R.I.P. Miami Boxing Promoter Felix “Tuto” Zabala

Felix “Tuto” Zabala, the patriarch of a Miami-based boxing promotion firm, died on Thursday, May 6, from respiratory failure at age 83 after a long illness. Zabala promoted seven world champions before a 2001 stroke forced him to retire. His son, Felix “Tutito” Zabala Jr, succeeded him and the firm that he founded, All Star Boxing, continues to have a large presence in the sport.

Zabala was born in Cuba. After Fidel Castro came to power, he defected to Jamaica, where he drove a taxi for three months in Kingston and then it was on to San Juan, Puerto Rico and eventually Miami.

Zabala was in his mid-20s when he promoted his first shows in Puerto Rico and he continued to promote fights there after taking up residence in Florida.  As noted in a story in today’s Miami Herald, many of his San Juan promotions were fund-raisers for anti-Castro organizations.

Zabala’s first champion was Carlos “Teo” Cruz who won the world lightweight title with a 15-round split decision over heavily favored Carlos Ortiz at Santo Domingo, DR, in 1968. Among his other champions were Wilfredo Vazquez Sr who won world titles in three weight classes and Miguel “Happy” Lora. A Colombian, Lora became a big draw in the Miami area where he appeared on five shows for Zabala (and three more for Don King) including the Zabala promotion where he wrested the WBC bantamweight title from Daniel Zaragoza.

Zabala was instrumental in launching Boxeo Telemundo. Founded in 1989, the series is in its thirty-second year and still going strong.

When Zabala suffered his stroke, his son of the same name was the general manager of the Barcelona Dragons of the short-lived NFL Developmental League. “Tutito” returned to Miami to keep the family business afloat. His son, Felix III, Tuto’s grandson, now works by his side. All Star recently partnered with Top Rank on the April 24 show in Kissimmee where Emanuel Navarette defended his WBO world featherweight title with a 12^th-round stoppage of Christopher Diaz.

“Tutito” learned the business at the knee of his father and was well-equipped to succeed him. In 1989, he became the firm’s interim president when Zabala Sr began a 32-month prison stint after pleading guilty to laundering $50,000 that passed through his hands from a drug dealer. The incident spawned a wonderful quote, one mindful of Jimmy Cannon’s famous line that boxing is the red light district of sports.

“Sure he did time, but there’s a lot of other guys involved in boxing who did a lot worse and haven’t been caught yet,” said Al Bonanni to Miami Herald writer Steve Wyche. Bonanni, a Miami policeman, ran the Police Athletic League gym and trained many of the boxers that appeared on Zabala’s cards.

It was a lapse in judgment for the elder Zabala whose reputation for integrity was confirmed by Angelo Dundee, among many others.

In addition to his son, “Felix “Tuto” Zabala is survived by two daughters and eight grandchildren. His wife Carmen passed away in 2014. We here at TSS send our condolences to his loved ones.

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