On This Day: Robert 'Pikin' Quiroda Remembered

By Peter Silkov 

Robert ‘Pikin’ Quiroga was an all-action fighter, with tremendous heart and drive, in the ring. Every fight Quiroga was in was action-packed, and he was a great example of how some of boxing's most exciting fighters are to be found in the sports lowest weight divisions.

Born on October 10, 1069, in San Antonio, Texas, Quiroga began his professional career in 1987, and quickly rose up the rankings. On July 7, 1989, ‘Pikin’ won the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-flyweight title, when he out-pointed Joey Olivo over 12 rounds. Five months later, he added the USBA Super-flyweight title to his collection, by out-pointing Ray Medel.

In his next fight on April 21, 1990, Quiroga won the IBF world Super-flyweight title, by out-pointing Juan Polo Perez over 12 rounds.

Quiroga’s reign as world champion saw him make 5 successful defences, including his defence on June 15, 1991, against Akeem Anifowoshe, which he won on points after a thrilling and brutal match, which was later voted fight of the year for 1991, by ‘The Ring’ magazine. Sadly both Quiroga and Anifowoshe were destined for tragic fates.

‘Pikin’ lost his IBF World Super-flyweight title in his 6^th defence on January 16, 1993, when he was stopped in the 12^th round by Julio Cesar Borboa.

The hard fights had caught up with Quiroga, and he would fight just once more, two years after losing his world title he faced Ancee Gedeon, and was beaten on points after 8 rounds. Quiroga then retired with a final record of (20-2, 11koes.)

After his retirement, Robert would go on to become well-known in the San Antonio area for his helping handicapped and troubled children. In 2002, he was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Robert Quiroga life was cut short, when he died on August 16, 2004, in San Antonio, when he was stabbed to death outside a friend’s house during a party. He was 34 years old.


Watch Robert Quiroga Vs. Akeem Anifowoshe:

There is an effort in San Antonio, Texas, to have a statue of Robert Quiroda erected in the community that he was honored to be a part of, if you would like to help, please follow the link. The following information is from the Robert Quiroda website:


Robert's boxing career included the following accomplishments:

• 1st American to win the I.B.F Super flyweight Championship
• Ring Magazines 1991 Fight of the Year
• Ring Magazines TOP 10 Fights of 1990
• Ring Magazines 100 Greatest Title Fights of All Time
• Member of the San Antonio National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame
• Member of the San Antonio Boxing Hall of Fame
• Member of the Laredo Sports Hall of Fame
• Member of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame

Erect a Statue for Robert Quiroda



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