Rodolfo “El Gato” González excellent performance against Chango Carmona

Flo, you have no idea how close that fight came to being signed in '73 - through the efforts of Don Chargin I might add. Chargin told me that he could have put 40,000 in the L.A. Coliseum for that fight. But Chargin was honest about the fact that that was not the fight he wanted. He wanted Duran against Mando Ramos. He said he could have put 60,000 in the Coliseum for that one. That was a bit late though. Mando didn't have a shred in him after the Carmona beating. But Chargin got Duran to L.A. for two 'get accustomed' fights against Juan Medina and then Javier Ayala on the undercard of Gonzalez v Navarro, but it fell apart, due mostly with whom Duran was taking orders from at that point. That fight would have been something.

 

Hi Buddy.
Thanks for the upload, what a good fight, I remember the the write ups in the weeks before this fight, Carmona was favoured to come out on top, fresh in people's mind was his previous bout when he nearly put an end to Mando Ramos, he looked truly terrifying in this fight, relentless in his pursuit of the weight drained, and partied out playboy that was a young Ramos, I for one thought that Gato was in for the same, how wrong was I, and yes he does fight like Napoles, the shuffle, the reset, the left hook to the body, kudos to you.
stay safe FR, chat soon buddy.
Mike.

 

Great question, Flo. The only way I can answer this honestly is by describing both fighters at this time. Gonzalez had been a ranked jr. welterweight since '68 and was actually ranked by Ring Magazine as the #2 jr. welterweight when he received his lightweight title shot at Chango Carmona. So he was squeezed down a bit but performed remarkably against Carmona and the rematch with Ruben Navarro and looked like he could have gone all night in both fights. And you guys are right, he was often compared to Napoles with his smooth style while also flashing a brutal left hook to the liver. By the following year he was really experiencing weight problems after a 15 year career. Duran at this time, was still a bit of a wild-child. He had not yet settled down from the kid who mugged Ken Buchanan. Outstanding fighter but just so wild. Which is why Esteban DeJesus, who was a great counter-puncher, was able to catch him early in their first two fights. By '75, '76, Duran had really come into his own. Settling down to a fighter with a subtle defense and a cooler, more effective aggressive style. One who could set you up without charging in like a raw bull. The two together in '73, however, would have been something. I could see both down but wouldn't want to bet the house on the outcome. A year earlier than '73 or a year later I would have been more confident in picking a winner.

 

One of the great injustices of fate in boxing history was that this Rodolfo ‘Gato’ Gonzalez retired four years before the other Rodolfo ‘Gato’ Gonzalez. Otherwise they could have fought at the Forum or the Olympic and settled it.

I have zero doubt that Gato would have won it, but it would have been interesting to see.