He was a globetrotting stylist, more skilful than a journeyman, who loved getting in the ring and letting hands fly.
Here, Eric Armit looks at a charismatic and controversial boxer who idolised Sugar Ray Robinson, led a turbulent personal life and boxed a who’s who of fighting royalty.
Born: 9 May 1937 in Havana, Cuba
Died: 1 June 2000 in Cuba
Turned Pro: 23 July 1955
Division(s): super-featherweight to super-welterweight
Record: 239 fights, 138 wins (55 by KO/TKO), 80 losses, 21 draws.
Defeated: Bobby Bell, Alfredo Urbina, Tommy Tibbs (twice), Jose Stable*, Rolando Morales, Pastor Marrero, Mario Vecchiatto, Valerio Nunez, Fernand Nollet, Giordano Campari, Ray Adigun, Francois Pavilla, Rafiu King*, Joe Tetteh (twice), Andres Navarro, Kid Tano, LC Morgan, Paul Armstead, Bobby Arthur, Jonathan Dele, Bunny Grant*, Marcos Geraldo, Perry Abner.
Lost to: Frankie Ryff, Doug Vaillant (twice)*, Vicente Rivas*, Jose Stable*, Jose Napoles (twice)**, Carlos Hernandez (twice)**, Alfredo Urbina, Bunny Grant*, Rafiu King, Jean Josselin*, Eddie Perkins** (three times), Antonio Ortiz*, Ismael Laguna **, Conny Rudhof, Olli Maki*, Andres Navarro (twice), Maurice Cullen, Bruno Acari **, Antonio Ortiz*, Carmelo Bossi**, Borge Krogh, Paul Armstead, Ken Buchanan **, Pedro Carrasco **, Chris Fernandez, Silvano Bertini*, Jose Hernandez* (twice), Jonathan Dele (twice), Jose Duran **, Roger Menetrey*, Roberto Duran **, Esteban De Jesus**, Saoul Mamby **, Sugar Ray Seales, Johnny Gant*, Wilfredo Benitez **, Larry Bonds*, Adriano Marrero*, Josue Marquez *, Billy Backus**, Clyde Gray*, Willie Monroe, Ralph Palladin.
Scottish legend Ken Buchanan defeated Robinson Garcia
Drew with: Carlos Hernandez **, Doug Vaillant*, Carmelo Bossi **, Andres Navarro (twice), Francois Pavilla*, LC Morgan, Paul Armstead, Miguel Velazquez **, Jose Hernandez*, Antonio Ortiz *
** Denotes past or future holder of a version of a world title
* Denotes world title challenger
The Story of Angel Robinson Garcia
Unlike many boxers, Angel Garcia did not come from a disadvantaged early life. He was one of six children, and as his father was an officer in the Cuban Army, they had a good standard of living as he grew up.
Garcia started boxing in his early teens and turned pro after winning all of his amateur fights and collecting several trophies. A huge fan of Sugar Ray Robinson, he took Robinson as part of his ring name.