Juan Zurita

Juan Zurita (2 May 1917 – 24 March 2000) was a Mexican professional boxer in the lightweight division and a 1944 National Boxing Association Lightweight world champion.

Zurita was a southpaw or left handed boxer, who often fought with his right foot forward, though at times he could lead with his right as well.

American newspapers distinguished him as the first native-born Mexican to win a world boxing title.

Zurita was born on May 2, 1917, near Veracruz, Mexico on the Atlantic Coast.

Wolgast had formerly held the World Flyweight Title in July 1931, and had contended unsuccessfully for the World Bantamweight Title.

He began fighting professionally in early 1932,at the tender age of 14 and a half, on the Western Mexican coast in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Early in his career, Zurita won the Featherweight Championship of Mexico, defeating Joe Conde on February 24, 1934, in a twelve round points decision for the title.

By September 1934, Casanova had taken the Mexican Featherweight Championship, and had scored seven successful defenses of the title.

On January 4, 1935, Zurita defeated Pablo Dano in a ten round points decision at Legion Stadium in Hollywood, California.

Zurita took four rounds, Dano three, and three were even.

Zurita took the first four rounds according to the Los Angeles Times and finished strong in the final round.

The win was significant for Zurita as Dano was the more experienced boxer and favored in the early betting.

He had lost to Wolgast three times previously in 1935, on February 21, May 21, and June 28 in ten round points decisions, first in Los Angeles and then twice at Legion Stadium in Hollywood.

In June 1935, Sangchili had taken the IBU World Bantamweight Title in Valencia, Spain, and had taken the World Bantamweight Championship in the same year.

On February 15, 1936, Zurita defeated Californian boxer Georgie Hansford in a fifth round knockout in Mexico City.

On March 28, 1936, he defeated American boxer Midget Wolgast at the Arena Nacional in Mexico City in a fifth round knockout.

Zurita sent Wolgast to the mat for a count of nine in the fifth, before finishing him shortly after for a full count with a left to the stomach and a right to the chin.

On July 24, 1936, Zurita defeated Wolgast again in a ten round points decision at Legion Stadium in Hollywood, California.

Zurita forced the fighting through the entire bout and had the cleaner and more effective punches.

There were no knockdowns in the bout.

The referee gave eight rounds to Zurita, and two to Wolgast, though Braven Dyer of the Los Angeles Times felt the fight was a bit closer.

Zurita seemed strongest in the closing rounds.

On August 18, 1936, Zurita lost to exceptional Black boxer Henry Armstrong in a fourth round knockout at Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles.

At the time, Armstrong held the California version of the World Featherweight Title.

Zurita probably carried the first two round on points with a furious attack.

In the bottom of the third, Armstrong had found his range and made a number of effective blows to the head of Zurita that had him groggy.

In his career, Armstrong would also hold the World Welterweight Championship.

In four earlier meetings with Casanova, in a Mexican Featherweight Title match on September 15, 1934, and in matches in April 1935, April 1936, and June 1937, Zurita would lose.

Though each boxer was close in height and very close in reach, Zurita did not seem to match up well with Casanova who was two years older and may have benefited from two extra years in age.

On January 1, 1937, Zurita defeated Spanish boxer Baltasar Sangchili in a ten round points decision in Mexico City.

Zurita defeated New York based Puerto-Rican born Koli Kolo around June 1, 1938, in a fourth round knockout in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

The exact date of the bout remains unknown, and may have occurred the month earlier.

On June 18, 1938, Zurita defeated talented Mexican boxer Rodolfo "Baby" Casanova in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in a sixth round Technical Knockout.

It was Zurita's only win against Casanova.

On August 20, 1938, Zurita would lose to Casonova in a sixth round technical knockout in Mexico City.

He defeated Joe Conde again in a rematch for the Featherweight Championship on March 11, 1939, in a twelve round points decision at the Arena Mexico in Mexico City.

Zurita lost again to Armstrong on October 13, 1942, in a second round knockout at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The final blow was a right to the chin 2:20 into the second.

The final blow was a left hook followed by a right cross, 2:20 into the second, and was the only knockdown in the bout.

By their last bout in October 1942, Armstrong had taken world titles in both the Welterweight and Lightweight divisions.