Looking Back: Tony “The Tiger” Baltazar

Tony Baltazar, along with his older brother Frankie, were boxing as young boys in their native Los Angeles after being introduced to the sport by their father.

Some 300 combined amateur fights later, they both turned pro. While Frankie probably had the more natural, smoother style of the two, it was Tony who really made a mark on the sport.

Frankie turned pro in 1976. Brother Tony went pro three years later in the winter of 1979.

From ’79 through ‘82, in his first 25 fights, Tony was an impressive 24-1, only drawing against veteran Chuy Rodriguez in 1981. After banging out 10 more wins over the next year-and-a-half, he got his first big-name bout in 1983 against famed Olympian, Howard Davis Jr.  He lost a UD, but it would start a run of fights against some of the best fighters in the world. 

From 1983 through 1985, he rattled off five fights that included a TKO stoppage to undefeated, world-rated Robin Blake. Two fights later, he beat world champion Roger Mayweather. After a win 17 months later, at the end of 1985, he would leave the ring and would not return for 3 years.

(Note - Baltazar’s boxing career was interrupted by a prison stint for his role in a tragic vehicular manslaughter case in which 2 people were killed. He resumed his career upon his release). 

“The Tiger” returned in 1988. From 1988 until the end of his career in 1994, he would face some of boxing’s best fighters.

In the last 6 years, he would fight 15 times, going 10-5. His 5 defeats included a distance loss to world champion Buddy McGirt, in a nationally televised bout. He also dropped his 1st world title shot, for the WBO super lightweight title, to legend Hector Camacho in 1990.

After 2 more wins he would drop a UD to veteran Rodney Moore in Philadelphia. Then, a year later, he would get his 2nd world title shot against undefeated 35-0 champion Carlos Gonzalez, but he was halted in the 1st frame.

He split his last 2 fights, going 1-1. He did return for a distance win in 2002, but that would be the last time he ever stepped into the ring.

He retired with a combined record of an impressive 39-7-1, with 30 knockouts. Baltazar was a popular TV regular and an exciting world-class fighter.

One must wonder if starting boxing at such a young age and having so many amateur fights possibly contributed to a burnout factor at times in his career.

Regardless, he was an exciting puncher-boxer who was a staple at the legendary Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. A southpaw boxer who fought from the orthodox stance, he was known for his vicious left hook. Baltazar was in numerous exciting bouts against some of the world’s best during his time.

“The Tiger” would leave the ring with 2 title shots under his belt, an impressive record, and a lasting legacy in California, and all of boxing, as a world-class contender. 

Thanks for the memories, Tony.