In one corner, you had the 23-year old World Boxing Association champion, who not only hadn't lost a fight but has never had to have a decision rendered in 28 professional fights, the immovable object, Alfonso Zamora.
In the opposite corner, carrying the World Boxing Council colors was a 25-year-old with 45 straight wins, 44 by knockout, the irresistible object Carlos Zarate.
This fight might’ve featured the highest combined knockout ratio in the history of big-fight boxing. The Mexicans had a combined record of 74-0, with 73 knockouts, going into the fight.
All the ingredients for a class confrontation were there, all, that is, except one. Instead of meeting for undisputed possession of the bantamweight boxing championship Zamora and Zarate were simply battling for bragging rights in Mexico.
"This non title bout wasn't my idea. It doesn't make any sense for two champions to fight and, when it is all over, both are still champions," said Zarate. "One of us will lose, but what will he lose? Some pride, some respect, his undefeated record, but not his title. I think it's time we stop this foolishness and settle this business of two champions."
However Zamora's braintrust — particularly his father Alfonso Sr.— were more than happy to collect $125,000 for a non title, over-the weight clash. "We fight Zarate for the money and the other contenders for the championship," explained the elder Zamora.
Although there was no bad blood between the boxers—"We are friends and visit each others houses but on this occasion I'm prepared to forget that," said Zarate
Having won titles both Zamora and Zarate were essentially based out of Los Angles, the Inglewood Forum under the direction of Don Fraser often hosting their fights. When Zamora began to fight outside of Inglewood, Fraser sought to bar him from fighting there again. In the end though it was Fraser who was able to sign the two fighters to a contract - for April 23, 1977 - but to the dismay of fans neither the WBC nor the WBA sanctioned the fight as a unification championship bout. The fighters were nevertheless guaranteed championship money - $125,000 a record sum for bantamweights. In 10 rounds or less the matter of whom the dominant bantamweight would have to be settled. Bad blood, managerial betrayal and personal vendettas made for a pre-fight chemistry that seemed to make certain that 10 rounds would not be necessary anyway.
Between a drunken man jumping into the ring in the first round and the epic battle that followed between the boxers, it would be just another wild night at the Fabulous Forum.
(Ring / Boxing Illustrated / Patrick Kehoe)
