Carlos Zárate Serna

Carlos Zárate
Statistics
Real name Carlos Zárate Serna
Nickname(s) Cañas
Rated at Super Featherweight
Featherweight
Super Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Reach 1.83 m (72 in)
Nationality Mexican
Born (1951-05-23) 23 May 1951
Tepito, Mexico City, Mexico
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 70
Wins 66
Wins by KO 63
Losses 4
Draws 0
No contests 0

Carlos Zárate Serna (born May 23, 1951 in Tepito, a borough of Mexico City) is a retired Mexican boxer. He has the distinction of being the first professional boxer in history to put together two streaks of 20 or more knockout wins in a row (a feat later repeated by Edwin Valero, Ali Raymi and Deontay Wilder).

Zárate was ranked #21 in The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.[1] and voted as the #1 bantamweight (along with Rubén Olivares) of the 20th century by the Associated Press in 1999.[2] He is also the father of undefeated Light Welterweight prospect, Carlos Zárate, Jr.[3]

Personal life

Carlos Zárate has family members who have followed him into boxing. His son Carlos, now retired, fought in the Light Welterweight division[4] and his nephew, Joel Luna Zárate, is the former WBO Latino Super Flyweight champion.[5]

Amateur career

Zárate, considered along with rival Wilfredo Gómez to be among the better punchers of the lighter divisions, had an amateur record of 33 wins and 3 losses, with 30 knockout wins, and he won the Mexican Golden Gloves, or Guantes de Oro, in 1969.[6]

Professional career

In 1970, Carlos made his professional debut with a 2 round knockout win over Luis Castañeda in Cuernavaca. That marked the beginning of a 23 fight knockout winning streak. The only boxers to get past the third round during that streak were Al Torres and Antonio Castañeda, who lasted 5 and 9 rounds respectively, both at Tijuana. Víctor Ramírez became the first boxer to last the distance with Zárate when Zárate beat him on points in January 1974 in Mexico City over ten rounds. Next began his second 20 plus knockout wins in a row streak, when none of his next 28 opponents heard the final bell on their feet.

WBC Bantamweight championship

After knocking out former world title challenger Néstor Jiménez in two rounds at Mexicali to end 1975, the WBC made Zárate their number one challenger at the Bantamweight division. So, after beating César Desiga by a knockout in four on March 29, 1976 in Monterrey, Zárate was faced on the night of May 8 of that year with defending WBC Bantamweight Champion Rodolfo Martínez in Los Angeles. Zárate became a world Bantamweight champion by knocking his countryman out in the eighth round. Zárate next won two fights by a knockout in the second and then defended it against Paul Ferreri, who lost by knockout in 12 in Los Angeles too. He finished '76 with a four round knockout over Waruinge Nakayama in a title defense held at Culiacán.[7]

WBA Bantamweight championship

After beginning 1977 with a third round knockout win over Colombia's Fernando Cabanela in Mexico City, Mexican boxing fans started talking about a possible unification bout between him and fellow Mexican Alfonso Zamora, the WBA's world Bantamweight champion. Nicknamed by the American boxing press as The Z Boys, the two did square off, but not before much hassle and hurdle putting by both the WBC and WBA, who wanted both boxers to pay a large amount of money before sanctioning the bout. So, the California state boxing commission decided to sanction it as a ten round, non title bout instead. Fans didn't seem to care that no world title belt would be involved that afternoon, and they packed the fight venue when Zárate and Zamora met in the LA suburb of Inglewood, California, at the Fabulous Forum on April 23 of '77. Zárate made the tactical mistake of going toe to toe with a shorter but harder hitting puncher. Zárate got tagged repeatedly and then a man wearing gray hooded sweat shirt and sweat pants entered the ring. The fight was stopped and thereafter, Zárate managed to stay away from Zamora. The fight was stopped, it took the police minutes to evict the intruder. After a first round, Zárate the better boxer, with a reach advantage stayed away and outboxed Zamora wearing him down then knocking him out in four to gain recognition by most boxing fans as the undisputed world champion of the Bantamweights. Then, he retained the WBC title with a knockout in six over Danilo Batista, and finished 1977 with a trip to Spain, where he retained the belt against challenger Juan Francisco Rodríguez, beaten in five.[8]

In 1978, Zárate started out by meeting future world champion Alberto Dávila, whom he knocked out in eight at Los Angeles to retain his belt. Then, in April of that year, he made his first of two trips to Puerto Rico that year, to fight challenger Andrés Hernández, who lasted until the 13th. round at San Juan's Roberto Clemente coliseum.

Zárate vs. Gómez

After retaining the title against Emilio Hernandez by a knockout in four and winning a non title bout, Zárate announced he was moving up in weight and challenging the WBC Super Bantamweight champion, Wilfredo Gómez. According to many experts and the Ring Magazine book The Ring: Boxing In The 20th Century, Gómez and Zárate had the highest knockout win percentage of any two boxers paired inside a ring in history: When Gómez and Zárate met on October 28, also at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, the challenger and still world Bantamweight champion Zárate was 55-0 with 54 knockouts, while defending world Super Bantamweight champion Gómez was 21-0-1 with 21 knockouts. Zárate went to the floor four times and tasted the sour taste of defeat for the first time in his career when he was beaten by a knockout in five rounds.

Return to Bantamweight

In 1979, Zárate made what would turn out to be his last successful defense, with a third round knockout win over Mensah Kpalongo in Los Angeles. After winning a non title bout against Celso Chávez by a knockout in five in Houston, Texas, Zárate met gym-mate Lupe Pintor in Las Vegas and lost a close and controversial 15 round decision. Enraged by losing a decision he (as well as many fans) thought undeserved, he announced his retirement from boxing and vowed never to fight as a professional again.

Five year retirement

Zárate spent five years in retirement, but the temptation of the public adulation boxers receive when they become champions and the aroma of the boxing ring led him back into competition as a boxer. Despite still retaining an acceptable amount of his boxing ability, Zárate was nonetheless, a shadow of what he was before his 5-year retirement. In his return bout in 1986 against Adam García, he won a four round decision. 11 more victories in a row, all by knockout, including one over then number one world Super Bantamweight challenger Richard Savage (knocked out by Zárate in five in Mexico City), made him the WBC's number one challenger at the Super Bantamweight division once again.[9]

And so, on October 1987, he traveled to Australia to meet the man boxing fans consider to be the greatest Australian world champion of all time: Jeff Fenech. In a fight contested for Fenech's world Super Bantamweight title, Zárate lost by a four round technical decision. After Fenech vacated the title soon after to pursue the world Featherweight crown, Zárate and countryman Daniel Zaragoza met for the vacant world championship belt, but Zárate came back on the losing end once again, being knocked out in the tenth round and finally announcing his retirement for good.

During the 1990s he also became a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame, and recently, he and Wilfredo Gómez met at a boxing undercard in Puerto Rico to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their boxing bout.[10]

He had a record of 66 wins and 4 losses as a professional boxer, with 63 wins by knockout.

Carlos Zárate was voted as the Greatest Bantamweight Ever in 2014 by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame. The HBHOF is a voting body composed entirely of current and former fighters.

Professional Record

66 Wins (63 knockouts, 3 decisions), 4 Losses, 0 Draws
Res. Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 66-4 Mexico Daniel Zaragoza TKO 10 (12) 1988-02-29 United States Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States For Vacant WBC World super bantamweight title
Loss 66-3 Australia Jeff Fenech TD 4 (12) 1987-10-16 Australia Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia For WBC World super bantamweight title
Win 66-2 United States Richard Savage TKO 5 (10) 1987-08-15 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 65-2 United States Tony Montoya TKO 3 (10) 1987-06-19 United States Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States
Win 64-2 United States John Boyd TKO 5 (10) 1987-05-05 United States Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
Win 63-2 United States Francis Childs KO 4 (10) 1987-02-20 United States Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States
Win 62-2 United States Alex Galván TKO 7 (10) 1986-12-13 United States Convention Center, Fresno, California, United States
Win 61-2 United States Edward Rodriquez TKO 3 (10) 1986-11-21 United States Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States
Win 60-2 Mexico Gerardo Esparza KO 5 (8) 1986-09-13 Mexico Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Win 59-2 Mexico Alejandro García KO 2 (10) 1986-07-19 Mexico Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Win 58-2 Mexico Jesus Muñiz UD 10 1986-05-23 United States Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 57-2 Mexico Héctor Nápoles KO 2 (8) 1986-05-05 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 56-2 United States Jose de la Dora KO 3 (6) 1986-04-12 Mexico Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico
Win 55-2 United States Adam García MD 4 1986-02-25 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Loss 54-2 Mexico Lupe Pintor SD 15 1979-06-03 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lost WBC World bantamweight title
Win 54-1 Mexico Celso Chairez TKO 5 (10) 1979-05-01 United States Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, United States
Win 53-1 Togo John Mensah Kpalongo KO 3 (15) 1979-03-10 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Loss 52-1 Puerto Rico Wilfredo Gómez TKO 5 (15) 1978-10-28 Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico For WBC World super bantamweight title
Win 52-0 Mexico Rudy González TKO 4 (10) 1978-09-30 Mexico Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Win 51-0 Dominican Republic Emilio Hernández KO 4 (15) 1978-06-09 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 50-0 Puerto Rico Andrés Hernández TKO 13 (15) 1978-04-22 Puerto Rico Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 49-0 United States Alberto Dávila TKO 8 (15) 1978-02-25 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 48-0 Spain Juan Francisco Rodríguez TKO 5 (15) 1977-12-02 Spain Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 47-0 Brazil Danilo Batista KO 6 (15) 1977-10-29 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 46-0 Mexico Alfonso Zamora TKO 4 (15) 1977-04-23 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 45-0 Philippines Fernando Cabanela TKO 3 (15) 1977-02-05 Mexico Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 44-0 Japan Waruinge Nakayama KO 4 (15) 1976-11-13 Mexico Estadio General Angel Flores, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 43-0 Australia Paul Ferreri TKO 12 (15) 1976-08-28 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Retained WBC World bantamweight title
Win 42-0 Mexico Antonio Paredes TKO 2 (10) 1976-08-02 Mexico Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Win 41-0 Puerto Rico Félix Llanos KO 2 (10) 1976-06-26 Mexico Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Win 40-0 Mexico Rodolfo Martínez KO 9 (15) 1976-05-08 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Won WBC World bantamweight title
Win 39-0 Mexico César Deciga TKO 4 (10) 1976-03-27 Mexico Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Win 38-0 Colombia Néstor Jiménez KO 2 (10) 1975-12-07 Mexico Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Win 37-0 Mexico Jorge Torres TKO 8 (10) 1975-10-11 Mexico Auditorio Benito Juarez, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Win 36-0 Argentina Benicio Segundo Sosa TKO 4 (10) 1975-09-20 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 35-0 Mexico José Sánchez TKO 3 (8) 1975-08-16 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 34-0 Panama Orlando Amores KO 3 (10) 1975-06-20 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 33-0 United States Joe Guevara RTD 3 (12) 1975-03-14 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States Won USA California State bantamweight title
Win 32-0 Philippines Alberto Cabanig TKO 4 (10) 1975-02-04 Mexico Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Win 31-0 United States James Martinez TKO 7 (10) 1974-11-23 United States Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Win 30-0 Puerto Rico Francisco Cruz TKO 2 (10) 1974-10-27 Mexico Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Win 29-0 Mexico Magallo Lozada TKO 5 (10) 1974-08-03 Mexico Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 28-0 Mexico Juan Ordoñez KO 3 (10) 1974-05-25 Mexico Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 27-0 Mexico Chamaco Limón KO 3 (10) 1974-05-03 Mexico Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Win 26-0 Mexico Alfonso Ibarra KO 2 (10) 1974-04-09 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win 25-0 Mexico Carlos Armenta KO 1 (10) 1974-02-22 Mexico Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Win 24-0 Mexico Víctor Ramírez UD 10 1974-01-30 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 23-0 Mexico Sixto Pérez KO 2 (8) 1973-12-11 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win 22-0 Mexico Eduardo Miranda KO 5 (10) 1973-11-01 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win 21-0 Mexico Antonio Castañeda TKO 9 (10) 1973-10-02 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win 20-0 Mexico Alberto Torres TKO 5 (10) 1973-08-21 Mexico Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Win 19-0 Mexico Francisco Pino KO 2 (10) 1973-07-12 Mexico Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Win 18-0 Mexico Juan Ramón Pérez KO 2 (10) 1973-06-02 Mexico La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Win 17-0 Mexico Juan Ramón Pérez KO 2 (8) 1972-12-03 Mexico La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Win 16-0 Mexico Armando Carrasco KO 2 (8) 1972-10-31 Mexico Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Win 15-0 Mexico Arturo Patiño KO 2 (8) 1972-10-08 Mexico Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Win 14-0 Mexico Jesús Escobedo KO 2 (8) 1972-08-19 Mexico Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Win 13-0 Mexico José Luis Morales TKO 2 (8) 1972-03-19 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 12-0 United States José González KO 2 (8) 1972-02-07 Mexico Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Win 11-0 Mexico Emiliano Mayoral TKO 3 (8) 1972-01-28 Mexico Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Win 10-0 Mexico Victor Nava KO 3 (8) 1971-11-26 Mexico Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Win 9-0 Mexico Julio Martínez KO 2 (8) 1971-08-07 Mexico Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
Win 8-0 Mexico Ramón Pinedo KO 2 (6) 1971-05-05 Mexico Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Win 7-0 Mexico Fermín Ramos KO 2 (6) 1971-03-20 Mexico Toluca, Mexico State, Mexico
Win 6-0 Mexico Antonio Lucas KO 3 (6) 1971-02-15 Mexico Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Win 5-0 Mexico Alfredo Pérez KO 2 (6) 1970-12-18 Mexico Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Win 4-0 United States Nuno Temix TKO 3 (6) 1970-11-17 Mexico Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Win 3-0 Mexico Costeñito Sotelo KO 2 (4) 1970-04-01 Mexico Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Win 2-0 Mexico José Pavón KO 1 (4) 1970-03-02 Mexico Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Win 1-0 Mexico Luis Castañeda KO 3 (4) 1970-02-02 Mexico Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico professional debut.

See also

References

  1. Jim Amato (2009-01-27). "THE CRUNCHING POWER OF CARLOS ZARATE - MyBoxingFans - Boxing News". MyBoxingFans. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  2. "ESPN.com: BOXING - AP Fighters of the Century list". Static.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  3. "Carlos Zárate Jr anuncia su retiro" (in Spanish). Yahoo! News. Notifight.com. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. "BoxRec Boxing Records". Boxrec.com. 1998-04-25. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  5. La Jornada. "Carlos Zárate: la caída y el resurgimiento de un campeón - La Jornada". Jornada.unam.mx. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  6. "Ruben Olivares vs. Carlos Zarate: What If?". Eastsideboxing.com. 2005-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  7. "Carlos Zarate: The Crunching Power Of Zarate". Eastsideboxing.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  8. Jaliam Break Studios (2010-03-13). "10 Best Mexican Boxers Ever | Made Manual". Mademan.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  9. "Carlos Zarate - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.

External links

Preceded by
Rodolfo Martínez
WBC Bantamweight Champion
8 May 1976 3 Jun 1979
Succeeded by
Lupe Pintor
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