Ten years almost to the day of his previous fight in Japan, Carlos Cuadras has opted to call it a career after his most recent outing in the country.
The former WBC junior bantamweight titlist confirmed that he’s reached the end of his remarkable 17-year journey in the pro ranks. His decision came shortly after a one-sided eighth-round technical knockout defeat to fast-rising Tomoya Tsuboi, now 3-0 (2 KOs) on Monday at Toyota Arena in Tokyo.
“This is my last fight,” Cuadras said, at times fighting back tears during his post-fight press conference. “I decided from the beginning of this promotion that I would retire if I lost. Today’s opponent was a tremendous foe, and I humbly accept defeat.”
Mexico City’s Cuadras, 37, exits the sport with a final record of 44-6-1 (28 KOs). The end comes as he suffered just his second career stoppage defeat through 51 pro bouts.
The only other foe to accomplish the feat was then-lineal and WBC 115lbs champion Juan Francisco Estrada in their October 2020 rematch. Both fighters hit the deck in their thrilling sequel before Estrada ended matters in the 11th round.
Cuadras otherwise went the distance with the best of two generations’ worth of junior bantamweights. The stat is more impressive given his place as an integral part of the division’s “Fab Four” along with Estrada, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Srisakset Sor Rungvisai.
Cuadras’ first title win came in a unanimous technical decision over Sor Rungvisai in their May 2014 clash. He made six successful defenses before he dropped a competitive but clear decision to Gonzalez when both were unbeaten in their September 2016 title fight in Inglewood, California.
Two separate bids to regain his old belt proved unsuccessful.
Cuadras fell short in his aforementioned rematch with Estrada, more than three years after a narrow 10-round decision defeat in their September 2017 non-title fight. He also provided a stiff test for a then-rising 22-year-old named Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who edged the veteran boxer in their February 2022 vacant WBC 115lbs title fight.
Cuadras was actually originally due to rematch Sor Rungvisai, who fell ill just ahead of fight week in Phoenix, Arizona. Rodriguez was already on the undercard and agreed to take the fight on just six days’ notice.
The setback did little to slow down Cuadras. In fact, he enjoyed a career revival with five straight victories. Among them was an impressive November 2023 unanimous decision over countryman Pedro Guevara to claim an interim version of the WBC title.
Injuries prevented Cuadras from cashing in that chip for one more title shot. He settled for two more rust-shaking bouts in Mexico before traveling abroad to face Tsuboi, who took an ambitious leap in competition just eight months into his pro career.
Cuadras was the underdog, but he believed his experience and past success in Japan would serve him well. Having fought under the Teiken Promotions banner since his first year as a pro, Cuadras was 6-0 in Japan before he ran into the 29-year-old buzzsaw.
“The fighter I faced [Monday] will become a world champion,” Cuadras vowed. “This was my first fight in Japan in 10 years. I’m very happy to have been able to step in the ring again after all this time.
“My career began here [in his fifth pro fight, just five months in] and I will end it here.”
