Juan Carazo
Encyclopedia
Juan Carazo is a former boxer
from Caguas, Puerto Rico
.
Carazo was considered to be a boxing reincarnation
of Wilfred Benítez
or Wilfredo Gómez
by many of his fans, and he won his first five professional bouts by knockout
in 1984. By his sixth bout, however, he had to rise off the canvas against Julio Guerrero of the Dominican Republic
before winning on an eight round unanimous decision.
In 1986, Carazo started to campaign in Venezuela
, where he won a few fights, including one versus Jesus Bastardo. Then, he had another fight in Puerto Rico, this time at Mario Morales
Coliseum, and the fight was telecasted all across the island. In it, his opponent wore long pants, showed his tongue at the camera and tried to bite Carazo. Carazo nevertheless won by a knockout in six.
Carazo had a fight scheduled on Telemundo Puerto Rico
in 1987 against a foreign opponent, in an undercard where Wilfredo Vazquez
was supposed to face another opponent. Both of their opponents had visa trouble and at the last minute, the card's promoters decided that in order to save the card, they'd put Carazo, a Jr. Bantamweight, and Vazquez, a Bantamweight, against each other. Carazo suffered his first loss, by a knockout in the first round.
Carazo came back to beat former Flyweight world champion Santos Laciar
by a decision in 12 at Caguas in 1988, and was given a chance to challenge the late Gilberto Roman
for the WBC
world's Jr. Bantamweight title in 1989, in the Los Angeles
suburb of Inglewood, California
. He was dropped in round four, but seconds after getting off, he dropped Roman near the ring's ropes. He was one second away from becoming a world champion, but Roman recovered, got up at the count of nine and proceeded to win by a unanimous 12 round decision.
On September 9 of that same year, a second world title opportunity came, when he faced the WBO world champion, the also late Jose Ruiz
in San Juan
. This time, he was knocked out in the first round, and, for all purposes, his boxing career was over after this.
Carazo then went to Chile
in 1992, losing a decision to Chilean fighter Bernardo Mendoza. He and his team stayed in Chile longer to protest the decision, and during their time there, they went to the house of a former South American champion and took monetary help and toys for him and his family.
Carazo decided to retire after that, but in 1996, he tried a comeback in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
, losing by a knockout in four rounds to an unknown boxer.
Carazo also lost to former world champion Jose Quirino
.
Carazo had a record of 25 wins and 9 losses, with 19 wins by knockout.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Caguas, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Carazo was considered to be a boxing reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Wilfred Benítez
Wilfred Benitez
Wilfred Benítez , is a Puerto Rican boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 17...
or Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez , sometimes referred to as Bazooka Gómez, is a former boxer and three time world champion.-Biography:...
by many of his fans, and he won his first five professional bouts by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in 1984. By his sixth bout, however, he had to rise off the canvas against Julio Guerrero of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
before winning on an eight round unanimous decision.
In 1986, Carazo started to campaign in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where he won a few fights, including one versus Jesus Bastardo. Then, he had another fight in Puerto Rico, this time at Mario Morales
Mario Morales
Mario Morales , aka "Quijote" Morales, for his ability to conquer both scoring and team championships in the Puerto Rican BSN league, is one of Puerto Rico's most famous basketball players.-Professional career:...
Coliseum, and the fight was telecasted all across the island. In it, his opponent wore long pants, showed his tongue at the camera and tried to bite Carazo. Carazo nevertheless won by a knockout in six.
Carazo had a fight scheduled on Telemundo Puerto Rico
Telemundo Puerto Rico
The name Telemundo Puerto Rico may represent:* WKAQ-TV, a Telemundo station in San Juan, Puerto Rico* Telemundo Puerto Rico , a former Spanish-language cable network...
in 1987 against a foreign opponent, in an undercard where Wilfredo Vazquez
Wilfredo Vázquez
Wilfredo Vázquez is a retired Puerto Rican professional boxer. He is a former World Champion at three different weights, Bantamweight, Super bantamweight and Featherweight.-Early life and amateur career:...
was supposed to face another opponent. Both of their opponents had visa trouble and at the last minute, the card's promoters decided that in order to save the card, they'd put Carazo, a Jr. Bantamweight, and Vazquez, a Bantamweight, against each other. Carazo suffered his first loss, by a knockout in the first round.
Carazo came back to beat former Flyweight world champion Santos Laciar
Santos Laciar
Santos Benigno Laciar , known familiarly as Santos Laciar and nicknamed Falucho, was an Argentine world flyweight champion.-Biography:Laciar was born in Huinca Renancó, in the province of Córdoba, Argentina....
by a decision in 12 at Caguas in 1988, and was given a chance to challenge the late Gilberto Roman
Gilberto Roman
Gilberto Román was a Mexican boxer in the Super Flyweight division and a member of the 1980 Mexican Olympic team. Román was a two-time WBC Super Flyweight Champion and is considered by many fans to be one of the great champions in this division...
for the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
world's Jr. Bantamweight title in 1989, in the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
suburb of Inglewood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was dropped in round four, but seconds after getting off, he dropped Roman near the ring's ropes. He was one second away from becoming a world champion, but Roman recovered, got up at the count of nine and proceeded to win by a unanimous 12 round decision.
On September 9 of that same year, a second world title opportunity came, when he faced the WBO world champion, the also late Jose Ruiz
José Ruiz
José "Cheíto" Ruíz Matos was a Puerto Rican boxer. Born and raised in the municipality of Trujillo Alto, he was signed as a professional when he was 17 years old. Ruíz made his debut July 13, 1984, competing in the super flyweight division...
in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. This time, he was knocked out in the first round, and, for all purposes, his boxing career was over after this.
Carazo then went to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1992, losing a decision to Chilean fighter Bernardo Mendoza. He and his team stayed in Chile longer to protest the decision, and during their time there, they went to the house of a former South American champion and took monetary help and toys for him and his family.
Carazo decided to retire after that, but in 1996, he tried a comeback in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
, losing by a knockout in four rounds to an unknown boxer.
Carazo also lost to former world champion Jose Quirino
Jose Quirino
José Quirino was a Mexican boxer in the Super Featherweight division. He is the former WBO Super Flyweight Champion.-WBO Super Flyweight Championship:...
.
Carazo had a record of 25 wins and 9 losses, with 19 wins by knockout.