# Carlos Zárate (boxer)

Jesús Carlos Zárate Serna (born May 23, 1951) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1970 to 1988, and held the WBC bantamweight title from 1976 to 1979.
Zárate was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine in 1977. Zárate was ranked #21 in The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. and voted as the #1 bantamweight (along with Rubén Olivares) of the 20th century by the Associated Press in 1999. In 1994, Zárate was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is also the father of once-defeated Light Welterweight prospect, Carlos Zárate, Jr.

## Personal life

Carlos Zárate has family members who have followed him into boxing. His son Carlos, now retired, fought in the Light Welterweight division and his nephew, Joel Luna Zárate, is the former WBO Latino Super Flyweight champion.

## Amateur career

Zárate, considered along with rival Wilfredo Gómez to be among the better punchers of the lighter divisions, had an amateur record of 33 wins and 3 losses, with 30 knockout wins, and he won the Mexican Golden Gloves, or Guantes de Oro, in 1969.

## Professional career

In 1970, Carlos made his professional debut with a 2-round knockout win over Luis Castañeda in Cuernavaca. That marked the beginning of a 23-fight knockout winning streak. The only boxers to get past the third round during that streak were Al Torres and Antonio Castañeda, who lasted 5 and 9 rounds respectively, both at Tijuana. Víctor Ramírez became the first boxer to last the distance with Zárate when Zárate beat him on points in January 1974 in Mexico City over ten rounds. Next began his second 20 plus knockout wins in a row streak, when none of his next 28 opponents heard the final bell on their feet.

### WBC Bantamweight championship

After knocking out former world title challenger Néstor Jiménez in two rounds at Mexicali to end 1975, the WBC made Zárate their number one challenger at the Bantamweight division. So, after beating César Desiga by a knockout in four on March 29, 1976, in Monterrey, Zárate was faced on the night of May 8 of that year with defending WBC Bantamweight Champion Rodolfo Martínez in Los Angeles. Zárate became a world Bantamweight champion by knocking his countryman out in the eighth round. Zárate next won two fights by a knockout in the second and then defended it against Paul Ferreri, who lost by knockout in 12 in Los Angeles too. He finished '76 with a four-round knockout over Waruinge Nakayama in a title defense held at Culiacán.

### Fight against WBA Bantamweight champion

After beginning 1977 with a third-round knockout win over Colombia's Fernando Cabanela in Mexico City, Mexican boxing fans started talking about a possible unification bout between him and fellow Mexican Alfonso Zamora, the WBA's world Bantamweight champion. Nicknamed by the American boxing press as The Z Boys, the two did square off, but not before much hassle and hurdle putting by both the WBC and WBA, who wanted both boxers to pay a large amount of money before sanctioning the bout. So, the California state boxing commission decided to sanction it as a ten-round, non-title bout instead. Fans didn't seem to care that no world title belt would be involved that afternoon, and they packed the fight venue when Zárate and Zamora met in the LA suburb of Inglewood, California, at the Forum on April 23 of '77. Zárate made the tactical mistake of going toe to toe with a shorter but harder hitting puncher. Zárate got tagged repeatedly and then a man wearing a white tank top and grey sweat pants entered the ring. The fight was momentarily stopped by referee Richard Steele and a contingent of helmeted policemen stormed the ring, forcibly removing the intruder thereafter, Zárate managed to stay away from Zamora. After a first round, Zárate the better boxer, with a reach advantage stayed away and outboxed Zamora wearing him down then knocking him out in four to gain recognition by most boxing fans as the undisputed world champion of the Bantamweights. Then, he retained the WBC title with a knockout in six over Danilo Batista, and finished 1977 with a trip to Spain, where he retained the belt against challenger Juan Francisco Rodríguez, beaten in five.
In 1978, Zárate started out by meeting future world champion Alberto Dávila, whom he knocked out in eight at Los Angeles to retain his belt. Then, in April of that year, he made his first of two trips to Puerto Rico that year, to fight challenger Andres Hernandez, who lasted until the 13th. round at San Juan's Roberto Clemente coliseum.

#### Zárate vs. Gómez

After retaining the title against Emilio Hernandez by a knockout in four and winning a non-title bout, Zárate announced he was moving up in weight and challenging the WBC Super Bantamweight champion, Wilfredo Gómez. According to many experts and the Ring Magazine book The Ring: Boxing In The 20th Century, Gómez and Zárate had the highest knockout win percentage of any two champions paired inside a ring in a world title fight: When Gómez and Zárate met on October 28, also at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, the challenger and still world Bantamweight champion Zárate was 52–0 with 51 knockouts, while defending world Super Bantamweight champion Gómez was 21-0-1 with 21 knockouts. Zárate went to the floor four times and tasted the sour taste of defeat for the first time in his career when he was beaten by a knockout in five rounds.

#### Return to Bantamweight

In 1979, Zárate made what would turn out to be his last successful defense, with a third-round knockout win over Mensah Kpalongo in Los Angeles. After winning a non-title bout against Celso Cháirez by a knockout in five in Houston, Texas, Zárate met gym-mate Lupe Pintor in Las Vegas and lost a close and controversial 15-round decision. Enraged by losing a decision he (as well as many fans) thought undeserved, he announced his retirement from boxing and vowed never to fight as a professional again.

### Five year retirement

Zárate spent five years in retirement, but the temptation of the public adulation boxers receive when they become champions and the aroma of the boxing ring led him back into competition as a boxer. Despite still retaining an acceptable amount of his boxing ability, Zárate was nonetheless, a shadow of what he was before his 5-year retirement. In his return bout in 1986 against Adam García, he won a four-round decision. 11 more victories in a row, all by knockout, including one over then number one world Super Bantamweight challenger Richard Savage (knocked out by Zárate in five in Mexico City), made him the WBC's number one challenger at the Super Bantamweight division once again.
And so, in October 1987, he traveled to Australia to meet the man boxing fans consider to be the greatest Australian world champion of all time: Jeff Fenech. In a fight contested for Fenech's world Super Bantamweight title, Zárate lost by a four-round technical decision. After Fenech vacated the title soon after to pursue the world Featherweight crown, Zárate and countryman Daniel Zaragoza met for the vacant world championship belt, but Zárate came back on the losing end once again, being knocked out in the tenth round and finally announcing his retirement for good.
During the 1990s he also became a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame, and in 2003, he and Wilfredo Gómez met at a boxing undercard in Puerto Rico to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their boxing bout.
He had a record of 66 wins and 4 losses as a professional boxer, with 63 wins by knockout.
Carlos Zárate was voted as the Greatest Bantamweight Ever in 2014 by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame. The HBHOF is a voting body composed entirely of current and former fighters.

## Professional boxing record

| 70 fights | 66 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 63 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 70 | Loss | 66–4 | Daniel Zaragoza | TKO | 10 (12) | 1988-02-29 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | For vacant WBC super bantamweight title |
| 69 | Loss | 66–3 | Jeff Fenech | TD | 4 (12) | 1987-10-16 | Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | For WBC super bantamweight title |
| 68 | Win | 66–2 | Richard Savage | TKO | 5 (10) | 1987-08-15 | Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 67 | Win | 65–2 | Tony Montoya | TKO | 3 (10) | 1987-06-19 | Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S. | |
| 66 | Win | 64–2 | John Boyd | TKO | 5 (10) | 1987-05-05 | Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 63–2 | Francis Childs | KO | 4 (10) | 1987-02-20 | Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 62–2 | Alex Galván | TKO | 7 (10) | 1986-12-13 | Convention Center, Fresno, California, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 61–2 | Edward Rodriquez | TKO | 3 (10) | 1986-11-21 | Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 60–2 | Gerardo Esparza | KO | 5 (8) | 1986-09-13 | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | |
| 61 | Win | 59–2 | Alejandro García | KO | 2 (10) | 1986-07-19 | Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 60 | Win | 58–2 | Jesus Muñiz | UD | 10 | 1986-05-23 | Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 57–2 | Héctor Nápoles | KO | 2 (8) | 1986-05-05 | Auditorio Municipal, Torreon, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico | |
| 58 | Win | 56–2 | Jose de la Dora | KO | 3 (6) | 1986-04-12 | Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico | |
| 57 | Win | 55–2 | Adam García | MD | 4 | 1986-02-25 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 54–2 | Lupe Pintor | SD | 15 | 1979-06-03 | Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC bantamweight title |
| 55 | Win | 54–1 | Celso Chairez | TKO | 5 (10) | 1979-05-01 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 53–1 | John Kodjo Mensah | KO | 3 (15) | 1979-03-10 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 53 | Loss | 52–1 | Wilfredo Gómez | TKO | 5 (15) | 1978-10-28 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | For WBC super bantamweight title |
| 52 | Win | 52–0 | Rudy González | TKO | 4 (10) | 1978-09-30 | Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 51 | Win | 51–0 | Emilio Hernández | KO | 4 (15) | Jun 9, 1978 | Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 50 | Win | 50–0 | Andres Hernández | TKO | 13 (15) | 1978-04-22 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 49 | Win | 49–0 | Alberto Dávila | TKO | 8 (15) | 1978-02-25 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 48 | Win | 48–0 | Juan Francisco Rodríguez | TKO | 5 (15) | 1977-12-02 | Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Spain | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 47 | Win | 47–0 | Danilo Batista | KO | 6 (15) | 1977-10-29 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 46 | Win | 46–0 | Alfonso Zamora | TKO | 4 (15) | 1977-04-23 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 45–0 | Fernando Cabanela | TKO | 3 (15) | 1977-02-05 | Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 44 | Win | 44–0 | Waruinge Nakayama | KO | 4 (15) | 1976-11-13 | Estadio General Ángel Flores, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 43 | Win | 43–0 | Paul Ferreri | TKO | 12 (15) | 1976-08-28 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBC bantamweight title |
| 42 | Win | 42–0 | Antonio Paredes | TKO | 2 (10) | 1976-08-02 | Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 41 | Win | 41–0 | Félix Llanos | KO | 2 (10) | 1976-06-26 | Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 40 | Win | 40–0 | Rodolfo Martínez | KO | 9 (15) | 1976-05-08 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won WBC bantamweight title |
| 39 | Win | 39–0 | César Deciga | TKO | 4 (10) | 1976-03-27 | Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico | |
| 38 | Win | 38–0 | Néstor Jiménez | KO | 2 (10) | 1975-12-07 | Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 37 | Win | 37–0 | Jorge Torres | TKO | 8 (10) | 1975-10-11 | Auditorio Benito Juarez, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Benicio Segundo Sosa | TKO | 4 (10) | 1975-09-20 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | José Sánchez | TKO | 3 (8) | 1975-08-16 | Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Orlando Amores | KO | 3 (10) | 1975-06-20 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Joe Guevara | RTD | 3 (12) | 1975-03-14 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | California State Athletic Commission bantamweight title |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Alberto Cabanig | TKO | 4 (10) | 1975-02-04 | Arena Coliseo, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | James Martinez | TKO | 7 (10) | 1974-11-23 | Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Francisco Cruz | TKO | 2 (10) | 1974-10-27 | Gimnasio de Mexicali, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Magallo Lozada | TKO | 5 (10) | 1974-08-03 | Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Juan Ordoñez | KO | 3 (10) | 1974-05-25 | Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Chamaco Limón | KO | 3 (10) | 1974-05-03 | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico | |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Alfonso Ibarra | KO | 2 (10) | 1974-04-09 | Arena Tijuana 72, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Carlos Armenta | KO | 1 (10) | 1974-02-22 | Auditorio Matamoros, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Víctor Ramírez | UD | 10 | 1974-01-30 | Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Sixto Pérez | KO | 2 (8) | 1973-12-11 | Arena Tijuana 72, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Eduardo Miranda | KO | 5 (10) | 1973-11-01 | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Antonio Castañeda | TKO | 9 (10) | 1973-10-02 | Arena Tijuana 72, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Alberto Torres | TKO | 5 (10) | 1973-08-21 | Arena Tijuana 72, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Francisco Pino | KO | 2 (10) | 1973-07-12 | Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Juan Ramón Pérez | KO | 2 (10) | 1973-06-02 | La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Juan Ramón Pérez | KO | 2 (8) | 1972-12-03 | La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Armando Carrasco | KO | 2 (8) | 1972-10-31 | Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Angel Patiño | KO | 2 (8) | 1972-10-08 | Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Jesús Escobedo | KO | 2 (8) | 1972-08-19 | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | José Luis Morales | TKO | 2 (8) | 1972-03-19 | Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | José González | KO | 2 (8) | 1972-02-07 | Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Emiliano Mayoral | TKO | 3 (8) | 1972-01-28 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Victor Nava | KO | 3 (8) | 1971-11-26 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Julio Martínez | KO | 2 (8) | 1971-08-07 | Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Ramón Pinedo | KO | 2 (6) | 1971-05-05 | Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Fermín Ramos | KO | 2 (6) | 1971-03-20 | Toluca, México State, Mexico | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Antonio Lucas | KO | 3 (6) | 1971-02-15 | Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Alfredo Pérez | KO | 2 (6) | 1970-12-18 | Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Nuno Temix | TKO | 3 (6) | 1970-11-17 | Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Costeñito Sotelo | KO | 2 (4) | 1970-04-01 | Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | José Pavón | KO | 1 (4) | 1970-03-02 | Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Luis Castañeda | KO | 3 (4) | 1970-02-02 | Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico | |