CARLOS ZÁRATE English
CARLOS ZÁRATE WAS THE BEST BANTAMWEIGHT IN BOXING HISTORY, AND THE MOST CONVINCING SLUGGER IN THE 118-POUND DIVISION
This young man was born in the Tepito district, in Mexico City, and his sledgehammer punch made ripples in the boxing world as he accumulated career credits and a long string of knockouts. He made his professional debut on February 3rd, 1970. When he got his first shot at a championship match, he was undefeated, with 40 wins, 39 by knockout. Up until that moment, the only boxer who had been able to go the length with him was Víctor Ramírez.On May 8th, 1976, he beat his compatriot Rodolfo Martínez in 9 rounds for the 118-lb. division world championship title. He defended his WBC crown successfully 13 times, and sewed panic in his division with the power and skill he possessed in both arms. He was considered the best slugger in the history of his division.
On October 28th, 1978, he contended against then-champion Wilfredo Gómez, also a respectable slugger in the 122-lb. division, for the superbantamweight division title. He lost in the fifth round of a match that took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He continued defending his earlier title in the bantamweight division, taking advantage of the chance champions are given to
defend earlier titles without risking other titles.
June 3rd, 1979, is a date that Carlos Zárate remembers best out of all his matches. That was the day of his match against fellow countryman Guadalupe Pintor, who he sent flying to the canvas. It was a tight call, and even though Carlos Zárate was clearly the winner, the referees favored Lupe
Pintor. It was an ill-fated decision that shook the foundations of boxing institutions. Zárate was irked, and abandoned boxing.
He made a comeback on February 25th, 1986, for the featherweight title. On October 16th, 1987, he fought a match against Jeff Fenech for the world super bantamweight title, and lost on a technical decision, because of a wound that the referee determined had come from a head blow. The Mexican boxer was clearly winning. Zárate said good-bye to boxing in a match that he lost on a TKO call in the tenth round against Daniel Zaragoza, on February 29th, 1988, in California. He lives well today in the Tepito district of Mexico City, where he also works as a trainer.