Nicolino Locche vs. Alfonso Frazer ~ "WBA Champion Upset In Panama"

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ March 10, 1972

Gimnasio Nuevo {New City Gym} ~ Panama City, Panama

Niccolino Locche vs. Alfonso Frazer
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~ The Bout ~

The Challenger - Alfonos 'Peppermint' Frazier fighting in front of over 15,000 Panamanian supporters
was aggressive early, and was attacking to establish an ealy lead over the defensive-wizard in
Champion - Nicolino Locche.

Alfonso {137 1/4 lbs.} used fast left-jabs over the first 2-Rounds, as the Champion {140 lbs.} was
content to 'bait-and counter'.

In Round 3, Alfonso scored with a heavy-attack, and stayed on the offensive as he was over-whelming
the Champion with a 'fast' two-fisted barrage.



The Champion got it going in Round 4, as he landed several solid-blows on the Challenger's head, and
buckled Alfonso's knee's with a vicious right-cross to the jaw. But the Champion's lack-of-power prevented
him from finishing the job on a hurt Challenger.

But in Round 5, the Challenger was 'keen-to-the-task', and rallied strongly with a heavy-fisted attack that
had the Champion covering up and bending low.

The fighters maintained 'even exchanges' in Round 6, but the Challenger was growing in confidence.

In Round 7, the Champion started off well, and landed several solid-blows on the Challenger. But Frazer took
the punches well, and rallied back at the end of the session by landing a slashing right-hand to the Nicolino's
left-eye, that opened up a bad-cut on the eye-brow. Then the Challenger targeted the 'cut' with a series of
left-jabs that had the Champion bleeding by the Round's end.

In Round 8 the Challenger kept up with his heavy-attack and rained punches on the Champion who was using
his 'bob-and-weave' defense. But Frazer got through, and opened up another cut, this time a 'gash' near the
Champion's right-eye.

In Rounds 9 thru 14 {6 Rounds}, the pattern was the same, with the Challenger using excellent movement,
by circling to his left, while firing in sharp left-jabs, mixed in with fast combination punches.

Alfonso stayed on the offensive, and also mixed it up by using good side-to-side movement, as well as darting
in on the slower Champion. And, Alfonso's hand-speed was much faster than Nicolino's, as each time they
traded the Challenger got the better of the exchanges.

Nicolino spent much of his time 'bobbing-and-weaving' or resting in on the Challenger's chest, while throwing
very few punches. Overall, Nicolino's offense was 'minimally effective' at best.

There were even times, when a 'frustrated' Champion would just drop his hands by his side, and let the Alfonso
hit him at will. Nicolino was never hurt, a testament to his 'steel bar' reinforced rock chin.

Coming out for Round 15 >

Nicolino was behind on Points {3, 6 and 2} on the Scorecards, and he knew that he needed a Knockout to retain
his Championship Belt.

The Challenger - Alfonso Frazer was 'arm-weary', but the young Panamanian still had some reserve left in the tank,
as he bounced up-and-down on his toes in his Corner.