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RECORD:
43-11-6, 13 KOs » Fight History
TITLE:
Former WBC Welterweight Champion
WEIGHT CLASS:
Welterweight (154 pounds)
NICKNAME:
"Tata" |
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His passport has been punched more than he has. And despite the fact he was the World Boxing Council welterweight champion, Carlos "Tata" Baldomir knows, at best, he can be only the second most famous boxer from his hometown.
"I accept the fact that I, along with every boxer from my country and my hometown, can only toil in the shadow of the great Carlos Monzon,” said Baldomir, who, along with the late Monzon, comes from Santa Fe, Argentina.
But Baldomir achieved some greatness of his own and became boxing’s “ Cinderella Man.”
His first brush with greatness came on a nationally televised card Jan. 8, 2006 , in New York City when the Sycuan Ringside Promotions-promoted boxer upset Zab Judah by 12-round unanimous decision to capture the WBC 147-pound title and become recognized as the undisputed welterweight world champion.
His next date with greatness came on another nationally televised card July 22, 2006 , in Atlantic City , N.J. , when he stopped Arturo Gatti by technical knockout in the ninth round to retain his WBC welterweight championship.
"I feel as though I have the right promoter at the right time," said the soft-spoken Baldomir. "Sycuan Ringside Promotions came into my life just when it was my time to win a world championship at 147 pounds. Some things in life are meant to be.”
Baldomir was dethroned Nov. 4, 2006, losing a 12-round decision to undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. on a pay-per-view card in Las Vegas, his first loss in almost eight years.
Baldomir’s most recent outing was July 28, 2007, in Tacoma, Wash., when he dropped a 12-round decision to veteran Vernon Forrest for the vacant WBC super welterweight championship.
Baldomir, who now has a record of 43-11-6 with 13 knockouts, earned the shot against Judah with his first unexpected unanimous decision win, this one against highly touted Miguel Rodriquez May 21, 2005, in Chicago.
But despite the impressive wins over Rodriguez, Judah and Gatti, and the WBC championship, Baldomir doesn’t forget his roots.
“I am reminded of Monzon's greatness every day in the gym because my trainer, Amilcar Brusa, was Monzon's trainer and teacher,” said Baldomir. “Monzon was a legend and so is (85-year-old) Amilcar."
Being in the shadow of Hall of Fame middleweight champion Monzon, who died at age 52 and amassed a record of 87-3-9 with 59 knockouts, is not a problem for the strong, deft-boxing and remarkably persistent Baldomir.
"I could never have had Monzon's career," said Baldomir. "I have had a different, more difficult path."
During the majority of his career, Baldomir had to supplement his often-meager boxing purses by selling feather dusters on the streets of Santa Fe.
“Then I trained haphazardly because I had to be on the streets selling feather dusters,” said Baldomir. “But I started training like a professional boxer should. Once I won the (WBC) international championship (during 1999) I realized that with proper training I could get to where I am now.”
Baldomir, indeed, has taken a circuitous route to the heights of the boxing world. He had to take fights as an unwelcome visitor in eight countries on four continents. And the 36-year-old, 5-foot-7-inch Baldomir only has a mere 13 knockouts. By contrast, Monzon stood a towering 6-foot-2-inches and had a pulverizing punch to go along with his other ring skills.
"But I got the job done and won the world championship,” said Baldomir. “I brought the green and gold WBC belt back to my wife and four children in Santa Fe ."
Baldomir, the consummate professional, trains for months in the United States in preparation for his bouts; he eschewed spending the holiday season with his family prior to his bout against Judah.
Few gave Baldomir a chance to win against Rodriguez, let alone against Judah or Gatti.
"Carlos took Miguel to school in that fight and he did the same against Zab and Arturo," said Scott Woodworth, vice president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions. “He’s a pro’s pro and Sycuan Ringside Promotions is proud of him."
“Baldomir was very strong and getting stronger,” said Gatti after his one-sided loss. “And he really boxed well.”
But there remains only one ring legend from Santa Fe , and Baldomir, a modest man of considerable ability, knows this.
"Monzon was and always will be a giant," said Baldomir. "If they only mention me as another boxer from Santa Fe who won a world title, I can accept that. If they only say I was another boxing student of ‘Professor’ Brusa, I can accept that." |
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Sycuan Ringside Promotions |
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