The Battle of the Z Boys
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Z Boys was a boxing
fight between Mexicans Carlos Zarate and Alfonso Zamora
, who were, respectively, the WBC
and WBA
World Bantamweight titleholders. Held in Inglewood, California
on April 23, 1977, the bout was not recognized as a unification fight by either of the sanctioning bodies without any specific reason given for withholding the sanction. As it turned out, the fight was one of the most-anticipated 10-round fights in history among boxing fans.
Soo Hwan Hong
in four rounds on March 14, 1975 in Inglewood. He defended his title three times before Zarate had his first world title shot; one of his challengers was Eusebio Pedroza
, the future WBA world Featherweight champion, whom Zamora defeated by knockout in two rounds in Tijuana
on April 3 of 1976.
Zarate, for his part, won the WBC world title one year and two months after Zamora became WBA world champion, on May 8, 1976, when he defeated defending champion Rodolfo Martinez
by an eighth round knockout in Inglewood.
Zarate and Zamora were both once trained by the same man, Arturo Hernandez. But Hernandez sold Zamora's contract to his father, Alfonso Zamora Sr., and Mr. Zamora Sr. took this as a form of disrespect towards him and his son. Ever since, Zarate and Zamora's managerial teams carried on a war of words that was not missed by the Latin American sports media
.
Zarate had a record of 38-0 with 37 knockouts, and Zamora was 29-0, with 29 knockouts. Their combined record of 67-0 with 66 knockouts arguably made for one of the most power-punch-packed matchups in boxing history. Fans in Mexico and the rest of Latin America were captivated by the announcement of the fight. The fact that both the WBA and WBC refused to recognize it as a world championship bout did little, if anything, to cool the ardor of enthusiastic boxing fans.
police department knew from experience, (such as the 1969 fight between Lionel Rose
and Chucho Castillo
, which was fought in Inglewood, and, much later on, the first bout between Riddick Bowe
and Andrzej Gołota) that boxing fights can end up in riots. Because of this, they sent an anti-riot squad to the Inglewood Forum on the day of the event.
The anti-riot team would have to jump into the ring when, fifty two seconds into the fight, an apparently drunk fan jumped into it, with the apparent intention of attacking one of the combatants. The man did not reach any of the night's main stars, however, because five policemen were able to stop him, immediately taking him out of the arena. Zamora and Zarate began slugging right after that incident, with Zamora earning the first round on the judge's scorecards by throwing more punches than Zarate.
In the second round, Zamora appeared hurt after a right and left combination by Zarate, but he roared back to hit Zarate with a right and left combination of his own later in that round.
Round three was filled with combinations from both fighters. Zarate, however, began to connect with long jab
s and short-range hooks
. Zamora began to throw wide punches and seemed spent. He suffered a knockdown towards the end of the round.
By round four, Zarate looked stronger and fresher than Zamora. He kept attacking the WBA champion, who tried in vain to answer. Early in the round Zarate dropped Zamora twice and Alfonzo Zamora Sr. threw in the towel (literally; "throwing in the towel" is an old boxing tradition, used by cornermen to tell the referee that they believe their man is beaten and the fight should be stopped, and the source of the popular saying), giving Zarate a fourth round knockout victory. It should be pointed out that Zamora did not quit; it was his team that had the fight stopped.
Zarate went on to lose to Wilfredo Gómez
for Gómez's WBC world Jr. Featherweight championship. He defended his WBC world Bantamweight title five more times before losing it, on June 3 of 1979 to Lupe Pintor
by a fifteen round split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada
. Admiration towards Zarate by boxing fans grew considerably after he beat Zamora. Zarate retired after losing to Pintor, but had a mildly successful comeback during the middle 1980s, going as far as challenging Jeff Fenech
for the WBC world Jr. Featherweight championship on October 16, 1987 in Sydney, Australia.
Zamora's popularity was not diminished after losing to Zarate, but his self-esteem was. Zamora lost his WBA world Bantamweight title in his very next fight, being knocked out in ten rounds by Panama
nian Jorge Luján
on November 19 in Los Angeles. He only won four of his last eight bouts, retiring before the 1970s were over. A proposed "super-fight" (a "super-fight" in boxing is usually defined as a fight where two superstars are battling each other) against Wilfredo Gómez was mentioned early in 1983, but Zamora did not accept, as he had permanently retired from boxing.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
fight between Mexicans Carlos Zarate and Alfonso Zamora
Alfonso Zamora
Alfonso Zamora Quiroz is a former Mexican boxer who fought from 1973 to 1980. Zamora was the silver medalist at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He enjoyed a meteoric rise in his professional career...
, who were, respectively, the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
and WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
World Bantamweight titleholders. Held in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
on April 23, 1977, the bout was not recognized as a unification fight by either of the sanctioning bodies without any specific reason given for withholding the sanction. As it turned out, the fight was one of the most-anticipated 10-round fights in history among boxing fans.
Before the fight
Alfonso Zamora was the first one of the so-called "Z boys" to become a world champion, when he knocked outKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
Soo Hwan Hong
Soo Hwan Hong
Hong Soo-hwan is a retired boxer from South Korea.-Pro career:Hong turned pro in 1969 and in 1974 captured the WBA bantamweight title with a decision win over Arnold Taylor, a fight in which Taylor was down in the 1st, 5th, and 14th rounds. He lost his title in his 2nd defense to Alfonso Zamora...
in four rounds on March 14, 1975 in Inglewood. He defended his title three times before Zarate had his first world title shot; one of his challengers was Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza
Eusebio Pedroza is a native of Panama who holds two records in boxing: His 19 defenses as world featherweight champion are a record for that division, and his seven years as world champion non-stop are a division record too...
, the future WBA world Featherweight champion, whom Zamora defeated by knockout in two rounds in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
on April 3 of 1976.
Zarate, for his part, won the WBC world title one year and two months after Zamora became WBA world champion, on May 8, 1976, when he defeated defending champion Rodolfo Martinez
Rodolfo Martínez
Rodolfo Martínez was a Mexican boxer in the Super Featherweight division. He is a former NABF Super Bantamweight, Bantamweight and the WBC Bantamweight Champion.-Early life:...
by an eighth round knockout in Inglewood.
Zarate and Zamora were both once trained by the same man, Arturo Hernandez. But Hernandez sold Zamora's contract to his father, Alfonso Zamora Sr., and Mr. Zamora Sr. took this as a form of disrespect towards him and his son. Ever since, Zarate and Zamora's managerial teams carried on a war of words that was not missed by the Latin American sports media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
.
Zarate had a record of 38-0 with 37 knockouts, and Zamora was 29-0, with 29 knockouts. Their combined record of 67-0 with 66 knockouts arguably made for one of the most power-punch-packed matchups in boxing history. Fans in Mexico and the rest of Latin America were captivated by the announcement of the fight. The fact that both the WBA and WBC refused to recognize it as a world championship bout did little, if anything, to cool the ardor of enthusiastic boxing fans.
The fight
The Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
police department knew from experience, (such as the 1969 fight between Lionel Rose
Lionel Rose
Lionel Edmund Rose MBE was an Australian bantamweight boxer, the first Indigenous Australian to win a world title.-Early life:...
and Chucho Castillo
Chucho Castillo
Jesus Castillo Aguillera is a former Mexican boxer. Better known as Chucho Castillo, he was WBA and WBC Bantamweight champion in 1970....
, which was fought in Inglewood, and, much later on, the first bout between Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
and Andrzej Gołota) that boxing fights can end up in riots. Because of this, they sent an anti-riot squad to the Inglewood Forum on the day of the event.
The anti-riot team would have to jump into the ring when, fifty two seconds into the fight, an apparently drunk fan jumped into it, with the apparent intention of attacking one of the combatants. The man did not reach any of the night's main stars, however, because five policemen were able to stop him, immediately taking him out of the arena. Zamora and Zarate began slugging right after that incident, with Zamora earning the first round on the judge's scorecards by throwing more punches than Zarate.
In the second round, Zamora appeared hurt after a right and left combination by Zarate, but he roared back to hit Zarate with a right and left combination of his own later in that round.
Round three was filled with combinations from both fighters. Zarate, however, began to connect with long jab
Jab
A jab is a type of punch used in the martial arts.Several variations of the jab exist, but every jab shares these characteristics: while in a fighting stance, the lead fist is thrown straight ahead and the arm is fully extended...
s and short-range hooks
Hook (boxing)
A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
. Zamora began to throw wide punches and seemed spent. He suffered a knockdown towards the end of the round.
By round four, Zarate looked stronger and fresher than Zamora. He kept attacking the WBA champion, who tried in vain to answer. Early in the round Zarate dropped Zamora twice and Alfonzo Zamora Sr. threw in the towel (literally; "throwing in the towel" is an old boxing tradition, used by cornermen to tell the referee that they believe their man is beaten and the fight should be stopped, and the source of the popular saying), giving Zarate a fourth round knockout victory. It should be pointed out that Zamora did not quit; it was his team that had the fight stopped.
The aftermatch
Immediately after the fight was over, Alfonso Zamora Sr. and Arturo Hernandez had a fight of their own, and the anti-riot police once again intervened, putting a stop to the fight between Zarate and Zamora's trainers.Zarate went on to lose to Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez , sometimes referred to as Bazooka Gómez, is a former boxer and three time world champion.-Biography:...
for Gómez's WBC world Jr. Featherweight championship. He defended his WBC world Bantamweight title five more times before losing it, on June 3 of 1979 to Lupe Pintor
Lupe Pintor
Jose Guadalupe Pintor Guzman , better known as Lupe Pintor, is a former world boxing champion from Cuajimalpa, Mexico. Nicknamed El Indio De Cuajimalpa or The Indian From Cuajimalpa, he started boxing professionally in 1974...
by a fifteen round split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Admiration towards Zarate by boxing fans grew considerably after he beat Zamora. Zarate retired after losing to Pintor, but had a mildly successful comeback during the middle 1980s, going as far as challenging Jeff Fenech
Jeff Fenech
Jeff Fenech is a retired Australian boxer and a three-time world champion who is now a boxing trainer.-Boxing career:...
for the WBC world Jr. Featherweight championship on October 16, 1987 in Sydney, Australia.
Zamora's popularity was not diminished after losing to Zarate, but his self-esteem was. Zamora lost his WBA world Bantamweight title in his very next fight, being knocked out in ten rounds by Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian Jorge Luján
Jorge Luján
Jorge Luján was born in Córdoba, Argentina and lives in Mexico City where he writes, sings and runs workshops on creative writing. He has published poetry and children's literature , as well as a short story and a book that teaches a method of writing based on images...
on November 19 in Los Angeles. He only won four of his last eight bouts, retiring before the 1970s were over. A proposed "super-fight" (a "super-fight" in boxing is usually defined as a fight where two superstars are battling each other) against Wilfredo Gómez was mentioned early in 1983, but Zamora did not accept, as he had permanently retired from boxing.