Zarate Pintor controversy

"Zarate made his 10th title defense against stablemate and former sparring partner Lupe Pintor at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on June 3, 1979. Zarate was forced to go the championship distance of 15 rounds for the first time in his career. To the surprise of many, Pintor was awarded a split decision victory and the WBC bantamweight title. The Associated Press had Zarate winning by nine points. Outraged by the decision, Zarate announced his retirement from boxing and vowed never to fight again."

When I originally watched the fight...I thought Zarate edged it out. But at the time, no one knew who Lupe Pintor was.....and Zarate still had a "star" quality about him. Over time, I began to appreciate Pintor's style and toughness more.

Still think Zarate won though.

 

Pintor 143-142
Pintor 143-142
Zarate 145-133

The judges were not all watching the same fight apparently.

 

Some other scores at the time, just for sake of comparison:

AP - 147-138 Zarate
Boxing Illustrated - 144-142 Zarate
International Boxing - 9-4-2 (rounds) Zarate - (which would be 146-140 Zarate in points if you subtract one extra point for the knockdown)
Ring Magazine - 145-138 Zarate

 

Wasn't a robbery at all. Very competitive fight with several very close rounds. The judge who gave it to Zarate by 12 points was off his rocker.

 

This.

 

Yeah, Zarate was hard done by despite Pintor's strong finish. I struggle to score it for Pintor th h.

 

There was some guy on this forum a few years back that maintained that we were all idiots because we didn't agree with him that this fight represented one of the biggest robberies in history. Can't remember who it was now, but still not sure what he was getting all lathered up about. That was a close fight to anyone that knows how to score a bout.

 

I think I had Zarate by a couple of points and that included the knockdown so it wasn't a shocking decision but Zarate still deserved it.

 

tt
I did! Still do.

 

Well the question asked initially was "do you think it was the robbery it was made out to be?"

My answer to that is no. I had Zarate winning by 2 points. I've seen a LOT worse decisions that this.

 

Think I had Pintor winning by a point but I might have scored it a draw (can’t remember). Thought Pintor caught up down the stretch, despite Zarate’s blatant elbows.

 

Bit of a robbery, to my mind. Zarate was consistent throughout, scored the KD and was able to keep Pintor's pressure at bay for most of the fight, despite Zarate tiring a little down the straight.

Much as Pintor was in it; game and courageous from start to finish, he really only began to have a bit of success in the latter third of the bout.

I actually don't have it that close, with Zarate winning a comfortable decision.

 

That was textbook Perry.