WHY ISN’T LUPE PINTOR IN THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME?

LUPE PINTOR

By Jim Amato



This is a story that you may say is regrettable. You may say it is sad or that it is a simple oversight. Or you may call it what it is, a travesty! If you look at the credentials of Lupe Pintor it is plain to see that they far exceed those of some that are enshrined in the I.B.H.O.F. This is a proud warrior who should have been inducted years ago but sadly he sits on the outside looking in.

Pintor was born in Mexico in 1955 and he turned professional in 1974. He first gained attention in 1975 when he upset previously unbeaten Willie “Birdlegs” Jensen via a seventh round knockout. In 1976 he would drop a decision to highly regarded Alberto Davila. Pintor continued to rack up victories stopping Tony Rocha, Baby Kid Chocolate and Davey Vasquez. He also out pointed Gerald Hayes. In 1978 he dropped verdicts to future super bantamweight champion Leo Cruz and Jose Luis Soto. A fourth round stoppage of Richard Rozelle put Lupe back in the title picture. On June 3, 1979 Pintor met the great Carlos Zarate for the WBC bantamweight title. The once beaten Zarate boxed well early on and even had Lupe down in the fourth round. As the fight progressed Pintor began to come on. Still at the end of fifteen rounds the decision was in doubt. One judge had Zarate in front by an outrageous score of 145-133. The other two judges shocked the crowd voting for the new champion Lupe Pintor by the score of 143-142. It was a highly controversial verdict. A disgusted Zarate would stay away from boxing for nearly seven years.

Pintor proved to be a busy and worthy champion. In 1980 he turned back the challenge of the talented Alberto “Superfly” Sandoval. In his next defense he drew with tough Eijro Murata. Then came a tragic defense against the gritty Welshman Johnny Owen. Pintor kayoed Owen in round twelve. The brave Owen would die from injuries in this bout two months later. Somehow Pintor put the tragedy behind him and continued to defend his title. He would defeat Alberto Davila in a rematch. In 1981 he outscored Joe Felix Uziga and Jovito Rengifo. He then stopped Hurricane Teru in the final round. In 1982 he took out Seung Hoon Lee in the eleventh round. It was Lupe’s eighth successful title defense. He would then relinquish the crown to go after Wilfredo Gomez at 122 pounds. Pintor won a ten rounder over former WBA bantamweight king Jorge Lujan and then challenged Gomez. The fight took place on December 3, 1982. It was quite a memorable affair. When I think of great fights I have seen, Foreman – Lyle, Pryor – Arguello I, Duran – Barkley and Gomez – Pintor quickly come to mind. This was an action packed encounter with several shifts in momentum. It was a true classic that ended in round fourteen with Gomez retaining his WBC super bantamweight title.

Pintor would lay off for over a year. Upon returning he won three straight but was then upset by Adriano Arreola. In 1985 Pintor was matched with Juan “Kid” Meza who now held the WBC 122 pound crown. Meza had won the title in impressive fashion by clocking undefeated Jaime Garza in one round. Pintor surprised the experts by flooring the game Meza three times on his way to a decision victory. Pintor was again a champion. This title reign didn’t last long though. In 1986 he came in over the weight limit in a title defense and forfeited his crown. His opponent Samart Payakaroon then halted him.

Lupe did not box again for eight years. He returned in 1994 as a lightweight. Pintor won only two of seven bouts and he would retire for good in 1995. In 72 bouts Pintor posted a 56-14-2 record. He won 42 inside the distance. He held the bantamweight title for three years taking on all comers. The only worthy opponent he missed was his WBA counterpart Jeff Chandler. The unification bout just never materialized. Chandler, a great fighter in his own right was inducted way back in 2000. Where is the justice here? It is time for Lupe Pintor to get the recognition he deserves.