Lauro Salas (28 August 1928 in

Monterrey Monterrey (, , abbreviated as MtY) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, after Greater Mexico City. Located at the foothills of th ...

Nuevo León Nuevo León, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León, is a Administrative divisions of Mexico, state in northeastern Mexico. The state borders the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, San Luis ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

– 18 January 1987) was a Mexican

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

who held the Undisputed World Lightweight Championship from May 14 – October 15, 1952.

Professional career

Salas was known as a tireless puncher, who often would wear his opponents out in the late rounds with a volume of punches. Boxing as a Featherweight for much of his early career, he was given a title shot against Lightweight champion

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

on April 1, 1952, at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Appearing to be well behind for the first ten rounds, Salas staged a late rally in the championship rounds, which he capped off with a two-count knockdown of the champion in the 15th round. Carter would win the unanimous decision, even as Salas won a lot of respect for his valiant effort. Six weeks later as a 4-to-1 underdog he faced Carter again for the title at the Olympic in a rematch. This time around, he got off to a much better start, cut the champion, and once again overwhelmed Carter with his pressure in the late rounds. This time around, he was awarded a split decision over Carter, to win the World Lightweight Title. On October 15, 1952, Salas fought a rubber match with Carter at

Chicago Stadium Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago from 1929 to 1995. When it was built, it was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and ...

. In the rematch Carter established control inside, dictating the pace, and cutting Salas over both of the eyes. With his vision hampered by cuts, along with the punishment he had taken from Carter, he was unable to sustain a late rally. Carter was awarded a wide unanimous decision, to regain the Lightweight title for the 2nd time.

Professional boxing record

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

* NYSAC

lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

champion (135 lbs) * NBA (WBA) lightweight champion (135 lbs)

''The Ring'' magazine titles

* ''The Ring'' lightweight champion (135 lbs)

Regional/International titles

* Texas State

featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

champion (126 lbs) * California State featherweight champion (126 lbs) (2×)

Undisputed titles

* Undisputed lightweight champion

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Salas, Lauro 1928 births 1987 deaths Sportspeople from Monterrey Boxers from Nuevo León World lightweight boxing champions Mexican male boxers 20th-century Mexican sportsmen