Jimmy DuPree vs. Vicente Rondon ~ 'vacant' WBA Light-Heavyweight Championship

[Bill Paxtom]

February 27, 1971

~ Vicente Rondon Defeats Jimmy DuPree For WBA Light-Heavyweight Title ~

Venezuelan - Vicente Rondon came back from a 2nd-Round Knockdown and early bout
jitters to overwhelm American - Jimmy DuPree and stop him by a Knockout at 2:58 of
Round 6.

The Venezuelan {175 lbs.} was nervous during the early going, and appeared scared
in the Ring with the veteran Dupree {173 1/4 lbs.}, as the American nearly chased
the 6' 3" tall Rondon out of the Nuevo Circo {Bull Ring}.

DuPree hammered the Venezuelan with left-hooks in Round 2, and dropped Rondon
late in the Round with a vicious left-hook to the chin. Rondon who was 'groggy', was
saved by the bell ending Round 2.

But the lanky Venezuelan started to come back late in Round 3, as he withstood DuPree's
early attack, and rallied late with stiff left-hand's into the American's face.

Rondon turned the tide in Round 4 when he cut the usually durable Dupree on he bridge
of the nose, and over his right-eye with 'rapid-fire' left-right-left combinations. Rondon's
fierce-action was met by delerious-cheers from the { 10,500 } Venezualan spectators,
as the Nuevo Circo was sent into a frenzy.

In Round 5, Rondon hit the visibly-tired American at will, and raked him over with a series
of '3-Punch' combinations, inclduing opening a cut over DuPree's left-eye. After Round 5,
the Ringside Physician checked Dupree for 'facial-cuts' but allowed the bout to continue.

With a weary fighter in front of him, Rondon unleashed a series of 'left-right-left' punches
on his opponent, and staggered the DuPree as well as opening up a cut over the American's
left eye-brow.

As DuPee tried to move-in on Rondon and hold on, the Venezuelan moved away and used
left-jabs to keep DuPree from grabbing him to clinch. Rondon then scored with a series
of left-hands on DuPree's cut left eye-brow, forcing the tired American to turn away.

With a hurt fighter in front of him, Rondon unloaded with a succession of hard 'left-right'
uppercuts, driving DuPree backards and collapsing with his back on the Ropes while
'out-on-his-feet'.

American Referee - Zach Clayton then jumped in and pushed Vicente away and halted
the bout at 2:58 of Round 6.