Antonio Esparragoza

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Antonio Esparragoza
Statistics
Weight(s) Featherweight
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Born(1959-09-02)2 September 1959
Cumaná, Venezuela
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights36
Wins30
Wins by KO27
Losses2
Draws4

Antonio Esparragoza Betancourt (born 2 September 1959) is a Venezuelan former boxer who is a former WBA Featherweight Champion of the World.

Contents

Amateur career

Esparragoza represented Venezuela as a Featherweight at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Below are the results from that tournament:

Professional career

Esparragoza turned pro in 1981 and after largely fighting unproven fighters in his native Venezuela was granted a shot at Lineal & WBA Featherweight Titles holder Steve Cruz in 1987. Esparragoza pulled off an upset with a TKO in the 12th round. Esparragoza defended the titles against seven contenders before losing the belts to Yong-Kyun Park in 1991 via unanimous decision. He retired after the loss.

Due to his incredible knockout power, Esparragoza is ranked at 75 in Ring Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Punchers.


Professional boxing record

36 fights30 wins2 losses
By knockout271
By decision31
Draws4
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
36Loss30–2–4 Park Yong-kyun UD12Mar 30, 1991Mudeungsan Hotel, Gwangju City, South KoreaLost WBA featherweight title
35Win30–1–4Chan Mok ParkUD12May 12, 1990Hilton Hotel, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBA featherweight title
34Win29–1–4Eduardo MontoyaKO5 (12), 1:30Sep 22, 1989Plaza de Toros Calafia, Mexicali, MexicoRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
33Win28–1–4Jean Marc RenardKO6 (12), 2:25Jun 2, 1989Palais des Expositions, Namur, BelgiumRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
32Win27–1–4Mitsuru SugiyaKO10 (12), 2:07Mar 26, 1989Municipal Gymnasium, Kawasaki, JapanRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
31Win26–1–4Jose MarmolejoKO8 (12), 1:26Nov 5, 1988Palazzo Dello Sport, Marsala, ItalyRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
30Draw25–1–4 Marcos Villasana SD12Jun 23, 1988Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, USRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
29Win25–1–3Pascual ArandaKO10 (12), 2:48Jul 26, 1987Las Americas Arena, Houston, Texas, USRetained WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
28Win24–1–3 Steve Cruz TKO12 (12), 2:48Mar 6, 1987Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, USWon WBA and The Ring featherweight titles
27Win23–1–3Octavio QuinonesRTD3 (10), 1:52Jan 16, 1987Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, US
26Draw22–1–3Nelson RodriguezPTS10May 19, 1986San Juan, Puerto Rico
25Win22–1–2Bernardo ChecaKO2 (10)Mar 22, 1986Turmero, Venezuela
24Win21–1–2Jose M. OrtizKO2 (?)Feb 17, 1986Turmero, Venezuela
23Win20–1–2Johnny De La RosaTKO3 (10)May 4, 1985Concorde Boxing Arena, Oranjestad, Aruba
22Win19–1–2Joe RiveraKO2 (?)Feb 23, 1985Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
21Win18–1–2Jeff RobertsKO7 (?)Feb 2, 1985Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
20Draw17–1–2Bernardo ChecaPTS10Oct 10, 1984Porlamar, Venezuela
19Win17–1–1Jose GuerreroUD10Aug 11, 1984Concorde Boxing Arena, Oranjestad, Aruba
18Win16–1–1Eduardo LagunaKO4 (?)Jul 7, 1984Maracaibo, Venezuela
17Win15–1–1Jose de Jesus AcostaTKO3 (?)May 15, 1984Elias Mansur Stadion, Oranjestad, Aruba
16Win14–1–1Ruben VelizKO3 (?)Dec 16, 1983Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
15Win13–1–1Fabio MosqueraKO3 (?)Oct 1, 1983Caracas, Venezuela
14Win12–1–1Alberto ParraKO3 (?)May 13, 1983Porlamar, Venezuela
13Win11–1–1Jose MosquedaKO7 (?)Mar 26, 1983Catia La Mar, Venezuela
12Win10–1–1Antonio RodriguezKO3 (?)Feb 19, 1983Cumana, Venezuela
11Win9–1–1Freddy PitaluaPTS10Nov 6, 1982Caracas, Venezuela
10Draw8–1–1 Bernardo Piñango PTS10Oct 4, 1982Caracas, Venezuela
9Win8–1Angel TorresKO9 (?)Jul 26, 1982Cumana, Venezuela
8Win7–1Tito RoqueKO2 (?)Jun 21, 1982Cumana, Venezuela
7Win6–1Alejandro GarciaKO2 (?)May 24, 1982Cumana, Venezuela
6Win5–1Francisco LetaKO5 (?)May 10, 1982Cumana, Venezuela
5Loss4–1Angel TorresKO6 (?)Feb 1, 1982Caracas, Venezuela
4Win4–0David SisoKO3 (?)Jan 25, 1982Barquisimeto, Venezuela
3Win3–0Luis SolorzanoKO2 (?)Oct 31, 1981Maracay, Venezuela
2Win2–0Ramon BolivarKO2 (?)Oct 1, 1981Maracay, Venezuela
1Win1–0Anthony WanzaKO2 (?)Feb 24, 1981Cumana, Venezuela

See also

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References

Achievements
Preceded by WBA Featherweight Champion
6 March 1987 - 30 March 1991
Succeeded by
The Ring featherweight champion
6 March 1987 - 1990
Title discontinued until 2002
Vacant
Title next held by
Marco Antonio Barrera
Lineal Featherweight Champion
6 March 1987 - 30 March 1991
Succeeded by