Oscar Bonavena ~ "Avoided By Many"

Oscar 'Ringo' Bonavena

Though Oscar had '68-Bouts' in his 12-year career >

He was still avoided by many, and very few were willing to fight him a 2nd-Time
after getting in the Ring with him.

Those who avoided 'Ringo' >

* Jerry Quarry
> Turned down an offer to fight Oscar in January 1969.
> Declined an offer to fight Oscar in mid-1971.
> Turned down a bout for early-1972, and set for Argentina and billed as the 'Americas Heavyweight Championship'.
> Signed for an October 1974 bout, but then pulled out.

* Joe Frazier
> Won a 'controversial' Majority 10-Round Decision over Oscar on September 21, 1966 - where Joe was floored 'twice'.
> Declined an immediate rematch offer with Oscar.
> Turned down another rematch bout with Oscar set for March 1967.
> Defeated Oscar by a 'grueling' 15-Round Decision on December 10, 1968.
> Turned down an offer for a 3rd-Bout with Oscar Bonavena, and set for the Summer of 1972.
> Declined an offer to fight Oscar in the Fall of 1974.

* George Foreman
> Turned down a bout with Oscar in mid-1972.
> Declined an offer to defend his World Championship against Oscar in late-1973.

* Cassius Clay
> Signed to defend his World Championship against Oscar, and set for March 1967. But Cassius changed his mind.
> Agreed to defend against Oscar in Tokyo, Japan and set for June 1967. But the bout never came off.
> Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and became a Black Muslim Minister for the Nation of Islam.

* Muhammad Ali
> Muhammad Ali comes from behind to stop {TKO 15} Oscar on December 7, 1970.
> Turns down a rematch-bout set for Buenos Aires in mid-1972.
> Declines an offer to defend his World Championship against Oscar in Buenos Aires, and set for early-1975.

* Ken Norton
> Was scheduled to fight Oscar on March 24, 1975 ~ but Oscar got injured 4-Weeks before the bout.
> Was supposed to fight Oscar in mid-1975, but Kenny 'opted' out this time.

* Earnie Shavers
> Never returned the 'call' to fight Oscar in mid-1974.
> Said 'No' to a bout with Oscar in late-1975

* Floyd Patterson
> Wanted nothing to do with Oscar in late-1966, where he declined a bout.
> Turned down a bout to fight Oscar in early-1969.
> Also turned down a bout with Oscar in early-1971.
> Won a 'controversial' 10-Round Decision over Oscar on February 11, 1972
> Would not give Oscar a rematch for early-1972.

* Sonny Liston
> Claimed an injury, after signing to fight Oscar in early-1969.

* Jimmy Ellis
> Did defeat Oscar by a {W Dec 12} on December 2, 1967 in a WBA Eliminator.
> But would not give Oscar a rematch in a WBA Championship bout set for late-1968.
> Would not accept an offer to fight Oscar in late-1972.

* George Chuvalo
> Lost a {Majority 10-Round Decision} to Oscar on June 23, 1966.
> Turned down an offer for a rematch in late-1966.
> Was offered a bout with Oscar in late-1969, but declined.
> Also, declined an offer to fight Oscar in mid-1972.

* Buster Mathis
> Agreed to fight Oscar in late-1968. Then pulled out claiming an injury.

Oscar 'Ringo' Bonavena

By January 1976,

Oscar {Age; 33+} was ranked as the #7 Heavyweight.

There were negotiations going on for Oscar to fight Ken Norton in an 'Elimination Bout'.

But, Oscar wanted a 'tune-up' but first.
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Thursday ~ February 26, 1976

Washoe Fairgrounds Pavillion ~ Reno, Nevavda

* Oscar 'Ringo' Bonavena ~ 57-9-1 {44 KO's} ~ 218 lbs. ~ 5' 10 1/2" ~ 73" Reach ~ {Age; 33 years, 5 months}
vs,
* Billy 'Willie Swift' Joiner ~ 23-9-3 {9 KO's} ~ 201 lbs. ~ 6' 1" ~ 75" Reach ~ {Age; 37 years, 9 months}
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"The Bout"

In the 1st-Round, Oscar was very sluggish and slow. Billy {-17 lbs. lighter} was much faster, despite being
4+ years older. Billy jabbed, and moved. Oscar plodded, and was ineffective.

In Round 2, the 'bull-charging' Argentinian was able to out-muscle the light-punching but fleet-footed
Cincinnati veteran, and force him to the Ropes.

During one good exchange at the {1:20 Mark}, Oscar caught Billy with a wide-left hook to the top of the head.
Billy's legs wobbled some, and then in a 3-Second delay, Billy's legs went out and he fell to the canvas.

Billy was up at the '3-Count' and was ready to resume after the '8-Count'. Oscar bull-charged and mauled
Billy with punches, and kept him pinned on the Ropes.

But, Billy survived. On the other side, Oscar looked arm-weary and winded at the end of Round 2, which
he won by a {5-3} score on all '3' Scorecards.

In Rounds 3, 4 and 5 >

Oscar was plodding and clubbing. But Billy was doing a good job of frustrating Oscar, by using countering
right-hands and left jabs while backed up on the Ropes. Oscar was doing the mauling, but Billy was
doing the scoring.

In Round 6, Billy landed several sharp left-jabs and right-hand leads on the slow footed Argentinian. By
Rounds end, Oscar was 'breathing hard' and looked exhausted.

In Round 7, the Cincinnati veteran battled surprisingly hard, and traded with Bonavena, sending the
Argentinian backwards and covering up.

But Oscar made a rally late at the {2:00 Mark} of the Round, as he slammed in his best right-hands
to send Billy backwards and on his heels.

Late in the Round, Billy started trading with Oscar and was getting the better of the punches. But at the
{2:50 Mark}, Oscar whipped in a wide right-hook that caught Billy on the chin. Billy went down on the
seat of his pants, but was up at the '2-Count'. Billy finished out the Round fine, as Oscar tried unsuccessfully
tried to slam in the finisher.

In Round 8, it was Joiner who started off by landing the crisper punches, as Bonavena was slow and unable
to land anything.

By the Rounds end, Oscar was frustrated that he couldn't reach Billy, so he started rough-housing and hit Billy
behind the head numerous times. Billy again battled back, and traded blows with Oscar.

After the Bell, Oscar purposely flung a right-hand at Billy, tagging him on the side of his head. The punch sent
Billy reeling into his corner. Oscar then moved in and threw '3' more punches at the stunned Cincinnati veteran.

Referee - Mills Lane moved in, and grabbed Oscar. Then the Referee penalized Oscar, and 'deducted' 1-Point.

In Rounds 9 and 10, Oscar tried to maul his under-sized opponent. But, Oscar could not do any damage, and
resorted to holding and hitting. Billy again fought tough, and would not be out-punched by Oscar as he held
him 'even' during the last 2-Sessions.

Scorecards
* 49-44
* 48-45
* 49-42

February 26, 1976

~ Oscar Bonavena Wins Rugged Battle With Billy Joiner ~

~ Oscar Bonavena Gets Battle, Beats Billy Joiner ~

World-Rated #7 - Oscar Bonavena was given a surprisingly tough battle with light-punching
Billy Joiner in Reno, Nevada last night.

The 33 year-old Argentinain was nearly 15 lbs. overweight at 219 lbs., was taken the full
10-Rounds by 37 year-old Billy Joiner.

In what was expected to be an easy bout, as few expected Joiner to last more than a few Rounds,
saw the 'crafty' Joiner trading blows with Bonavena in nearly every Round.

http://img2.newspapers.com/img/thumb....jpg?cs=604800

March 4, 1976

~ Ken Norton and Oscar Bonavena Set To Battle In Eliminator ~

~ Winner To Meet Muhammad Ali In September ~

The long-awaited and much cancelled bout between Ken Norton and Oscar Bonavena
is set for April 30, 1976 at the Capitol Centre in Landover, Maryland.

The 12-Round Eliminator Bout will be the 'main undercard' for the Muhammad Ali vs.
Jimmy Young World Championship bout.

The winner of the Norton - Bonavena bout has been guaranteed the next challenge for
the World Championship.