Carlos Palomino ( '7' Questionable Title Defenses )

February 1978

Following Carlos Palomino's victory over #1 Ryu Sorimachi, there was discussion about
several possible bouts for Carlos in 1978.

* vs. Saensak Muangsurin (WBC Light-Welterweight Champion)
* vs. Armando Muniz (#1 WBC Welterweight)
* vs. Rocky Mattioli (WBC Light-Middleweight Champion)

Tentative plans were set for Carlos to fight Saensak Muangsurin in March 1978,
then a 'rematch with Armando Muniz in May 1978, then possibly Rocky Mattioli for September 1978.

 

Carlos Palomino and Saensak Muangsurin were supposed to fight on March 18, 1978 -
and in Las Vegas at 'The Aladdin Hotel'.

Though pre-contracts were sent out, Saensak changed his mind due to contractual
arrangements.

In a 'scramble' to get a Top 10 WBC-ranked Challenger, Mimoun Mohatar was made
available with a 'last-minute' #10 WBC Welterweight ranking.

Mimoun 'Bagdad Ben' Mohatar, a 26 year-old Moroccan living in Spain.

A record of 32-19-5 (14 KO's), a 5' 9" boxer-mover, with decent boxing skills. No real punch, and his strength
was his durability and endurance.

Mohatar's biggest win, was his last bout on February 8, 1978 - when he travelled to the Ivory Coast and
won the 'African Boxing Union Welterweight Champinship' by defeating (W Dec 15) #10 WBC - Salem Ouedraggo (28-2-1).

How good was Mimoun? Mediocre at best.

Between October 1973 and March 1977, in '25' bouts, he went 10-14-4 (1 KO) and was listed as purely a
'Moroccan-Spanish journeyman'.

But, over the past year, Mimoun had a slight streak, as he had gone 4-0-1 (3 KO's) in his last '5' bouts, to earn
the #10 WBC Welterweight ranking.

Mimoun Mohatar was chosen as an opponent for Carlos Palomino's '5th Title Defense' not because he was good,
but because he was 'not' a threat, and 'was' available.

Mimoun 'Bagdad Ben' Mohatar

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March 1978

WBC Welterweight Rankings

**** Carlos Palomino
#1... Pete Ranzany
#2... Armando Muniz
#3... Harold Weston
#4... Davey Boy Green
#5... Clyde Gray
#6... Floyd Mayweather
#7... Ryu Sorimachi
#8... Randy Shields
#9... Everaldo Costa Acevedo
#10. Mimoun Mohatar
#11. Billy Backus
#12. Sakaraia Ve
#13. Jose Palacios
#14. Salem Ouedraggo
#15. Johnny Gant
#16. Angel Espada
#17. Pedro Rojas
#18. Eddie Marcelle
#19. Vernon Lewis
#20. Ray Chavez Guerrero

 

Lora,

Correct,

Harold Weston was a notch better than Andy Price (but with a better chin).

Pete Ranzany would have piled up a 'big lead' on Carlos, but the body shots would have taken their toll late in the fight.

 

Saturday Afternnon - March 18, 1978

The Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

28 1/2 year-old WBC Welterweight Champion - Carlos Palomino stopped (TKO 9)
Moroccan - Mimoun Mohatar in his 5th Defense of his Championship Belt.

Mimoun Mohatar shocked 'The Aladdin Hotel' fans, and he suprised the Champion
with an assortment of right-hands in the opening round, evening stunning Carlos
Palomino.

Mohatar, continued with his attack in Round 2, and again won the round by scoring
with numerous right hand leads, suprising the 'slow-starting' Champion with his speed.

In Round 3, the pattern continued, until late in the Round, when Palomino landed '5' hard body
shots that visibly hurt the Moroccan.

Tha Champion took over in Round 4, and pounded Mimoun with solid body punches, capped off
by a hard left hook to the jaw which dropped the Challenger for a '4-Count'.

From that point on, Mimoun stayed in retreat, scampering away from the hard-punching Champion.

In Round 9, Palomino jolted Mohatar with a solid right hand, in which the Challenger raised his
hand towards Referee Charley Roth in a wave of defeat. But, the Challenger continued, only
to be floored a 'second time in the bout', by a wicked right uppercut, where Referee Charley Roth
counted out Mimoun at 0:57 of Round 9.

After the bout comments;

Carlos Palomino, 'I was really suprised by his right hand in the 1st-Round. I never saw it, and
I was honestly stunned.'

The WBC Champion improves to 26-1-3 (15 KO's).

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With the potential fight with the WBC Light-Welterweight Champion -Thailand's
Saensak Muangsurin on hold, Carlos Palomino will look to fight one his California
counter-parts, either Armando Muniz, Pete Ranzany or Randy Shields.

The Champion stated; 'I would like to fight all '4' of the guys this year. I can fight every
2-months, it is no problem for me. I don't want to sit around and wait.

Questions were asked about the possibility of fighting the WBA Welterweight Champion -
Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas.

Carlos added, 'We have only been offered $100,000 for that fight. I'm making $125,000 per defense
right now, so nobody is really serious about putting us together. If I get through my fights in 1978,
I will look forward to fighting Pipino in 1979, then probably Roberto Duran and maybe Rocky Mattioli.
I want to retire by the end of 1979, as I have no desire to fight after turning 30 years of age.

According to Jackie McCoy, the fight plans;
* May 1978................Armando Muniz
* July 1978.................Saensak Muangsurin
* September 1978........Pete Ranzany
* December 1978.........Randy Shields
* March 1979..............Pipino Cuevas
* June 1979................Roberto Duran

Note: If all goes well, and WBC Light-Middleweight Champion - Rocky Mattioli still has his Crown, we will fight him
in September 1979 as our 'final fight'.

 

Saturday Afternoon - May 27, 1978

The Olympic Auditorium (Los Angeles, California)

WBC Welterweight Championship

**** Carlos Palomino 26-1-3 (15 KO's)
vs.
#1 WBC Armando Muniz 44-12-1 (30 KO's)

28 1/2 year-old WBC Welterweight Champion - Carlos Palomino will be making
the '7th Defense' of his Championship Belt, when he takes on the #1 WBC Challenger,
31 year-old 'veteran' Armando Muniz .

It will be the 'second time' that these two California Warriors will be facing each other.
They did it once before, back on January 21, 1977 (16-months earlier).

WBC Light-Welterweight Champion - Thailand's Saensak Muangsurin 13-1-0 (10 KO's) said he
would like to fight the winner of Saturday's bout sometime in July 1978.

 

Ed,

Carlos Palomino was a 10-1 Underdog when he faced John H. Stracey for the
WBC Welterweight Championship in June 1976.

His fight purse was $20,000.

Mickey Duff, had Carlos sign a '2-fight promotion' option with Mickey Duff to get
a shot at John Stracey, in the event that he won the Welterweight Title.

As per Mickey Duff, they saw Carlos' last '3' bouts prior to fighting Stracey, and Carlos
looked 'average' at best, and he was not considered a risk.

 

Geoff,

Jose Palacios was a 'stable-mate' of Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas.

A 31 year-old, 5' 6 1/2" 'rough-and-ready brawler', with a record of 34-7-1 (23 KO's),
prior to fighting Carlos at The Olympic Auditorium.

After his bout with Carlos Palomino on December 10, 1977 - Palacios said
there was no comparison in punching power, and that Pipino would stop
Carlos within 10-Rounds.

Jose gave Carlos a tough-battle, and rocked Carlos several times in the
bout with chopping right-hands. He stunned the Champion 'badly' at the
end of Round 10, and gave Carlos some anxious moments as his eyes were
glazed over, as he wandered around the ring a bit. He was clearly stunned.

The bout was scored 8-4-0 (in rounds) after '12', before Carlos stopped Palacios with a
vicious overhand right that floored him at 1:11 of the 13th Round. Jose got
to his knee's, but he was counted out by John Thomas at 1:21 of the round.

Note;

Back on September 27, 1975

29 year-old - Jose Palacios 29-4-0 (22 KO's), the #9 WBA-ranked and Mexican Welterweight Champion
fought a 17 1/2 year-old Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas 13-5-0 (11 KO's) for the Mexican Welterweight Championship.

Palacios was stopped by a TKO 10, when he could not answer the bell for Round 11, in the 12-Round bout.

 

Curtis,

Correct on Jerry Quarry..

Both Jerry and Chico Vejar were good friends with Carlos.

The rematch with Armando Muniz, was a 'natural', despite Armando's loss to
Jose Palacios.