The profession of Betulio Gonzalez, which ought to be enshrined within the Corridor of Fame however for causes unknown just isn’t, featured quite a few clashes with varied champions, however was in any other case outlined by his rivalries with two males: the nice Miguel Canto of Mexico, with out query one of many greatest flyweights of all-time, and two-time world champion Shoji Oguma of Japan. All three boxers had been a part of a full of life, if not chaotic, flyweight division within the Nineteen Seventies which noticed world titles change fingers incessantly.
Gonzalez, a intelligent, sport boxer with fast fingers and a harmful proper, had his first likelihood at a world championship in 1971. He dropped a 15 spherical choice to Japan’s highly effective Masao Oba (whose profession was lower quick by a deadly automotive accident in 1973), however then received three in a row to get a second title attempt later that yr. He was once more denied when his match with Erbito Salavarria of the Philippines was scored a draw, however Salavarria failed a drug take a look at so in ’72 Gonzalez bought a 3rd likelihood when he met Socrates Batoto, additionally of the Philippines, for the vacant title. This time Gonzalez made good, stopping Batoto in spherical 4, however he surrendered his title only a few months later in his first protection when he took a horrible beating from Thailand’s Venice Borkhorsor.
Simply six weeks later Gonzalez was again within the ring and he went on to place collectively one other sequence of wins earlier than battling Miguel Canto in August of 1973 for a similar world title after Borkhorsor had deserted it to maneuver up in weight. Gonzalez stays the one boxer to defeat the nice Canto when he was in his prime as he received his second world title by cut up choice.
The next yr Gonzalez and Shoji Oguma clashed for the primary time, in a non-title bout in Japan. Betulio received the choice however 5 months later they fought once more, this time for the title and this time Oguma bought the factors verdict. Nonetheless, in his first title protection, the Japanese boxer misplaced his crown to Canto by choice, who then defended towards Gonzalez and avenged his earlier defeat by outboxing and outpointing his rival.
However this superb story of flyweight musical chairs was removed from over. The extremely lively Gonzalez rebounded to place collectively one other spectacular win streak, culminating in his wresting the WBA model of the flyweight title from Guty Espadas in July of 1978. In the meantime Canto stored reeling off title wins of his received, together with two over Oguma that very same yr.
In January of 1979, Gonzalez defended towards Oguma in Japan and as soon as once more they battled to the ultimate bell and this time the judges declared the struggle a draw. The choice was greeted with incredulity; most thought Oguma the apparent winner. So the WBA ordered a rematch, a remaining confrontation. Gonzalez vs Oguma IV was set for Utsunomiya Metropolis in Japan, the match to resolve as soon as and for all who was the higher battler.
As soon as once more, it was a aggressive battle till the shock ending. The early rounds noticed the extra aggressive Oguma in management as he pressured Gonzalez and let his fingers go. It was evident he supposed to take advantage of his benefit in punching energy because the southpaw unloaded with each fingers to the physique earlier than coming excessive with loaded lefts. The affected person Venezuelan for essentially the most half retreated and side-stepped Oguma’s assaults, once in a while countering successfully along with his straight proper, however touchdown nothing to discourage the challenger. The group cheered their countryman as he clearly received not less than 5 of the primary seven rounds.
Gonzalez fared higher in rounds eight and 9, nevertheless it was nonetheless Oguma coming ahead and touchdown the heavier photographs. In spherical ten he virtually floored the champion with a vicious left and within the eleventh he continued to hold the struggle to Gonzalez. Then got here spherical twelve.
Halfway by way of the spherical noticed a uncommon occasion the place Oguma, not Gonzalez, gave floor. He slipped a pair of jabs from the champion as he backed to the ropes however then by no means noticed Betulio’s observe up, a brief, crisp proper hand which landed completely on the challenger’s chin. Oguma collapsed face first. He gamely bought to his toes however the referee stored counting because the Japanese fighter staggered in regards to the ring, clearly in no situation to proceed. It went into the books as a clear, one-punch knockout, a most stunning conclusion to the struggle, to not point out the Gonzalez vs Oguma rivalry.
“Oguma is a tough puncher,” remarked Gonzalez afterwards. “I’ll always remember this struggle.”
For his half, the dejected challenger admitted he by no means noticed the precise hand which ended the match.
The triumph proved Gonzalez’s final championship win as 4 months later he misplaced his belt to Luis Ibarra. He would compete in two extra world title bouts, dropping each. In the meantime Oguma would win the WBC title the next yr, defending it 4 occasions earlier than dropping it to Antonio Avelar in 1981. — Robert Portis
