Alfonso Zamora vs. Jorge Lujan ~ November 19, 1977 ~ 'What An Upset'

[Bill Paxtom]

November 19, 1977

WBA Bantamweight Championship

Sports Arena ~ Los Angeles, California

Alfonso Zamora ~ {Mexico City, Mexico}
* WBA Bantamweight Champion

> Nickname ... 'El Toro'
> Manager ..... Manuel 'El Chilero' Carrillo

> Record ....... 29-1-0 {29 KO's}
> Age ............ 23 years, 9 months
> Height ........ 5' 3"
> Reach ......... 65"
> Weight ....... 118 lbs.

> Stance ....... Orthodox
> Style .......... Aggressive Slugger



Alfonso Zamora {Mexico City. Mexico} had been the WBA Bantamweight Champion since March 14, 1975
{2 years, 8 months}.

Alfonso was the 'youngest' ever fighter to win a World Championship {Age; 21 years, 1 month} when
he won the WBA Bantamweight Championship on March 14, 1975.

Alfonso has been a Professional for only {4 years, 7 months}, and is regarded as one of the hardest
hitters in all of boxing.

This would be Alfonso's 5th Title Defense. But the WBA Champion had last successfully defended
his Title 13-Months earlier, back on October 16, 1976.

The Bad >
Alfonso had last fought 7-Months earlier {April 23, 1977} when he was 'blitzed' by a {L TKO 4} to
WBC Bantamweight Champion - Carlos Zarate in a 'non-title' bout.

The Skinny >
Alfonso was heavily favored here, and was listed as a {10-1} Betting-Favorite.

But, 'the skinny' circulating around town was, that Alfonso had lost his desire {fire} for Boxing, and
had not been the same in Training Sessions. The devastating loss to Carlos Zarate {7-Months earlier}
had completely destroyed Alfonso's confidence.

Alfonso 'El Toro' Zamora

Was a wide-open and wide-swinging slugger. There was nothing sophisticated about his style.
He just walked forward, and threw heavy-bombs. Alfonso had power in both hands, and his
'hooks-from-long-range' were a thing of beauty to watch.

Alfonso had remarkable strength. His upper-body looked that of a 'Brick-Laying Mason', and he
resembled a 'stout-and-solid' 135 lb. Lightweight.

Virtually nobody could withstand his punches for very long.

Manuel Carrillo {Manager} >

We had a 'straight-forward' fight-plan when we fought Carlos Zarate. Our strategy was to go out
and try to take him out early. But what we found out, was that Carlos had a tremendous chin. He
withstood Alfonso's early attack and took some heavy punches to the chin that would have knocked
out anybody else.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a 'Plan B' to go to.

Next time, we will fight him differently. What we'll do, is box him and go to his thin body. Alfonso will
wear him down some first, and then go upstairs.

The first time we fought him, we thought that we could take out Zarate early. But Alfonso was swinging
from way outside in Rounds 3 and 4, and he got caught by Zarate's long reach.

Basically, we fell into their trap. We just got out-smarted, that's all. If we fight again, the result will be
completely different. We'll box him early and fight more conservatively. We'll just fight smarter, and wear
him down before we open up.

I'm hoping we can get another chance at Carlos Zarate. We're hoping for a bout with him in 6-Months,
possibly April or May {1978}.

I want Alfonso to have '2' more Title Defenses first. After - Jorge Lujan, we'll have another Title Defense
in early-February 1978. Then we'll have 3-Months to prepare for the rematch with Carlos Zarate.