Dr. Karonte (Almanza)

One of many to use Dr. Karonte.

Profile

Dr. Karonte

Name Dr. Karonte Real name Manuel Almanza Nicknames Name history Manny Almanza, Simio Almanza, Dr. Karonte Family Dr. Karonte I (Almanza) (son), Dr. Karonte III? (grandson?) Maestro(s) Birth date, location Obituary date 1997 Debut, location Lost mask to Height 168 cm/5' 6" Weight 77 kg/170 lb Signature moves Titles: Distrito Federal Middleweight Championship, Deportivo Tepito Tag Team Titles (w/Dr. Zeta)

Notes

The name of Doctor Karonte was known in the Mexico City area for decades. The name and character were created by the movie scriptwriter Alfredo Ruanova, who in 1960 wrote the script the film Neutrón contra el Doctor Caronte, directed by Federico Curiel and released on February 15, 1963 in Mexico City. Starring Wolf Rubinsky, as Neutrón, while the antagonist Doctor Caronte was played by the actor Claudio Brook.

Sometime later, a Doctor Karonte came up in the Tepito area. Manuel Almanza wrestled in the independent circuit in the Tepito area during 1960s and 1970s and he was a low-card in Arena Coliseo. Leonardo Morgado, promoter of Arena Monumental, had the idea of presenting both, Neutrón and Dr. Karonte in the ring.

During a tour in San Salvador he donned the mask of Dr. Karonte, when he came back, many people thought he was Salvadoran, he was billed like this in magazines. With his new identity gained popularity and won apuestas matches like the mask of Puños de Oro on 1974 at Arena San Juan Pantitlán.

Ironically, there were few encounters between Neutrón vs. Dr. Karonte, because the rudo had a higher status than his archrival, for this reason the on screen rivalry was not seen on the rings.

Almanza had Dr. Karonte II as tag team partner, but there were 3 versions of Dr. Karonte II. This gimmick was portrayed by Chacal de la Rosa, Ben Alí Pasha and Caballero de la Cruz.

When Almanza retired. His adoptive son, (Sergio Almanza) took the mantle of Dr. Karonte Jr. during late 1970 and early 1980s. Almanza's son had two versions of Dr. Karonte II as well, Juan Colorado and El Cholo.

Luchas de apuestas record

Date	Apuesta	Winner(s)	Loser(s)	Arena and/or Place
1964.01.04	mask	Dr. Karonte	El Mongol Salvadoreno	San Salvador, El Salvador
1964/04/29	hair	Dr. Karonte	El Greco	Oaxaca
1964/06/28	hair	Dr. Karonte	Pedro Rocca	Arena San Juan Pantitlán
1974/??/??	mask	Dr. Karonte	Puños de Oro	Arena San Juan Pantitlán

Gallery

Source

• Lucha Libre 20
• Super Luchas
• Revista Box y Lucha article written by Ricardo Morales.