Cruz Marcano ~ The Boxer that they called 'El Loco"

[Bill Paxtom]

February 20, 1970

~ Major Upset In Caracas, As Visiting Mexican Defeats 'Top-Ranked' Cruz Marcano ~

~ Cruz Marcano Loses, Upset By Majority Decision To 'Memo' Morales ~

The highly-touted and #2 WBA-ranked Venezuelan - Cruz Marcano was 'upset' in
his home country by little-known Mexican - Guillermo 'Memo' Morales.

Cruz Marcano was just '1-Bout' away from a Featherweight World Championship
bout, but now he will fall a few notches in the World Rankings.

In the bout, Marcano {127 1/2 lbs.} fought 'brilliantly' for the first 2-Rounds, as he
displayed his 'great' boxing-skills of jabbing and countering with 'lightning' fast-speed
on the visiting Mexican.

'El Loco' also used his crazy tactics of 'screaming' at his opponent by yelling >
"Hit me Mexico. Hit me if you can."

But starting mid-way thru Round 3, Morales had 'upset-on-his-mind', as he moved in
close on the Venezuelan favorite, and scored with 'several' hard left-hooks to the head.

For the next 3-Rounds, it was 'Memo' Morales as the effective-aggressor, and the
Venezuelan who was on the defensive.

Morales {126 lbs.} continued to bore in on Marcano, who for some reason backed to
the Ropes and let the Mexican hit him without offering a return. Morales landed with
repeated left-hooks and short right-hands, as he had Marcano covering up while having
him pinned to the Ropes.

Realizing that he was losing control of the bout, Cruz Marcano moved to Center-Ring
in Round 7, and smoothly-boxed by dishing out repeated left-hands and counter
right-hands on the pressing Mexican.

During the Round, 'El Loco' went back to his yelling antics, by screaming >
"I am here Mexico. Hit me. Hit me Mexico."

But, Marcano used up a lot of energy, as he was going at a super-fast pace, and
looked a bit 'leg-weary' at the end of the Round.

In Round 8, the 'tough' Mexican came out charging, and again went back to bulling
Marcano into the Ropes, where he went to work with a steady punching-attack,
preventing to give the Venezuelan punching room.

> With '2' Rounds to go, the bout was up for grabs.

In Round 9, Cruz Marcano got off to a 'good start' as he smoothly boxed by jabbing and
circling around Morales who was positioned at Center-Ring.

But by the {1:30 Mark}, Cruz started to fade, as his legs weakened. Then Morales moved in
and backed the suddenly 'fatigued' Venezuelan to the Ropes. There, 'Memo' continued with
his steady and deliberate punching attack, as a 'spent' Marcano could only defend or grab.

In Round 10, Cruz Marcano came out to Center-Ring and unloaded what he had 'left-in-his-tank',
but after a brief period {25-Seconds} he was 'gassed'.

Then 'Memo' stepped up, and delivered heavy hooks into Cruz' body sending him backwards and
into the back-left Corner at the {0:40 Mark}.

While there, 'Memo' just kept pumping a steady flow of 'medium-power' punches into Marcano's
head-and-body until the Final Bell.

Scorecards
* Referee - Luis Salbaran ...... 96-95 > {5-4-1 in Rounds} > Guillermo 'Memo' Morales
* Judge - Carlos Cartaya ....... 96-96 > {4-4-2 in Rounds} > 'Even'
* Judge - Santos Arizmendi ... 97-96 > {4-3-3 in Rounds} > Guillermo 'Memo' Morales