Carlos Maussa

Charles Celindo Maussa Diaz (born September 24, 1971), best known as Carlos Maussa, is a Colombian former professional boxer who competed from 2000 to 2007, and held the WBA super lightweight title in 2005.

Carlos Maussa
Statistics
Real nameCharles Celindo Maussa Diaz
Nickname(s)El Apóstol ("The Apostle")
Weight(s)Light welterweight
Height5 ft 10 12 in (179 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
NationalityColombian
Born (1971-09-24) September 24, 1971
Montería, Colombia
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights25
Wins20
Wins by KO18
Losses5

Professional career

Turning pro in 2000, at the age of 29, Maussa won two titles and fought in several significant fights until his retirement at age 38.

Maussa was raised in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Montería, a city located in the banks of the Sinú River, where he began his impressive amateur career, which ultimately brought him just nine defeats in 130 bouts. Maussa was named National Champion four times and was also crowned the Central American champion. He gained the nickname “The Apostle” by his frequent preaching of the Christian gospel.

In his professional career, while never a superstar fighter, he was a highly touted "gatekeeper" who helped define the careers of several light welterweight prospects.

Notable fights

Maussa began his career with twelve victories in his native Colombia before coming to the United States. He then won four bouts in the U.S. before facing highly touted New York prospect Jeffrey Resto, described as "perhaps the most-talked-about young pro in New York".[1] In this battle of two undefeated fighters (17-0 Resto vs. 16-0 Maussa), Resto was unable to deal with Maussa's unorthodox fighting style and abruptly quit in the 6th round,[2] earning Maussa an unexpected victory. Both fighters' careers ended half a decade later with a loss to the same fighter, Victor Ortiz.

Maussa's win over Resto earned him a shot at fellow 17-0 boxer and WBC International light welterweight titleholder Miguel Angel Cotto. Maussa's fight against Cotto was less successful, resulting in Cotto winning by an 8th round TKO. Following this, Maussa fought in three lower-profile fights, winning two. Then, on 25 June 2005, he entered the popular consciousness of boxing fans with an upset win by KO against WBA light-welterweight titlist Vivian Harris.[3] This exciting victory made Maussa a new champion in one of boxing’s competitive divisions.

The bout was notable for a number of reasons: Harris was an overwhelming favorite and is regarded as one of the best boxers at the weight and Maussa’s awkwardly clever style and frequent clowning gestures and facial expressions lent him an air of amateurishness. At the beginning of the seventh round Maussa delivered a stunning left hook, KO-ing Harris. Maussa then lunged downward and punched him in the head while he was already supine on the canvas. The ropes absorbed the impact of the blow. Still, this act has led to much controversy, as the hit could have disqualified Maussa. After the match, however, the bout referees ruled that the late hit was “insignificant”, allowing Maussa to keep his title. When interviewed about this punch, Maussa claimed he didn't connect with Harris on purpose, and that his sole intention was to impress the fallen Harris in case he had any desire to fight on.

The victory cemented Maussa's reputation as somewhat of a gatekeeper for up-and-coming light welterweight prospects, but ended up being his last victory. On 26 November 2005 Maussa lost his WBA title against IBF title-holder, Ricky Hatton, in a unification bout. After a unanimous decision loss to Manuel Guarnica, Maussa fought well-regarded future titleholder Victor Ortiz, and was knocked out in the first round. Following this, Maussa retired with a professional record of 20 wins and 5 losses in a total of 113 professional rounds of boxing.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
25 fights 20 wins 5 losses
By knockout 18 3
By decision 2 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
25 Loss 20–5 Victor Ortiz KO 1 (10), 1:47 Nov 10, 2007 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Loss 20–4 Manuel Garnica UD 12 Aug 25, 2006 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. For vacant WBA Fedecaribe and WBC Latino light welterweight titles
23 Loss 20–3 Ricky Hatton KO 9 (12), 1:10 Nov 26, 2005 Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, England Lost WBA light welterweight title;
For IBF, The Ring, and lineal light-welterweight titles
22 Win 20–2 Vivian Harris KO 7 (12), 0:43 Jun 25, 2005 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won WBA light welterweight title
21 Win 19–2 Antonio Espitia KO 4 (10) Mar 19, 2005 Arboletes, Colombia
20 Loss 18–2 Arturo Morua UD 12 Dec 17, 2004 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. For vacant WBO Latino light welterweight title
19 Win 18–1 Masakazu Satake SD 10 Mar 6, 2004 Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
18 Loss 17–1 Miguel Cotto TKO 8 (12), 2:07 Dec 6, 2003 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto Rico For WBC International light welterweight title
17 Win 17–0 Jeffrey Resto TKO 6 (12), 2:00 Sep 26, 2003 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. Retained WBC Latino light welterweight title
16 Win 16–0 Freddy Cruz TKO 2 (6) Aug 1, 2003 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Hicklet Lau UD 12 May 29, 2003 American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. Won vacant WBC Latino light welterweight title
14 Win 14–0 Henry Matos TKO 3 (6) Mar 28, 2003 Palladium Athletic Village, Davie, Florida, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Jorge Garrido KO 1 (4) Dec 20, 2002 Cartagena, Colombia
12 Win 12–0 Luis Espitia KO 1 Nov 4, 2002 Montería, Colombia
11 Win 11–0 Jose Macia KO 2 Jul 14, 2002 Planeta Rica, Colombia
10 Win 10–0 Ivan Salgado KO 3 Apr 30, 2002 Montería, Colombia
9 Win 9–0 Oscar Carrillo Villa KO 3 (10) Jan 19, 2002 Cartagena, Colombia
8 Win 8–0 Gerardo Barrios KO 2 Aug 31, 2001 Montería, Colombia
7 Win 7–0 Eliseo Ferias KO 2 Jul 27, 2001 Cartagena, Colombia
6 Win 6–0 Manuel Machado KO 1 May 2, 2001 Santa Cruz de Lorica, Colombia
5 Win 5–0 Rafael Correa KO 1 Mar 30, 2001 Montería, Colombia
4 Win 4–0 Feder Guerrero KO 2 (4) Jan 30, 2001 Barranquilla, Colombia
3 Win 3–0 Luis Julio KO 2 Dec 17, 2000 Bogotá, Colombia
2 Win 2–0 Luis Duarte KO 2 Sep 18, 2000 Montería, Colombia
1 Win 1–0 Juan Villadiego KO 4 (4) Jul 31, 2000 Bogotá, Colombia

References

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title WBC Latino super lightweight champion
May 29, 2003 – December 6, 2003
Lost bid for International title
Vacant
Title next held by
Juan Urango
World boxing titles
Preceded by
Vivian Harris
WBA super lightweight champion
June 25, 2005 – November 26, 2005
Lost bid for Super title
Vacant
Title next held by
Souleymane M'baye
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