# Daniel Zaragoza

Daniel Zaragoza (born December 11, 1957) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 1997. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC bantamweight title in 1985 and the WBC super bantamweight title between 1988 and 1997.

## Amateur career

* 1979 Represented Mexico as a bantamweight at the Pan-American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Results were:
** Defeated Alfonso Abata (Ecuador)
** Lost to Jackie Beard (United States) points
* Represented Mexico as a bantamweight at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Results were:
** Defeated Philip Sutcliffe Snr (Ireland) points
** Defeated Ray Gilbody (Great Britain) points
** Lost to Michael Anthony (Guyana) TKO by 2

## Professional career

In October 1980, Zaragoza won his pro debut against Ernesto Gutierrez.

### WBC Bantamweight Championship

In 1985 he captured the vacant WBC Bantamweight title with a disqualification victory over Freddie Jackson in Aruba.
He lost his title in his first defense to Miguel "Happy" Lora. In his next bout in 1986, he suffered a non-title loss to IBF Bantamweight Champion and future International Boxing Hall of Fame member Jeff Fenech in Australia.

### WBC Super Bantamweight Championship

Zaragoza moved up in weight in his next bout and scored 7 consecutive wins before capturing the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight title with a knockout win over future hall of fame member Carlos Zarate in 1988 in the tenth round of a fight scheduled for twelve rounds.
He successfully retained the title five times, including a hard-fought draw in South Korea against IBF Super Bantamweight champion Lee Seung-hoon, a knockout victory against future champion Valerio Nati in Italy, a decision victory over Paul Banke (16–3–0) in the first fight of their trilogy, a knockout victory against Frankie Duarte (47–7–1), and a decision victory over former champion Chan-Yong Park in South Korea. In 1990, he lost the belt to Paul Banke whom he had defeated just three fights prior.
Banke would go on to lose the title by knockout against Pedro Ruben Decima, who in turn was knocked out by Kiyoshi Hatanaka. In 1991, Zaragoza regained the belt with a split decision win over Hatanaka in Japan. He defended the belt against Chun Huh (25–2–0) of South Korea and avenged his loss to Paul Banke. In 1992, he lost his title to Thierry Jacob by decision in France. In his next two fights he battled newly crowned WBC super bantamweight titleholder Tracy Harris Patterson, who had recently defeated Jacob. He fought to a draw with Patterson in the first bout and lost by technical knockout in the second bout when the fight was stopped due to a cut despite the objections of Zaragoza.

#### Oldest Super Bantamweight Champion

In 1995 he would yet again get another crack at the title against WBC Super Bantamweight champion Hector Acero Sánchez, who had defeated Tracy Harris Patterson to win the title. The bout was controversially ruled a draw with most observers believing Zaragoza should have been declared the winner. He fought a rematch with Sánchez later in the year and won the belt via split decision. At 36 years 11 months, he became the oldest super bantamweight champion in history.
This began a late-career surge for Zaragoza who was able to defend the title four times, including two wins against former and future champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi in Japan, a tko win over Tsuyoshi Harada (20–1–0) also in Japan, and an upset win against undefeated bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough who had recently moved up in weight. On Sep 6, 1997, he lost his title to then-undefeated 21-year-old Erik Morales, who knocked out Zaragoza in the 11th round. Zaragoza retired after the bout at the age of 39 with a record of 55–8–3.

## Retirement

He was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.

## Professional boxing record

| 66 fights | 55 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 28 | 3 |
| By decision | 25 | 5 |
| By disqualification | 2 | 0 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 66 | Loss | 55–8–3 | Érik Morales | KO | 11 (12), 2:59 | Sep 6, 1997 | County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S. | Lost WBC super bantamweight title |
| 65 | Win | 55–7–3 | Joichiro Tatsuyoshi | UD | 12 | Apr 14, 1997 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 64 | Win | 54–7–3 | Wayne McCullough | SD | 12 | Jan 11, 1997 | Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 63 | Win | 53–7–3 | Tsuyoshi Harada | TKO | 7 (12), 2:17 | Jul 20, 1996 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 62 | Win | 52–7–3 | Joichiro Tatsuyoshi | TKO | 11 (12), 2:47 | Mar 3, 1996 | Arena, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 61 | Win | 51–7–3 | Hector Acero Sánchez | SD | 12 | Nov 6, 1995 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won WBC super bantamweight title |
| 60 | Draw | 50–7–3 | Hector Acero Sánchez | MD | 12 | Jun 2, 1995 | Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. | For WBC super bantamweight title |
| 59 | Win | 50–7–2 | José Sanabria | UD | 10 | Feb 11, 1995 | Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 49–7–2 | Wilfredo Vargas | KO | 7 (?) | Oct 22, 1994 | Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 48–7–2 | Nino Ruiz | TKO | 4 (?) | Aug 11, 1994 | Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 56 | Win | 47–7–2 | Wilfredo Urbina | TKO | 5 (?) | Jul 1, 1994 | Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico | |
| 55 | Win | 46–7–2 | Juan Francisco Soto | UD | 10 | Jun 11, 1994 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 45–7–2 | Alejandro Batista | RTD | 2 (10), 3:00 | Dec 4, 1993 | Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 53 | Loss | 44–7–2 | Tracy Harris Patterson | TKO | 7 (12), 2:07 | Sep 25, 1993 | Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. | For WBC super bantamweight title |
| 52 | Draw | 44–6–2 | Tracy Harris Patterson | SD | 12 | Dec 5, 1992 | Palais des Sports, Berck-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, France | For WBC super bantamweight title |
| 51 | Loss | 44–6–1 | Thierry Jacob | UD | 12 | Mar 20, 1992 | Chapiteau-Vieux Fort Niculay, Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France | Lost WBC super bantamweight title |
| 50 | Win | 44–5–1 | Paul Banke | UD | 12 | Dec 9, 1991 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 49 | Win | 43–5–1 | Joon Huh | UD | 12 | Aug 24, 1991 | Daehan Life Insurance Bldg, Seoul, South Korea | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 48 | Win | 42–5–1 | Kiyoshi Hatanaka | SD | 12 | Jun 14, 1991 | Rainbow Hall, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan | Won WBC super bantamweight title |
| 47 | Win | 41–5–1 | Moi Hernandez | PTS | 10 | Apr 5, 1991 | Piedras Negras, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico | |
| 46 | Loss | 40–5–1 | Paul Banke | TKO | 9 (12), 2:51 | Apr 23, 1990 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Lost WBC super bantamweight title |
| 45 | Win | 40–4–1 | Park Chan-yong | SD | 12 | Dec 3, 1989 | Sunin Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 44 | Win | 39–4–1 | Frankie Duarte | TKO | 10 (12), 1:54 | Aug 31, 1989 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 43 | Win | 38–4–1 | Paul Banke | SD | 12 | Jun 22, 1989 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 42 | Win | 37–4–1 | Valerio Nati | KO | 5 (12), 1:06 | Nov 26, 1988 | Palazzo dello sport, Forli, Emilia Romagna, Italy | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 41 | Draw | 36–4–1 | Seung Hoon Lee | SD | 12 | May 29, 1988 | Hongkuk Gymnasium, Yeosu, South Korea | Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 40 | Win | 36–4 | Carlos Zárate Serna | TKO | 10 (12), 2:54 | Feb 29, 1988 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won vacant WBC super bantamweight title |
| 39 | Win | 35–4 | Noe Gonzalez | KO | 7 (?) | Dec 17, 1987 | Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan de Juárez, México, Mexico | |
| 38 | Win | 34–4 | Darryl Thigpen | PTS | 12 | Jul 31, 1987 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 33–4 | Ramiro Adames | TKO | 5 (10) | Jun 28, 1987 | Las Americas Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 32–4 | Aaron Lopez | UD | 12 | Apr 3, 1987 | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | Retained NABF super bantamweight title |
| 35 | Win | 31–4 | Mike Ayala | KO | 7 (12), 0:38 | Dec 6, 1986 | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | Won NABF super bantamweight title |
| 34 | Win | 30–4 | Raul Negrete | TKO | 7 (?) | Aug 29, 1986 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 33 | Win | 29–4 | Antonio Gonzalez | PTS | 10 | Jul 4, 1986 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 32 | Loss | 28–4 | Jeff Fenech | UD | 10 | Apr 11, 1986 | Entertainment Centre, Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 31 | Loss | 28–3 | Miguel Lora | UD | 12 | Aug 9, 1985 | Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | Lost WBC bantamweight title |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Fred Jackson | DQ | 7 (12), 1:30 | May 4, 1985 | Concorde Boxing Arena, Oranjestad, Aruba | Won vacant WBC bantamweight title; Jackson was disqualified because of an intentional head-butt |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Jorge Ramirez | PTS | 12 | Nov 30, 1984 | La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Jorge Ramirez | DQ | 11 (12) | Sep 21, 1984 | Plaza de Toros Alberto Balderas, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title Ramirez was disqualified for butting |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Mario Gomez | TKO | 3 (12) | May 21, 1984 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 26 | Win | 24–2 | Patrick Young | TKO | 4 (?) | Mar 16, 1984 | Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 25 | Win | 23–2 | Javier Marquez | TKO | 5 (12) | Feb 18, 1984 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Rigoberto Estrada | PTS | 12 | Dec 16, 1983 | Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | Rodolfo Martínez | TKO | 11 (12) | Oct 29, 1983 | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Martin Torres | TKO | 5 (12) | Sep 26, 1983 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 21 | Loss | 19–2 | Harold Petty | UD | 12 | Aug 8, 1983 | Astro Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S. | For NABF bantamweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Jesus Lopez | PTS | 12 | May 27, 1983 | Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Rigoberto Estrada | PTS | 12 | Mar 18, 1983 | Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Lorenzo Ramirez | PTS | 10 | Jan 29, 1983 | Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Jesus Lopez | PTS | 12 | Nov 29, 1982 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | Retained Mexico bantamweight title |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Jorge Ramirez | PTS | 12 | Sep 4, 1982 | Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | Won Mexico bantamweight title |
| 15 | Loss | 14–1 | Harold Petty | UD | 10 | Jul 29, 1982 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Ramon Concha | TKO | 2 (?) | Apr 23, 1982 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Francisco Paco Mayo | TKO | 5 (?) | Mar 5, 1982 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Miguel Juarez | PTS | 10 | Feb 12, 1982 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Mario Chavez | PTS | 10 | Nov 21, 1981 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Julio Avendano | KO | 4 (?) | Oct 30, 1981 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Javier Marquez | TKO | 8 (?) | Sep 16, 1981 | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Rayito Gonzalez | TKO | 4 (10) | Aug 28, 1981 | Campeche, Campeche, Mexico | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Alonzo Gonzalez | PTS | 10 | Jul 22, 1981 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Roque Guillen | TKO | 3 (?) | Jun 27, 1981 | Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Jose Zapata | PTS | 10 | May 15, 1981 | Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Jesus Maravilla | KO | 2 (?) | Mar 29, 1981 | Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Joel Segura | KO | 10 (10) | Feb 21, 1981 | Merida, Yucatán, Mexico | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Porfirio Urrutia | TKO | 3 (?) | Dec 19, 1980 | Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Mario Ernesto Gutierrez | KO | 4 (?) | Oct 17, 1980 | Poza Rica, Veracruz, Mexico | |