Mexico’s Carlos Cuadras Looks Toward the Big Apple and Beyond

CARLOS CUADRAS TALKS IN L.A. — In English, the Spanish word “cuadras” means livery stables and when WBC executive Pepe Sulaiman first met Carlos Cuadras he was a young member of a burgeoning boxing stable deep in Mexico.

Even then that rascal Cuadras attracted attention.

“I met him as a kid,” said Sulaiman. “He’s such a splendid champion.”

The former WBC super flyweight champion Cuadras (pictured on the right) lost a razor-thin decision to Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez last September. Experts called it one of the most exciting fights of 2016.

Cuadras, who does not suffer from shyness, wants his title back and another crack at Chocolatito.

But first, the boxer known as “Principe” (35-1-1, 27 Kos) out of Mexico City will face fellow “Chilongo” – a slang term used to describe natives of Mexico City – David Carmona (20-3-5, 8 Kos) on March 18, at Madison Square Garden. It’s part of the Gennady Golovkin versus Danny Jacobs card.

The battle between Chilongos will be televised on HBO pay-per-view.

Decades ago Mexico City was the heart and soul of Mexican boxing, much like New York City for the U.S. during the Depression era. It was the dominant fight factory for hard punching machines like Carlos Zarate, Vicente Saldivar, Ruben Olivares and Salvador Sanchez. If you wanted a career in prizefighting you trekked to Mexico City.

Mexico City has never really stopped producing elite fighters. Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, Rafael and Juan Manuel Marquez are all more recent products of the Mexican capital. Cuadras and Carmona are continuing the Mexico City tradition.

“David Carmona is a good fighter,” said Cuadras while at the downtown L.A. press conference on Thursday at the Palm Restaurant. But you get the feeling the former champion Cuadras is not interested in inner city rivalries. He wants international attention.

“It’s every fighter’s dream to be known worldwide,” explains Cuadras, adding that Gonzalez has a difficult fight on the same card against Thailand’s Wisaksil Wangek on the same New York City fight card.

Gonzalez stays on the mind of Cuadras like a lingering headache. He can’t seem to forget that he came oh so close to defeating the fighter many consider the best fighter in the world pound for pound.

“I think he (Gonzalez) is the pound for pound best fighter in the world,” said Cuadras of Gonzalez. “It doesn’t get bigger than to be the best pound for pound.”

If Cuadras had his way the promoters and sanctioning bodies would dispense with this next match and simply put Chocolatito in the boxing ring with him.

“I would show Chocolatito how round 13 would have turned out,” Cuadras says.

One thing about Cuadras, he has a way with words.

K2 Promotions director Tom Loeffler realizes the Mexican fighter has that gift of gab and so does HBO. It’s the main reason that Cuadras-Carmona was attached to the fight card that features “Triple G.” And also the fact that Cuadras can really fight.

Yet, as much as Cuadras loves being a part of the New York fight card. He can’t stop thinking about Chocolatito.

Cuadras explained to the reporters that he ran into Gonzalez at a recent WBC Convention in Miami. He then mimicked the Nicaraguan fighter’s manner of speech and recognizable body movements. Laughter erupted.

“You know Chocolatito, he doesn’t like to talk,” Cuadras said.

Talking, that’s not a problem for Cuadras. He can talk for the entire super flyweight division if given the chance. He’s a whole stable by himself.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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