Page 15 - Boxing News Magazine (January 2020)

NEWS AND OPINION

CARLOS DE LEON: 1959-2020

Matt Christie half of the cruiserweights’ first true
marquee contest in 1988 as he collided
looks back on EARLY KING:
De Leon remains with the young and unbeaten Evander
the career of one of the best Holyfield, who held the IBF and WBA
cruiserweights
an underrated in history titles and was already plotting a jump to
heavyweight and a challenge to Tyson.
four-time WBC De Leon, fighting off the ropes, had
titlist some success with his counters but was
largely outfought before being stopped
in the eighth. The reports that followed
were cruel to both combatants as they
dismissed Holyfield’s chances against
Tyson due to him being extended as far as
eight by De Leon.
“De Leon was a true champion,”
Holyfield protested in the aftermath. “He
was brave and he fought with dignity.
He wasn’t going to lose on one or two
punches.”
By now past his best, Carlos recaptured
the WBC title for the third and final time
in 1989 when he outclassed and stopped
the plucky Londoner Sammy Reeson
atop a Frank Warren-promoted card in
Millwall.
He would return to the UK for his
first defence in a bout that achieved
infamy for both him and his challenger.
The tedious 12-round draw with Johnny
Nelson in Sheffield, where barely a punch
was thrown, remains the unsurpassed
benchmark for boring world title fights
staged in Britain. De Leon slipped further
out of favour in his next bout when he
was disqualified against Massimiliano
CARLOS DE LEON suffered a heart attack content to pot-shot and spoil, particularly Duran in Italy in 1990.
and died at the age of just 60 in the early in the final years of his career. After a two-year lay-off, De Leon –
hours of New Year’s Day at his home in But De Leon – who could befuddle going through the motions of a fighter
Buffalo, New York. with a double jab and a sidestep – in decline – reeled off a series of wins
The Puerto Rican is rightly regarded as played a huge part in establishing the against poor heavyweights only to be
one of the best cruiserweights in history cruiserweight division that we know stopped by Corrie Sanders and Brian
by those who know the sport. A master today. He would overpower Camel in a Neilson in his final bouts. He retired in
boxer at his best, the crafty and adaptable rematch before a shocking two-round 1995 with a record of 53-8-1 (33).
“Sugar” De Leon began the first of four loss to ST Gordon (which saw the WBC His record in world title fights
reigns as WBC champion when the then- raise the divisional limit to 195lbs) was is also worthy of attention: 11-5-
190lbs division was in its infancy. avenged in 1983. That lopsided 12-round 1 (5) highlighted his excellence at
De Leon commanded great respect points win marked the start of his second cruiserweight, where he also scored wins
from his peers though his finest stories reign though a tight loss to Alfonzo Ratliff over fighters like Leon Spinks in 1983 and
rarely grabbed the attention of the two years later would end it. anyone who remembers his blistering
headline writers. He outpointed Marvin Often used by promoter Don King as stoppage of Yaqui Lopez in the same year
Camel in 1980 to begin his first reign chief-support to his gang of heavyweights, will tell you what a talent he was. Also
on the undercard of Roberto Duran’s De Leon regained the belt again in 1986 revealing was his respectable 5-5-1 tally
infamous surrender to Sugar Ray Leonard with victory over Bernard Benton on the against future, former or current world
in their New Orleans rematch. By the end undercard of Pinklon Thomas’ upset loss titlists.
of the 15-round bout Camel looked like to Trevor Berbick. Thomas would later De Leon’s legacy must also include his
he had been shaving with a potato peeler. withdraw from a projected heavyweight work in retirement. Alongside his brothers
De Leon’s failure to win over the non-title bout with De Leon on the Mike Juan and Angel, Carlos was integral in
boxing media is partly due to the Tyson-Larry Holmes bill in January 1988, the development of Team De Leon in the
cruiserweight class in which he competed resulting in the unmotivated Puerto greater Buffalo area. Heavyweight Joe
– it was initially regarded as a needless Rican producing the kind of performance Mesi, Orlando Cruz (who challenged
steppingstone between light-heavyweight that blighted his reputation: A painfully for major feather and lightweight belts),
and heavyweight and struggled for dull 12-round points win against the light-flyweight Angel Acosta and Carlos’
relevancy. But DeLeon must also share overmatched replacement, Jose Maria son, super-middleweight Carlos De
some of the blame; his sublime counter- Flores Burton. Leon Jnr, all achieved success under the
punching ability made him lazy, too Nevertheless, DeLeon was one- guidance of the family.

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