Lupe Pintor Discussion.......

His outside game was very good, very efficient...
I agree with you, he shares more similarity with Olivares than with a brawler....I love his uppercut...

Pintor vs Rafael Marquez would be awesome...and I think Pintor would win...

 

Morales vs Pintor at 122 would be a war!

 

Bump. Good thread

 

Very underrated from what I've seen of him. I'd love to have seen him against the likes of Morales, Barrera and Marquez because I think he'd belong comfortably in that company.

He was good enough (maybe lucky enough too?) to beat Zarate and give Gomez all he could handle.

The unification fight against Chandler was one of the missed opportunities of the 80s.

 

I think Pintor was awesome. He get's a lot of stick for getting a gift decision against Zarate, but that's not really a big deal in my book since Zarate was basically a killing machine at 118, and would arguably be my pick as the number 1 bantamweight head to head of all time. The only real travesty was that Zarate retired in disgust.

Concerning Pintor directly, I think you're right that he get's unfairly overlooked historically. Unfortunately I think he's also overlooking as being a pretty good man outside the ring. I thought he came off very well in the documentary about Johnny Owens where Lupe reunited with Owens' father decades later. He also managed to save his money and live with financial stability once he retired. I also read that he even traveled to attend Wilfredo Gomez' 50th birthday. Sounds like a solid guy, especially since he appears to have had a really rough childhood.

 

I believe Zarate and Laporte went with him.

 

Yes he came off as a man of character and honor in The big if which was a bio of Owen's but also a duel bio of Pintor who did have a very rough upbringing and a cantankerous relationship with his father. I believe he was on his own at about 14 or so.
The Zarate decision wasnt his fault and he went on to be a worthy Champion.
Being a Phila guy I still picked him against Chandler then as I would now.
He did developed a special relationship with the Owen's family especially Johnny's Dad. Lupe was very nervous flying there for the statue unveiling and didn't know what really to expect but he was treated with much love and got along so well with Johnny's Dad who bore him no I'll will and didn't hold him responsible. It's a great book and is very highly recomended.
Lupe I believe married a childhood girlfriend saved his money and operates his own gym. Last picture I saw of him he looked great.
Pintor was definitely a fighter who got instantly better once he had the belt. He had some weight issues but for me belongs amongst the upper echelon Mexicos finest.
A Champion who flies under the radar too often. It's nice seeing him get his props as a Champion and a man of Character

 

So underrated its not funny.
Even if you think he got a gift vs Zarate it was a close fight at a time when Zarate was CRUSHING everyone .
Pintor in my opinion would be a handful for anyone at bantam.

 

Pintor was a savage of the ring and up with Walker Marciano Dempsey fitz Jeffries Duran Gomez Arguello Louis as the best body punchers ever. Great fighter destroys CHANDLER INSIDE 9 RDS. Easily!

 

Very good fighter who should have fought Chandler. Still feel he would lose to Jeff by a close decision. Amazing that him and LaPorte are cool with Gomez.

 

I also believe he would have broken down Chandler.

 

Always found it easy to root for Lupe Pintor. Very classy and forgiving of him attending Gomez' Fiftieth, in view of Gomez' repeated and vicious use of the elbow during their '82 showdown. Gomez is one of the most brilliant boxers I've watched on tape. He is also, however, one of the dirtiest. (Looks to me like he spat on Zarate after he decked him.) He should have been disqualified when he fought Pintor. The ref and Pintor's corner let Pintor down there. They should have made more of the issue during the fight. Imagine facing a fighter as formidable as Gomez - and he's allowed to rake you with his elbow.

 

For me, Pintor is in a weird space on his own when it comes to Mexican Greats. He isn't quite as unassailable as Saldivar, Olivares, Sanchez, Canto or Chavez.In my mind, he also falls short of a few others, such as Chucho or Herrera but clearly a step above guys like Morales, Barrera or Marquez. I can't think of anyone else in his position. Personally, I would rank him above Zarate. I did believe Pintor won that fight, he much, much performed better than Zarate did against Gomez and has a better résumé although not record.

He was an excellent fighter, though. Teak tough but with the capacity for caution, he would easily overwhelm those whose firepower he did not respect. However, when faced with heavy hitter's, he chose to parry short shots and slip wide ones. He was great at fighting off the ropes and obviously had a blistering body attack.

Pintor was truly a great fighter, and it's often forgotten now.