CARLOS QUINTANA

updated February 10, 2008

Carlos Quintana was bred to be a fighter. Along with his brother Jose, who fights professionally as a featherweight, Carlos put together an outstanding amateur career prior to turning professional at age 20 on June 14, 1997.

After initially becoming interested in boxing when he was 10 years old, it took Quintana five years before he actually stepped into the ring against another fighter. "I remember the first time I ever fought," Quintana said. "I was winning the fight and feeling good about myself, but things changed when I got hit in the throat."

Unfazed by his first boxing experience, Quintana went on to a very successful amateur career. Winning 62 out of 70 amateur bouts, Quintana also was a member of the 1996 Puerto Rico Olympic team. In addition, he was a multi-national champion and recorded an impressive 48 amateur wins by knockout.

Quintana started off his pro career by putting together 23 straight victories, 18 coming by way of knockout. In that time Quintana captured the WBC Latino Welterweight title by knocking out Raul Bejerano (25-15-4, 12 KO's) in February 2006 in Puerto Rico. Berjerano, who had never been knocked down in his career was caught with a stiff uppercut by Quintana in the tenth round sending him to the canvas. After Bejerano got up Quintana landed another barrage of punches ending the bout with a TKO.

Quintana next faced powerful knockout artist Joel Julio (32-1, 30 KO's) on June 24,2006 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Quintana scored a unanimous decision over Julio by dominating the young Columbian the entire fight. Julio, who was looking for that one knockout punch could not match Quintana's technical boxing ability.

Quintana's winning streak came to an end on December 2, 2006 in Atlantic City when he was matched up against world class welterweight star Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KO's). Quintana fought valiantly before he was knocked off of his feet twice in the fifth round which led referee Steve Smoger to make the decision to stop the fight.

Quintana got back to his winning ways on September 29, 2007 on the undercard of Jermain Taylor-Kelly Pavlik I in Atlantic City. Quintana scored a fourth round TKO victory over Christopher Henry (23-19, 17 KO's). In the win, Quintana boxed well, throwing crisp jabs to set up his powerful left hooks.

Quintana is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Northeast Promotions. Quintana has another outstanding opportunity to get back on top of the fight game on February 9th, when he challenges undefeated Paul Williams (33-0, 24 KO's) for Williams WBO Welterweight title in Temecula, CA televised on HBO's Boxing After Dark.

Quintana currently resides in his native Moca, Puerto Rico with his wife and three children. When not boxing, Quintana spends time with his family and has a passion for basketball.