José Antonio Celaya is a retired American professional boxer from Salinas, California, who was once ranked No. 1 in the world by the WBO in the welterweight division. Known by the nickname “Cuate,” he is celebrated as one of the most popular sports figures in the history of the Salinas Valley.
Salinas Sports Hall of Fame +3
Career Highlights
Celaya had a distinguished career in both the amateur and professional ranks:
- Professional Record: He finished his career with a record of 31 wins (16 by KO) and 7 losses.
- Major Titles: He won the WBO NABO Welterweight Championship in 2002.
- Amateur Success: He was a three-time USA National champion and an alternate for the 2000 U.S. Olympic boxing team.
- Notable Fights: In 2008, he famously fought the then-undefeated Julio César Chávez Jr. for the WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Title.
Life After Boxing
Celaya retired from the ring in 2012. He currently lives in Salinas and is dedicated to community service: Central Coast Language and Learning Center Speech Pathology +4
- Mentorship: He works with newcomers and regulars at Rock Boxing Gym in Salinas, assisting head trainer Danny Corona to provide a positive outlet for local youth.
- Health and Advocacy: He lives with dysarthria, a speech disorder resulting from injuries sustained during his boxing career. He has been open about his journey with speech therapy and performs with the Hartnell Community Choir to help improve his speech.
- Hall of Fame: He was inducted into the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018