Carlos Zarate vs. Alfonso, “Battle of the Z boys” on this date in 1977

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by ChrisJS, Apr 23, 2020.


  1. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It was 43 years ago today when WBC bantamweight title took on WBA bantamweight champion Alfonso Zamora. Their combined records were 74-0 with 73 knockouts. Both fighters were friends even though their managers were not. The feud between Alfonso Senior and Cuyo Hernandez was a big side story coming into this one. It didn’t really matter that it was a “non title” fight too much as it wasn’t expected to go that long. Boxing politics.

    It’s arguable that if you go on pre-fight chatter this still stands as the biggest fight between two Mexicans of the last 50 years (or more). Both were extremely popular and in their prime.

    It didn’t disappoint as they waged war for four rounds and Zárate secures his signature victory which gave him The Ring “fighter of the year” honors, the first Mexican to do so. He was also rated by Boxing Illustrated as the #1 pound for pound boxer in the world. This fight meant that much.

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    ChrisJS, Apr 23, 2020
    ChrisJS, Apr 23, 2020
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  2. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Great fight. What was the TV status of this bout? It was obviously broadcast, but I recall (and I was only 9 when it happened, so I may be mis-remembering) that the regular U.S. TV networks didn't want to air the bout. Was this a regional broadcast? Anybody know why it wasn't ion network TV? I remember watching Zarate on TV several times.
     
    sweetsci, Apr 23, 2020
    sweetsci, Apr 23, 2020
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  3. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Such a fun fight. Love that lunatic jumping into the ring, too. That's just good theater any way you look at it.
     
    salsanchezfan, Apr 23, 2020
    salsanchezfan, Apr 23, 2020
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  4. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Such a great Mexican slugfest, I always go back to this fight every now and then. Zarate proved to be the more skilled fighter against the bigger puncher yet crude Zamora.

    The random guy that shows up out of nowhere also makes it hysterical, it's just as good as the fan man incident during the Holyfield vs Bowe 2 fight. I still wonder why that guy was there in the first place.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Apr 23, 2020
    Flo_Raiden, Apr 23, 2020
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  5. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    That’s Chick Hearn on the call. He was the No. 1 sports broadcaster in Los Angeles (where this fight took place), most famously as the voice of the LA Lakers from 1965-2002. He did a lot of fights at the Forum and, I’m sure, the LA Sports Arena and Olympic Auditorium. ESPN picked up some of those title fights, including Pipino Cuevas-Angel Espada III, and used the LA feed with Hearn rather than sending their own crew.

    I imagine this was a regional broadcast that was syndicated in West Coast markets. Be interesting to know.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2020
    Saintpat, Apr 23, 2020
    Saintpat, Apr 23, 2020
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  6. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Big fight when it happened. And looked forward to by folks following the sport.
     
    zadfrak, Apr 23, 2020
    zadfrak, Apr 23, 2020
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  7. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    Great fight, too bad it was not a title unification bout, great fight featuring heavy hitters.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Apr 23, 2020
    Richard M Murrieta, Apr 23, 2020
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  8. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The more and more I think about it, at their bantamweight beats, strictly head to head, I think I like Zarate over Olivares. Olivares could fight like he did vs. Rose and win. That’s as good as he ever looked but Zarate never really lost at the weight and was extremely dominant even against the quality guys he met like Martinez, Dávila, Zamora.

    Maybe his straighter punches and precision give him the edge?
     
    ChrisJS, Apr 23, 2020
    ChrisJS, Apr 23, 2020
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