Jose Manuel Urtain vs. Alfredo Evangelista ~ "Slaughter in Spain"

[Bill Paxtom]

May 14, 1976

Palacio de los Deportes ~ Madrid, Spain

Jose Manuel Uratin vs. Alfredo Evangelista

The Skinny,

Jose Manuel Urtain, the popular and beloved 33 year-old Heavyweight from Spain that they called 'El Tigre de Cestona'.

Jose was looking to add Alfredo Evangelista to his list of wins. The word was, that if Jose was impressive, there would be
a Championship Bout with Muhammad Ali.

For this occasion, the bout was to be held on May 14th, which would be Jose's 33rd Birthday.

Jose, with a record of 52-9-4 {40 KO's} was still the Spanish Heavyweight Champion, and was still regarded as the one of
the Top 10 European Heavyweights despite a 'lull' in mid-1974 where he was stopped in back-to-back bouts.

But since July 1975 > Jose was on a decent run where he had gone 6-1-1 {2 KO's} in his last 8-Bouts over 10-Months/

Jose Manuel Urtain >
"I need one more win, and then my Manager {Alfonso Del Rio} can work on a bout with Muhammad Ali. We have been in
contact with Venezuelan Promoter ~ Rafito Cedeno, and there is a possibility of fighting for the Championship very soon."

"It will be a special occasion for my 33rd Birthday. I have to laugh at all the Boxing Press who think that a 21 year-old
prospect {Alfredo Evangelista} with only 7-Bouts can defeat me. They have called me an old worn out 'Tiger' without
sharp teeth, and with no more power in his paws anymore. I will prove them all wrong."

[p4pking]

[Bill Paxtom]

Jose Manuel Urtain

Fun Fact #22

On May 22, 1974 >
Jose Manuel Urtain 'flat out' clobbered Richard Dunn by KO 4.

Jose put Richard Dunn 'down-and-out'.

May 24, 1976 >
Muhammad Ali looked 'pathetic' in scoring a TKO 5 over the same Richard Dunn.

The 'Greatest' could not keep Richard Dunn down.

[p4pking]

[Bill Paxtom]

Jose Manuel 'Ibar' Urtain

Also knows as;
"El Tigre de Cestona"
"Morrosko"
"The Brick Layer"
"El Cid"
"The Rock Lifter"

As of July 1971, Jose was 38-2-0 {35 KO's}, and was being mentioned as a possible challenger for the
"Heavyweight Championship".

By mid-1971, the 28 year-old Spanish Heavyweight Champion was the most popular man in Spain, and packed them
in at the Palacio de los Deportes.

So much so, that the Spanish Government offered Joe Frazier $1,000,000 to defend his Championship in Madrid against
Jose in the fall of 1971.

Other opponents mentioned for "El Tigre de Cestona" in 1971;
* Jerry Quarry
* Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrit
* George Foreman
* Al Jones
* Kenny Norton

Seems, none of the American Heavyweights wanted to fight Jose in Spain.

[Bill Paxtom]

Alfredo Evangelista

The young Uruguayan Heavyweight was handled by the great Cuban Trainer - 'Kid Tunero'.

Alfredo was only {Age; 21 years, 6 months}, and a shade over 6 Feet {6' 0 1/2"} at 210 lbs., but he
had only 7-Bouts under his belt in 7 months.

But despite the young career and with a record of 6-0-1 {4 KO's}, Alfredo was already being proclaimed
as a the next Superstar in Spain.

Kid Tunero >
"This kid will end the career of Jose Manuel 'Ibar' Urtain. Alfedo is a tremendous puncher with great
skill. We will have a nice Birthday Present for Senor Urtain."

Alfredo Evangelista >
"Time has past Senor Urtain. He's slow and old, and his punch has abandoned him. He's only
got 1-Round in his body, after that he's ordinary."

"I'll pick him apart and destroy him."

[Bill Paxtom]

Jose Manuel Ibar Urtain

Age............. 33 years, 0 months
Stance........ Orthodox
Style........... Power-Punching Slugger
Height........ 5' 11"
Reach......... 74"
Weight....... 202 lbs.
Record....... 52-9-4 {40 KO's}

* Spanish Heavyweight Champion
#7 European Heavyweight

Current Streak > 6-1-1 {2 KO's} since July 2, 1975 {10 Months}

[Bill Paxtom]

Jose Manuel Ibar Urtain

"I have been training for 2-weeks, running the mountains. I must win and defeat the young
Uruguayan. If I lose, it will be an embarrassment."

"After I defeat Evangelista, I would like to get my revenge on Santiago Alberto Lovell and
and the Italian - Bepi Ros. They both beat me, and I would like nothing better to get them
both back in the Ring."

"If I beat them, then I will purse a Championship Bout with Cassius Clay sometime for 1976.
That would some event here in Spain."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 14, 1976

Palacio de los Deportes ~ Madrid, Spain

Jose Manuel Ibar Urtain vs. Alfredo Evangelista

"The Fight"

Round 1 >
The veteran Jose Manuel Ibar Urtain took it to the young upstart Alfredo Evangelista, and hammered him with
big right-hands and winging left-hooks.

Alfredo looked to be out-of-his-league, and was forced to hold-tight as Jose landed wicked right-hands
and wide left-hooks.

At the {1:40 Mark} Jose shook Alfredo badly with a powerful right-hand to the jaw.

It looked as if Jose would put the Uruguayan away, but Jose missed with 'wild' follow ups.

At the {2:25 Mark} > Jose did catch Alfredo with a 'hammer' left-hook, that again had him wobbly.

But Alfredo was able to move, and then grab the charging Jose, as he held on until the Bell sounded
ending Round 1.

The Sports Palace crowd of 10,000+ cheered for their Hero.

[Bill Paxtom]

After a 'near disaster' in Round 1, Alfredo Evangelista turned it around in Round 2, but nearly got dropped late
in the Round when he got careless.

Round 2 >

Jose Manuel Urtain came out 'bombing', but little more than 30-Seconds into the Round he started to slow down.

Alfredo then made his move, and started to land some good left-hooks to Urtain's head that 'rattled' the veteran
33 year-old Spaniard.

At the {1:20 Mark}, Alfredo landed '2' hard left-hooks to Urtain's chin that shook him, and a follow-up double
left-hook dropped Urtain a 3-Count.

Jose got up, but looked 'wobbly'. Alfred moved in, and fired with left-right combinations to both the head and body.

Alfredo swarmed over Jose and drove him backwards into the back left Ropes. There, the young Uruguayan slammed
away with an assortment of rights and lefts to the body.

At the {2:40 Mark} Jose looked to be in big trouble and was on the verge of being stopped. But amazingly, the
'Birthday Boy' rallied with a big right-hand to Alfredo's jaw, and then followed with hard 6-Punch flurry that drove
Alfredo backwards toward Center-Ring.

A shaken Alfredo was forced to box-and-circle over the last 15-Seconds as Jose stalked like a Tiger.

[Bill Paxtom]

Round 3 >

Alfredo opened up the Round by boxing-and-moving.

Jose stalked, and looked to throw one of his bombs.

The fighters got into a brutal exchange at the {0:50 Mark}, and Alfredo got the
better of the trading.

Suddenly, the 33 year-old 'Birthday Boy' Jose Manuel Urtain looked 'winded'.

Then Alfredo took charge, and started working Jose over with left-hooks to the head
and right-hands to the body for the rest of the Round.

Round 4 >

Alfredo was back to working on Jose, and backed the veteran up and into the Ropes.

There, Alfredo slammed in solid punches as Jose was on the complete defensive.

Jose made a 'minor' charge at the {1:40 Mark} when he landed a few decent left-hooks
and a good right-hand. Jose then became more aggressive, and took charge for the next
30-Seconds.

Alfredo was forced to back off, and moved to clear his head and take-a-break.

Then Alfredo made his move at the {2:20 Mark}, and raked over Jose with more body punches
and short-chops to the head.

Alfredo continued with his steady barrage, and then 'stunned' Jose with a 'left-right' to the head,
forcing Jose to back up to the Ropes at the {2:50 Mark}.

Alfredo then 'wobbled' Jose with a big left-hook to the head at the {2:57 Mark}, and the veteran was
'out-on-his-feet' at the Bell ending Round 4.

Round 5 >

A battered Jose Manuel Urtain came out for Round 5.

Waiting for him, was a young 'Bull' in Alfredo Evangelista.

Alfredo wasted little time, and immediately went after the 'old veteran' by slamming in an assortment of
hooks to the body and 'bruised' face of Jose.

At the {0:40 Mark} Jose looked ready to fall, but he showed the heart of a Tiger and tried to fight back. But it
was only a short spurt, and just after the {1:00 Mark} he was sputtering on wobbly legs.

Alfredo then slammed in '2' left-hooks to the jaw of Jose, and sent him reeling 'defenseless'.

Jose's corner {Manager; Alfonso Del Rio} then threw in the towel, and the bout was stopped by a TKO @ 1:17 of Round 5.