18 Win 18–0 Juan Díaz TKO 5 (10) 1983-12-16 Montería, Colombia
17 Win 17–0 Pedro Romero PTS 12 (12) 1983-09-18 Cereté, Colombia Retained WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title
16 Win 16–0 Jose Salazar KO 3 (?) 1983-07-30 Sincelejo, Colombia
15 Win 15–0 Rubén Darío Palacio PTS 12 (12) 1983-05-12 Montería, Colombia Won vacant WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title
14 Win 14–0 Miguel Perez PTS 12 (12) 1982-09-17 Montería, Colombia Won Colombian super-flyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Charles Maussa KO 7 (?) 1982-07-30 Montería, Colombia
12 Win 12–0 Edelmiro Cassiani KO 7 (?) 1982-02-27 Montería, Colombia
11 Win 11–0 Luis Tapias TKO 3 (?) 1981-12-18 Montería, Colombia
10 Win 10–0 Carlos Osorio PTS 10 (10) 1981-05-28 Montería, Colombia
9 Win 9–0 Arnold Sarmiento TKO 3 (?) 1980-12-03 Montería, Colombia
8 Win 8–0 Juan Alvarez PTS 10 (10) 1980-10-31 Montería, Colombia
7 Win 7–0 Orlando Tejedor KO 1 (10) 1980-08-14 Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia
6 Win 6–0 Julio Soto Solano PTS 12 (12) 1980-06-12 Montería, Colombia Won WBC FECARBOX super-flyweight title
5 Win 5–0 Justo Jorge TKO 3 (?) 1980-03-28 Montería, Colombia
4 Win 4–0 Arnold Sarmiento KO 3 (?) 1979-12-22 Montería, Colombia
3 Win 3–0 Tomas Maza KO 1 (?) 1979-11-23 Coliseo de la Circunvalacion, Montería, Colombia
2 Win 2–0 Alfredo Gomez KO 1 (?) 1979-10-26 Coliseo de la Circunvalacion, Montería, Colombia
1 Win 1–0 Wilfredo Ruiz PTS 6 (6) 1979-07-27 Montería, Colombia

Retirement

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After his loss to Raúl "Jíbaro" Pérez, he fought for a world title against Gaby Canizales, who won by knockout and eventually dislodged Lora's fifth cervical vertebrae. Miguel "Happy" Lora decided to retire form boxing in 1993 and since then he has been living in his native Montería, dedicated to personal business, TV shows and soap operas.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Contradictory Tests". The New York Times. 16 August 1988. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  2. ^ "Miguel 'Happy' Lora retained his World Boxing Council bantamweight..." United Press International. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
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Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Julio Soto Solano
WBC FECARBOX
super-flyweight champion

June 12, 1980 – 1980
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Julio Soto Solano
Preceded by
Miguel Pérez
Colombian
super-flyweight champion

September 17, 1982 – 1983
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Raul Ernesto Diaz
Vacant
Title last held by
Cardenio Ulloa
WBC Continental Americas
bantamweight champion

May 12, 1983 – 1984
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Fred Jackson
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC bantamweight champion
August 9, 1985 – October 29, 1988
Succeeded by