Carlos Cuadras, former WBC titleholder, announces retirement
Ten years almost to the day of his previous fight in Japan, Carlos Cuadras has opted to call it a career after his most recent outing in the country.
The former WBC junior bantamweight titlist confirmed that he’s reached the end of his remarkable 17-year journey in the pro ranks. His decision came shortly after a one-sided eighth-round technical knockout defeat to fast-rising Tomoya Tsuboi, now 3-0 (2 KOs) on Monday at Toyota Arena in Tokyo.
“This is my last fight,” Cuadras said, at times fighting back tears during his post-fight press conference. “I decided from the beginning of this promotion that I would retire if I lost. Today’s opponent was a tremendous foe, and I humbly accept defeat.”
Mexico City’s Cuadras, 37, exits the sport with a final record of 44-6-1 (28 KOs). The end comes as he suffered just his second career stoppage defeat through 51 pro bouts.
The only other foe to accomplish the feat was then-lineal and WBC 115lbs champion Juan Francisco Estrada in their October 2020 rematch. Both fighters hit the deck in their thrilling sequel before Estrada ended matters in the 11th round.
Cuadras otherwise went the distance with the best of two generations’ worth of junior bantamweights. The stat is more impressive given his place as an integral part of the division’s “Fab Four” along with Estrada, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Srisakset Sor Rungvisai.
Cuadras’ first title win came in a unanimous technical decision over Sor Rungvisai in their May 2014 clash. He made six successful defenses before he dropped a competitive but clear decision to Gonzalez when both were unbeaten in their September 2016 title fight in Inglewood, California.
Two separate bids to regain his old belt proved unsuccessful.
Cuadras fell short in his aforementioned rematch with Estrada, more than three years after a narrow 10-round decision defeat in their September 2017 non-title fight. He also provided a stiff test for a then-rising 22-year-old named Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who edged the veteran boxer in their February 2022 vacant WBC 115lbs title fight.
Cuadras was actually originally due to rematch Sor Rungvisai, who fell ill just ahead of fight week in Phoenix, Arizona. Rodriguez was already on the undercard and agreed to take the fight on just six days’ notice.
The setback did little to slow down Cuadras. In fact, he enjoyed a career revival with five straight victories. Among them was an impressive November 2023 unanimous decision over countryman Pedro Guevara to claim an interim version of the WBC title.
Injuries prevented Cuadras from cashing in that chip for one more title shot. He settled for two more rust-shaking bouts in Mexico before traveling abroad to face Tsuboi, who took an ambitious leap in competition just eight months into his pro career.
Cuadras was the underdog, but he believed his experience and past success in Japan would serve him well. Having fought under the Teiken Promotions banner since his first year as a pro, Cuadras was 6-0 in Japan before he ran into the 29-year-old buzzsaw.
“The fighter I faced [Monday] will become a world champion,” Cuadras vowed. “This was my first fight in Japan in 10 years. I’m very happy to have been able to step in the ring again after all this time.
“My career began here [in his fifth pro fight, just five months in] and I will end it here.”
Carlos Cuadras, former WBC titleholder, announces retirement
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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Re: Carlos Cuadras, former WBC titleholder, announces retirement
Love this bloke. I hope he made enough smart investments to retire well.
Maybe when I go to Mexico City I'll try to find him & also Humberto Gonzalez.
Maybe when I go to Mexico City I'll try to find him & also Humberto Gonzalez.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100774
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Carlos Cuadras, former WBC titleholder, announces retirement
CARLOS CUADRAS AT PEACE WITH RETIREMENT DECISION AFTER TSUBOI DEFEAT
Carlos Cuadras had aspirations of winning one more world title before calling it a day.
However, the former WBC junior bantamweight champion saw those hopes extinguished by rising force Tomoya Tsuboi, who stopped him in eight rounds as part of the Takuma Inoue-Tenshin Nasukawa undercard on Monday at the Toyota Arena, Tokyo.
"I thought at the beginning I could win the fight, but as the rounds went on, I realized he was too fast and even though I used my experience, couldn't do any damage," Cuadras told The Ring.
That led the 37-year-old to make a big decision with regards to his boxing career.
"I decided to retire because new talent is coming up, younger and more talented people," he continued. "I'm not in my prime anymore, not as strong as I used to be, and don't want to just be a stepping stone for anyone or fight for any price."
Cuadras (44-6-1, 28 KOs) held the WBC 115-pound title from 2014-16 and made six defenses, but holds a couple of things dear to his heart as the proudest moments from a distinguished career.
"In my career, the times I fought for a world title, like when I won [the world title against Srisaket Sor] Rungvisai."
The Mexican warrior, who overcame a drug problem in 2018, will enjoy a week in Tokyo alongside his wife and son before looking to the next chapter of his life.
"I'm thinking about teaching what I know and helping people overcome addiction," he said.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has fond memories of Cuadras over the years.
"Carlos was a very solid world champion, faced the best of an era at junior bantamweight. He fought [Roman] 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez very hard and almost beat him, Estrada, beat Rungvisai, Pedro Guevara and we'll always remember him as kind and humble."
"He defeated the most dangerous opponent - addiction - he's clean, happy and goes as a WBC champion forever and will have a very happy life; has a loving, beautiful family. He was supported by Mr. Honda at Teiken Promotions and made a great career."
Carlos Cuadras had aspirations of winning one more world title before calling it a day.
However, the former WBC junior bantamweight champion saw those hopes extinguished by rising force Tomoya Tsuboi, who stopped him in eight rounds as part of the Takuma Inoue-Tenshin Nasukawa undercard on Monday at the Toyota Arena, Tokyo.
"I thought at the beginning I could win the fight, but as the rounds went on, I realized he was too fast and even though I used my experience, couldn't do any damage," Cuadras told The Ring.
That led the 37-year-old to make a big decision with regards to his boxing career.
"I decided to retire because new talent is coming up, younger and more talented people," he continued. "I'm not in my prime anymore, not as strong as I used to be, and don't want to just be a stepping stone for anyone or fight for any price."
Cuadras (44-6-1, 28 KOs) held the WBC 115-pound title from 2014-16 and made six defenses, but holds a couple of things dear to his heart as the proudest moments from a distinguished career.
"In my career, the times I fought for a world title, like when I won [the world title against Srisaket Sor] Rungvisai."
The Mexican warrior, who overcame a drug problem in 2018, will enjoy a week in Tokyo alongside his wife and son before looking to the next chapter of his life.
"I'm thinking about teaching what I know and helping people overcome addiction," he said.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has fond memories of Cuadras over the years.
"Carlos was a very solid world champion, faced the best of an era at junior bantamweight. He fought [Roman] 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez very hard and almost beat him, Estrada, beat Rungvisai, Pedro Guevara and we'll always remember him as kind and humble."
"He defeated the most dangerous opponent - addiction - he's clean, happy and goes as a WBC champion forever and will have a very happy life; has a loving, beautiful family. He was supported by Mr. Honda at Teiken Promotions and made a great career."