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Betulio González

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Betulio González
Born
Betulio Segundo González

(1949-10-24) October 24, 1949 (age 75)
La Concepción, Venezuela
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 2+12 in (159 cm)
Reach66 in (168 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights92
Wins76
Wins by KO52
Losses12
Draws4

Betulio Segundo González (born October 24, 1949) is a former boxer from Venezuela, who is considered a national hero in Venezuela. He is considered by many to be Venezuela's greatest world champion in boxing history. A combatant of 92 bouts, he fought until eleven months before he turned forty, the mandatory age for professional fighters to retire in Venezuela.

Professional career

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A native of Maracaibo, Zulia State he made his professional boxing debut on April 24, 1968, knocking out Elio Monzat in the third round at Gonzalez's hometown. Gonzalez won his first ten fights, including his Caracas debut, on November 25 of that same year, with a ten-round decision over Evencio Bruguillos.

On August 1, 1969, his winning streak came to a halt, when he was held to a ten-round draw (tie), by Juan José Brizuela in Caracas. He beat Brizuela by a ten-round decision in a September 16 rematch, then challenged Hector Criollo for the Venezuelan Flyweight title on October 10. He won his first belt by knocking out Criollo in seven rounds to win the regional title.

On March 6, 1970, he suffered a somewhat surprising defeat, at the hands of Felix Marquez, who had only five prior professional fights. He was knocked out by Marquez in six rounds. He followed this with a win over Marquez by 12 rounds split decision to retain the Venezuelan flyweight title in a rematch as well as a win over Nestor Jimenez and a loss to Ignacio Espinal; both Jimenez and Espinal would later go on to fight for world titles.

On April 1, 1971, he got his first world title try, in what also was his first fight abroad. Fighting Masao Ohba in Tokyo for the WBA world Flyweight title, he dropped a fifteen-round unanimous decision.

After three more wins, he had his second chance at a world title: on November 20, he faced world champion Erbito Salavarria for his WBC world title. The fight resulted in a controversial fifteen-round draw: The Zulia State boxing commission alleged that Salavarria had been given sugar or illegal drugs during the fight, and sent the WBC a bottle with which the sugar or drugs had supposedly been administered. The WBC recognized Gonzalez to be as world champion.

He lost the title in his second defense, being handed a tenth-round knockout by Venice Borkhorsor on September 29 at Bangkok. He defeated Socrates Batoto in his lone defense.

Gonzalez had four wins in a row after that loss, and, on August 4, 1973, he became a world Flyweight champion for the second time, when he claimed the vacant WBA title by defeating Miguel Canto by a fifteen-round majority decision in Maracaibo.

On November 17, he retained the title with an eleventh-round knockout over Alberto Morales. On May 19, 1974, he faced Shoji Oguma, another world champion boxer, in a non-title, ten round bout held at Tokyo. Gonzalez prevailed by a ten-round decision. On July 20, Gonzalez fought in Italy against Franco Udella, a world Jr. Flyweight champion, and he retained the WBA world Flyweight title with a tenth-round knockout.

Oguma became the WBA world Flyweight champion when he beat Gonzalez, on November 1, with a fifteen-round split decision in Tokyo.

After one more win, Gonzalez and Canto met, this time with Canto as WBC world champion. Canto defeated Gonzalez by a fifteen-round split decision on May 24, 1975 at Monterrey, Mexico.

Gonzalez then won eight fights in a row, before fighting for the Fecarbox regional Flyweight title. On June 20, 1976, he won that title by knocking out Hildo Roche in two rounds. On November 10, he and Canto had a third match; Canto retained the WBC world Flyweight title with a fifteen-round split decision, in a fight held in Caracas.[1]

Gonzalez won eight more fights in a row before being given another chance at becoming world Flyweight champion. On August 12, 1978, he joined the exclusive group of boxers who have become world champions three times in the same division, by defeating Guty Espadas by a fifteen-round majority decision in Caracas. This fight proved controversial as well, as Gonzalez appeared to be knocked down in the last round, but the fight's referee chose not to count it as a knockdown.

On November 4, he retained the title against the famed but maligned Chilean fighter Martin Vargas, a national hero in his country himself, with a twelfth-round knockout. Then, he and Oguma proceeded to have a third encounter, and, on January 1, 1979, they fought to a fifteen-round draw in Hamamatsu.

Gonzalez returned to Japan in July 1979, where, on July 6, he avenged his previous defeat to Oguma, by retaining the title with a twelfth-round knockout.[2] But in his next defense, against Luis Ibarra, he lost a fifteen-round decision and the world title on November 17.

Gonzalez then embarked on another winning streak, which reached seven victories in a row, including two knockouts over future world champion Peter Mathebula, in ten and six rounds, respectively. This winning streak stopped when he challenged Juan Herrera for the WBA world Flyweight title on December 19, 1981. Trying to become a world Flyweight champion for the fourth time, Gonzalez was knocked out in seven rounds.

Santos Laciar went on to beat Herrera for the WBA world title, and, after Gonzalez got another win, the two boxing legends met, on September 14, 1982, at a Maracaibo hotel. In what turned out to be his last try at becoming world Flyweight champion for the fourth time, Gonzalez lost a split decision to the Argentine boxer.

After losing by a twelve-round decision to Alberto Castro for the Fedelatin Flyweight title on July 7, 1984, Gonzalez announced his retirement for the first time.

In 1988, however, he returned to boxing for one more fight: having lost on November 28 to future world champion Rodolfo Blanco by knockout in eight rounds, he retired, eleven months before mandatory retirement in Venezuela.

He became a household name all over Latin America during his tenures as world champion, especially after the Spanish boxing magazines Ring En Español and Guantes helped popularize him.

Professional boxing record

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92 fights 76 wins 12 losses
By knockout 52 4
By decision 24 8
Draws 4
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
92 Loss 76–12–4 Rodolfo Blanco TKO 8 (10) 1988-11-28 Maracaibo, Venezuela
91 Win 76–11–4 Pedro Nieves TKO 5 (10) 1988-10-17 Maracaibo, Venezuela
90 Draw 75–11–4 Juan Blanco PTS 12 (12) 1988-08-29 Maracaibo, Venezuela For Venezuelan light flyweight title
89 Loss 75–11–3 Alberto Castro PTS 12 (12) 1984-07-07 Maracaibo, Venezuela For WBA Fedelatin flyweight title
88 Win 75–10–3 Alberto Alger TKO 1 (10) 1984-05-25 Caracas, Venezuela
87 Loss 74–10–3 Santos Laciar SD 15 (15) 1982-08-14 Hotel del Lago Casino, Maracaibo, Venezuela For WBA flyweight title
86 Win 74–9–3 Julio Guerrero PTS 10 (10) 1982-06-05 Maracay, Venezuela
85 Loss 73–9–3 Juan Herrera TKO 7 (15) 1981-12-19 Carte Clara Baseball Park, Merida, Mexico For WBA flyweight title
84 Win 73–8–3 Ramon L Perez PTS 10 (10) 1981-11-21 Maracay, Venezuela
83 Win 72–8–3 Peter Mathebula KO 6 (10) 1981-10-04 Maracay, Venezuela
82 Win 71–8–3 Peter Mathebula TKO 10 (10) 1981-06-21 Maracaibo, Venezuela
81 Win 70–8–3 Carlos Illescas KO 2 (10) 1981-03-28 Maracaibo, Venezuela
80 Win 69–8–3 Manuel Rios TKO 5 (10) 1980-12-06 Maracaibo, Venezuela
79 Win 68–8–3 Pascual Polanco TKO 5 (10) 1980-11-14 Maracaibo, Venezuela
78 Win 67–8–3 Arturo Gonzalez KO 5 (10) 1980-10-31 Maracaibo, Venezuela
77 Win 66–8–3 Elias DeLeon PTS 10 (10) 1980-06-28 Maracaibo, Venezuela
76 Loss 65–8–3 Luis Ibarra UD 15 (15) 1979-11-17 Maestranza Cesar Giron, Maracay, Venezuela Lost WBA flyweight title
75 Win 65–7–3 Shoji Oguma KO 12 (15) 1979-07-06 Tochigi Prefectural Gym, Utsunomiya, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
74 Draw 64–7–3 Shoji Oguma SD 15 (15) 1979-01-29 City Gymnasium, Hamamatsu, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
73 Win 64–7–2 Martín Vargas TKO 12 (15) 1978-11-04 Maestranza Cesar Giron, Maracay, Venezuela Retained WBA flyweight title
72 Win 63–7–2 Guty Espadas MD 15 (15) 1978-08-12 Maestranza Cesar Giron, Maracay, Venezuela Won WBA flyweight title
71 Win 62–7–2 Rocky Mijares TKO 7 (10) 1978-07-08 Maracaibo, Venezuela
70 Win 61–7–2 Pedro Campoverde TKO 2 (10) 1978-06-17 Valencia, Venezuela
69 Win 60–7–2 Humberto Mayorga TKO 2 (10) 1978-05-13 Maracaibo, Venezuela
68 Win 59–7–2 Raul Valdez PTS 10 (10) 1978-03-04 Caracas, Venezuela
67 Win 58–7–2 Carlos Ramon Escalante TKO 6 (10) 1977-09-30 Maracaibo, Venezuela
66 Win 57–7–2 Rodolfo Rodríguez RTD 7 (10) 1977-06-25 Plaza de Toros, Maracaibo, Venezuela
65 Win 56–7–2 Samuel Machorro PTS 10 (10) 1977-04-16 Maracaibo, Venezuela
64 Win 55–7–2 Prudencio Cardona KO 3 (10) 1977-03-12 Maracaibo, Venezuela
63 Win 54–7–2 Valentin Martinez TKO 8 (10) 1977-02-13 Maracaibo, Venezuela
62 Win 53–7–2 Juanito Herrera TKO 2 (10) 1976-11-29 Maracaibo, Venezuela
61 Loss 52–7–2 Miguel Canto SD 15 (15) 1976-10-03 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela For WBC & The Ring flyweight titles
60 Win 52–6–2 Mario Chavez KO 2 (10) 1976-08-21 Caracas, Venezuela
59 Win 51–6–2 Robert Emerson TKO 3 (10) 1976-07-25 Maracaibo, Venezuela
58 Win 50–6–2 Hilde Roche KO 2 (12) 1976-06-20 Caracas, Venezuela Won vacant WBC FECARBOX flyweight title
57 Win 49–6–2 Felix Madrigal TKO 2 (10) 1976-05-15 Maracaibo, Venezuela
56 Win 48–6–2 Henry Diaz TKO 8 (10) 1976-04-10 Caracas, Venezuela
55 Win 47–6–2 Tony Sanchez PTS 10 (10) 1976-02-14 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
54 Win 46–6–2 Luis Torres KO 3 (10) 1975-12-01 Caracas, Venezuela
53 Win 45–6–2 Andres Reyes KO 4 (10) 1975-11-15 Caracas, Venezuela
52 Win 44–6–2 Reynaldo Romero KO 1 (10) 1975-10-04 Caracas, Venezuela
51 Win 43–6–2 Sergio Omar Villouta TKO 2 (10) 1975-09-06 Caracas, Venezuela
50 Win 42–6–2 Mariano García TKO 2 (10) 1975-07-26 Caracas, Venezuela
49 Loss 41–6–2 Miguel Canto SD 15 (15) 1975-05-24 Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, Mexico For WBC & The Ring flyweight titles
48 Win 41–5–2 Mario Mendez KO 8 (10) 1975-02-22 Caracas, Venezuela
47 Loss 40–5–2 Shoji Oguma SD 15 (15) 1974-10-01 Nihon University Auditorium, Tokyo, Japan Lost WBC flyweight title
46 Win 40–4–2 Franco Udella TKO 10 (15) 1974-07-20 Stadio Darsena, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy Retained WBC flyweight title
45 Win 39–4–2 Shoji Oguma PTS 10 (10) 1974-05-19 City Sogo Gym, Kōriyama, Japan
44 Win 38–4–2 Luis Cortez TKO 2 (10) 1974-03-30 Caracas, Venezuela
43 Win 37–4–2 Alberto Morales TKO 11 (15) 1973-11-17 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBC flyweight title
42 Win 36–4–2 Reinaldo Ramirez KO 3 (10) 1973-09-29 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
41 Win 35–4–2 Miguel Canto MD 15 (15) 1973-08-04 Luis Aparicio Stadium, Maracaibo, Venezuela Won vacant WBC flyweight title
40 Win 34–4–2 Ricardo Delgado PTS 10 (10) 1973-07-10 Maracay, Venezuela
39 Win 33–4–2 Lorenzo Gutierrez KO 1 (10) 1973-03-10 Maracaibo, Venezuela
38 Win 32–4–2 Osamu Haba TKO 5 (10) 1973-01-31 Caracas, Venezuela
37 Win 31–4–2 Rudy Billones TKO 1 (10) 1972-11-17 Maracaibo, Venezuela
36 Loss 30–4–2 Venice Borkhorsor TKO 10 (15) 1972-09-29 Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Lost WBC flyweight title
35 Win 30–3–2 Socrates Batoto KO 4 (15) 1972-06-03 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBC flyweight title
34 Win 29–3–2 Willie Pastrana TKO 4 (10) 1972-03-15 Maracaibo, Venezuela
33 Win 28–3–2 Salvador Lozano TKO 6 (10) 1972-01-31 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
32 Draw 27–3–2 Erbito Salavarria SD 15 (15) 1971-11-20 Luis Aparicio Stadium, Maracaibo, Venezuela For WBC flyweight title
31 Win 27–3–1 San Sacristan PTS 10 (10) 1971-08-30 Caracas, Venezuela
30 Win 26–3–1 Natalio Jimenez PTS 10 (10) 1971-07-17 Maracaibo, Venezuela
29 Win 25–3–1 Tony Moreno UD 10 (10) 1971-06-05 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
28 Loss 24–3–1 Masao Ohba UD 15 (15) 1971-04-01 Nihon University Auditorium, Tokyo, Japan For WBA flyweight title
27 Win 24–2–1 Lucio Del Rio Mosca TKO 8 (10) 1971-01-31 Caracas, Venezuela
26 Win 23–2–1 Bernabe Villacampo SD 12 (12) 1970-12-21 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
25 Win 22–2–1 Rodolfo Lopez TKO 7 (10) 1970-11-30 Caracas, Venezuela
24 Win 21–2–1 Jose Cruz Garcia TKO 6 (10) 1970-11-02 Caracas, Venezuela
23 Win 20–2–1 Ubaldo Duarte PTS 10 (10) 1970-09-25 Caracas, Venezuela
22 Win 19–2–1 Ignacio Espinal TKO 10 (10) 1970-08-04 Caracas, Venezuela
21 Win 18–2–1 Félix Márquez SD 12 (12) 1970-06-05 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela Retained Venezuelan flyweight title
20 Loss 17–2–1 Ignacio Espinal PTS 10 (10) 1970-05-08 Caracas, Venezuela
19 Win 17–1–1 Nestor Jimenez PTS 10 (10) 1970-04-17 Caracas, Venezuela
18 Loss 16–1–1 Félix Márquez TKO 6 (10) 1970-03-06 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
17 Win 16–0–1 Plinio Hernandez TKO 3 (10) 1970-02-20 Caracas, Venezuela
16 Win 15–0–1 Catalino Alvarado TKO 6 (10) 1969-12-12 Caracas, Venezuela
15 Win 14–0–1 Ismael Escobar KO 2 (?) 1969-11-03 Caracas, Venezuela
14 Win 13–0–1 Hector Criollo TKO 7 (12) 1969-10-10 Caracas, Venezuela Won Venezuelan flyweight title
13 Win 12–0–1 Juan Jose Brizuela PTS 10 (10) 1969-09-16 Estadio Alejandro Borges, Maracaibo, Venezuela
12 Win 11–0–1 Ramon Bravo KO 5 (10) 1969-09-08 Caracas, Venezuela
11 Draw 10–0–1 Juan Jose Brizuela PTS 10 (10) 1969-08-01 Caracas, Venezuela
10 Win 10–0 Nelson Alarcon PTS 10 (10) 1969-07-15 Maracaibo, Venezuela
9 Win 9–0 Antonio Barbosa PTS 10 (10) 1969-05-26 Maracaibo, Venezuela
8 Win 8–0 Mario De Leon PTS 10 (10) 1969-03-31 Maracaibo, Venezuela
7 Win 7–0 Hilario Diaz PTS 10 (10) 1969-02-03 Caracas, Venezuela
6 Win 6–0 Evencio Bruguillos PTS 10 (10) 1968-11-25 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
5 Win 5–0 Hector Criollo TKO 5 (10) 1968-10-22 Maracaibo, Venezuela
4 Win 4–0 Pollo Lara KO 4 (?) 1968-09-17 Maracaibo, Venezuela
3 Win 3–0 Fernando Ramirez TKO 3 (?) 1968-08-09 Cabimas, Venezuela
2 Win 2–0 Jose L Hernandez PTS 4 (4) 1968-06-26 Maracaibo, Venezuela
1 Win 1–0 Eliseo Monzant TKO 3 (?) 1968-04-24 Estadio Alejandro Borges, Maracaibo, Venezuela

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MIGUEL CANTO OF MEXICO RETAINS TITLE IN CARACAS BOUT AGAINST BETULIO GONZALEZ OF VENEZUELA". Pathé News. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  2. ^ "Gonzalez Stops Oguma And Keeps W.B.A. Title". The New York Times. 7 July 1979. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Hector Criollo
Venezuelan flyweight champion
October 10, 1969 – 1970
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Luis Reyes Arnal
Vacant
Title last held by
Orlando Hernández
WBC FECARBOX flyweight champion
June 20, 1976 – 1976
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Orlando Maldonado
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC flyweight champion
December 29, 1971 – September 29, 1972
Awarded title
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Venice Borkhorsor
WBC flyweight champion
August 4, 1973 – October 1, 1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBA flyweight champion
August 12, 1978 – November 17, 1979
Succeeded by