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Chris Cozzone: Pecos' Zamora has no problem being underdog
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Some say speed will be the only advantage Joaquin Zamora will have when he steps into the ring against his first world-class opponent, Cosme "Chino" Rivera of Culiacan, Mexico.
Others say the support of the hometown crowd for the fight on April 28 at Sky City Casino in Acoma will be Zamora's biggest plus.
But those of us who've seen the majority of his fights know Zamora's determination is his biggest edge.
The fighter and former Navy amateur champ from Luna, Socorro, Santa Fe and Pecos - depending on whether where you were born, grew up, train in or live is considered hometown - is in for a stern test that, on paper, looks like a tune-up for his opponent. Rivera is a former world title challenger and regional belt-holder who has faced everyone from Zab Judah to Diosbelys Hurtado, both world champions.
Most of the advantages will be in Rivera's corner, especially experience and level of opposition.
Zamora's record of 13-2-1 (10 KOs) pales next to Rivera's 30-10-2 (21 KOs), as do the names on their respective r‚sum‚s. Rivera will be Zamora's toughest match yet, with Elco Garcia (loss by TKO) and maybe Cleiton Conceicao (win by TKO) rating as his previous two toughest matches to date.
Rivera's record includes many legitimate contenders.
"He's definitely my toughest fight," Zamora said. "Chino is a tall, rangy Mexican who always comes to fight. He's a solid guy, a veteran and a harder hitter than people think. It's going to be a very technical fight, but I'm ready.
"In over my head? I've been accused of that before."
It won't be the first time Zamora has climbed into the ring as an underdog.
"I fight who I need to fight, to get where I need to be," said Zamora, whose ultimate goal is the world title belt at welterweight.
"People who come to see me fight know I'll fight anybody."
In his last bout, the co-feature of the last Sky City Casino card, also promoted by Juan Romero Productions, Zamora took on Juarez slugger Nelson Estupinan for a minor World Boxing Council step-up belt.
Although Zamora floored Estupinan twice en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win, he did suffer a first-round knockdown less than 2 minutes into the fight.
"It's the punch you don't see coming that gets you," said Zamora, who beat the count to survive the last minute then increasingly started to dominate as the fight progressed.
"It was more of a flash knockdown. I wasn't so much hurt as I was embarrassed," Zamora said.
It was the third time Zamora had been down in his career. In his second fight, he was unknowingly matched up against a former Mexican national amateur champ, Juan Salazar, who put him down and stopped him in the third round. Zamora was up and complaining when the referee waved the bout over in a bout he believed was prematurely stopped. In 2005, he was downed by Farid Shahid, who caught him with a punch he didn't see coming. In that fight, Zamora got back up to win by TKO in the third.
The win over Estupinan, and the minor belt, earned Zamora a No. 13 world rating with the WBC. A win over Rivera could put him in the top 10, making him the only male fighter in the state ranked as a contender.
"Being an underdog is my motivation," said Zamora, who will be fighting in his first main event.
"It's going to be tough, but it's a great opportunity."
Zamora, 29, sees plenty of years left in the ring.
"As long as I'm not taking a beating," he says. "I'll give everything I have in the next couple years, but if I'm 37 and still kicking butt? Why stop?
"Look at Winky Wright and Bernard Hopkins - they've got longevity because they've taken care of themselves.
"I don't smoke, I don't go to bars. I don't have the vices that others have."
Zamora lives in Pecos and works and trains in Santa Fe.
Since 2002, Zamora has trained under Al Lovato. He's worked a full-time job with the Santa Fe Parks & Recreation Department since 2004.
For the past couple of years, Zamora has been managed by Grant Elvis Phillips, who also guides the career of Monica Lovato, who is scheduled to fight the co-main on next Saturday's card.
"I've fought all over, taken tough fights in Las Vegas," says Zamora. "But it's nice to fight here, at home.
"It's not so much as being in the spotlight, as it is finally getting your due."
