Uncrowned World Champion Series: Armando ‘The Man’ Muniz

Published

3 years ago

May 29, 2020

Uncrowned World Champion Series: Armando ‘The Man’ Muniz

Belts, belts, everybody has a belt.

Until the 1980s there were only two world title belts in each division. It was extremely difficult to become a world champion.

Control of the world title was even more politically charged than it is today.

It was during this period on March 29, 1975, that Armando Muniz ventured to Acapulco, Mexico to face Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles and discovered that beating a world champion to a bloody pulp was not enough. In befuddlement he walked out of that battle without the WBC and WBA welterweight titles. Fans who later saw the fight on television were angered by the outcome.

Despite public outcry the WBC refused to overturn the egregious decision.

That fight remained the closest Muniz ever came to being the actual world champion though he fought several times for the WBC belt. He was not the first and definitely not the last to become an uncrowned world champion.

It gnawed at Muniz for many years who later met with WBC president Jose Sulaiman in Los Angeles to discuss it.

“We had a conference at an office in Van Nuys. And he told me ‘You don’t understand. Napoles was my friend.’ So I said, oh really. What was I,” said Muniz. “I knew he felt bad about it. But the damage was done.”

During his fighting days Muniz could fill those seats at the Olympic Auditorium. All that was necessary was to put his name on the large marquee outside of the building on the corner of 18^th Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles and fans would buy tickets.

“I guess I kind of had the style people like to see,” Muniz says.

Muniz was a go-getter type of personality who after serving the U.S. Army went directly into prizefighting with a pressure boxing style that could bend steel. He quickly climbed up the welterweight ladder into contention. Quickly. He was 24 years old.

Aside from diving into prizefighting, Muniz also enrolled at Cal State University of Los Angeles and attended classes to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. He was a go-getter.

1968 Mexico City Olympics

Born in Mexico but raised in Los Angeles, the Muniz family moved around and while at Artesia High School the future prizefighter met friends who helped guide him toward his eventual career as a professional boxer.

While in the US Army, Muniz had represented the US Boxing team in the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City. Though he did not medal he was there to witness George Foreman win the heavyweight gold medal. He was also witness to the Black Power salute by Black athletes Tommy Smith, John Carlos and Lee Evans. During these Olympic Games student demonstrations were taking place throughout the city and were violently put down by the Mexican government. Many lives were lost.

Boxing had provided Muniz with options while in the U.S. Army and as soon as he departed he looked for a place to continue in the boxing world. He found a gym at the Teamsters Gym in downtown L.A. and also found a manager and trainer there.

“I told him I would fight anyone,” said Muniz of his manager Louie Jauregui. “If I can’t beat them than why am I fighting?”

That became Muniz’s mantra.

“I remember my first fight against Joey Adams I knocked him out in the third round,” said Muniz of his pro debut that took place July 1970 at the Olympic Auditorium. “I made $200 and $100 went to me.”

His fierce fighting style and come-forward aggression quickly gained him fans. In his mere fifth pro fight he was asked to face a Philadelphia fighter named Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts. It was the same fighter that later famously battled with future middleweight champion Marvin Hagler in the famous “Phillie Wars.”

Muniz defeated Watts after six angry rounds at the Olympic Auditorium. After only two more six-round bouts he was headlining 10-round main events at the famous fight arena headed by Aileen Eaton.

He picked up a nickname that suited him well. Muniz became known as “the Man” or “El Hombre.” Every time he fought, fans expected a good fight and he delivered.

“My favorite fight was probably with Oscar “Shotgun” Albarado. I wasn’t supposed to win. He could hit hard with both hands,” said Muniz of the fight that took place on May 6, 1971 at the Olympic Auditorium. It was a 10-round welterweight fight that ended in a split draw. “We filled the seats.”

Crowds continued to fill the seats as Muniz faced top competition wherever he fought against Gil King, Clyde Gray, Emile Griffith and Adolph Pruitt in places like Long Beach, California and Anaheim. He also fought in Las Vegas, Denver and Tucson.

A win over the talented Hedgemon Lewis on December 1974 at the Inglewood Forum set Muniz up for the world title challenge against Napoles three months later. The Los Angeles-based fighter was a 10-1 underdog.

Mexican hospitality

Though Muniz was born in Chihuahua, Mexico he was not treated fondly by Mexicans when he arrived at the press conference in Acapulco. Despite having Mexican blood the Mexican fans preferred Cuba-born Napoles who had adopted Mexico City as his home after the Cuban Revolution in 1960.

For many, Muniz was the Chicano from California brought to be a punching bag for the great Mantequilla.

The term “Chicano” was used to describe those of Mexican blood who lived or were born in the U.S. Some adopt the term and some abhor it. Many in Mexico still use the term Chicano or other words to describe Mexicans living in the U.S.

Muniz never cared what others thought, he always believed in himself.

“I knew I was always in tremendous shape,” said Muniz who credits his wife as a major reason for his ability to concentrate on training.

Right from the opening bell Muniz showed no timidity as the slick fighting Napoles seemed puzzled by constant pressure. In the second round Napoles began using various tricks including head butts to stave off Muniz’s attacks. Cuts opened up on the world champion by the third round.

Round after round Muniz pressured intelligently and despite various Napoles fouls the Mexican referee only admonished the Californian. By the 10^th round the champion slowed down visibly and Muniz began busting up Napoles with big solid blows. A few staggered the Cuba-born fighter and the end was near.

Blood was everywhere including on Muniz’s trunks. The referee seemed worried and from outside of the ring WBC head Jose Sulaiman can be seen shouting instructions to the referee Ramon Berumen. During the 12^th round the fight was stopped. Napoles was declared the winner and the Mexican audience cheered Napoles who looked more like the victim of an East L.A. mugging.

“I was looking at my dad. He said it was incredible that we lost the fight. It was just a bad decision. I think I’m naturally a nice guy. I didn’t rebel. They robbed me and I didn’t make a big stink about it,” said Muniz. “Ninety percent of the people thought I won.”

Despite public outcry throughout California the decision was not overturned.

“I think Jose Sulaiman said this was his decision. So I lost the fight,” said Muniz of the decision in Mexico. “Napoles could do no wrong. He was like a God down there. Even in the town I was born they adored the guy.”

Final count

Muniz would fight three more times for the world title including a rematch with Napoles. All ended in losses for the fighter known as “the Man.”

Knowing he should have won the world title that night in Acapulco could have destroyed Muniz. But he later used his earnings to move to Riverside. He made $15,000 for his fight with Napoles and would later make $30,000 for his last fight against Sugar Ray Leonard. It was the most he ever earned from a prize fight.

“I owe a lot to my wife,” said Muniz who is often guided by his wife to make the right decision including to become a high school teacher. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Muniz lives in a Spanish style house near picturesque hills in Riverside, California. He’s been retired for many years as an educator. One special note was when he fought Carlos Palomino for the WBC welterweight world title in 1978, both were college graduates. It was the first time ever two college graduates fought for a world title.

Armando Muniz at Casa Muniz

A few years back an old friend named Dub Harris received a WBC world title belt from Mauricio Sulaiman who succeeded his late father Jose Sulaiman as the head of the WBC organization. Harris was told to give it to Muniz.

Now the green WBC belt hangs on display at the Muniz home in Riverside.

“Once a guy asked me why I was given the WBC belt,” said Muniz puzzled by the question from the person. I looked at him and said “because I won it.”

Photos credit: Al Applerose

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

To comment on this story in The Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

David A. Avila

Up Next

Rest in Peace, Curtis Cokes

Don't Miss

Las Vegas Pushes Forward into the New World Order of Boxing

Rey Vargas: “The featherweight title is absolutely still mine”

Published

3 hours ago

February 4, 2023

J.J. Alvarez

Rey-Vargas-The-Featherweight-Title-is-Absolutely-Still-Mine

Although there have been many speculations and comments about his boxing future, Mexican Rey Vargas affirms with total conviction that he will only decide after his fight against American O’Shaquie Foster on February 11th at the Alamodome in Texas.

Undefeated and current WBC featherweight champion, Vargas (36-0, 22 KOs) will seek to add the vacant WBC super featherweight belt that American southpaw Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) lost on the scale last September when he beat Brazilian Robson Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision.

Referring to his 126-pound title, Vargas expressed via a translator, “The featherweight title is absolutely still mine, so no worries about that. As far as 130, this is definitely an interesting challenge, an interesting place to be. We haven’t really decided what we’re gonna do afterwards, but we’re focused on the moment right now. Let’s focus on this fight, on this great crowd that we’re gonna be in front of, and then whatever happens, it will come after this fight.”

Born 32 years ago in the Federal District and residing in Otumba, Mexico, Vargas captured the world featherweight belt in February 2017, defeating Gavin McDonnell (22-2-3, 6 KOs) by majority decision at the Ice Arena in McDonnell’s hometown of Hull, England.

During the following two years, he made five successful defenses and in November 2021 he was victorious in a 10-round bout against his compatriot Leonardo Báez (21-5, 12 KOs) at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

Eight months later, in his second appearance at 126 pounds, Vargas defeated then-undefeated Philippine champion Mark Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) by split decision. Magsayo was defending his WBC belt for the first time that night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

After beating Magsayo, Vargas’s representatives made arrangements to collide with Mexican Leo Santa Cruz (38-2-1, 19 KOs), who at that time was the WBA featherweight super champion.

However, the agreement with Santa Cruz did not materialize and Vargas directed his attention towards the 130-pound belt, which Stevenson lost at the weigh-in in September. Considering his status as champion, the WBC agreed to Vargas’ request and ordered him to compete with O’Foster, who is ranked at the top of the category.

In a statement on its website, the WBC specified that the winner between Vargas and Foster has the obligation to make two defenses, according to the rules and regulations of that sanctioning body.

“The Leo Santa Cruz fight is definitely something that we have been meaning to do for years now,” Vargas said. “But as the process got more complicated and other stuff just kept getting in our way, this door opened for us where it was definitely an interesting challenge, something that can be as good as the Leo Santa Cruz fight.”

“(I’m) in a new division, the super featherweight division, where I can test myself,” said Vargas. Yes, it’s not my division per se, but I’m always up to new and exciting challenges, and this is definitely one of them. So, even though this isn’t the Leo Santa Cruz fight, it can definitely live up to the hype just as that one would.”

Foster (19-2, 11 KOs) has nine successive wins, the most recent against Tajikistan southpaw Muhammadkhuja Yakubon on March 18 of last year in Dubai, where they fought for the WBC silver belt.

Born 29 years ago in Orange, Texas, Foster said in an interview that this opportunity to face Vargas for the 130-pound crown “is a dream come true. And I’m so happy I can’t even hide it.”

Foster continued, “It’s something that I’ve been working for since I was eight years old. I never had a dream to be an Olympian, it was always to be a world champion so I’m feeling great and I’m ready to put on a show for the world.

“I feel like everything is happening at the right time and it’s my time to take over. I would love to unify once I get the title and then go undisputed if I can. I’ve got big, big, big aspirations coming up. We’re going to make it happen.”

Article submitted by Jorge Juan Álvarez in Spanish.

Please note any adjustments made were for clarification purposes and any errors in translation were unintentional.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Navarrete Overcomes Adversity to TKO Wilson in a Corker

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Arne K. Lang

Navarrete-Overcomes-Adversity-to-TKO-Wilson-in-a-Corker

Mexico’s Emanuel Navarrete won his 31st straight fight, pushing his record to 37-1 (31) and captured a title in a third weight class tonight at the Desert Diamond Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, but nearly came a cropper himself in a match in which both he and his opponent Liam Wilson were on the deck and hurt on multiple occasions. At stake was the WBO 130-pound belt vacated by Shakur Stevenson.

The obscure 26-year-old Wilson, subbing for Oscar Valdez who had to pull out with a rib injury, was making his U.S. debut and appearing in his first scheduled 12-rounder. The skinny on him was that he had a puncher’s chance because of a powerful left hook, but with only 12 pro fights on his ledger he was a massive underdog.

Navarrete got a taste of that left hook in the fourth round which Wilson landed after landing a hard overhand right, and suddenly it appeared that the Queenslander was poised to score the biggest upset in Australian boxing history since Jeff Horn upended Manny Pacquiao. Navarrete hit the deck, lost his mouthpiece and was clearly hurt, but managed to survive the round after precious seconds elapsed as he was getting his mouthpiece re-fitted.

Navarrete fought his way back into the fight and was having a strong sixth round until the final 30 seconds when Wilson hurt him again, this time with a right hook. But the Mexican weathered the storm, winning the next two rounds decisively and closed the show in round nine when he put the intrepid Aussie on the deck with an overhand right, the prelude to an assault that forced the referee to waive it off.

Semi-windup

In a tactical junior welterweight fight that heated up in the final round, LA’s Arnold Barboza continued his steady ascent toward a title fight with a narrow but unanimous decision over Puerto Rican veteran Jose Pedraza, a former Olympian and world title-holder in two weight divisions.

Barboza, who fights well off his back foot but isn’t a hard puncher, won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice to push his record to 28-0. The 33-year-old Barboza fell to 29-5-1.

Also

In the opening bout on ESPN’s main platform, Tulare, California’s Richard Torrez Jr, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Summer Games, scored his fifth fast knockout in as many opportunities at the expense late sub James Bryant

Torrez came out like gangbusters, as is his custom, and sent Bryant stumbling back into the ropes with a harsh left uppercut followed by a straight hand in the waning seconds of the opening round. A highly decorated high school football player in Pennsylvania who had a cup of coffee with two NFL teams, Bryant, 37, was saved by the bell but elected not to come out for round two.

Torrez has mentioned that he would welcome a fight with British up-and-comer Frazer Clarke. Both were defeated in the Tokyo Olympics by fearsome Uzbek southpaw Bakhodir Jalolov, the heavy favorite.

ESPN+

Las Vegas super featherweight Andres Cortes (19-0) overcame a deep cut on his left eyelid to keep his undefeated record intact with a lopsided decision over Luis Melendez. The cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads in round six. Cut man deluxe “Stitch” Duran used his magic potion to stem the bleeding and the match continued on its established course. Cortes, the busier fighter, won all 10 rounds on all three cards. Melendez, a Puerto Rican from Hialeah, Florida, declined to 17-3.

Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson, advanced to 8-0 (5) with a unanimous decision over a local fighter, Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1), in a six-round middleweight affair. The scores were 60-53 and 59-54 twice.

Walsh, who sparred with Caleb Plant in preparation for this fight, had Ayala on the canvas in round two, compliments of a short right hand, but his durable opponent managed to last the distance.

In an 8-round junior welterweight match, Mexico’s Lindolfo Delgado, a 2016 Rio Olympian, advanced to 17-0 (13) with a unanimous decision over Clarence Booth (21-7), a 35-year-old Floridian. The scores were 80-71 and 79-72 twice.

The heavy-handed Delgado, who had Robert Garcia in his corner, scored the fight’s lone knockdown, knocking Booth off his pins in the final stanza with a chopping right hand to the ear.

In the ESPN+ opener, 18-year-old Emiliano Vargas (3-0, 2 KOs) won a 4-round unanimous decision over 19-year-old Tex-Mex southpaw Francisco Duque (1-2). Vargas won all four rounds, but Duque had several good moments.

Emiliano Vargas is the youngest and most well-touted of three fighting sons of Fernando Vargas, the former U.S. Olympian and two-time world super welterweight champion.

A 10-round super featherweight fight between Zavier Martinez (18-1) and Yohan Vasquez (25-3) was cancelled when it became obvious that Martinez would not make the contracted weight.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0

Avila Perspective, Chap. 223: An Act of War Benavidez vs Plant Press Confab

Published

19 hours ago

February 3, 2023

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective-Chap-223-Am-Act-of-War-Benavidez-vs-Plant-Press-Confab

LOS ANGELES-Heated words straight out of a burning furnace filled the cool air in downtown L.A. at the press conference on Thursday for top super middleweight contenders David Benavidez and Caleb Plant.

“Every fighter has one of these grudge matches that brings the best out of them. I don’t like Caleb at all, but I want to thank him for bringing the animal out of me. I’m more motivated than ever,” said Benavidez. “On March 25, I finally get to put hands on Caleb Plant.”

Plant was cool in his response.

“This rivalry only started because we agree to disagree on who’s better. And that’s fine, he should feel like that. That’s how great fighters are supposed to feel. It’s slowly built up over time,” said Plant.

Both are former world champions and both are ready to engage.

A large media turnout arrived at the Conga Room in LA Live to witness the two opposite style fighters, much like fire and ice.

Fiery Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) seemed eager to fight on the stage as the mere presence and cool demeanor of Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) seemed to ignite anger. They have both agreed to meet in the prize ring on March 25, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Showtime pay-per-view will televise the TGB Promotions card.

“If you know anything about boxing, you know this is one of the very best fights that can be made in the sport. The consensus No. 1 and No. 2 contenders in this division,” said Stephen Espinoza president of Showtime boxing. “This is a high-stakes matchup, personally and professionally. There’s a personal rivalry here. There are bragging rights here. There is supremacy in the division at stake.”

Both fighters have held world titles before and for years debates sprung up on who was better.

Benavidez was the youngest super middleweight champion at 20 when he first won the WBC version in 2017 defeating Ronald Gavril. He lost the title for testing positive for illegal substances the next year. In 2019 he faced Anthony Dirrell for the WBC title again and stopped him in nine rounds in Los Angeles. However, he failed to make weight in his next fight and lost the title again on the scales.

He is hungry to regain a world title but even more hungry to defeat Plant.

“I’ve been wanting to fight him for a long time and now the winner of this fight gets to be the mandatory for Canelo Alvarez. I’m super motivated,” Benavidez said.

Plant agrees that their match up is motivating because the winner gets Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and a hefty payday.

“I knew I was next in line to fight the interim champ before that fight, and that meant David Benavidez. I’m in the fight that I want,” said Plant who formerly held the IBF title.

Plant’s last fight was voted WBA Knockout of the Year when he double-left-hooked Dirrell to unconsciousness last October in Brooklyn. It was a shocking ending. His fight before that saw him lose the world title to Canelo Alvarez by knockout.

No shame in losing to Canelo.

Now the title former world titlists are eager to regain their former status and grab a mega payday fighting Alvarez. It’s perhaps the best fight in over a year for men’s boxing.

“I believe that this fight between David Benavidez and Caleb Plant will be added to the list of epic brawls between two warriors taking it to the next level,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “This fight will be one of, if not the winner of Fight of the Year this year. This is one you don’t want to miss.”

Top Rank

Mexico’s Emanuel Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) challenges Australia’s Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBO super featherweight title today, Feb. 3, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank card.

Wilson, 26, has never fought outside of Australia but is known for his strength and power. He is also taller than Navarrete.

Navarrete and Wilson

Navarrete is the former WBO featherweight champion and has not lost a fight in over a decade.

Also, Arnold Barboza (27-0) meets Jose Pedraza (29-4-1) in a super lightweight battle. And several others such as Lindolfo Delgado, Richard Torrez and Nico Ali Walsh will be performing.

Ontario Card

Southern California’s hot super lightweight prospect Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (8-0, 8 Kos) fights Jose Angulo (14-4) at the LumColor Center in Ontario, California on Saturday, Feb. 4. RedBoxing Promotions is staging the event.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Photo credits: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME; Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 0