Hector Carrasquilla ~ 'Panamanian Wunderkind'

[Bill Paxtom]

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.

[Bill Paxtom]

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.

[Bill Paxtom]

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}

[iamasadlittleboy]

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

[Bill Paxtom]

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

Nothing that I could find.

Only have that Hector Carrasquilla was > 11-0-0 {11 KO's} upon entering the Ring in front of 18,000 frenzied Panamanian's.

[Bill Paxtom]

Hector Carrasquilla

Born .... April 30, 1960

Career

April 3, 1976 ............... KO 1 .... Pablo Reyes ~ 0-0-0 {0 KO's}

June 12, 1976 ............. KO 2 ... Victor Lopez ~ 0-7-0 {0 KO's}

August 14, 1976 ...,..... TKO 2 ... Ricardo Vega ~ 0-10-1 {0 KO's}

September 19, 1976 ..... KO 1 ... Enrique Brown ~ 0-0-0 {0 KO's}

October 30, 1976 ........ TKO 2 ... Felipe Hernandez ~ 4-5-0 {1 KO's}

November 20, 1976 ..... KO 2 .... Arnulfo Romero ~ 13-9-5 {3 KO's}

February 5, 1977 ......... KO 1 .... Walter Rodriguez ~ 7-5-0 {1 KO's}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* All of the above bouts took place at the > Gimnaseo Nuevo Panama

All indications here are, is that young Hector Carrsasquilla was a 'highly-touted'
up-and-coming Preliminary fighter with a great Amateur background.

[Bill Paxtom]

Hector Carrasquilla

The 'Panamanian Wunderkind' in his 1st real test.

April 1, 1977 ~ Arena de Colon ~ Colon, Panama

Hector Carrasquilla ~ 7-0-0 {7 KO's} ~ 5' 8" ~ {121 lbs.}
vs.
Emilio 'Kid Clay'' Buitrago ~ 41-9-0 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ {122 lbs.}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hector, only {Age; 16 years, 11 months} takes on 12-year veteran, Nicaraguan
28 year-old Emilio Buitrago.

Emilio is the former Nicaraguan Bantamweight Champion, which he won way
back in September 1967 {9 1/2 years ago} when he was only 18 years old.

This Nicaraguan 'fire-plug' has been campaigning since 1965. He quit boxing at
the end of 1974, but came back in 1976 and has won '8-Straight' over a string
of weak opponents.

Emilio is no walk-over, as he had been in the Ring with 'future' World Champions;
* Ricardo Arredondo {twice} ~ April 1967 and March 1968
* Alexis Arguello {twice} ~ July 1971 and October 1971
* Rigoberto Riasco ~ March 1974

Emilio has only been stopped 'twice' in his career, once by {L KO 5} to Ricardo
Arredondo in March 1968, and once to Alexis Arguello { L TKO 5} in
July 1971, which was caused by an injury to his left-eye.

Emilio is 'rock-jawed', and has only been floored 'once' in his career.

Emilio is now ranked as the #3 Central American Super-Bantamweight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Bout"

The young Panamanian didn't wait too long to unleash his 'explosive punches'.

Immediately, Hector tore into the Nicaraguan with a 'two-fisted' barrage, and sent
the 28 year-old veteran flying backwards and into the Ropes. There, Hector fired
away with lightning-fast flurries.

Emilio was shaken several times, and only his experience allowed him to last out
the 1st-Round barrage.

In Round 2, Hector went back on the attack, and slammed Emilio with left-hooks and
jarring right-crosses to the head, rocking him sideways.

At the {0:40 Mark}, Emilo attempted to send out a right-hand lead, and walked into
a 'vicious' left-hook counter from the Panamanian.

Emilio then crashed face first into the canvas, where he was counted out at {0:52} of Round 2.