Miguel Lora


Miguel Lora Escudero, 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.

Beginnings and world title

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

After the world title, Lora fought Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vázquez. He defended his belt eight times and fought boxers such as Alberto Davila, Antonio Avelar, Ray Minus, 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
40Loss37–3Rafael del ValleUD12 1993-06-19Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto RicoFor WBO bantamweight title
39Win37–2Cesar PolancoUD10 1993-04-23Coliseo El Salitre, Bogotá, Colombia
38Win36–2Ricky RomeroKO3 1992-09-26Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
37Win35–2Gabriel BernalPTS10 1992-04-12Bogotá, Colombia
36Win34–2Rolando BoholPTS10 1991-08-02Coliseo El Campin], Bogotá, Colombia
35Loss33–2Gaby CanizalesKO2 1991-03-12The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.For vacant WBO bantamweight title
34Win33–1Bernardo MendozaPTS10 1990-12-14Montería, Colombia
33Win32–1Emilio AponteTKO3 1990-08-18Montería, Colombia
32Loss31–1Raúl PérezUD12 1988-10-29Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC bantamweight title
31Win31–0Alberto DávilaUD12 1988-08-01Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC bantamweight title
30Win30–0Lucio Omar LopezUD12 1988-04-30Plaza de Toros, Cartagena, ColombiaRetained WBC bantamweight title
29Win29–0Ray MinusUD12 1987-11-27Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC bantamweight title
28Win28–0Antonio AvelarKO4 1987-07-25Marine Stadium, Key Biscayne, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC bantamweight title
27Win27–0Alberto DávilaUD12 1986-11-15Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, ColombiaRetained WBC bantamweight title
26Win26–0Enrique SánchezTKO6 1986-08-23Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC bantamweight title
25Win25–0Wilfredo VázquezUD12 1986-02-08Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC bantamweight title
24Win24–0Daniel ZaragozaUD12 1985-08-09Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won WBC bantamweight title
23Win23–0Diego AvilaTKO8 1985-06-07Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
22Win22–0Ramon Antonio NeryTKO2 1985-05-10Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
21Win21–0Jose ChaconPTS10 1984-11-24Estadio 18 de Junio, Montería, Colombia
20Win20–0Juan TorresPTS10 1984-07-03Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
19Win19–0Edwin RangelPTS10 1984-02-18Plaza de Toros, Cartagena, Colombia
18Win18–0Juan DíazTKO5 1983-12-16Montería, Colombia
17Win17–0Pedro RomeroPTS12 1983-09-18Cereté, ColombiaRetained WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title
16Win16–0Jose SalazarKO3 1983-07-30Sincelejo, Colombia
15Win15–0Rubén Darío PalacioPTS12 1983-05-12Montería, ColombiaWon vacant WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title
14Win14–0Miguel PerezPTS12 1982-09-17Montería, ColombiaWon Colombian super-flyweight title
13Win13–0Charles MaussaKO7 1982-07-30Montería, Colombia
12Win12–0Edelmiro CassianiKO7 1982-02-27Montería, Colombia
11Win11–0Luis TapiasTKO3 1981-12-18Montería, Colombia
10Win10–0Carlos OsorioPTS10 1981-05-28Montería, Colombia
9Win9–0Arnold SarmientoTKO3 1980-12-03Montería, Colombia
8Win8–0Juan AlvarezPTS10 1980-10-31Montería, Colombia
7Win7–0Orlando TejedorKO1 1980-08-14Coliseo El Campin, Bogotá, Colombia
6Win6–0Julio Soto SolanoPTS12 1980-06-12Montería, ColombiaWon WBC FECARBOX super-flyweight title
5Win5–0Justo JorgeTKO3 1980-03-28Montería, Colombia
4Win4–0Arnold SarmientoKO3 1979-12-22Montería, Colombia
3Win3–0Tomas MazaKO1 1979-11-23Coliseo de la Circunvalacion, Montería, Colombia
2Win2–0Alfredo GomezKO1 1979-10-26Coliseo de la Circunvalacion, Montería, Colombia
1Win1–0Wilfredo RuizPTS6 1979-07-27Montería, Colombia

Retirement

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.