Lupe Pintor

Lupe Pintor
Statistics
Real nameJosé Guadalupe Pintor Guzmán
Nickname(s)El Grillo de Cuajimalpa
("The Cuajimalpa Cricket")
El Indio
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4+12 in (164 cm)
Reach66 in (168 cm)
Born (1955-04-13) April 13, 1955 (age 68)
Cuajimalpa, Mexico City, Mexico
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights72
Wins56
Wins by KO42
Losses14
Draws2

José Guadalupe Pintor Guzmán (born April 13, 1955), better known as Lupe Pintor, is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1995. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC bantamweight title from 1979 to 1983 and the WBC super bantamweight title from 1985 to 1986.

Early life and his career

Lupe Pintor was born into a poor, working-class family in Cuajimalpa, just outside Mexico City in 1955 and is alleged to have had an extremely violent relationship with his father, eventually forcing him to run away. He lived for some time on the city streets, learning how to look after himself and began boxing professionally in 1974.

He opened his account with a second-round knockout of Manuel Vázquez and immediately stepped up to ten round bouts, claiming a decision over Francisco Nunez on his next outing. He suffered his first loss three fights later, when he was disqualified against Magarito Lozano, but claimed victory in his next eight bouts, seven by knockout, including wins over notables Juan Díaz, Rocky Mijares and Willie Jespen.

Pintor first boxed future World Bantamweight Champion Alberto Davila on 25 February 1976, losing a decision over ten rounds, then embarked on a winning streak of some twenty-two fights in a row. Amongst the fighters he beat during this period were Gerald Hayes – who later conquered Juan Laporte – and Antonio Becerra, the only man to get the better of Salvador Sánchez as a professional boxer.

He then travelled to Puerto Rico, where he lost a ten-round decision to Leo Cruz – himself a future world champion. Upon returning to Mexico, Pintor lost for the second time in a row, carelessly dropping a decision to journeyman Jose Luis Soto. Another winning streak, comprising five fights in a row, all by way of knockout and he was ready for a shot at the world title.

World championships

Carlos Zarate was Pintor's stable mate and a fellow Mexican. He was an outstanding champion and continues to be rated one of the very best of all Bantamweights. The records, however, show that Pintor edged a very close and controversial split decision, following a remarkable contest that saw him hit the canvas in round four. But the judges were so at variance when recording their verdict, that (like already stated) the contest remains a matter of controversy today. Naturally, the new world champion's relationship with Zarate – already strained – took another hit and Zarate retired in disgust.

Pintor was a busy champion and he began his reign by engaging in three non-title bouts, beating Aucencio Melendez by a knockout in the first and avenging his loss to Jose Luis Soto before losing a rematch with Manuel Vázquez by a knockout in six. Then he began to defend his title in earnest, retaining it with a knockout in twelve over Alberto Sandoval in Los Angeles and drawing over fifteen with Eijiro Murata in Tokyo.

His next bout ended tragically. He defended against Johnny Owen of Wales in Los Angeles. Many of the fans present and the authors of The Ring's Boxing in The 20th Century, have agreed that the fight should have been stopped during round ten. But it carried on until the close of the twelfth, when Pintor unleashed a savage right-hand, knocking his opponent out cold. Owen failed to regain consciousness, lapsed into a coma and died seven weeks later. This fight was documented in the film Faces of Death II.

Saddened, Pintor – encouraged by Owen's family – resumed his career by avenging his loss to Davila, retaining the title by unanimous decision. He went on to retain the belt against Jose Uziga – again by decision – and Jovito Rengifo, by a knockout in eight. He stopped Hurricane Teru in the fifteenth and final round to close 1981 and began 1982, by retaining the title against Seung-Hoon Lee with an eleventh-round knockout.

Soon after the Lee fight, Pintor vacated his world title and started eyeing the WBC Super Bantamweight crown worn by the great Wilfredo Gómez. Stepping up, he immediately beat former WBA World Bantamweight Champion Jorge Luján and then, on 3 December of that year, he and Gómez met as part of the Carnival of Champions in New Orleans. Showcased on HBO, this duel was subsequently dubbed the division's 'Fight of The Decade' by The Ring magazine. But it did not go Pintor's way. Gómez recorded a fourteenth-round knockout and relinquished his own title five months later.

Pintor was inactive throughout 1983. He returned to the ring a year-and-a-half later as a fully-fledged Super Bantamweight defeating Ruben Solorio on 16 February 1984 and busied himself thereafter trying to get another shot at the world title. his perseverance paid off when he was pitted against Juan 'Kid' Meza, the WBC's Super Bantamweight Champion on 18 August 1985. Pintor floored the defending champion three times on the way to collecting a unanimous decision and celebrated his new status as a double world title holder.

His first defense of this new crown did not go to plan. Traveling to Bangkok to meet Samart Payakaroon, Pintor exceeded the division weight limit and was subsequently stripped of his title at the scales. Payakaroon could still become champion if he defeated Pintor but if Pintor won the title would be declared vacant. Payakaroon pounded Pintor to defeat in five rounds and the ex-champion quit fighting for the next eight years.

Pintor made a comeback of sorts in 1994, but at the comparatively advanced age of thirty-eight, he was long past his best. Winning just twice in seven contests over the next eighteen months, he was finally convinced that it was time to retire.

Honors

Pintor was named The Ring magazine Comeback of the Year fighter for 1985.

After boxing

Unlike many great champions, Pintor has managed his money well and opened a boxing school in Mexico City. In 2002, he was invited to Merthyr Tydfil by Johnny Owen's family to help unveil a bronze statue commemorating the boxer's life and career.

In 2008, Pintor reunited with Carlos Zarate and joined Juan Laporte as the three former victims of Wilfredo Gómez showed up at a party dedicated to Gómez for his fiftieth birthday, in Puerto Rico.

Pintor, along with Hector Camacho and Hilario Zapata and several non-boxers was voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in December 2015 and was inducted in June 2016.

Professional boxing record

72 fights 56 wins 14 losses
By knockout 42 7
By decision 14 6
By disqualification 0 1
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
72 Loss 56–14–2 Russell Mosley KO 2 (10) Jul 21, 1995 Tijuana, Mexico
71 Loss 56–13–2 Rodrigo Cerda PTS 10 Dec 2, 1994 Houston, Texas, US
70 Win 56–12–2 Kevin Sedam TKO 1 (10), 2:56 Nov 18, 1994 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, US
69 Loss 55–12–2 Leonardo Mas RTD 8 (12) Aug 13, 1994 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, US For WBC FECARBOX super lightweight title
68 Loss 55–11–2 Fernando Caicedo UD 12 Apr 2, 1994 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, US For WBC FECARBOX lightweight title
67 Loss 55–10–2 Ramon Sanchez PTS 10 Feb 25, 1994 Mexico
66 Win 55–9–2 Carmelo Gomez PTS 10 Jan 14, 1994 Tijuana, Mexico
65 Loss 54–9–2 Samart Payakaroon KO 5 (12), 1:31 Jan 18, 1986 Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand

WBC super bantamweight title at stake only for Payakaroon,Pintor missed weight

64 Loss 54–8–2 Billy White TKO 10 (?) Dec 12, 1985 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US
63 Win 54–7–2 Juan Meza UD 12 Aug 18, 1985 Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico Won WBC super bantamweight title
62 Draw 53–7–2 Javier Marquez SD 10 Jun 10, 1985 Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
61 Win 53–7–1 Eugenio Morgan TKO 2 (10), 2:37 Apr 19, 1985 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
60 Loss 52–7–1 Adriano Arreola TKO 7 (10), 3:00 Jan 17, 1985 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
59 Win 52–6–1 Ronnie Gary TKO 6 (10), 0:47 Jan 1, 1985 Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Mexico
58 Win 51–6–1 Cleo Garcia KO 1 (10), 3:00 Apr 26, 1984 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
57 Win 50–6–1 Ruben Solorio UD 10 Feb 16, 1984 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
56 Loss 49–6–1 Wilfredo Gómez TKO 14 (15), 2:44 Dec 3, 1982 Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, US For WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles
55 Win 49–5–1 Jorge Luján UD 10 Sep 23, 1982 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
54 Win 48–5–1 Lee Seung-hoon TKO 11 (15), 0:43 Jun 3, 1982 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US Retained WBC bantamweight title
53 Win 47–5–1 Hurricane Teru KO 15 (15), 2:02 Sep 22, 1981 Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title
52 Win 46–5–1 Jovito Rengifo TKO 8 (15), 1:21 Jul 26, 1981 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US Retained WBC bantamweight title
51 Win 45–5–1 Jose Felix Uziga UD 15 Feb 22, 1981 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US Retained WBC bantamweight title
50 Win 44–5–1 Alberto Dávila MD 15 Dec 19, 1980 Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, US Retained WBC bantamweight title
49 Win 43–5–1 Johnny Owen KO 12 (15), 2:35 Sep 19, 1980 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US Retained WBC bantamweight title;
Owen died of injuries sustained from the fight.
48 Draw 42–5–1 Eijiro Murata SD 15 Jun 11, 1980 Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title
47 Win 42–5 Alberto Sandoval TKO 12 (15) Feb 9, 1980 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US Retained WBC bantamweight title
46 Loss 41–5 Manuel Vazquez RTD 5 (10), 3:00 Dec 29, 1979 Gimnasio del Estado, Hermosillo, Mexico
45 Win 41–4 Jose Luis Soto PTS 10 Oct 29, 1979 Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
44 Win 40–4 Torito Melendez KO 1 (?) Oct 5, 1979 Reynosa, Mexico
43 Win 39–4 Carlos Zárate Serna SD 15 Jun 3, 1979 Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, US Won WBC bantamweight title
42 Win 38–4 Rodrigo Gonzalez TKO 3 (10), 2:42 May 1, 1979 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US
41 Win 37–4 Livio Nolasco TKO 6 (10), 2:16 Mar 10, 1979 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
40 Win 36–4 Agustin Vega KO 3 (?) Nov 11, 1978 Matamoros, Mexico
39 Win 35–4 Roger Buchelli KO 2 (10), 2:59 Sep 26, 1978 Houston, Texas, US
38 Win 34–4 Richard Rozelle KO 5 (10), 0:10 Jul 18, 1978 Civic Center, Houston, Texas, US
37 Loss 33–4 Jose Luis Soto PTS 10 Jun 30, 1978 Culiacán, Mexico
36 Loss 33–3 Leonardo Cruz PTS 10 Apr 22, 1978 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
35 Win 33–2 Antonio Becerra PTS 10 Mar 31, 1978 Mazatlán, Mexico
34 Win 32–2 Gerald Hayes UD 10 Feb 25, 1978 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
33 Win 31–2 Davey Vasquez KO 2 (10), 2:05 Jan 30, 1978 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, US
32 Win 30–2 Joaquin Gonzalez KO 2 (10) Dec 18, 1977 Auditorio Matamoros, Matamoros, Mexico
31 Win 29–2 Baby Kid Chocolate KO 2 (10), 2:58 Nov 8, 1977 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, US
30 Win 28–2 Tony Rocha KO 4 (10), 0:33 Oct 8, 1977 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
29 Win 27–2 Andres Torres TKO 4 (10), 0:59 Aug 20, 1977 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
28 Win 26–2 Ramon Guillen KO 1 (?) Jul 2, 1977 Mexico City, Mexico
27 Win 25–2 Eduardo Limon KO 1 (?) Jun 17, 1977 Reynosa, Mexico
26 Win 24–2 Tranquita Brown KO 1 (?) May 20, 1977 Ciudad Madera, Mexico
25 Win 23–2 Gabby Cantera KO 7 (?), 2:41 Apr 12, 1977 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, US
24 Win 22–2 Orlando Amores KO 1 (?) Mar 11, 1977 Culiacán, Mexico
23 Win 21–2 Evaristo Perez KO 1 (?) Feb 26, 1977 Mexico City, Mexico
22 Win 20–2 Babe San Martin TKO 7 (10) Jan 29, 1977 Reynosa, Mexico
21 Win 19–2 Jose Angel Cazares KO 1 (10) Jan 1, 1977 Plaza de Toros, Torreón, Mexico
20 Win 18–2 Nacho Beltran KO 3 (?) Nov 13, 1976 Estadio General Ángel Flores, Culiacán, Mexico
19 Win 17–2 Jose Antonio Rosa TKO 6 (10), 1:23 Oct 2, 1976 Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, US
18 Win 16–2 Samuel Machorro PTS 10 Aug 1, 1976 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
17 Win 15–2 Manuel Killer KO 2 (10) Jun 26, 1976 Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, Mexico
16 Win 14–2 Gallito Castro KO 1 (?) Jun 2, 1976 Tijuana, Mexico
15 Win 13–2 Jose Luis Cruz TKO 9 (10) Mar 27, 1976 Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Mexico
14 Loss 12–2 Alberto Dávila UD 10 Feb 25, 1976 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
13 Win 12–1 Catalino Flores KO 2 (10), 1:27 Dec 4, 1975 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
12 Win 11–1 Alvaro Lopez KO 2 (10) Oct 11, 1975 Auditorio Benito Juárez, Guadalajara, Mexico
11 Win 10–1 Willie Jensen KO 7 (10), 0:58 Sep 20, 1975 Forum, Inglewood, California, US
10 Win 9–1 Roberto Alvarez KO 1 (10) Jul 25, 1975 Arena Coliseo, Guadalajara, Mexico
9 Win 8–1 Rocky Mijares TKO 6 (10) Apr 16, 1975 Plaza de Toros, Torreón, Mexico
8 Win 7–1 Andres Reyes PTS 10 Mar 10, 1975 Victoria de Durango, Mexico
7 Win 6–1 Martin Valencia KO 6 (?) Feb 19, 1975 Mexico City, Mexico
6 Win 5–1 Juan Diaz KO 2 (10) Dec 21, 1974 Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
5 Loss 4–1 Magallo Lozada DQ 4 (?) Oct 16, 1974 Mexico City, Mexico
4 Win 4–0 Salvador Martinez PTS 10 Sep 10, 1974 Mexico City, Mexico
3 Win 3–0 Manuel Castanedas TKO 4 (?) Jul 24, 1974 Tijuana, Mexico
2 Win 2–0 Francisco Javier Nunez UD 10 May 7, 1974 Arena Tijuana 72, Tijuana, Mexico
1 Win 1–0 Manuel Vazquez KO 2 (10) Mar 26, 1974 Arena Tijuana 72, Tijuana, Mexico

See also


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