Carlos Zarate vs. Alfonso Zamora -- The Battle of the Z Boys

[theory]

I gave myself a treat today and revisited this fight. You should too, and let me know what you think. A very underrated fight IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv64hGJK ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOv87_HL ... re=related

[alexpaterson]

I watched this fight yesterday, I thought the first round Zamora was slipping and countering nicely landing that jolting right hand a lot but Zarate took it and kept coming he looked stronger and I thought his jab helped set up his combinations. Zamora didn't look like he could deal with Zarate's constant pressure. Very good fight and a very good finish by Zarate

[bennie]

Zarate walked through him.

[elmersalsa]

It was a hell of a fight while it lasted. The highlight of the fight was that a crazy man entered the ring in jocks and shirt without sleeves. That was hilarious. What was he thinking? Did he wanted to fight both guys or something? The police security came over and took his ass out of there, like they should.

[Rick Farris]

It was a hell of a fight while it lasted. The highlight of the fight was that a crazy man entered the ring in jocks and shirt without sleeves. That was hilarious. What was he thinking? Did he wanted to fight both guys or something? The police security came over and took his ass out of there, like they should.

I was ringside for that great match. The guy who jumped into the ring is something I'll never forget.
I'll also not forget the brief fight afterwards when Zamora's father attacked Zarate's trainer Cuyo Hernandez.
Hernandez once trained both of the Z Boys, but Zamora's father took over training his son when he felt Hernandez favored Zarate.
Hernandez is one of greatest trainers in boxing history.
Ironically, Today I will attend the 84th birthday party for promoter Don Fraser, who made that match at The Forum.

[theory]

I was ringside for that great match. The guy who jumped into the ring is something I'll never forget.
I'll also not forget the brief fight afterwards when Zamora's father attacked Zarate's trainer Cuyo Hernandez.
Hernandez once trained both of the Z Boys, but Zamora's father took over training his son when he felt Hernandez favored Zarate.
Hernandez is one of greatest trainers in boxing history.
Ironically, Today I will attend the 84th birthday party for promoter Don Fraser, who made that match at The Forum.

Damn, Rick, you've been around the block a couple of times.

[Nile4000]

Why wasn't this a title unification match?

[theory]

Why wasn't this a title unification match?

Good question. From what I heard neither the WBC or WBA wanted to recognize this fight as a title unification bout. If anyone has more details, let us know please!

[elmersalsa]

But what I like about this match was that the winner is recognized as the real linear bantawmweight world champion. The great Carlos Zarate gave a performance of the ages. This was his defining moment. The record between them at the time was 71-0, 70KOs!...That today is unheard of. Zarate was 45-0, 44KOs and Alfonso Zamora was 26-0, 26KOs. Two great knockout artists.

You do not see guys going at it today with that kind of resume.

[Goodnight, Irene]

But what I like about this match was that the winner is recognized as the real linear bantawmweight world champion. The great Carlos Zarate gave a performance of the ages. This was his defining moment. The record between them at the time was 71-0, 70KOs!...That today is unheard of. Zarate was 45-0, 44KOs and Alfonso Zamora was 26-0, 26KOs. Two great knockout artists.

You do not see guys going at it today with that kind of resume.

It's funny you say that, because everything in the present Fight Game is geared toward artificially-building & engineering a record without an, '0' on it, & yet still, you are right.

[orbtastic]

Why wasn't this a title unification match?

Good question. From what I heard neither the WBC or WBA wanted to recognize this fight as a title unification bout. If anyone has more details, let us know please!

Usual politics. You have to remember at this point the WBC were still fairly new to the game and in direct competition to the WBA, who existed before them.

At this point (70s) they rarely co-existed together for long. Duran and Monzon both had issues keeping hold of both titles, as did Napoles.

[orbtastic]

In addition to that - neither belt was on the line, it was a 10 rounder. They didn't pay any sanctioning fees or kowtow to politics and just fought it out. I think (?) they got the division record at the time in terms of purse.

Zamora lost his [WBA] title in his very next fight, by KO and understandably was never really the same again.

[Autobarn]

Zarate walked through him.

but he was walking through big shots, so it was still very exciting and great to watch. he was definitely the boss, but it was a great one sided competitive fight, like pac-morales 3 perhaps. good spectacle even though there was only going to be one winner.