Jorge Adolfo Paez (born October 27,
1965) is a Mexican actor circus performer and former professional
boxer. In boxing he held the WBO and IBF featherweight titles. Paez's
nickname of "El Maromero" is in honor of the somersault (referred
to in Spanish as "maroma") acts he performs at the circus. It was
in the circus that he learned acrobatic moves he would later use in
the boxing ring. Paez is also the father of Azriel Paez, Jorge Paez
Jr., and Airam Paez.
Personal life
Paez has been a circus performer
in his northwest Mexico hometown since he was very young. Jorge started
boxing in San Luis Rio Colorado. He is also the father of welterweight
prospect Azriel Paez and WBC Youth Intercontinental welterweight champion
Jorge Paez Jr.
Professional career
Early years
Paez began boxing
professionally on November 16, 1984, knocking out Efren Treno in three
rounds.
Featherweight champion
From there on, he built a string
of wins that led him to challenge IBF featherweight champion Calvin
Grove in boxing's last 15 round world title fight. Paez was trailing
on all three scorecards, but dropped the champion three times in the
last round. The knockdowns provided an edge on the scorecards making
Paez IBF featherweight champion by a unanimous decision. He defended
the title eight times, including a knockout in 11 against Grove in
a rematch, a stoppage win former world champion Stevie Cruz and a
spit decision against future world champion Troy Dorsey.
He then
won the WBO featherweight title in a unification bout against Louie
Espinoza (in a rematch of their 1989 fight that ended in a draw) by
split decision.
Paez then vacated his titles and moved up in
weight, only to lose to IBF super featherweight champion Tony Lopez.
Paez continued to fight, but he had mixed results versus former world
champions Lupe Suarez and Tracy Spann; he and Suarez drew in 10 rounds,
and he beat Spann by a 10 round decision.
Lightweight
On October
10, 1991, Paez moved up to lightweight and fought against Pernell
Whitaker for the WBC, WBA and IBF lightweight titles but lost by unanimous
decision.
On November 6, 1992, Paez fought against future world
champion Rafael Ruelas for the NABF lightweight title, losing by TKO
in the 10 round. On July 17, 1993, he lost to Freddie Pendleton by
a decision in twelve for the IBF lightweight title.
On July 29,
1994, he was given a shot at the vacant WBO lightweight title against
rising superstar Oscar De La Hoya. Paez lost by a knockout in round
two.