By Carlos Irusta
NEW YORK and the argentine boxing scene have had a common romance during the times and years. The pioneer of all of them, Luis Angel Firpo, and his unforgettable match against Jack Dempsey. And now, at Century XXI, Carlos Baldomir established a new shot at the Big Apple. Defeating Zab Judah by a unanimous points decision was a terrific night for him and for the sport of boxing in Argentina.
Baldomir has had a couple a big names in his corner. Specifically Amilcar Brusa, the boxing trainer of Carlos Monzón for all Monzon's career; José Lino Lemos, former sparring and friend of Carlos and Professor Pertuccio, another man who was involved with Monzón. It’s impossible not to mention Carlos Monzón: who died on January 8, 1995. Monzon made only one appearance at Madison Square Garden, kayoing Tony Licata, 1975.
Sinatra sang “If you can make it there…” and a lot of Argentinean boxers tried it. Oscar Bonavena, Pablo Miteff, Jorge Fernández, Jorge Ahumada, Tony Marcilla, Vicente Derado, Justo Suárez, Pedro Rimovsky, Gregorio Peralta, Eduardo Lausse, José Menno, Guillermo Dutschmann, Celedonio Lima…
Jorge Ahumada, who still lives in New York, was big name in the Felt Forum, in the 70s. He fought with Bob Foster in Albuquerque for the light heavyweight title (they gave him a draw…) and with Víctor Galíndez in the Garden (the first world title fight for Argentineans, Galindez won on points).
But now it is Baldomir's time. A new “Cinderella Man” of boxing, came in as a 10-1 underdog and managed to obtain a unanimous decision. Judah was almost floored in the 7th. Baldomir with a couple of cuts on his face, is the first argentine boxer to become a world champion in the welterweight division. And the first to capture the crown in New York. Too much for a single night…
