Legendary Zarate Lends Support To Scott Harrison

By James Blears

One of Mexico’s greatest boxing superstars, is urging Scott Harrison to confront, battle and overcome his alcohol related problems.

Former WBC Bantamweight Champion and legendary knockout specialist Carlos Zarate stopped a staggering 80 of his 86 opponents, winning twice on points, with just four losses. It’s one of the most awesome KO records in boxing history, and all the more amazing, because at his devastating best, Carlos only weighed 118 pounds soaking wet!

But he freely admits that following a glittering ring career, his life unraveled, and he was floored by drink problems. It all started around 1990. He then became addicted to cocaine and crack. The nightmare lasted almost fifteen miserable years.

During this time, he reached absolute rock bottom. He lost his hard earned money, his family, and ended up eaking out a wretched hand to mouth marginal existence in the twilight zone rabbit warren of some of Mexico City’s most down trodden districts.

In sheer desperation, dischevelled, distraught, defiant and desperate, one day almost two years ago, he petulantly marched into the World Boxing Council offices in Mexico City demanding hard cash.

Instead, they successfully pleaded with him, and then paid for him to go into a re-hab clinic. It took eight agonizing and challenging months for him to gradually defeat his craving addiction.

Carlos now works in the Public Relations Department of the World Boxing Council, and also coordinates appearances of an array of former champions, who regularly attend events. Some are his ex-ring foes like Lupe Pintor, Daniel Zaragoza and Rodolfo Martinez. Now they are all his friends.

His son Carlos Jr, is embarking on a promising amateur career, and Dad was in his corner when he won by a TKO in the second round of a prestigious tournament.

Carlos Zarate’s is this week celebrating his fifty-sixth birthday, and as someone who’s been to hell and back himself, Carlos spoke to BoxingScene.com and sent a message of support to Scott, saying:

“The first step on the road back, is to know and recognize your mistakes, and then to have the humility and pride in yourself. Because pride is a weapon which has a tremendous edge.

“If we don’t know how to handle it, the floor gets pulled out from underneath, and we fall. I myself fell a very long way. But I had the will to undergo treatment in a center of rehabilitation. However, it’s only you that can do it, and only when you want to.

“There’s no doubt, this has been the most difficult fight of my life, because it was the fight of my life!

“You have to have the faith and the will to fight, because without them, you can’t do anything!”

And Carlos also stressed: “It’s NOT to late for you Scott. You are still young enough. You can find your way back, and you can overcome your problems!”

POSTCRIPT:

Carlos Zarate suffered a  heart attack Thursday. It happened some time after he’d been training his son Carlos Jr. He’s now in the Sieglo 21 Hospital recovering.

Get well and be back with us soon CHAMP.