FORMER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMP IS DIVERSE
San Rafael, CA– Carlos Palomino started his boxing career in 1970 at the age of 21, compiling an excellent amateur record of 32-3, that included the National AAU title in 1972. In September of that year Carlos made his professional debut at the famed Olympic Auditorium, winning a four round decision over Javier Martinez. Member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
CARLOS HAD GREAT RUN AT THE OLYMPIC, He fought 20 of his next 23 fights at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, where he garnered a huge fan following. He then went on to challenge and beat then champion, John H. Stracy (44-3-1 35 KOs) who had dethroned the great Jose Napoles. Carlos won the WBC welterweight title in London, England by 12th round TKO over Stracy on June 22, 1976. Carlos went on to defend the green belt an impressive seven times before loosing a 15 round split decision to Wilfredo Benitez, this in Benitezs home town of San Juan, Puerto Rico. To this day Carlos still believes he won the fight, Benitez ran the whole fight, there would have BEEN no fight if it wasnt for me.
PALAMINO SAID HED QUIT AT 30!
Carlos always had in his mind that he was going to retire from the ring by the age of 30. His plan was to get a return fight with Benitez, win and then retire with the belt. During this time the legendary Roberto Duran decided to move up to welterweight and Don King decided to have a title elimination match between Palomino and Duran. Carlos agreed and was very confident that he could beat Duran. You see, Roberto was moving up to welterweight (147 lbs.) and wouldnt have the same strength or punch he did as the undisputed lightweight (135) champion. Carlos said, I always had an easy time with the brawler types.
NO LONGER A FIGHT FOR BENITEZ
Two weeks prior to the match, the fight was reduced from 12 rounds to 10 and was no longer being billed as an elimination fight. He knew then, even a victory over Duran was no guarantee of a return match with Benitez. Roberto won the fight going away with a 10 round decision. Palomino felt that Duran just stayed a little busier than me, I was out hustled he said. .
PALAMINO STILL WANTED BENITEZ
The Duran fight was in June 1979, two months prior to Carlos turning 30, as was always his goal, Carlos stayed good to his word and retired from the ring. During that period, Benitez also lost the title to Sugar Ray Leonard, so hopes of a rematch to regain the title were dead.
CARLOS BITTEN BY HOLLYWOOD BUG
Shortly before the end of his career he had an opportunity to do a little acting gig on the very popular TV show Taxi. He really enjoyed the experience and decided to pursue acting. One of the shows stars, Danny Devito, would tell Carlos what he needed to do to get started in acting. That included getting an agent, taking acting lessons and a few other helpful tips. Carlos followed Devitos advice and got his SAG (Screen Actors Guild) card.
AND THEN CAME THE BEER COMMERCIALS
Shortly thereafter, he got hired by Miller Lite Beer, went on to do five national commercials and was a spokesman for the next six years, all the while doing parts in various movies and TV shows. For the most part Carlos would spend the next few years acting, living the family life and bringing up his three children, Carlos Jr. , now 35, Alina Marie now 28 and Chontel, who is now 22. While Carlos was boxing, he attended Long Beach State and got a B.A. in Recreation Administration. All his kids followed suit and graduated from college.
HEALTH NUT IS PALOMINO
Carlos always stayed in good condition, running five to six miles daily, and hes completed nine marathons. In 1996, he hooked back up with his old manager and trainer, Jackie McCoy and Noel Cruz. He had no intention of boxing again, he just wanted to work out and it made him feel better to be with his old team. One day Hector Camacho was in the gym and asked Carlos to spar, he agreed and did so well with the multi-division champion, that Camacho asked Palomino to work with him on a regular basis. Camacho also told his promoter, Mike Acri, how good Carlos still was. Acri tried talking him out of retirement, but Carlos had no interest at the time.
BUCKET FULL OF MONEY HAD HOLES!
Shortly thereafter, former WBA heavyweight titleholder, Gerrie Coetzee was working out in the Westminster Boxing Club and he too was impressed with Palomino. Coetzee got a promoter to make Carlos a sweet deal, $1 million for four fights with a $10,000 signing bonus! That was more money than he had made previously in his entire career. Thus, at the age of 47, Carlos resumed his boxing career. However, the promise of big money was not to be. Carlos fought the four fights, winning all by KO, but was only paid $25,000 to $30,000 per fight, way short of the million dollars promised him. In addition to the shortage of money, there was no fight that would lead him to another world title, which Carlos wanted if he was going to box again.
RIVERA ENDS PALMINOS QUEST
Palomino fought one more time, a fight that would get him a title shot if he won. However it was not to be. At the age of 48, he lost a decision to #3 ranked world contender, Wilfredo Riviera, who had just lost in a title bid to Oscar De La Hoya. He then hung up his gloves for good with a record of 31-4 with 19 KOs, and went back to acting.
WHERE IS CARLOS PALOMINO NOW?
Today Carlos lives in Studio City with his fiancÈ Daliene. Hes helping to raise Alexa, her ten year old daughter, continuing his acting career. He recently started a new company working as the middle man for a credit card company and later this year he expects to produce an Instructional Boxing Video. In his words Carlos says, Im enjoying the Golden Years.
WATCHED TITO FALL TO NARD TOGETHER
I had the pleasure of spending an evening with Carlos when he came to my house with a good friend of mine and a former manager of Roberto Duran, Freddie Martinez. We watched the Bernard Hopkins-Tito Trinidad fight and had a betting pool as to the outcome. Well, Carlos won that as well, and walked away with the money. But he left smiles on the faces of the boxing fans that were at my house that evening. A class act on either side of the ropes, Carlos Palomino.
Andy Nance
Note: Andy Nance is a former professional boxer who went 24-1. He has served as President of the Northern California Veterans Boxers Assn. Currently Andy trains and manages several boxers in Vallejo, CA at Drew Trujillos gym. Comments can be left below.