Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ December 10, 1971

Nuevo Circo ~ Caracas, Venezuela

~ Antonio Gomez Edges Puerto Rican Champ In 'Non-Title' Bout ~

~ Controversial Decision Goes Against Puerto Rican ~

WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez edged out a controversial Decision
Decision over a 'pesky-and-frisky' Esteban Dejesus of Puerto Rico in a 10-Round
'non-title' bout in Caracas, Venezuela.

Fighting before a hometown crowd of { 8700 } at the Nuevo Circo, the hometown hero
rallied over the last 2-Rounds to win a 'close' 10-Round Decision.

The bout was not smooth sailing for Gomez {128 3/4 lbs.} over the first 4-Rounds, as
the 20 year-old DeJesus {131 lbs.} outworked the Champion with a busy attack of
left-hooks and straight right-hands.

But the patient Champion used his experience to put constant-pressure on the Puerto Rican
Lightweight Champion during the later-Rounds. Gomez used heavy left-jabs, and added
'left-and-right' hooks to the body, in an effort to slow the 'fast-and-quick' youngster down.

But the shorter Puerto Rican would not back down, and came back with a solid offense time
and again, as he landed his hard left-hook to Gomez' head several times, and rocked the
Champion's head several times throughout the bout.

But Gomez rallied back in Round 9, and 'jarred' DeJesus with a hard counter right-cross to the
jaw, as the punch went over the Puerto Rican's low left-hand and into his 'chin' at the {2:10 Mark}.

DeJesus was in some trouble late in the Round as Gomez unleashed with a 'barrage', but the
younger fighter worked his way out of danger by moving-and-backing away until the Bell.

With the bout on the line, Gomez proved to be 'stronger' during the 10th Round, as the 20 year-old
visitor faded, and was not as busy as he was during the first 7-Rounds of the bout.

Scorecards
* 97-96 = {4-3-3 in Rounds} > Antonio Gomez
* 98-97 = {3-2-5 in Rounds} > Antonio Gomez
* 97-96 = {4-3-3 in Rounds} > Antonio Gomez
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~ After Bout Comments ~

Antonio Gomez >
"I knew that it was going to be a tough fight, and it was. Esteban is a very, very good fighter. He gave
me a good tussle tonight. With a little more experience he will become a great fighter, and a World Champion."

Esteban Dejesus >
"I was doing great, until he caught me with that right-hand in Round 9. I didn't know where I was for the
last 2-Rounds. But I still thought that I had won. I carried the fight for the first 7-Rounds."

"He {Antonio Gomez} is very smart, and very strong. I will chalk this up as a learning experience. It will only
make me a more complete fighter down the road."