Legendary Boxing Promoter Felix Zabala Sr., 83, Passes Away

The boxing world—the Miami scene, particularly—misplaced an icon.

Veteran promoter Felix ‘Tuto’ Zabala Sr. handed away Thursday night, on the eve of the spring season premiere of the long-running Boxeo Telemundo collection he helped create in 1989. The legendary boxing determine and founding father of All Star Boxing, Inc. was 84 years outdated on the time of his loss of life, which got here after a 20-year-long battle with varied well being points.

“My greatest buddy, idol, mentor and the particular person with the most important coronary heart I’ve identified,” Felix ‘Tutico’ Zabala Jr., proprietor and president of All Star Boxing stated of his father’s passing.  “RIP you fought nicely over 20 years and 4 months very pleased with your coronary heart, a real fighter.”

The elder Zabala was born October 18, 1937 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, although his affect on the game would come after fleeing to Puerto Rico in 1960 to flee communist rule and later relocating to Miami the place he endlessly left his imprint. A 22-year outdated Zabala hit the bottom operating in selling exhibits in San Juan all through the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies which included the formation of a three-decade lengthy working relationship with Corridor of Fame promoter Don King.

The Zabala household additionally spent a lot of the previous three many years working with Prime Rank and Corridor of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Zabala represented quite a lot of world champions, the primary being Dominican Republic’s Carlos Teo Cruz who apparently misplaced on Zabala’s first promoted present in San Juan. Cruz would go on to change into the lineal light-weight champion, scoring a 15-round cut up determination win over legendary Corridor of Famer and lengthy reigning champ Carlos Ortiz in 1968.  

Among the many different world champions represented by Zabala embody Miguel ‘Glad’ Lora, Alfredo Escalera, Angel Espada, Sammy Serrano and the father-son tandem of Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. and Jr.

Zabala endlessly left his imprint on the game as soon as establishing store in Miami in 1980. His promotional efforts led to touchdown a surplus of world title fights to the area, together with Colombia’s Lora’s 12-round determination win over Daniel Zaragoza to seize the WBC bantamweight crown in August 1985. Lora achieved the feat in entrance of a pro-Colombian crowd at Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium in Miami, with the area internet hosting 5 of his seven profitable title defenses.

Zabala’s All Star Boxing helped launch Boxeo Telemundo in 1989, which stays the longest operating energetic boxing collection now in its thirty third 12 months. The collection grew to become an integral a part of the household enterprise whereas showcasing title fights and a whole bunch of title challengers over time.

It additionally coincided with the re-emergence of Wlfredo Vazquez Sr., who would get well from a tough run at bantamweight to change into a three-division world champion. Vazquez rallied to knockout Eloy Rojas within the eleventh spherical of their Might 1998 to change into the lineal and WBA featherweight champion. The ugly facet of the game’s politics would see Vazquez’s WBA title reign come to an finish in 1998, in addition to dissolving the enterprise relationship between Zabala and King.

Vazquez would stay lineal champion, although shedding the crown to Naseem Hamed in April 1998 whereas amassing a career-best payday.

The elder Zabala was compelled away from the day-to-day operations after struggling an enormous stroke in 2001. Regardless of remaining bedridden, Zabala’s affect nonetheless remained even after Felix Jr. took over the household enterprise for good after leaving his executive-level profession with the NFL.

Zabala Sr. was hailed by many within the business as the most effective promoter ever in Miami, and honored by the Florida Boxing Corridor of Fame together with his enshrinement in 2009. He was joined by his son who was honored in 2014, although a bittersweet 12 months which additionally noticed the passing of Felix Sr’s spouse, Carmen.

The elder Zabala is survived by three youngsters—Felix Jr., Betty and Susana—and grandchildren Felix III, Soroya, Carlos, Susy, Alex, Alejandro, Betty, Carolina and Fernando.

His legacy can be honored throughout Friday’s presentation of Boxeo Telemundo which airs reside from Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.

Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox