MMA Fighters & Boxing Counterparts: Part 2

Miguel Torres = Carlos Zarate

A killer bantamweight champion who ruled with an iron hand, Zarate was one of the numerous Mexican 118-pounders to duke it out in high-profile bouts in the 1970s. His bouts were often held inside The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., where fans would riot if their hero lost. With a record of 66-4 (63 KO), Zarate’s knockout prowess was underscored by tactical smarts and the ability to fight from anywhere. In a chest-to-chest brawl, he would punish you with crippling body shots. He could also outbox you at range and had the gas tank to go deep.

Torres’ 34-1 record is every bit as amazing. Emerging from obscurity last year in the WEC, the Chicago battler has given the 135-pound bantams in MMA a new face and some mystique, too. Like Zarate, Torres can hang in any kind of fight. His jiu-jitsu is equal parts slick and nullifying, and if you want to bang it out on the feet, chances are you’ll get caught with something awful.

On the horizon, Torres’ dominance of the WEC 135-pound division makes a bout with featherweight champion Urijah Faber a very marketable fight a year or so from now, provided both keep winning. Zarate’s move up to 122 against legend Wilfredo Gomez was one of the early lighter weight super fights of the modern era, but Zarate was stopped in five rounds. Torres-Faber could be MMA’s version of that bout some day.

Bob Sapp = Primo Carnera

Hindsight is 20/20, but looking back at the careers of both men, their phenomenal size prompted talk of a super heavyweight division to limit the advantages in poundage both enjoyed over foes. Steered to the heavyweight title in 1934 through astute -- and crooked -- matchmaking, Carnera was a 260-pound monster who lifted the heavyweight title from Jack Sharkey. A previous Carnera opponent, Ernie Schaaf, died after a 13th-round stoppage, further adding to the Carnera aura as a too-dangerous superman.

But Carnera proved entirely human, despite his size advantages. He made three defenses -- including an embarrassing spectacle against light heavyweight slickster Tommy Loughran that went an unbearable 15 rounds, mostly clinching and running -- before being dismantled by Max Baer in 1934. In that fight, he was floored 11 times in as many rounds. The following year, Carnera was fed to an up-and-coming Joe Louis, who thrashed him in six. From there, Carnera slid into career oblivion, losing bouts to journeymen along the way.

When Sapp debuted on the MMA scene in 2002, he was a perfect fit for the Japanese audience. At 350 pounds of solid beef, he gave Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira quite a scare by spiking the Brazilian on his head before running out of gas and submitting to an armbar. Sapp had a series of K-1 bouts where his technical deficiencies and lack of stamina became readily apparent. Like Carnera, it seemed that, despite his size, his heart was never really into it.

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto = Khaosai Galaxy

From 1984-1991, Thai sensation Khaosai Galaxy held the WBA 115-pound title and made 19 straight defenses, 16 by stoppage. But unless you were an avid reader of boxing magazines, you probably had little idea of who he was. A barrel-chested southpaw, Galaxy generated such enormous power that he was dubbed “The Thai Tyson.” Regrettably, he was never seen on stateside television, and a dream matchup with 118-pound champion Orlando Canizales failed to materialize. Galaxy retired with a 49-1 record.

Like Galaxy, in the U.S. Yamamoto is known exclusively to hardcore fans. Back during Galaxy’s title reign, you’d have to pick up a boxing magazine and check the agate type for far-flung fight reports to find out about his bouts. Today’s equivalent has fans checking the Internet for stories and reports on Yamamoto, who has yet to fight in the U.S. With intensity and a punishing attack at his disposal, Yamamoto would make a perfect opponent for Urijah Faber if he could be brought to the WEC.

Check out the first volume of Jason Probst's MMA Fighters & Boxing Counterparts.

Part three will feature counterparts for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Filipovic, B.J. Penn, Jake Shields, Ricco Rodriguez, Tank Abbott, Kazushi Sakuraba, Lyoto Machida and Brock Lesnar.