Raúl Macías

Raúl Macías Guevara (July 28, 1934 in Mexico City – March 23, 2009)[1] was a former Mexican boxer and boxing trainer. He took the NBA World Bantamweight Championship on March 9, 1955. Widely known as "Ratón" Macías, or "Mouse" Macías, he won a bronze medal at the 1951 Pan American Games.[2][3][4]

Raúl Macías
Statistics
Real nameRaúl Macías Guevara
Nickname(s)Ratón Macías
Weight(s)Bantamweight
Height1.61 m (5 ft 3 12 in)
Reach1.61 m (63 in)
NationalityMexican
BornJuly 28, 1934
Mexico City, Mexico
DiedMarch 23, 2009(2009-03-23) (aged 74)
Mexico City, Mexico
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights43
Wins41
Wins by KO25
Losses2
Draws0

Early life and amateur career

Macias was born on July 28, 1934, in Tepito, Distrito Federal, Mexico, a suburb of Mexico City. Macías had always expressed pride at being Mexican.

Macias began his amateur career at age fourteen, winning the National Junior Flyweight, Flyweight and Bantamweight titles. He won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games, and represented Mexico as a bantamweight at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. In the Olympics, he first defeated Angel Amaya of Venezuela in a unanimous decision, then lost to Gennady Garbuzov of the Soviet Union[3]

1952 Olympic results

Below is the record of Raul Macias, a Mexican bantamweight boxer who competed at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics:

  • Round of 32: defeated Angel Amaya (Venezuela) by decision, 3-0
  • Round of 16: lost to Gennady Garbuzov (Soviet Union) by decision, 0-3

Professional career

On January 1, 1953, Macias debuted as a professional boxer with a first round knockout win against Memo Sanchez in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Exactly one month later and in only his second fight, Macias had his first ten-round bout, and he outpointed Chucho Tello in Culiacán, a feat he would duplicate in their rematch.[2]

Macias piled up a record of 8–0 with 2 knockouts and then faced Beto Couray on October 17, 1953 in Mexico City, for the Mexican Bantamweight title, lifting the national championship from Couray with a 12-round decision win. After 6 more wins, he challenged Nate Brooks on September 26, 1954 for the continental, NABF Bantamweight championship, which he took with a twelve-round decision in Mexico City.[2][5]

Macías was one of Televisa's first boxing stars. Many of his fights were shown live on Televisa during the 1950s.[2]

Taking the NBA world bantamweight title, 1955

National Boxing Association World Bantamweight champion Robert Cohen refused to defend his title against Macías, so the NBA decided to declare the title vacant and have Macias and Chamroen Songkitrat fight for the championship. It was Macías' first attempt at the world title and first fight abroad. On March 9, 1955 in San Francisco, California, Macías knocked out Songkiktrat in round eleven, taking the NBA World Bantamweight championship. Macias demonstrated great speed, boxing skill, and a powerful punch in his victory.[6] Macias floored Songkitrat twice in the sixth. From the sixth on, Macias dominated the bout. Songkitrat down for an eight count from a right in the eleventh. After he was down again from a right to the head, referee Fred Apostoli, a former world champion, ended the bout thirty seconds into round eleven.[7]

Next followed a series of non-title fights. In a non-title bout on June 16, 1955, Macías suffered his first defeat when he was knocked out 2:29 into the third round by Billy Peacock in Los Angeles. The final blows were two left hooks that left Macias with a broken jaw. Macias, originally a 3-1 favorite, was down for a no count from a blow to his jaw earlier in the round. The bout would be Macías' only defeat by knockout, and left him hospitalized for two days.[8][9]

Macías' popularity followed him to California and Texas, where he fought a number of times. On October 17, 1955, he defefated Cecil Schoonmaker in a ten-round decision in Corpus Christi, Texas. The non-title bout was considered drab by several ringsiders.[10]

NBA bantamweight title defenses, and losing title

Macias had five victories before he defended his NBA world Bantamweight title for the first time against Leo Espinoza. He defeated Espinoza, father of Philippines world boxing champion Luisito Espinoza, before a crowd of 50,000 in a tenth-round knockout on March 25, 1956 in Mexico City. A blow to the ribs and a right to the head put Espinoza down for the full count 2:57 into the tenth round. Espinoza complained that the altitude of Mexico City robbed him of his full breathing capacity.[11][12]

Top rated Italian bantamweight Gaetano Annaloro fell to Macias on November 21, 1956 in a decisive ten-round decision in San Antonio, Texas. The crowd of 4,500 shouted for more action in the carefully fought non-title bout. Macias used his left effectively, and though he sustained a slightly bruised hand in the fourth, it did not hinder him in the remaining rounds. Annaloro bobbed and weaved to maintain his defense, but was unable to gain an advantage over his opponent.[13][14]

On February 10, 1957, Macias knocked out Juan Carcenas in Mexico City in the eighth round. In their non-title bout, Macias put Carcenas to the mat ten times before he was counted out 1:30 into the sixth round. Cardenas was down four times in the second, three in the third, once in the fifth and twice in the sixth.[15][16]

After seven more non-title fight wins, Macias faced Dommy Ursua on June 15, 1957 in San Francisco in his second title defense. Macias was down for a four count from a left hook in the first, but retained his championship, knocking out Ursua in the eleventh before a crowd of 13,000. Macias took the lead after the third round, and used his five-inch height advantage to score with telling body blows. A cut above Ursua's eye slowed his progress after the sixth. Macias was called for a low blow in the eleventh, not long before unleashing a right and two handed combination that led to the referee ending the match.[2][17][18]

On November 6, 1957, he faced Alphonse Halimi at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field in his last title bout. Halimi shook Macias with a hook to the jaw in the furious fourth round, though the bout featured no knockdowns. Macias lost his belt by a close and controversial 15-round split decision. Macias tried to close stronger in the final round, but was stopped by Halimi's offense.[19]

Life after boxing

He retired from boxing in 1959 after outpointing Ernesto Parra in ten rounds in Mexico City. After a three-year break, he knocked out Chocolate Zambrano in the fifth as part of a charity event on October 13, 1962 in Guadalajara. The match was his last.

In retirement, Macías appeared in a number of Mexican telenovelas, most notably 1990's "Mi Pequeña Soledad" ("My Small Soledad"), alongside Verónica Castro. His best known movies included El Raton in 1957, La Culpa in 1966, and Llanto, risas e nocaut in 1974. The Black and White, El Raton, in which he starred, was directed by Chano Urueta.He co-starred with gifted boxer, four times world champion and Boxing Hall of Fame member, Ruben Olivares, ("el puas"), in Llanto, risas e nocaut.[20][4]

After his participation in "Mi Pequeña Soledad", Macías dedicated himself to training boxers in a Mexico City gym. He compiled a professional boxing record of 41 wins and 2 losses, with 25 wins by knockout. He died at the age of 74.[2][3]

Professional record

41 Wins (25 knockouts, 16 decisions), 2 Losses, 0 Draws
Res. Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 41-2 Chocolate Zambrano TKO5 (8)1962-10-13 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Win 40-2 Ernesto Parra UD101959-02-28 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 39-2 Carmen Iacobucci KO2 (10)1959-02-08 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Win 38-2 Luis Trejo KO8 (10)1959-01-25 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Win 37-2 Kid Irapuato UD101958-11-10 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Loss 36-2 Alphonse Halimi SD151957-11-06 Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, United States Lost NBA World bantamweight title
Win 36-1 Pastor Gonzalez KO5 (10)1957-09-07 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Win 35-1 Dommy Ursua TKO11 (15)1957-06-15 Cow Palace, Daly City, California, United States Retained NBA World bantamweight title
Win 34-1 Juan Cardenas KO6 (10)1957-02-10 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 33-1 Gaetano Annaloro UD101956-11-21 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 32-1 Johnny Hand KO1 (10)1956-11-13 El Paso, Texas, United States
Win 31-1 Ramon Young KO2 (10)1956-11-03 Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico
Win 30-1 Hector Ceballos KO4 (10)1956-10-27 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Win 29-1 Larry Bataan KO6 (10)1956-09-05 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Win 28-1 Tanny Campo UD101956-06-30 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 27-1 Adrian Kiriz KO3 (10)1956-05-26 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Win 26-1 Mike Hernandez KO4 (10)1956-04-21 Merida, Yucatán, Mexico
Win 25-1 Leo Espinosa KO10 (15)1956-03-25 Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico Retained NBA World bantamweight title
Win 24-1 Joe Chamaco KO4 (10)1956-01-29 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Win 23-1 Lucio Torres KO6 (10)1956-01-15 Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico
Win 22-1 Arturo Ruiz TKO6 (10)1955-12-11 Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Win 21-1 Pedro Soto KO6 (10)1955-11-21 Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
Win 20-1 Cecil Schoonmaker UD101955-10-17 Memorial Auditorium, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
Loss 19-1 Billy Peacock TKO3 (10)1955-06-15 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Win 19-0 Moe Mario TKO5 (10)1955-05-12 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 18-0 Memo Sanchez KO6 (10)1955-04-10 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Win 17-0 Chamroen Songkitrat TKO11 (12)1955-03-09 Cow Palace, Daly City, California, United States Won vacant NBA World bantamweight title
Win 16-0 Nate Brooks UD121954-09-26 Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico Won North American bantamweight title
Win 15-0 Fili Nava UD121954-05-22 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico Retained Mexico bantamweight title
Win 14-0 Fili Nava UD121954-04-10 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico Retained Mexico bantamweight title
Win 13-0 Billy Peacock TKO7 (10)1954-03-13 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 12-0 Alberto Reyes UD101954-01-16 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 11-0 Lalo Gayosso TKO3 (10)1953-12-23 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 10-0 Alberto Reyes TKO3 (10)1953-11-21 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 9-0 Beto Couary UD121953-10-17 Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico Won Mexico bantamweight title
Win 8-0 Genaro Serafin UD101953-09-12 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 7-0 Otilio Galvan UD121953-08-01 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 6-0 Trini Ruiz UD101953-05-13 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 5-0 Manuel Armenteros UD101953-04-15 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Win 4-0 Giraldo Bacho KO4 (10)1953-03-26 Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Win 3-0 Memo Sanchez TKO5 (10)1952-12-15 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
Win 2-0 Chucho Tello UD101952-11-22 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
Win 1-0 Chucho Tello UD101952-11-01 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico professional debut.[2]

References

  1. "Raúl Macías, a World Bantamweight Champion, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 24, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  2. "Raton Macias". BoxRec. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. "Raton Macias Bio". BoxRec. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. "Raul "Raton" Macias Bio". Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. "Saturday Fight Results", Daily Independent Journal, San Rafael, California, pg. 8, 27 September 1954
  6. McGoogan, W.J., "Between Rounds", St Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, pg. 29, 10 March 1955
  7. "Mexican Wins NBA Bantam Title; TKOs Songkitrat", Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas, pg. 9, 10 March 1955
  8. Whorton, Cal, "Bantam Champ Macias KO'd By Peacock", Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 83, 16 June 1955
  9. "Peacock Kayos Masias; Seeks Bout with Cohen", The Weirton Daily Times, Weirton, West Virginia, pg. 10, 16 June 1955
  10. "Macias Wins Nod", Long Beach Independent, Long Beach, California, pg. 17, 18 October 1955
  11. "Macias Kayoes Leo Espinoza", The Petaluma Argus Courier, Petaluma, California, pg. 4, 26 March 1956
  12. "50,000 See Macias Win", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 74, 26 March 1956
  13. "Macias Has Easy Time Defeating Annaloro", Longview News Journal, Longview, Texas, pg. 12, 22 November 1956
  14. Macias Eases By Annaloro in NBA Bout", The Brownsville Herald, Brownsville, Texas, pg. 12, 22 November 1956
  15. "Macias Floors Foe Ten Times, Wins By Kayo", El Paso Herald, El Paso Texas, pg. 21, 11 February 1957
  16. "Stevenson, Jack, "Ursua Set to Throw Hard Punch", The Petaluma Argus Courier, Petaluma, California, pg. 4, 14 June 1957
  17. Russel, Jack, "Macias-Halimi Title Go Planned", The Times, San Mateo, California, pg. 11, 17 Jun 1957
  18. "Macias Halts Ursua in Eleventh", Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona, pg. 23, 16 June 1957
  19. "Halimi Bags Split Nod Over Macias", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 71, 7 November 1957
  20. "Raul Macias Bio". IMDB, Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
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