BoxRec

Il Duce wrote: Before this bout (with Lupe Pintor), Carlos was having difficulty making weight, as only 5-weeks
earlier he was 126 lbs. in a 'non-title' tune-up bout. Rumblings about possible retirement and
an un-motivated Carlos circulated thoughout Las Vegas.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:There was certainly complaining and I recall Gomez hitting him while he was down, other than that there wasn't any fuss about it over here.

He didn't carry Pintor either, Lupe was a tough SOB. Just a poor decision.

Il Duce wrote:Carlos Zarate vs Lupe Pintor

Scorecards for first 4-Rounds

* Art Lurie.
Carlos Zarate....10 - 9 - 10 - 10
Lupe Pintor.......10 -10 - 9 -- 8

* Harold Buck
Carlos Zarate....10 - 9 - 10 - 10
Lupe Pintor.......10 - 10 - 9 -- 8

* Bob Martin
Carlos Zarate.....10 - 9 - 10 - 10
Lupe Pintor.........9 - 10 --9 -- 8

Carlos 'floored' Lupe with a crisp straight right - short left to the jaw at the 2:40 Mark of Round 4.
Lupe was up at the 2-Count, and was slightly stunned, but was O.K.

Phil Villareal, Co-Manager for Lupe Pintor wanted Lupe to pressure Carlos, and keep him backing up,
in an attempt to take away his legs in the latter half of the bout, and prevent Carlos from unloading his
vaunted left hook underneath to the body.

WBC President and Cuyo Hernandez had some 'quiet' discussions before this bout, as Carlos Zarate had
wanted to retire in 1979, and with an 'easy bout' (like John Mensah Kpalago) earlier in the year.

Il Duce wrote:Move Over Rover,,,,,,,

Bob Martin scored the bout 145-133 for Carlos, not (147-133).

He scored Round 4 [10-8] for Carlos, and I think Round 11 also, which I'm still checking.

His final tally was 145-133 or (10-5-0 in Rounds)

Harold Buck and Art Lurie each scored the bout 143-142 for Lupe Pintor, or [8-6-1 in Rounds].

The Associated Press had it 147-138, or [11-2-2 in Rounds]

The Oakland Tribune had it 146-139, or [9-4-2 in Rounds], which appeared to be the right scoring mark.

Il Duce wrote:Lee Groves appears to have mistaken his report of the scoring'

My correction, as I made an error.

Bob Martin scored '7' Rounds [10-8] for Carlos Zarate, and '3' Rounds [10-9] for Carlos Zarate.

Bob Martin scored '5' Rounds [10-9] for Lupe Pintor.

Total Points = 145-133 (Carlos Zarate as Winner)

Carlos Zarate opened up as a 5-1 Betting-Favorite. By fight time he was down to a [2-1 Betting-Favorite].

Ringside Celebrity, Ryan O'Neal had the fight 'All-Even' entering Round 15.

Il Duce wrote:Bob Martin had his scorecard 'corrected' by the WBC,,

After judging the Zarate vs. Pintor bout, he was suspended by the Nevada State Boxing Commission,
and did not judge another bout in Nevada until October 1980 (16-months later).

He never ever scored another bout like he had with Zarate vs. Pintor in June 1979.

The Zarate vs. Pintor bout was Bob Martin's first Championship Bout, and it was apparent he
had no idea of how to score a bout.

Good interview with ABC Fight Announcer Chris Schenkel, who had Carlos Zarate 'a tiny bit ahead'
entering the 15th Round.

As per Chris, 'The knockdown in Round 4 should have been the difference in the scoring. Lupe fought
a great fight, and came back strong in the middle rounds, and a few of the later rounds. But I thought Carlos
won by 2-Points (145-143), and performed like a Champion, steady and controlled. I was completely surprised by
the Split-Decision, and so was Lupe Pintor. You could see he was not expecting the decision, and was
somewhat shocked.'

Il Duce wrote:After the decision was announced, you could just see Carlos Zarate in 'complete disbelief'.

But despite the horrible decision, he acted like a total professional and just offered up a
small frown of disappointment.

The scoop, Carlos' fight manager Cuyo Hernandez's contract was up, and Cuyo was
attemtping to sign up Lupe Pintor, and that may have played a 'big part' in the decision.

Il Duce wrote:There could have been some kind of 'gift' by the wealthy Cuyo Hernandez,,,,,,,,,,

Harold Buck and Art Lurie posted the exact scorecard 143-142 [8-6-1 in Rounds) for Lupe Pintor.

The Associated Press had it for Carlos Zarate [147-138] or 11-2-2 in Rounds.

The WBC did request an immediate rematch [within 90-Days], but Carlos took the 'high road'
and retired, after filing a grievance.

I watched the bout last night, and scored it much closer than when I watched it on ABC-TV back
in June 1979.

I had it 145-143 or [6-5-4 in Rounds] for Carlos Zarate. I scored Round 4 [10-8] for Carlos.

But clearly, a 'rematch' should have been held, as Lupe was without a doubt the 2nd Best
Bantamweight out there besides Carlos Zarate at the time.

Il Duce wrote:Carlos Zarate was an impassive guy, and was quite reserved for a guy who was a knockout puncher in the ring.

There was supposed to be a rematch in Mexico in late-October 1979 - but Carlos lost interest and was no longer
motivated to fight in the ring.

Plus, after Carlos' contract expired with Cuyo Hernandez (2/3 and 1/3 split) ended after the Lupe Pintor bout (June 1979),
Hernandez signed up as Lupe Pintor's 'Manager-Advsior'.

Cuyo Hernandez then failed to offer Carlos a decent fight purse for the rematch with Lupe Pintor.

Il Duce wrote:Carlos Zarate didn't get the 'rematch', because he woudn't sign a 'deal' with his former Manager - Cuyo Hernandez.

Carlos had received $160,000 for his fight purse in his Championship bout with Lupe Pintor in June 1979, at
Caesar's Palace, which was nationally Televised by ABC-TV.

As Manager for Carlos Zarate, Cuyo Hernandez took 'one-third' ($53,333) for his share. After the bout, the
contract between Carlos Zarate and Cuyo Hernandez 'expired'.

Lupe Pintor, as the #1 WBC Challenger had received only $25,000 as his fight purse. But, Lupe had a
signed contract with Phil Villareal and Cuyo Hernandez as Co-Managers.

That is where the 'controversy' was. The Manager Fight Contracts.

Don't forget, Lupe Pintor had fought on many of Carlos Zarate 'undercards', when Cuyo Hernandez was his only manager.
Prior to the Zarate vs. Pintor bout, Cuyo Hernandez had to sell 'loan' his contract to Phil Villareal as Lupe's 'paper manager'.

Il Duce wrote:I'll see if I can locate the article with Jorge Zarate discussing the June 29, 1979 bout between his brother
Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor.

Lupe Pintor was a friend and stable-mate of Carlos Zarate, and fought on many of Carlos' undercards.
The boxers sparred well over 200-Rounds together in Mexico City.

Lupe fought on the undercards of;
* May 1, 1979...................Sam Houston Coliseum, Texas
* March 10, 1979...............The Forum, California
* April 22, 1978.................Puerto Rico
* February 25, 1978..........The Forum, California

According to Jorge Zarate, Carlos defended his Championship against Lupe Pintor (#1 WBC Challenger) against
his friend, but secretly agreed 'not' to go after Lupe with his vaunted punching power (left hook underneath} and
wicked right hand bombs.

Carlos would 'strictly' box, and 'carry' Lupe, and not pressure him with his power punches. According to Jorge, he
said his brother would win the 15-Round Decision, but 'keep it close', to make the bout look good.

'Cuyo' Hernandez, (in his final bout as Manager for Carlos Zarate) got his fighter an excellent 'fight purse' of $160,000
and a Nationally Televised bout (ABC-TV). As per Jorge, 'Cuyo' told Carlos to box Lupe, and carry him for the 'full'
15-Rounds, and under no circumstances, do not put Lupe away early.

Cuyo Hernandez and Phil Villareal got Lupe Pintor a $25,000 fight purse, which was by far Lupe's largest 'pay-day'.
His previous largest fight purse was $3000.

The Plan,,,,

Carlos (had he defeated Lupe, as expected) was moving up to 122 lbs. (Super-Bantamweight), and wanted
to challenge WBC Super-Bantamweight Champion - Wilfredo Gomez again, for sometime in late-1979. Brother
Jorge Zarate was already having preliminary discussions with the Wilfredo Gomez Team, behind Cuyo Hernandez'
back (who was still Carlos' Manager).

Cuyo Hernandez found out that Jorge Zarate was negotiating a 'deal behind his back' to have Carlos fight Wilfredo Gomez
in October/November 1979, which would have cut Cuyo Hernandez out of one-third of a $300,000 fight purse (a $100,000
Manager's Fee).

Cuyo Hernandez, told Carlos and Jorge, that he wanted Lupe to go 'the full 15-Rounds', so he would remain as the #1 Ranked
WBC Bantamweight. This way, when Carlos moved up to 122 lbs. Super-Bantamweight, Lupe would get another chance to
capture the WBC Bantamweight Championship in a battle with the #2 Challenger for the 'vacant Championship' in late-1979
or early-1980.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:That's outlandish, he hit Pintor with nasty stuff.

Il Duce wrote:Carlos 'never' opened up,,,,,,,,

He landed some nice punches, but that wasn't the 'Zarate Z-Bomber' in the ring at Caesar's Palace.

Even the short right / left hook that floored Lupe in Round 4, was 'not' a vicious two-punch combination.

And Carlos backed off in several of the later rounds.

No matter what, Carlos got 'jobbed'. Everybody knew it. As Brother Jorge Zarate said, Carlos (had he won) would have
went after Wilfredo Gomez next (October/November 1979). But the loss disgusted Carlos, and he felt that it besmirched
his good name.

The 'bad decision loss' cost Carlos a $300,000 fight purse for fighting Wilfredo Gomez again, something that Carlos and
Jorge never forgave Cuyo Hernandez for.

Jorge Zarate, 'Cuyo sold us out. Carlos could have knocked out Lupe, or have beaten him up anyday of the week. But,
Lupe was Carlos' friend, and my brother is loyal and would never try to hurt his friend. All he wanted to do, was give
his friend a good 'payday' in the ring, and not hurt him.'

Il Duce wrote:Jorge Zarate,

'Had Carlos gotten the proper decision over Lupe Pintor (June 29, 1979), we would have 'vacated' the WBC Bantamweight
Championship as soon as we walked into the ring with Wilfedo Gomez in October/November 1979. I was sure, a properly
trained and healthy Carlos would have beaten Gomez then, as long as the fight wasn't in Puerto Rico. If Carlos had
defeated Gomez for the WBC Super-Bantamweight Championship, he would have went after Danny Lopez for the
WBC Featherweight Crown right away, in early-1980. We had $300,000 confirmed for the Gomez rematch, and a
proposal of $400,000 on the table for fighting 'Little Red Lopez'. Had everything worked out, I think Carlos
would have retired after fighting Lopez in 1980, but one never knows, as there was alot of money being thrown around.'

Il Duce wrote:Rover,,,,,

You're so naive,,,,,,

Everything about boxing, especially when a Champion is coming at the end of his career, is about $$$$ Money.

Arturo 'Cuyo' Hernandez 'back-stabbed' Carlos and Jorge Zarate, as he found out about the Wilfredo Gomez II
rematch pre-negotiations.

Jorge had wanted Cuyo Hernandez to lower his 'percentage' of Carlos Zarate from 33 1/3% (one-third) to
20% (one-fifth), starting right after the Wilfredo Gomez fight.

Jorge was very upset with Cuyo Hernandez for taking $83,333 of Carlos' $250,000 fight purse when he fought
Wilfredo Gomez. Carlos was going to 'quit' after the October 28, 1978 bout with Wilfredo Gomez, and planned to
come back in late-1979, after his contract with Cuyo Hernandez expired. Jorge Zarate believed that Cuyo Hernandez
was more concerned with his Manager's Fee than the well-being of his brother, prior to getting into the ring with
Wilfredo Gomez.

Il Duce wrote:Rover,

You're not looking at the 'overall',,,,,,,

If Carlos Zarate defeats Lupe Pintor (Cuyo Hernandez is without a WBC Bantamweight Champion), as Carlos and
Brother Jorge had fulfilled their final contract obligations.

Carlos then fights Wilfredo Gomez in October/November 1979 for $300,000 - where Cuyo Hernandez gets 'Zero',
instead of his estimated $100,000 (Manager Fee) that he had wanted.

Cuyo 'pulls' the rug out from under Carlos and Jorge, and 'scripts' the result of the WBC Bantamweight Championship
bout in Las Vegas between Zarate and Pintor.

Cuyo Hernandez then immediately signs up Lupe Pintor (after the bout, which was planned). And sets a 'big money' bout
for Lupe with a rematch with Carlos Zarate and on ABC-TV....($150,000 for Lupe - $50,000 for Carlos)

If Carlos wants the 'immediate' rematch with Lupe Pintor, he will be forced to sign a multi-fight contract with Cuyo Hernandez
or forced to wait 1-year for a 'mandatory shot' in mid-1980.

Jorge Zarate turns down the deal, and the 'disrespectful' $50,000 fight purse offer.

Jorge Zarate,

'My brother would rather retire, than fight under a contract for Mr. Hernandez. We will never trust that man again,
for what he did in Las Vegas. He tells my brother to take it easy with Lupe, and then he signs a long-term contract
with Pintor the day after the Championship Bout. We have asked the WBC to look into the matter, but I believe nothing
will happen.'

Il Duce wrote:How can you watch that fight, and not have Carlos Zarate as the winner.

Unless your name is Art Lurie and Harold Buck.

At worst, Carlos won by a slim-margin (1 or 2 points), while most had him retaining his Championship
by a sound margin.

But Lupe Pintor winning that bout......absolutely not.