Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 14

Paul Gonzales, winner of the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal for Boxing in the Light-Flyweight Division, is an inspiration to all Inner-City youth world over for what seemed to be insurmountable odds for a kid growing up in one of the roughest barrios of East Los Angeles.

During his amateur career, Paul won 18 National A.A.U. titles. For ten consecutive years he won the Los Angeles Golden Gloves, The Police Athletic League, Los Angeles Diamond Belt and numerous other championships titles. At the age of fifteen, Paul won the Golden Bear championship four consecutive years, becoming the first and only contender ever to come out of the Junior Olympics to win a major Amateur Championship.

Paul Gonzales is the first American in the light flyweight division and the first Mexican-American ever in the history of the Olympic Games to win an Olympic Gold Medal. He was the fifth recipient since its existence 1892 to be awarded the Val Barker Cup; the most prestigious award given in Olympic competition as the most outstanding Boxer pound for pound of the 23rd Modern Olympic Games.

Paul was one of the sentimental farvorites during the 23rd Modern Olympic Games, which produce the greatest Olympic boxing team ever assemble with names such as Steve McCory, Meldrick Taylor, Pernell Whitaker, Virgil Hill, and Evander Holyfield to name a few. As a professional he was the first member of his Olympic team to win a professional Championship in his third fight.

Paul has continued to devote his time, and efforts towards helping inner-city youth overcome the day-to-day challenges of life and survival in their neighborhood.

Paul frequently addresses youths, businesses, and adult audiences with his motivational messages that he tailors for each occasion. He has worked as master of ceremonies, keynote speaker and dinner speaker for groups as large as 10,000. Paul, has also worked on behalf of the United Way, The Boys Scouts of America, The Hollenbeck Police Business Council / Youth Center, The Inner-City Games, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, D.A.R.E. America, The California Governor's Council on Physical fitness & Sports, The American Cancer Society, The United States Olympic Committee, and he was appointed City Commissioner by Mayor Richard Riordan of Los Angeles for Children, Youth, & Their Families.

Paul was honored in Sports Illustrated Boxing All Time Greatest list of the century with names such as Muhammed Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and George Forman, Olympic issue, September 11, 2000.