Rodolfo Gato Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo González was a Mexican boxer and former WBC Lightweight Champion.
Known as "El Gato", Gonzalez started his career very young at the age of 14, and won his first 53 bouts. In 1972 he took on Chango Carmona
for the WBC Lightweight Title and won via a Corner retirement in the 13th round. Gonzalez defended the title four times before losing the belt to Guts Ishimatsu
in 1974 via KO. Later in the year he rematched Ishimatsu, but lost via TKO and retired from boxing. Gonzalez was a devastating puncher and was named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers, and had a career record of 81-7-1 with 71 ko's.
Gonzales actually missed making it into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
by one vote in 2003, of the 140 voting members. A private vote was then taken by the 10-member Executive Committee, and Gonzales was accepted by an 8-2 vote. Two members resigned in protest, and later that year many more Executive Committee members had dropped out. More on this controversy here.
Known as "El Gato", Gonzalez started his career very young at the age of 14, and won his first 53 bouts. In 1972 he took on Chango Carmona
Chango Carmona
Chango Carmona was a Mexican boxer who won the WBC lightweight title in 1972.Carmona is believed to be the boxer who began the tradition of having a big fight on the Mexico Independence Day holiday weekend when he stopped Mando Ramos in the eighth round to win the lightweight title in Los Angeles...
for the WBC Lightweight Title and won via a Corner retirement in the 13th round. Gonzalez defended the title four times before losing the belt to Guts Ishimatsu
Guts Ishimatsu
is a former boxing world champion from Kanumashi, Japan. After retiring from boxing, he has gained popularity as an actor and comedian.As a boxer, he was known for his unpredictable style, sometimes marking completely unpredicted victories, and often losing in extravagant fashion as well...
in 1974 via KO. Later in the year he rematched Ishimatsu, but lost via TKO and retired from boxing. Gonzalez was a devastating puncher and was named to Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers, and had a career record of 81-7-1 with 71 ko's.
Gonzales actually missed making it into the World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
by one vote in 2003, of the 140 voting members. A private vote was then taken by the 10-member Executive Committee, and Gonzales was accepted by an 8-2 vote. Two members resigned in protest, and later that year many more Executive Committee members had dropped out. More on this controversy here.
See also
- List of WBC world champions
- Salvador Sanchez vs. Juan LaporteSalvador Sanchez vs. Juan LaporteThe Salvador Sánchez vs. Juan Laporte fight was a boxing encounter that took place on December 13, 1980, in El Paso, Texas, for the WBC world Featherweight title.-Before the fight:...
- Salvador Sánchez vs. Wilfredo Gómez
External links
- article on Gonzalez at Cyber Boxing Zone
- http://cyberboxingzone.com/images/younggato.jpg A young Gato Gonzalez
- http://cyberboxingzone.com/images/2003HOF14.jpg October 2003 Boxing Hall of Fame Induction
