Alfonso Zamora was celebrated, cheered and honored by the WBC for the fiftieth anniversary of becoming a bantamweight champion. On March 14, 1975, he knocked out Soo-Hwan Hong in the fourth round to win the WBA title. Alfonso went on to achieve 32 knockouts in 33 wins against five losses. He is the only Mexican to win an Olympic medal and become a world champion. He won the silver medal at the 1972 Munich Games. His championship reign included a win over future featherweight champion and Hall of Famer Eusebio Pedroza. In 1977, he faced Carlos Zarate, the WBC bantamweight champion, in what was agreed to be a non-title bout. Zarate beat Zamora and Zamora lost his WBA title next time out against Jorge Lujan. 

 

Zamora was very moved by the celebration. Baby-faced back then and still fresh-faced and handsome now, he smiled as he said, “I am very happy. Fifty years in which many things have happened. I am very grateful to God for allowing me to be here today with you, recounting what I have been through.”

 

Boxingtalk joins the WBC in saluting Alfonso Zamora on his fiftieth championship anniversary.