March 1979 'WBC Rankings'

* Larry Holmes
1 Ken Norton
2 Earnie Shavers
3 Ossie Ocassio

* Marvin Johnson
1 John Conteh
2 Matthew Franklin
3 Eddie Gregory

* Hugo Corro
1 Alan Minter
2 Marvin Hagler
3 Loucif Hamani

* Rocco Mattioli
1 Maurice Hope
2 Ayub Kalule
3 Edgar Ross

* Wilfred Benitez
1 Carlos Palomino
2 Roberto Duran
3 Davey Green

* Sang-Hyun Kim
1 Saoul Mamby
2 Juan Jose Giminez
3 Saensak Muangsurin

* 'Vacant'
1 Alfredo Pitalua
2 Jim Watt
3 Vilomar Fernandez

* Alexis Arguello
1 Rafael Limon
2 Ernesto Espana
3 Victor Echegary

* Danny Lopez
1 Mike Ayala
2 Roberto Castanon
3 Eddie Ndukwu

* Wilfredo Gomez
1 Soon-Hyun Chung
2 Nestor Jiminez
3 Song-Koo Lee

* Carlos Zarate
1 John Mensahn Kpalango
2 Lupe Pintor
3 Alfonso Zamora

* Miguel Canto
1 Guty Espadas
2 Adelaido Galindo
3 Freddy Hernandez

* Sung-Jun Kim
1 Freddie Castillo
2 Chan-Hee Park
3 Netronoi Vorasingh

 

Every #1 WBC Challenger on that list was 'worthy' of their rating, except
31 year-old - John Mensahn Kpalago of Togo, in the 118 lb. Bantamweight Division.

John Mensahn Kpalago's manager had connections within the WBC.

He was listed as undefeated fighter, with a 45-0-0 record, and holding
the African Bantamweight Championship.

Then it was posted that he had a 45-2-0 record.

But, further investigation revealed otherwise, as Kpalongo
had been defeated '4x' by 'Ghanan' Sulley Shittu.

And, Mensahn Kpalogo, had only posted 'one' quality win in his career,
that being a '15-Round Decision' over the 'infamous' Ragga Murphy.

In his WBC Bantamweight Championship bout, on March 10, 1979.

#1 WBC - John Mensanh Kpalogo was 'blown-out' in '3-Rounds' by Carlos Zarate at The Forum in California.

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Thanks Sir,

Notice, Carlos Palomino lost to Wilfred Benitez in January 1979, and then was positioned as the #1 WBC Challenger.

Carlos could have taken '2' easy tune-ups to stay busy, and would have been the 'mandatory WBC Challenger' in later 1979.

 

LH71,

Ray Leonard went to Puerto Rico to 'scout' Carlos Palomino in January 1979,
with the 'expectation' that Carlos would 'knock out' the 'soft-chinned' Wilfred.

Very few expected 'El Radar' to defeat Carlos.

I believe the plan was to challenge Carlos for mid-late 1979, but Carlos lost.

Mike Trainer then wanted nothing to do with Carlos Palomino, and
deemed him 'too dangerous' for a 'non-title' bout.

An 'easier' road, was to move up to 154 lbs., to go after WBA Champion
Japan's -Masashi Kudo 'first', then play the 'wait-and-see' game.

If you look, Ray Leonard had many fights above 150 lbs. in 1979.

But, the WBA had other 'mandatory fighters' ranked ahead of Ray Leonard.

And the WBC Light-Middleweight Championship was 'locked up' with
Rocky Mattioi and Maurice Hope.