Pedro Carrasco
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Pedro Carrasco (July 11, 1943, Alosno, Spain - January 27, 2001) was a Spanish boxer whose fame transcended boxing rings: During the 1970s, he was a media darling in Spain, just like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar de la Hoya have been in the United States.
Carrasco crowned himself European Lightweight champion in 1967. This triumph was followed four years later, in 1971, with a victory over Mando Ramos in Madrid by disqualification in 11 rounds for the WBC's world Lightweight title. The victory was marred by controversy, as Carrasco won the title while lying on the canvas: he had been hit to the head by Ramos, near the back of Carrasco's head. The fight's referee expressed confusion as to whether the blow was a legal one or an illegal one, but he decided to call it an illegal blow and raised Carrasco's hand in signal of victory. Carrasco immediately became a national hero in Spain, as he had become Spain's first ever world boxing champion.
Carrasco, who was a culturally educated fighter, became a sensation with the media, especially with tabloid magazines, and he started to hang out with Spanish show business stars, with his picture on the covers of such magazines as ¡Hola! many times. He married the singer Rocío Jurado, with whom he shared a daughter, Rocío Carrasco. He was also married to Raquel Mosquera for five years.
In 1971, and because of the controversial nature of his world championship win over Ramos, the WBC ordered a rematch, and it was fought in Los Angeles. There, Ramos beat Carrasco and lifted the title from him. They had a rubber match, and Ramos beat Carrasco again.
In 1983, the WBC selected Carrasco in their list of the greatest 40 boxers of the last 40 years.
Carrasco's death in 2001 caused shock in Spain, particularly because of the relatively young age - just 57 - at which he died. One newspaper article read Spain cries for Pedro.
Carrasco's career boxing record was 106-3-2 (66 KOs). After beginning his career 12-1-1, Carrasco had a streak on which he went 92-0-1. The draw came after Carrasco had won 83 consecutive fights. This undefeated streak was longer than Julio César Chávez's (90-0-1). Chávez's streak, however, was from the beginning of the career, and he was 88-0 before the draw.
