Thread: Jimmy DuPree vs. Vicente Rondon ~ 'vacant' WBA Light-Heavyweight Championship

Febrary 27, 1971

'vacant' WBA Light-Heavywieght Championship

Nuevo Circo {Bull Ring} ~ Caracas, Venezuela

{#1} Jimmy Dupree ~ 32-6-2 {20 KO's}
vs.
{#2} Vicente Rondon ~ 29-5-1 {17 KO's}
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The WBA had 'stripped' World Champion - Bob Foster.

Bob Foster had won the WBA/WBC Championship on May 24, 1968 > and had defended his Championship
5-times thru June 27, 1970.

Bob then challenged Joe Frazier for the World Heavyweight Champions on November 18, 1970.

But before Bob challenged Joe Frazier, he was 'ordered' to sign a contract to defend his WBA-version
of the Light-Heavyweight Championship against #1 WBA-ranked Jimmy Dupree within 90-Day after
fighting Joe Frazier {by Febrary 17, 1971}.

But earlier, Bob Foster had agreed to defend his WBC-version against Hal Carroll.

Jimmy 'The Cat' Dupree



Jimmy Dupree
* Age................... 34 years, 10 months
* Record............... 32-5-2 {20 KO's}
* WBA Rank......... #1
* Ring Magazine... #1

Jimmy stood at 6' 0", and was a 'cat-quick' boxer with very good power.

Jimmy who was based out of Jersey City, New Jersey was Managed by Al Braverman.

Jimmy, who turned Professional on October 1961, was a 9 1/2 Year veteran.

Since April 1968, Jimmy had gone unbeaten 11-0-1 with {9 KO's}. Jimmy had been the
#3 Ranked Light-Heavyweight in 1969, and was #1 Ranked in 1970.

Jimmy had been after World Champion - Bob Foster since late-1969.

Leading up to this bout, 'The Cat' had scored impressive wins over World-Ranked;

* August 25, 1970 ......... KO 1 ........ Willis Earls
* August 6, 1970 ........... KO 3 ........ Eddie Owens
* January 20, 1970 ....... W Dec 10 .. Dick Hall
* October 1, 1969 ........ TKO 10 ...... Eddie 'Bossman' Jones
* May 12, 1969 ............ TKO 7 ........ Johnny Persol

Jimmy 'The Cat' Dupree >

"I've cleaned out the Division for Bob Foster, and I've made his life easy. The least he could
do is show me some respect, and let me challenge him for the World Title."

December 10, 1970

The World Boxing Association {WBA} 'strips' Bob Foster of his Championship.

Bob Foster, who wion the Title on May 24, 1968 > had yet to defend against a
#1 WBA-ranked Challenger.

Though Foster had made '4' Title Defenses of the WBA/WBC Championship, none were
against the 'mandatory' #1 WBA Challenger.

Foster had last defended his World Championship on June 27, 1970 against Mark Tessman.
Foster was supposed to sign a contract to defend against the #1 WBA-ranked Challanger
Jimmy Dupree for his next bout.

But, Foster decided to challenge Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight World Championship on
November 18, 1970 instead.

The WBA stated that they would allow Bob Foster to challenge for the World Heavyweight
Champinship, provided that Foster negotiated in 'good faith' to sign a contract to defend
against #1 WBA-ranked Jimmy Dupree, and fight him {no Later} than 90-Days after the
bout with Joe Frazier {by February 18, 1971}

During that time frame between June 27th and November 18th {140-Days} Bob Foster showed
no inclination of signing a 'fight contract' to defend his WBA-version against #1 WBA-ranked
Jimmy Dupree.

After Bob Foster's bout with Joe Frazier {November 18th}, Foster was given 20-Days by the
WBA to sign a contract to defend his WBA-version against Jimmy Dupree.

As of Decmeber 9, 1970 > Lou Vicusi {Manager for Bob Foster} did not offer up any contracts
to Al Braverman {Manager for Jimmy Dupree}.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al Bravermam {Manager for Jimmy Dupree} >

Jimmy has been the #1 WBA Challenger since October 1, 1969 when he stopped {TKO 10}
Eddie 'Bossman' Jones. Since that time, Bob Foster has only defended his Title 'twice'.

Foster defended his WBA/WBC Title against Roger Rouse on April 4, 1970.

Then Bob wanted to challenge Heavyweight Champion - Joe Frazier. So we said OK, as long
as we got the next bout. Well, Joe Frazier broke his ankle in April 1970, and the between
Frazier and Foster was put off for 3-Months. They said it was to set for July 1970.

Next thing we know, Foster is defending his Title on June 27th against Mark Tessman.

I filed a grievance with the WBA. Then in July 1970, they told us that we'd have to fight
Willis Earls in a WBA Elimination bout, and the winner would get Bob Foster.

Well, Jimmy hadn't fought in 6-Months {since January 20, 1970} when he beat {W Dec 10}
Dich Hall up in Boston. So we took a 'tune-up' bout aginst Eddie Owens on August 6th,
and stopped him {KO 3}.

Then we went down to Houston, Texas > and on August 25th, Jimmy flattened {KO 1}
Willis Earls to maintain our #1 WBA-ranking.

So then we find out Foster is still going through with a challenge of Joe Frazier set for
November 18th. But we still haven't heard a thing about our 'mandatory bout'.

So, I had Jimmy take another 'tune-up' bout on November 10th just to stay sharp, and
he scored an easy {TKO 8} over Elliot Miller in Queens, New York at Sunnyside Gardens.

Since then, I complained '3-Times' to the WBA about not getting a fight contract. This time
they properly 'stripped' Bob Foster for failure to negotiate in good faith.

Thursday ~ December 10, 1970

~ WBA Strips Bob Foster Of Title ~

The World Boxing Association has stipped Bob Foster of his title. WBA President - Bill Brennan
has stated that the WBA has withdrawn recognition of Foster as their Champion.

Bill Brennan {WBA President} >

"We had a Board Meeting in Montreal in August, and Lou Viscusi {Manager for Bob Foster}
pledged that he would have a signed agreement within 90-Days for Mr. Foster to defend
his WBA Title against #1 Challenger - Jimmy Dupree."

"Well it's been over 90-Days, and there has not been an agreement drawn up. The failure
of Bob Foster to honor his commitment, has forced us to act. We are forced to 'strip'
Bob Foster of his WBA Championship because he did not fulfill his obligation."

"Mr. Foster has added 'strangulation' to the Division, as he has deprived leading contenders
the opportunity to challenge for the Championship. I have asked Mr. Viscusi repeatedly to
'post a forfeit' of Bob Foster's title if he has no intention of defending against the WBA's
mandatory #1 Challenger {Jimmy Dupree}. He has not, so we have had to act."

"We may have the '4' Top Contenders enter into an Elimination Group, or we may have the
#1 and #2 ranked challengers fight for the 'vacant' Championship in early-1971."
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Tampa, Florida

Lou Viscusi {Manager for Bob Foster}

"I don't understand the WBA. We have followed all their guidelines. This is a 'shock' to us.
Just last Friday {December 4th} we signed an agreement with Fight Promoter - Earl Gilliam
for Bob to defend the WBA Titkle on February 17, 1971 in Houston, Texas."

"I have the photostat copies right here on my desk. We just got finished with the Joe Frazier
fight only 2-Weeks ago, and we have been working on this fight contract ever since we got
back from New York. You would think that they would have given us a few more days to clear
our heads."

Vicente Rondon

'El Muchachote de Barlovento' {The Big Boy of Barlovento}



Vicente Rondon
Age .......... 32 years, 7 months
Record ...... 29-5-1 {17 KO's}
Rank.......... #2 WBA
Rank.......... #9 Ring Magazine

Vicente stood at 6' 3", and was a hard-fighting power-puncher from Venezuela with
5 1/2 years of Pro experience.

Vicente was Managed by Felix Sabala Sr.

Vicente turned Professional in June 1965 after a 'stellar' Amateur career, but Vicente was late at
turning Professional at {Age; 26 years, 11 months}.

After a lighting-fast start at Middleweight by going 12-0-1 with {12 KO's} > Vicente ran into a
'road-block' from January 1968 thru January 1969 > where he lost '5-Bouts' while going
5-5 in 10-Bouts' with {0 KO's}.

The once highly-touted Venezuelan was considered a 'bust', following a disaster blow-out loss
{L TKO 8} to Bennie Briscoe on January 26, 1969 in Puerto Rico.

But Vicente at {Age; 30 years, 8 months} and with a record of 17-5-1 {12 KO's} turned around
his career and made a 'strong comeback', as from April 1969 thru Noevember 1970 > Vicente
went undefated at 12-0-0 with {5 KO's}.

Included was an impressive win {W Dec 12} over 'highly-touted' Jose Luis Garcia on May 30, 1969
to capture the Venezuelan Light-Heavyweight Championship.

Vicente also added wins over solid World-Class Light-Heavyweights;
* October 26, 1969 ...... {TKO 6} ....... Angel Oquendo
* December 6, 1969 ..... {W Dec 10} .. Avenamar Peralta
* November 7, 1970 ..... {W Dec 10} .. Roger Rouse

Though Vicente is from Venezuela, he has been fighting mostly in Puerto Rico as well as the
United States {in Miami, Florida and also Chicago, Illinois} since December 1967.

Oddly, Vicente has only had '1-Bout' in Venezuela for the past 3-Years {since December 14, 1967}.

Vicente was supposed to challenge 'old rival' and currently hot-as-a-pistol Jose Luis Garcia for the
Venezuelan Heavyweight Championship on February 1, 1971.

But the WBC 'called', and Vicente will now face American - Jimmy DuPree for the vacant WBA
Light-Heavyweight Championship on February 27, 1971 and in Caracas, Venezuela.

Saturday ~ Febrary 27, 1971

Nuevo Circo {Bull Ring} ~ Caracas, Venezuela

Attendance .... { 10,500 }

'vacant' WBA Light-Heavyweght Chamoionship

Tale of the Tape

Jimmy Dupree {Jersey City, New Jersey}
Age.......... 34 years, 10 months
Height...... 6' 0"
Reach...... 72"
Weight..... 173 1/4 lbs.
Record .... 32-5-2 {20 KO's}
Rank........ #1 WBA / #1 Ring

Vicente Rondon {Caracas, Venezuela}
Age......... 32 years, 7 months
Height...... 6' 3"
Reach...... 77"
Weight..... 175 lbs.
Record..... 29-5-1 {17 KO's}
Rank........ #2 WBA / #9 Ring

Betting-Favorite........ Jimmy DuPree { 7-5 }

Fight Purses
* Jimmy DuPree ......... $30,000
* Vicente Rondon........ $20,000