May 14, 1976
Palacio de los Deportes ~ Madrid, Spain
Jose Manuel Uratin vs. Alfredo Evangelista
The Skinny,
Jose Manuel Urtain, the popular and beloved 33 year-old Heavyweight from Spain that they called 'El Tigre de Cestona'.
Jose was looking to add Alfredo Evangelista to his list of wins. The word was, that if Jose was impressive, there would be
a Championship Bout with Muhammad Ali.
For this occasion, the bout was to be held on May 14th, which would be Jose's 33rd Birthday.
Jose, with a record of 52-9-4 {40 KO's} was still the Spanish Heavyweight Champion, and was still regarded as the one of
the Top 10 European Heavyweights despite a 'lull' in mid-1974 where he was stopped in back-to-back bouts.
But since July 1975 > Jose was on a decent run where he had gone 6-1-1 {2 KO's} in his last 8-Bouts over 10-Months/
Jose Manuel Urtain >
"I need one more win, and then my Manager {Alfonso Del Rio} can work on a bout with Muhammad Ali. We have been in
contact with Venezuelan Promoter ~ Rafito Cedeno, and there is a possibility of fighting for the Championship very soon."
"It will be a special occasion for my 33rd Birthday. I have to laugh at all the Boxing Press who think that a 21 year-old
prospect {Alfredo Evangelista} with only 7-Bouts can defeat me. They have called me an old worn out 'Tiger' without
sharp teeth, and with no more power in his paws anymore. I will prove them all wrong."
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