Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Mid 1976 Lightweight Happenings ~

WBA Lightweight Champion - Roberto Duran

Had defended his Title on May 23rd with a win {KO 14} over 'pesky' Lou Bizzarro.

Roberto, who had signed a '3-Bout' $375,000 Fight Contract with Promoter - Don King
in December 1975, was trying to 'pick-and-choose' his opponents.

The Duran Camp was contemplating a jump up to the 140 lb. Light-Welterweight Division,
to challenge new Champion > 'teenager' Wilfred Benitez.

The Panamanian-based WBA put 'no pressure' on their favorite son > Roberto Duran to
defend his Lightweight Championship against the 'mandatory challenger'.

Esteban Dejesus won the WBC Championship on May 8, 1976 when he defeated Ishimatu
'Guts' Suzuki by a 'wide' 15-Round Decision.

Esteban had signed a contract to defend his Title against the #1 WBC-ranked Challenger
Hector Julio Medina within the 120-Days stipulated by the WBC. That bout was set for
late-August or early-September.

Vicente Mijares

Had won '4-Straight' Lightweight Elimination bouts since November 29, 1975 > yet was still
waiting for the chance to challenge for the Lightweight Championship.

The 21 1/2 year-old Vicente, now at 21-0-0, was ranked in the Top 3 of both the WBC and WBA.

Harry Kabakoff >
"We have given up on chasing Roberto Duran. The WBA gives us no help, and has allowed him to
defend his Championship against an 'unranked guy' in Lou Bizzarro. He {Bizzarro} was 'undefeated',
but he was a 'club-fighter' who beat no one."

"We are hoping to secure a bout with WBC Champion - Esteban DeJesus for the end of the year,
if he gets by that Dominican {Hector Julio Medina}, which will be no easy task. That kid {Medina}
can fight."