Betulio González


Betulio Segundo González is a former boxer from Venezuela, who is considered a national hero in Venezuela. He is considered by many to be Venezuela's greatest world champion in boxing history. A combatant of 92 bouts, he fought until eleven months before he turned forty, the mandatory age for professional fighters to retire in Venezuela.

Professional career

A native of Maracaibo, Zulia State he made his professional boxing debut on April 24, 1968, knocking out Elio Monzat in the third round at Gonzalez's hometown. Gonzalez won his first ten fights, including his Caracas debut, on November 25 of that same year, with a ten-round decision over Evencio Bruguillos.
On August 1, 1969, his winning streak came to a halt, when he was held to a ten-round draw, by Juan José Brizuela in Caracas. He beat Brizuela by a ten-round decision in a September 16 rematch, then challenged Hector Criollo for the Venezuelan Flyweight title on October 10. He won his first belt by knocking out Criollo in seven rounds to win the regional title.
On March 6, 1970, he suffered a somewhat surprising defeat, at the hands of Felix Marquez, who had only five prior professional fights. He was knocked out by Marquez in six rounds. He followed this with a win over Marquez by 12 rounds split decision to retain the Venezuelan flyweight title in a rematch as well as a win over Nestor Jimenez and a loss to Ignacio Espinal; both Jimenez and Espinal would later go on to fight for world titles.
On April 1, 1971, he got his first world title try, in what also was his first fight abroad. Fighting Masao Ohba in Tokyo for the WBA world Flyweight title, he dropped a fifteen-round unanimous decision.
After three more wins, he had his second chance at a world title: on November 20, he faced world champion Erbito Salavarria for his WBC world title. The fight resulted in a controversial fifteen-round draw: The Zulia State boxing commission alleged that Salavarria had been given sugar or illegal drugs during the fight, and sent the WBC a bottle with which the sugar or drugs had supposedly been administered. The WBC recognized Gonzalez to be as world champion.
He lost the title in his second defense, being handed a tenth-round knockout by Venice Borkhorsor on September 29 at Bangkok. He defeated Socrates Batoto in his lone defense.
Gonzalez had four wins in a row after that loss, and, on August 4, 1973, he became a world Flyweight champion for the second time, when he claimed the vacant WBA title by defeating Miguel Canto by a fifteen-round majority decision in Maracaibo.
On November 17, he retained the title with an eleventh-round knockout over Alberto Morales. On May 19, 1974, he faced Shoji Oguma, another world champion boxer, in a non-title, ten round bout held at Tokyo. Gonzalez prevailed by a ten-round decision. On July 20, Gonzalez fought in Italy against Franco Udella, a world Jr. Flyweight champion, and he retained the WBA world Flyweight title with a tenth-round knockout.
Oguma became the WBA world Flyweight champion when he beat Gonzalez, on November 1, with a fifteen-round split decision in Tokyo.
After one more win, Gonzalez and Canto met, this time with Canto as WBC world champion. Canto defeated Gonzalez by a fifteen-round split decision on May 24, 1975 at Monterrey, Mexico.
Gonzalez then won eight fights in a row, before fighting for the Fecarbox regional Flyweight title. On June 20, 1976, he won that title by knocking out Hildo Roche in two rounds. On November 10, he and Canto had a third match; Canto retained the WBC world Flyweight title with a fifteen-round split decision, in a fight held in Caracas.
Gonzalez won eight more fights in a row before being given another chance at becoming world Flyweight champion. On August 12, 1978, he joined the exclusive group of boxers who have become world champions three times in the same division, by defeating Guty Espadas by a fifteen-round majority decision in Caracas. This fight proved controversial as well, as Gonzalez appeared to be knocked down in the last round, but the fight's referee chose not to count it as a knockdown.
On November 4, he retained the title against the famed but maligned Chilean fighter Martin Vargas, a national hero in his country himself, with a twelfth-round knockout. Then, he and Oguma proceeded to have a third encounter, and, on January 1, 1979, they fought to a fifteen-round draw in Hamamatsu.
Gonzalez returned to Japan in July 1979, where, on July 6, he avenged his previous defeat to Oguma, by retaining the title with a twelfth-round knockout. But in his next defense, against Luis Ibarra, he lost a fifteen-round decision and the world title on November 17.
Gonzalez then embarked on another winning streak, which reached seven victories in a row, including two knockouts over future world champion Peter Mathebula, in ten and six rounds, respectively. This winning streak stopped when he challenged Juan Herrera for the WBA world Flyweight title on December 19, 1981. Trying to become a world Flyweight champion for the fourth time, Gonzalez was knocked out in seven rounds.
Santos Laciar went on to beat Herrera for the WBA world title, and, after Gonzalez got another win, the two boxing legends met, on September 14, 1982, at a Maracaibo hotel. In what turned out to be his last try at becoming world Flyweight champion for the fourth time, Gonzalez lost a split decision to the Argentine boxer.
After losing by a twelve-round decision to Alberto Castro for the Fedelatin Flyweight title on July 7, 1984, Gonzalez announced his retirement for the first time.
In 1988, however, he returned to boxing for one more fight: having lost on November 28 to future world champion Rodolfo Blanco by knockout in eight rounds, he retired, eleven months before mandatory retirement in Venezuela.
He became a household name all over Latin America during his tenures as world champion, especially after the Spanish boxing magazines Ring En Español and Guantes helped popularize him.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
92LossRodolfo BlancoTKO8 1988-11-28Maracaibo, Venezuela
91Win76–11–4Pedro NievesTKO5 1988-10-17Maracaibo, Venezuela
90Draw75–11–4Juan BlancoPTS12 1988-08-29Maracaibo, VenezuelaFor Venezuelan light flyweight title
89Loss75–11–3Alberto CastroPTS12 1984-07-07Maracaibo, VenezuelaFor WBA Fedelatin flyweight title
88Win75–10–3Alberto AlgerTKO1 1984-05-25Caracas, Venezuela
87Loss74–10–3Santos LaciarSD15 1982-08-14Hotel del Lago Casino, Maracaibo, VenezuelaFor WBA flyweight title
86Win74–9–3Julio GuerreroPTS10 1982-06-05Maracay, Venezuela
85Loss73–9–3Juan HerreraTKO7 1981-12-19Carte Clara Baseball Park, Merida, MexicoFor WBA flyweight title
84Win73–8–3Ramon L PerezPTS10 1981-11-21Maracay, Venezuela
83Win72–8–3Peter MathebulaKO6 1981-10-04Maracay, Venezuela
82Win71–8–3Peter MathebulaTKO10 1981-06-21Maracaibo, Venezuela
81Win70–8–3Carlos IllescasKO2 1981-03-28Maracaibo, Venezuela
80Win69–8–3Manuel RiosTKO5 1980-12-06Maracaibo, Venezuela
79Win68–8–3Pascual PolancoTKO5 1980-11-14Maracaibo, Venezuela
78Win67–8–3Arturo GonzalezKO5 1980-10-31Maracaibo, Venezuela
77Win66–8–3Elias DeLeonPTS10 1980-06-28Maracaibo, Venezuela
76Loss65–8–3Luis IbarraUD15 1979-11-17Maestranza Cesar Giron, Maracay, VenezuelaLost WBA flyweight title
75Win65–7–3Shoji OgumaKO12 1979-07-06Tochigi Prefectural Gym, Utsunomiya, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
74Draw64–7–3Shoji OgumaSD15 1979-01-29City Gymnasium, Hamamatsu, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
73Win64–7–2Martín VargasTKO12 1978-11-04Maestranza Cesar Giron, Maracay, VenezuelaRetained WBA flyweight title
72Win63–7–2Guty EspadasMD15 1978-08-12Maestranza Cesar Giron, Maracay, VenezuelaWon WBA flyweight title
71Win62–7–2Rocky MijaresTKO7 1978-07-08Maracaibo, Venezuela
70Win61–7–2Pedro CampoverdeTKO2 1978-06-17Valencia, Venezuela
69Win60–7–2Humberto MayorgaTKO2 1978-05-13Maracaibo, Venezuela
68Win59–7–2Raul ValdezPTS10 1978-03-04Caracas, Venezuela
67Win58–7–2Carlos Ramon EscalanteTKO6 1977-09-30Maracaibo, Venezuela
66Win57–7–2Rodolfo RodríguezRTD7 1977-06-25Plaza de Toros, Maracaibo, Venezuela
65Win56–7–2Samuel MachorroPTS10 1977-04-16Maracaibo, Venezuela
64Win55–7–2Prudencio CardonaKO3 1977-03-12Maracaibo, Venezuela
63Win54–7–2Valentin MartinezTKO8 1977-02-13Maracaibo, Venezuela
62Win53–7–2Juanito HerreraTKO2 1976-11-29Maracaibo, Venezuela
61Loss52–7–2Miguel CantoSD15 1976-10-03Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaFor WBC & The Ring flyweight titles
60Win52–6–2Mario ChavezKO2 1976-08-21Caracas, Venezuela
59Win51–6–2Robert EmersonTKO3 1976-07-25Maracaibo, Venezuela
58Win50–6–2Hilde RocheKO2 1976-06-20Caracas, VenezuelaWon vacant WBC FECARBOX flyweight title
57Win49–6–2Felix MadrigalTKO2 1976-05-15Maracaibo, Venezuela
56Win48–6–2Henry DiazTKO8 1976-04-10Caracas, Venezuela
55Win47–6–2Tony SanchezPTS10 1976-02-14Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
54Win46–6–2Luis TorresKO3 1975-12-01Caracas, Venezuela
53Win45–6–2Andres ReyesKO4 1975-11-15Caracas, Venezuela
52Win44–6–2Reynaldo RomeroKO1 1975-10-04Caracas, Venezuela
51Win43–6–2Sergio Omar VilloutaTKO2 1975-09-06Caracas, Venezuela
50Win42–6–2Mariano GarcíaTKO2 1975-07-26Caracas, Venezuela
49Loss41–6–2Miguel CantoSD15 1975-05-24Plaza de Toros Monumental, Monterrey, MexicoFor WBC & The Ring flyweight titles
48Win41–5–2Mario MendezKO8 1975-02-22Caracas, Venezuela
47Loss40–5–2Shoji OgumaSD15 1974-10-01Nihon University Auditorium, Tokyo, JapanLost WBC flyweight title
46Win40–4–2Franco UdellaTKO10 1974-07-20Stadio Darsena, Lignano Sabbiadoro, ItalyRetained WBC flyweight title
45Win39–4–2Shoji OgumaPTS10 1974-05-19City Sogo Gym, Kōriyama, Japan
44Win38–4–2Luis CortezTKO2 1974-03-30Caracas, Venezuela
43Win37–4–2Alberto MoralesTKO11 1973-11-17Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC flyweight title
42Win36–4–2Reinaldo RamirezKO3 1973-09-29Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
41Win35–4–2Miguel CantoMD15 1973-08-04Luis Aparicio Stadium, Maracaibo, VenezuelaWon vacant WBC flyweight title
40Win34–4–2Ricardo DelgadoPTS10 1973-07-10Maracay, Venezuela
39Win33–4–2Lorenzo GutierrezKO1 1973-03-10Maracaibo, Venezuela
38Win32–4–2Osamu HabaTKO5 1973-01-31Caracas, Venezuela
37Win31–4–2Rudy BillonesTKO1 1972-11-17Maracaibo, Venezuela
36Loss30–4–2Venice BorkhorsorTKO10 1972-09-29Kittikachorn Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandLost WBC flyweight title
35Win30–3–2Socrates BatotoKO4 1972-06-03Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC flyweight title
34Win29–3–2Willie PastranaTKO4 1972-03-15Maracaibo, Venezuela
33Win28–3–2Salvador LozanoTKO6 1972-01-31Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
32Draw27–3–2Erbito SalavarriaSD15 1971-11-20Luis Aparicio Stadium, Maracaibo, VenezuelaFor WBC flyweight title
31Win27–3–1San SacristanPTS10 1971-08-30Caracas, Venezuela
30Win26–3–1Natalio JimenezPTS10 1971-07-17Maracaibo, Venezuela
29Win25–3–1Tony MorenoUD10 1971-06-05Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
28Loss24–3–1Masao OhbaUD15 1971-04-01Nihon University Auditorium, Tokyo, JapanFor WBA flyweight title
27Win24–2–1Lucio Del Rio MoscaTKO8 1971-01-31Caracas, Venezuela
26Win23–2–1Bernabe VillacampoSD12 1970-12-21Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
25Win22–2–1Rodolfo LopezTKO7 1970-11-30Caracas, Venezuela
24Win21–2–1Jose Cruz GarciaTKO6 1970-11-02Caracas, Venezuela
23Win20–2–1Ubaldo DuartePTS10 1970-09-25Caracas, Venezuela
22Win19–2–1Ignacio EspinalTKO10 1970-08-04Caracas, Venezuela
21Win18–2–1Félix MárquezSD12 1970-06-05Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained Venezuelan flyweight title
20Loss17–2–1Ignacio EspinalPTS10 1970-05-08Caracas, Venezuela
19Win17–1–1Nestor JimenezPTS10 1970-04-17Caracas, Venezuela
18Loss16–1–1Félix MárquezTKO6 1970-03-06Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
17Win16–0–1Plinio HernandezTKO3 1970-02-20Caracas, Venezuela
16Win15–0–1Catalino AlvaradoTKO6 1969-12-12Caracas, Venezuela
15Win14–0–1Ismael EscobarKO2 1969-11-03Caracas, Venezuela
14Win13–0–1Hector CriolloTKO7 1969-10-10Caracas, VenezuelaWon Venezuelan flyweight title
13Win12–0–1Juan Jose BrizuelaPTS10 1969-09-16Estadio Alejandro Borges, Maracaibo, Venezuela
12Win11–0–1Ramon BravoKO5 1969-09-08Caracas, Venezuela
11Draw10–0–1Juan Jose BrizuelaPTS10 1969-08-01Caracas, Venezuela
10Win10–0Nelson AlarconPTS10 1969-07-15Maracaibo, Venezuela
9Win9–0Antonio BarbosaPTS10 1969-05-26Maracaibo, Venezuela
8Win8–0Mario De LeonPTS10 1969-03-31Maracaibo, Venezuela
7Win7–0Hilario DiazPTS10 1969-02-03Caracas, Venezuela
6Win6–0Evencio BruguillosPTS10 1968-11-25Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
5Win5–0Hector CriolloTKO5 1968-10-22Maracaibo, Venezuela
4Win4–0Pollo LaraKO4 1968-09-17Maracaibo, Venezuela
3Win3–0Fernando RamirezTKO3 1968-08-09Cabimas, Venezuela
2Win2–0Jose L HernandezPTS4 1968-06-26Maracaibo, Venezuela
1Win1–0Eliseo MonzantTKO3 1968-04-24Estadio Alejandro Borges, Maracaibo, Venezuela