Hector Carrasquilla ~ 'Panamanian Wunderkind'

Hector Carrasquilla

"The Panamanian Wunderkind"

The highly-touted teenage Super-Bantamweight from 1976/1977.

The Panamanian had an incredible Amateur Career, where he went
76-1 with {55 KO's} before the age of '16', and won numerouus
Panamanian and Central American Bantamweight Junior Titles.

Just 3-weeks before his 16th Birthday, Hector turned professional on April 3, 1976

Within 19-Months, Hector was 11-0-0 with {11 KO's}, and was fighting for the
'vacant' WBA Super-Bantamweight Championship on November 26, 1977.

At the time, Hector was the 'young' Age of {17 years, 6 months and 26 days}

Hector Carrasquilla

Was Managed by Rodolfo Siaro.

By June 1977,

Hector Carrasquilla was voted as Panama's '2nd' Most Favorite Athlete, behind
World Lightweight Champion - Roberto Duran.

And was named, Central America's Most Exciting Young Boxer.

Hector was only Age; {17 years, 1 month}

He was interesting but got beat by Soo-Hwan Hong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6msGOh33Sys

Hector Carrasquilla

Was being 'groomed' for the newly created WBA Super-Bantamweight Division,
to be insituted with ratings in July 1977.

At the time, Hector was only {17 years, 2 months} old.

The opposing WBC had already set the 122 lb. Division in motion.

The '1st' WBA Ratings for their new Super-Bantamweight Division

July 1977

#1 - Soo-Hwan Hong
#2 - Jesus Esparragoza
#3 - Hector Carrasquilla
#4 - Futaro Tanaka
#5 - Ruben Valdez
#6 - Jose Cervantes
#7 - Dong-Kyun Kim
#8 - Yu Kasahara
#9 - Nestor 'Baba' Jiminez
#10 - Shuzo Yoshida
#11 - Ricardo Cardona
#12 - Gilberto Illueca

When I think of carasquilla, Soo Hwan Hong is the first and only thing that comes to mind.. It is pretty sad how he will be known as a young fighter who got KTFO by an old fighter in Hong..

That fight was straight up like a movie and Hong became a hero in Korea with that victory...

I remember listening to Hong's interview that took place shortly after that bout and he said that he was so embarrassed after getting beat up in front of his family which ignited a fire in his belly. He reminded himself in the corner that he would go out guns blazing rather than getting humiliated by this young cat.

Hong owns Carasquilla..

Btw, Hong has a son living in LA who is my age and dude is a druggie..

Hector Carrasquilla

A 5' 8" tall and lean, explosive machine.

Some compared Hector to a young Alexis Arguello. Explosive power,
but with more speed.

By July 1977, Hecto only had '10' Professional bouts, but had won them
all by impressive Knockouts.

By August 1977, the WBA then set up '4' of their top ranking {122 lb.}
fighters to meet in Elimination bouts.

#1 ~ Soo-Hwan Hong was to face off against #4 ~ Futaro Tanaka

And, #3 ~ Hector Carrasquilla was to take on #2 ~ Jesus Esparragoza.

Saturday ~ August 27, 1977

Roberto Clemente Stadium ~ San Juan, Puerto Rico

Main Event;
WBA Super-Feathwerweight Championship > Samuel Serrano vs. Apollo Yoshio

Undercard;
WBA Super-Bantamweight Eliminator > Jesus Esparragoza vs. Hector Carrasquilla

Preliminary;
Super-Feathwerweight bout > Alexis Arguello vs. Benjamin Ortiz
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#2 Jesus Esparragoza {Venezuela} ~ 19-0-0 {15 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 121 1/2 lbs.
vs.
#3 Hector Carrasquilla {Panama} ~ 10-0-0 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 8" ~ 122 lbs.

'Pre-Fight Skinny'

Jesus Esparragoza {Age; 21 years, 10 months} is a power-pack fighter, who
comes straight in at his opponents and slams away with vicious body punches.

A 3-year Professional, Jesus is highly-touted and is slighty favored in this
12-Round WBA Elimination bout.

Jesus scored his biggest win by destroying {KO 2} #7 WBC-ranked - Raul Tirado
back on March 6, 1977.

Jesus has also defeated quality opponents in;
* W Dec 10 > Carlos Osorio
* W Dec 10 > Tarcisio Gomez
* W Dec 10 > Sigifredo Moreno
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hector Carrasquilla {Age; 17 years, 3 months} is the 'Panamanian Wunderkind'.

A tall and lean fast-handed fighter, with unreal and expolosive power in his fists.

The youngster has only been a Professional for 16-Months, but has already been
proclaimed as a future great fighter, despite never facing a World-Class opponent.

In Hector's 10-Bouts, he has KO'd his opponent in either the 1st or 2nd Round in
'9' of the bouts, and scored a 7th Round TKO in the other.

He has only '25-Rounds' of Professional Ring experience.

"Hector Carrasquilla 'Clobbers' Esparragoza"

Young 17 year-old Panamanian - Hector Carrasquilla sent #2 WBA-ranked
Super-Bantamweight Jesus Esparragoza to the canvas '5-times' enroute
to scoring an impressive Technical Knockout in Round 3 in this WBA
Super-Bantamweight Elimination bout.

The action heated up quickly, as both of these 'Knockout Artists' came out
bombing from the Opening Bell.

Each 122 lb. figher landed their best punches in Round 1. The Venezuelan
Esparragoza landed several left-hooks into the thin body of the Panamanian
teenager, sending him retreating backwards.

But Carrasquilla came back with his own solid left-hooks to the head, and landed
several scorching right-crosses that jarred the Venezuelan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Round 2, both fighters resumed with their respective all-offense attacks. The
action stayed at Center-Ring, as both wailed at each other.

Esparragoza continued with hard left-hooks into the right-side of the Panamanian's
body, and short powerful right-hands into the mid-section.

Carrasquilla continued by firing off 'lightning-quick' combinations to the Venezuelan's
face with incredible speed.

Each fighter gave 'no ground'.

But, just past the {2:00 Mark}, Carrasquilla caught Esparragoza with a solid left-hook
to the jaw. The Venezuelan immediatley fell to the canvas, but bounced right back up at
the '2-Count' and looked clear-headed.

Both fighters returned to bombarding each other with vicious punches. Then with
15-Seconds left in Round 2, the Panamanian got off a 'wicked' double left-hook to
the head, and Esparragoa went down again.

This time, Esparragoza looked dazed as he got up at the '5-Count'.

The action resumed, but Carrasquilla could not deliver the 'finisher' as there were
only a few seconds left in the Round.

The Venezuelan walked back to his corner on 'shaky pins'.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Round 3, Hector did not let the stilll 'groggy' Jesus off the hook.

He went after him with one of the 'fastest barrages' ever seen. "Left-right-left-right-left'
punches flew in rapid succession, followed by another '5-Punch' combination

At the {0:16 Mark} > Jesus fell to the canvas after absorbing the '2nd' 5-Punch combination
to the head.

Esparragoza took the '8-Count', and rose to continue.

Immediately, Hector was all over Jesus. The Panamanian fired with another fast-flurry,
and then exploded a 'right-left' to the Venezuelans' jaw at the {0:32 Mark}.

Esparragoza went down again, and struggled to get up at the '9-Count'.

One more time, Jesus was willing to fight on.

Hector moved in on quick-feet, and slammed in a barrage of punches on Jesus' who
reeled back side-ways at the {0:47 Mark}.

Hector added in a follow-up '7-Punch' barrage in lightning-fashion as Jesus toppled to
the canvas at the {0:53 Mark}.

The Referee called the bout over at the {0:55 Mark} of Round 3.


side-ways.

True Story

August 27, 1977

Alexis Arguello who was on the Fight Card that day in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

After watching Hector Carrasquilla demolish Jesus Esparragoza by a TKO in 3.

Alexis Arguello >

"That was the most awesome display of 'raw power and speed' that I have
ever seen in a young fighter."

"I sparred with Jesus for a few days, and that kid was tough as nails. I can't
believe how easy that Hector {Carrasquilla} dropped him."

Hector Carrasquilla

August 28, 1977

Rodolfo Siaro {Manager for Hector Carrasquilla}

Hector Carrasquilla
Age ............ 17 years, 3 months, 28 days
Record ....... 11-0-0 {11 KO's}
Ranking ..... #2 WBA Super-Bantamweight

"We want Hector to be the 'youngest' boxer ever to win a World Title. We want
to break Wilfred Benitez' record of; {Age; 17 years, 5 months, 23 days}."

"We have to do it before October 23rd. All we have to do is wait for the winner
of the Elimination Bout between #1 Soo-Hwan Hong and #4 Futaro Tanaka.
They are supposed to fight next week, but I heard that they might delay the
bout a few weeks."

"If they do have a delay, we will be disappointed in not getting a chance for
Hector to be the youngest Champion."

Hector Carrasquilla,

Never got the chance to be the 'youngest' Champion.

As the Soon-Hwan Hong vs. Futaro Tanaka bout {which was scheduled for
September 4, 1977} was pushed back 5-Weeks until October 10, 1977.

Soon-Hwan Hong had suffered a hand-injury during Training Camp in late-August,
and required a few weeks off for the hand to heal.

On Monday - October 10th,

Soon-Hwan Hong won a one-sided 12-Round Decsion over Futaro Tanaka in
the WBA Super-Bantamweight Elimination bout.

Saturday ~ November 26, 1977

Gimnaseo Panama ~ Panama City, Panama

WBA Super-Bantamweight Championship

Attendance...... 18,000

Soo-Hwan Hong
#1 WBA
Age......... 27 years, 6 months
Height..... 5' 6"
Record.... 39-4-3 {13 KO's}

Hector Carrasquilla
#2 WBA
Age.......... 17 years, 6 months
Height...... 5' 8"
Record..... 11-0-0 {11 KO's}

Soo-Hwan Hong is the former WBA Bantamweight Champion {July 3, 1974 thru March 14, 1975}

The 5' 6" South Korean is a muscular-built power-pack fighter who throws punches-in-bunches.

The {8 1/2 year} Professional is experienced, and has superior boxing skills. Soo-Hwan has
excellent technique, and is both durable and tough. He has only been stopped by the Mexican
power-house machine, Knockout-Artist ~ Alfonso Zamora.

Though he's not a knockout puncher, Soo-Hwan hits hard and often with left-and-right hooks
to the body. Once he has his opponent in trouble, Soo-Hwan will bring his power-punches upstairs.

Soo-Hwan is a 'non-stop' punching dynamo, who is not afraid to trade with anybody.

He has been in the Ring with '5' World Champions >
* Alfonso Zamora - {twice} .... {L KO 4 - March 14, 1975} and { L TKO 12 - October 16, 1976}
* Arnold Taylor ..................... {W Dec 15 - July 3, 1974}
* Venice Borkhorshor ............ {W Dec 12 - May 30, 1976}
* Dong-Kyun Yum ................. {W Dec 12 - June 27, 1977}
* Berkerk Chartvanchai .......... {W Dec 10 - October 7, 1973}

The Skinny >

Though Soo-Hwan is still regarded as a tremendous fighter, there has been some concern
that the {8 1/2 year} veteran has lost some of his punching-power. Soo-Hwan has 'not'
scored a Knockown in his last 6-Bouts, dating back to May 30, 1976.

Fight Plan >

Soo-Hwan Hong didn't 'sugar coat' his intentions. He said that he was going to tear-and-rip
the thin Panamanian teenager's insides apart with heavy hooks to the ribs and mid-section.

Then, after breaking him down, he would come upstairs with hard left-hooks and chopping
right-hands to the head.

Fighting for a World Championship

November 27, 1977

Hector Carrasquilla
Age..................... 17 years, 6 months, 27 days
Record ................ 11-0-0 {11 KO's}
Total Rounds ....... '25'

The 'second' youngest Professional boxer to challenge for a World Championship,
behind Wilfred Benitez {Age; 17 years, 5 months, 23 days}

Is there not a dispute about Carrasquilla's record going into his bout with the Korean?