On this day in history, Zamora and Zarate starred The Battle of the Z Boys

On April 23, 1977, the Mexican world champions entered the ring with a combined record of 75 wins with 74 knockouts. Without doubt Carlos Zarate vs. Alfonso Zamora was one of the most anticipated fights between Mexicans in boxing history.

Zarate came as the bantamweight champion of the World Boxing Council and Zamora, as a bantamweight champion of the World Boxing Association.

The rivalry between these two fighters went beyond the ring, and that the team of Zamora and the representatives of Zárate had problems related to the matters related to the contract of Zamora.

The bout was held at the Forum in Inglewood, California. When the bell rang that night, the crowd was eager to see the fight, because the percentage of KO’S of both, no one think the fight will end in a decision. After the first episode elapsed the fight had a strange twist when a man came out to the ring to interrupt the fight.

When the combat resumed, Zarate pressed forward, seeking to punish Zamora’s liver, beginning to decipher the style of Alfonso, who boxed well and hit back against the body.

In the second round, Zárate quickly returned to the short distance fight. This time he found the mark with a couple of right blows that made Zamora stagger. While Zamora seemed to be in trouble for the first time in the fight, he threw a pair of hooks that hit Zárate’s head.

When the third round began, there was an explosion in the crowd. A fan had lit a firework and the crowd panicked, but the boxers never took their eyes off each other. Near the end of the third episode, Carlos was able to connect a left hook while Zamora threw a punch at the same time. This sent a Zamora that staggered on the ropes and the Zárate pounced to connect his blows that send to Zamora to the canvas.

The bell rang to finish the round and Zamora received a brief respite. 

When the bell rang to start the fourth round, Zárate was already above Zamora. He did not mind receiving punishment, he just want to finish a Zamora. He quickly sent back to the canvas to Zamora, but he was available to put on his feet again. Soon Zarate was able to land another right straight, followed by a left hook and send a Zamora to the canvas for the third time.

Before Zamora could start to rise, her corner had already thrown the towel.

The bout was over, but the fight was not. Alfonso Zamora Sr., Representative of Zamora, immediately jumped into the ring and ran to throw a blow to the manager of Zarate. The security team intervened and after some time, the retreat was able to gather the boxers in the center of the ring and give the official result.

Alfonso Zamora, after suffering his first defeat, fought eight times and retired in 1980.

Carlos Zarate fought until 1988 and it increased of division to super bantamweight, although never was able to obtain that title.

Article courtesy of the WBC