Pete Ranzany: The Pride of Sacramento

nyckid · Post by **nyckid** » 01 Mar 2007, 21:45

In the late seventies, before the Sacramento Kings joined the National Basketball Association, and before television networks like HBO and Showtime were in the business of creating superstars, welterweight Pete Ranzany was that city’s sole sports entity. Campaigning from 1973-83, Ranzany was a perennial contender who fought 57 of his 69 bouts in Sacramento, 55 of them at the Memorial Auditorium.

http://fightbeat.com/article_detail.php?AT=308

turn2stone · Post by **turn2stone** » 01 Mar 2007, 22:19

what a great resume. i always remember ranzany and randy shields as guys from that era that came so close, but had to take on all time greats.

eeler1 · Post by **eeler1** » 02 Mar 2007, 01:47

Pete was a great local draw, he got some gifts, but was mostly pretty good and put butts in the seats. I remember him going to Sac State at the same time I was there. I was thinking he would give Cuevas a challenge. Shows what I know.

Thanks for the story. Good memories.

nyckid · Post by **nyckid** » 02 Mar 2007, 12:40

just watch that clip of him versus Leonard. What a heart!

nobudius · Post by **nobudius** » 02 Mar 2007, 15:19

Surprised his name didn't pop up in th expug/journeyman/HOF topic.

Cool article-and good to know he is doing well.

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 04 Mar 2007, 21:55

Well I am 42 years old and I grew up in Vallejo 60 miles south west of Sac-town... My father would bring me and my younger brother to watch Pistol Pete fight, and I saw him fight Adolfo Viruet, Keith Averette, Randy Shields(both), Bruce Finch, Jimmy Heair, Pipino Cuevas, Sal Lopez, Wilfred Benitez, and Ray Hammond... I am sure we went to more... Too bad for Sal Lopez Pete put a hurtin on him I feel it hurt his career. I thought he was a much better boxer than brother Tony "The Tiger" Lopez. Pete was too much for Sal who was not ready for Pistol Pete at 49-4 Sal was 18-0. Those where the days, I remember seeing Monroe Brooks, Sal Lopez, and Pistle Pete at Memorial Auditorium... Good fighters with lots of heart...