Carlos Maussa

Last updated
Carlos Maussa
Born
Charles Celindo Maussa Diaz

(1971-09-24) September 24, 1971 (age 52)
Montería, Colombia
NationalityColombian
Other namesEl Apóstol ("The Apostle")
Statistics
Weight(s) Light welterweight
Height5 ft 10+12 in (179 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights25
Wins20
Wins by KO18
Losses5

Charles Celindo Maussa Diaz (born September 24, 1971), best known as Carlos Maussa, is a Colombian former professional boxer who competed from 2000 to 2007, and held the WBA super light welterweight title in 2005.

Contents

Professional career

Turning pro in 2000, at the age of 29, Maussa won two titles and fought in several significant fights until his retirement at age 38.

Maussa was raised in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Montería, a city located in the banks of the Sinú River, where he began his impressive amateur career, which ultimately brought him just nine defeats in 130 bouts. Maussa was named National Champion four times and was also crowned the Central American champion. He gained the nickname “The Apostle” by his frequent preaching of the Christian gospel.

In his professional career, while never a superstar fighter, he was a highly touted "gatekeeper" who helped define the careers of several light welterweight prospects.

Notable fights

Maussa began his career with twelve victories in his native Colombia before coming to the United States. He then won four bouts in the U.S. before facing highly touted New York prospect Jeffrey Resto, described as "perhaps the most-talked-about young pro in New York". [1] In this battle of two undefeated fighters (17-0 Resto vs. 16-0 Maussa), Resto was unable to deal with Maussa's unorthodox fighting style and abruptly quit in the 6th round, [2] earning Maussa an unexpected victory. Both fighters' careers ended half a decade later with a loss to the same fighter, Victor Ortiz.

Maussa's win over Resto earned him a shot at fellow 17-0 boxer and WBC International light welterweight titleholder Miguel Angel Cotto. Maussa's fight against Cotto was less successful, resulting in Cotto winning by an 8th round TKO. Following this, Maussa fought in three lower-profile fights, winning two. Then, on 25 June 2005, he entered the popular consciousness of boxing fans with an upset win by KO against WBA light-welterweight titlist Vivian Harris. [3] This exciting victory made Maussa a new champion in one of boxing’s competitive divisions.

The bout was notable for a number of reasons: Harris was an overwhelming favorite and is regarded as one of the best boxers at the weight and Maussa’s awkwardly clever style and frequent clowning gestures and facial expressions lent him an air of amateurishness. At the beginning of the seventh round Maussa delivered a stunning left hook, KO-ing Harris. Maussa then lunged downward and punched him in the head while he was already supine on the canvas. The ropes absorbed the impact of the blow. Still, this act has led to much controversy, as the hit could have disqualified Maussa. After the match, however, the bout referees ruled that the late hit was “insignificant”, allowing Maussa to keep his title. When interviewed about this punch, Maussa claimed he didn't connect with Harris on purpose, and that his sole intention was to impress the fallen Harris in case he had any desire to fight on.

The victory cemented Maussa's reputation as somewhat of a gatekeeper for up-and-coming light welterweight prospects, but ended up being his last victory. On 26 November 2005 Maussa lost his WBA title against IBF title-holder, Ricky Hatton, in a unification bout. After a unanimous decision loss to Manuel Guarnica, Maussa fought well-regarded future titleholder Victor Ortiz, and was knocked out in the first round. Following this, Maussa retired with a professional record of 20 wins and 5 losses in a total of 113 professional rounds of boxing.

Professional boxing record

25 fights20 wins5 losses
By knockout183
By decision22
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Loss20–5 Victor Ortiz KO1 (10), 1:47Nov 10, 2007 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Loss20–4 Manuel Garnica UD12Aug 25, 2006Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.For vacant WBA Fedecaribe and WBC Latino light welterweight titles
23Loss20–3 Ricky Hatton KO9 (12), 1:10Nov 26, 2005 Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, EnglandLost WBA light welterweight title;
For IBF and The Ring light-welterweight titles
22Win20–2 Vivian Harris KO7 (12), 0:43 Jun 25, 2005 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won WBA light welterweight title
21Win19–2Antonio EspitiaKO4 (10)Mar 19, 2005 Arboletes, Colombia
20Loss18–2 Arturo Morua UD12Dec 17, 2004Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.For vacant WBO Latino light welterweight title
19Win18–1Masakazu SatakeSD10Mar 6, 2004 Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
18Loss17–1 Miguel Cotto TKO8 (12), 2:07Dec 6, 2003 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto RicoFor WBC International light welterweight title
17Win17–0Jeffrey RestoTKO6 (12), 2:00Sep 26, 2003 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC Latino light welterweight title
16Win16–0Freddy CruzTKO2 (6)Aug 1, 2003 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
15Win15–0Hicklet LauUD12May 29, 2003 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WBC Latino light welterweight title
14Win14–0Henry MatosTKO3 (6)Mar 28, 2003Palladium Athletic Village, Davie, Florida, U.S.
13Win13–0Jorge GarridoKO1 (4)Dec 20, 2002Cartagena, Colombia
12Win12–0Luis EspitiaKO1Nov 4, 2002Montería, Colombia
11Win11–0Jose MaciaKO2Jul 14, 2002 Planeta Rica, Colombia
10Win10–0Ivan SalgadoKO3Apr 30, 2002Montería, Colombia
9Win9–0Oscar Carrillo VillaKO3 (10)Jan 19, 2002Cartagena, Colombia
8Win8–0Gerardo BarriosKO2Aug 31, 2001Montería, Colombia
7Win7–0Eliseo FeriasKO2Jul 27, 2001 Cartagena, Colombia
6Win6–0Manuel MachadoKO1May 2, 2001 Santa Cruz de Lorica, Colombia
5Win5–0Rafael CorreaKO1Mar 30, 2001Montería, Colombia
4Win4–0Feder GuerreroKO2 (4)Jan 30, 2001 Barranquilla, Colombia
3Win3–0Luis JulioKO2Dec 17, 2000Bogotá, Colombia
2Win2–0Luis DuarteKO2Sep 18, 2000 Montería, Colombia
1Win1–0Juan VilladiegoKO4 (4)Jul 31, 2000 Bogotá, Colombia

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfred Benítez</span> Puerto Rican boxer (born 1958)

Wilfred "Wilfredo" Benítez is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of seventeen, he is best remembered as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities, along with his fights with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Ortiz (boxer)</span> Puerto Rican boxer (1936–2022)

Carlos Ortiz was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He held world titles in lightweight and light welterweight weight divisions. Along with Félix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Wilfredo Gómez, Héctor Camacho, José Torres, Edwin Rosario and Wilfred Benítez, Ortiz is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts. As of January 2018, Ortiz holds the record for the most wins in unified lightweight title bouts in boxing history at 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Mosley</span> American boxer

Shane Mosley, often known by his nickname "Sugar" Shane Mosley, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2016. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF lightweight title; the WBA (Super) and WBC welterweight titles; and the WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring magazine light middleweight titles. He was also a lineal champion at welterweight (twice) and light middleweight.

Ricardo Antonio Mayorga Perez is a Nicaraguan professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. In boxing he is a former two-weight world champion, having held the unified WBA (Unified), WBC, Ring magazine, and lineal welterweight titles in 2003, and the WBC super welterweight title from 2005 to 2006. Mayorga first became well known to boxing fans upon being featured on the cover of The Ring's December 2003 issue, entitled "The craziest man in the sport: Mayorga lights up boxing." He has since maintained this infamous reputation with his relentless trash-talk in the build-up to most of his fights, as well as his smoking and drinking habits outside the ring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel Cotto</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2017. He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes, from light welterweight to middleweight. In 2007 and 2009, he reached a peak active pound for pound ranking of seventh by The Ring magazine. Cotto started out his career as a hard-hitting pressure fighter, but evolved over the years into a more refined boxer-puncher as he moved up in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zab Judah</span> American boxer

Zabdiel Judah is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2019. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF and WBO junior welterweight titles between 2000 and 2004; the undisputed welterweight title in 2005, which included a reign as the lineal champion from 2005 to 2006; and the IBF junior welterweight title again in 2011. Judah's career ended in 2019 when he was hospitalized after suffering a brain bleed in a stoppage loss to Cletus Seldin.

Ivan Vivian Harris is a Guyanese former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2018. He held the WBA super lightweight title from 2002 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Manuel Márquez</span> Mexican world champion boxer (born 1973)

Juan Manuel Márquez Méndez is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2014. He is world champion in three weight classes, having held major titles from featherweight to lightweight, including the lineal championship at lightweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuri Foreman</span> Israeli boxer

Yuri Foreman is an Israeli professional boxer who held the WBA super welterweight title from 2009 to 2010. He was born in Gomel, Belarus, but currently fights out of Brooklyn, New York. Foreman has also pursued Jewish religious studies during his boxing career, and in 2014 was ordained as a rabbi. He has been referred to as the "Boxing Rabbi."

Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports.

Juan Díaz is an American professional boxer who held the WBA (Unified), IBF and WBO lightweight championships from 2007 to 2008 and the IBO lightweight championship from 2008 to 2009.

Randall Bailey is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2016. He is a former world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBO light welterweight title from 1999 to 2000, and the IBF welterweight title in 2012. Additionally, he held the WBA interim light welterweight title in 2002. Nicknamed "The Knock-Out King" for his exceptional knockout power, Bailey is considered to be one of the hardest punchers in boxing history.

Lovemore Ray Nḓou is a South African-Australian solicitor and former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2012. He held the IBF junior-welterweight title in 2007, and the IBO welterweight title from 2009 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Ortiz</span> American boxer

Victor Ortiz is an American professional boxer and film actor. He held the WBC welterweight title in 2011, and was formerly rated as one of the world's top three active welterweights by most sporting news and boxing websites, including The Ring magazine, BoxRec, and ESPN. His crowd-pleasing and aggressive fighting style also made him the 2008 ESPN Prospect of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito</span> Boxing competition

Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito, billed as "The Battle", was a professional boxing match between WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and former IBF and WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. The WBA welterweight title bout took place on July 26, 2008, at the MGM Grand in Paradise, Nevada, and resulted in an eleventh round technical knockout victory for Margarito.

Lucas Martín Matthysse is an Argentine former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2018. He held the WBA (Regular) welterweight title in 2018 and the WBC interim super lightweight title from 2012 to 2013. Matthysse was known for his aggressive pressure fighting style and formidable punching power. He is the younger brother of welterweight contender, Walter Matthysse and former featherweight world champion of boxing, Edith Soledad Matthysse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman</span> Boxing competition

Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman, billed as Stadium Slugfest, was a boxing super welterweight fight for the WBA Super Welterweight championship. The bout was held on June 5, 2010, at Yankee Stadium, in New York City, United States. Cotto won the fight via technical knockout in the ninth round.

Austin Dwayne Trout is an American professional boxer and bare-knuckle boxer. In boxing he held the World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight title from 2011 to 2013. He extended his championship legacy by winning the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) welterweight title in 2024.

Thomas Dulorme Cordero is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who challenged for the WBO light welterweight title in 2015.

The history of the sport of boxing in Puerto Rico is a varied and extensive one. Boxing is a major sport in the Caribbean country, and the sport has produced many champions for the island, both in the amateur and professional ranks, and among men and women fighters.

References

  1. "Abramson: Don't dismiss revitalized Resto". 29 November 2008.
  2. "Abramson: Don't dismiss revitalized Resto". 29 November 2008.
  3. Harris stunned by wildman Maussa
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title WBC Latino super lightweight champion
May 29, 2003 – December 6, 2003
Lost bid for International title
Vacant
Title next held by
Juan Urango
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA super lightweight champion
June 25, 2005 – November 26, 2005
Lost bid for Super title
Vacant
Title next held by
Souleymane M'baye