Tony Baltazar, alongside along with his older brother Frankie, had been boxing as younger boys of their native Los Angeles after being launched to the game by their father.
Some 300 mixed newbie fights later, they each turned professional. Whereas Frankie in all probability had the extra pure, smoother fashion of the 2, it was Tony who actually made a mark on the game.
Frankie turned professional in 1976. Brother Tony went professional three years later within the winter of 1979.
From ’79 by means of ‘82, in his first 25 fights, Tony was a powerful 24-1, solely drawing in opposition to veteran Chuy Rodriguez in 1981. After banging out 10 extra wins over the following year-and-a-half, he obtained his first big-name bout in 1983 in opposition to famed Olympian, Howard Davis Jr. He misplaced a UD, however it will begin a run of fights in opposition to among the finest fighters on the earth.
From 1983 by means of 1985, he rattled off 5 fights that included a TKO stoppage to undefeated, world-rated Robin Blake. Two fights later, he beat world champion Roger Mayweather. After a win 17 months later, on the finish of 1985, he would depart the ring and wouldn’t return for 3 years.
(Be aware – Baltazar’s boxing profession was interrupted by a jail stint for his function in a tragic vehicular manslaughter case by which 2 individuals had been killed. He resumed his profession upon his launch).
“The Tiger” returned in 1988. From 1988 till the top of his profession in 1994, he would face a few of boxing’s finest fighters.
Within the final 6 years, he would struggle 15 instances, going 10-5. His 5 defeats included a distance loss to world champion Buddy McGirt, in a nationally televised bout. He additionally dropped his 1st world title shot, for the WBO tremendous light-weight title, to legend Hector Camacho in 1990.
After 2 extra wins he would drop a UD to veteran Rodney Moore in Philadelphia. Then, a 12 months later, he would get his 2nd world title shot in opposition to undefeated 35-0 champion Carlos Gonzalez, however he was halted within the 1st body.
He cut up his final 2 fights, going 1-1. He did return for a distance win in 2002, however that may be the final time he ever stepped into the ring.
He retired with a mixed document of a powerful 39-7-1, with 30 knockouts. Baltazar was a well-liked TV common and an thrilling world-class fighter.
One should surprise if beginning boxing at such a younger age and having so many newbie fights probably contributed to a burnout issue at instances in his profession.
Regardless, he was an thrilling puncher-boxer who was a staple on the legendary Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. A southpaw boxer who fought from the orthodox stance, he was recognized for his vicious left hook. Baltazar was in quite a few thrilling bouts in opposition to among the world’s finest throughout his time.
“The Tiger” would depart the ring with 2 title photographs beneath his belt, a powerful document, and a long-lasting legacy in California, and all of boxing, as a world-class contender.
Thanks for the recollections, Tony.
