Nicolino Locche '1963'

[Bill Paxtom]

June 29, 1963

~ Nicolino Locche Captures South American Lightweight Championship ~

~ Argentinian Hero Decisions Brazilian - Sebastiao Nascimento Over 15-Rounds ~

The stockily-built and muscular Argentinian used a tight-shell defense, while bending-low to
avoid the hard-rushes from the southpaw Sebastiao Nascimento.

During the early Rounds >
Nicolino Locche stayed at Center-Ring for most of the first 6-Rounds, and used hard left-hook
counters to the mid-section and liver area of the tall Brazilian to keep him at bay.

Whenever Sebastiao attacked with his typical '4-Punch' combinations, Locche would put both
hands up on each side of his face, and bend-low while blocking the punches. Then, as soon
as the Brazilian finished punching, Nicolino would counter with hard left-hooks.

But, in Round 7 >
Sebastiao was able to back Nicolino into the Ropes, where he hammered away with '4-Punch'
combinations. During one flurry, Sebastiao caught Nicolino with a vicious left-uppercut to the chin,
buckling Nicolino's legs.

But Nicolino quickly recovered.

During the late-Middle Rounds {8, 9, 10 and 11} Nicolino was at his best, as he scored with stiff
left-jabs and straight right-hands into the head of the Brazilian, forcing the defending Champion
to back out on the perimeter and circle away.

By Round 12, the Argentinian was in complete command of the bout, and was comfortably ahead
in Points.

Up to this point, Sebastiao had only landed a 'single' measly hard punch on the elusive Challenger,
and that was back in Round 7.

In Rounds 14 and 15, Locche simply backed into the Ropes, and let Sebastiao punch away,
as Nicolino used his tight-shell defense to block or avoid nearly every punch the Brazilian
could fire.

Reports had Nicolino Locche winning by a score of { 297-292 } or 8-3-4 in Rounds.

[Bill Paxtom]

! NICOLINO !

Nicolino lands a solid right-hand to the jaw of Brazilian - Sebastiao Nascimento
during Round 9.

Nicolino swept Rounds 8, 9, 10 and 11 to pull away from the 'defending' South
American Lightweight Champion.



Nicolino Locche {with back to Ropes} celebrates at the end of 15-Rounds with
Sebastiao Nascimento.

[Bill Paxtom]

July 27, 1963

~ Argentinian - Nicolino Locche To Battle Former Lightweight Champion - Joe 'Old Bones' Brown ~

Nicolino 'El Intocable' Locche is set to face Joe Brown on August 10th, at Alberto J. Armando Stadium.

An attendance figure of 30,000+ is expected to see the popular 23 year-old Argentinian battle the
37 year-old former Lightweight Champion.

{#9} Nicolino Locche ~ 40-1-7 {8 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ Reach; 67' ~ 134 3/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 11 months}
vs.
{#5} Joe Brown ~ 99-26-12 {45 KO's} ~ 5' 7 1/2" ~ Reach; 68" ~ 134 3/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 37 years, 2 months}

The Argentinian Fight Promoters {Tito Lecture} had to guarantee the former Champion a Fight Purse
of { $22,000 } to venture down to Buenos Aires to face the 'rising' Argentinian Hero.

Manager - Lou Viscusi >
"Joe Brown is on the comeback trail, but my fighter is still the man to beat. If you want to get
to the Champion you'll have to get by Joe first, and that's not an easy thing to do."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ August 10, 1963

~ Nicolino Locche 'Out-Slicks' Former Champion Joe Brown In 10 ~



Rising Lightweight, Argentinian Nicolino Locche put on a fantastic show and out-slicked former
World Lightweight Champion Joe 'Old Bones' Brown over 10 Rounds.

In front of nearly 35,000 Latin fans at the Alberto J. Armando Stadium, and with the fans cheering
"Nico, Nico" > Nicolino Locche was impressive in winning a one-sided bout over Joe Brown.

The power-pack Argentinian used an assortment of left-jabs, left-hooks underneath and right-hand
crosses to dominate nearly every session in this highly-anticipated Lightweight bout.

Locche used heavy-pressure on the 37 year-old American, and kept slamming in with fast sharp-punches
on the fading veteran. Though the 23 1/2 year-old Argentinan is not a big-puncher, he rocked Brown
several times, and badly staggered the former Champion in Round 6 with a big-swinging right-hook
to the chin.

Locche easily handled the durable veteran during in-close exchanges, and surprisingly out-boxed
Brown from the outside.

In fairness, the former Champion entered the Ring with a damaged right-hand from his previous
bout {June 22, 1963} with Alfredo Urbina in Mexico. But 'Old Bones' only looked like a Shadow
of Himself, and was badly out-classed in this bout as he did not win a single Round.

Scorecards
* 200-193 {7-0-3 in Rounds}
* 200-195 {5-0-5 in Rounds}
* 200-189 {10-0-0 in Rounds}

[Bill Paxtom]

September 5, 1963

~ World Ratings at Lightweight ~

**** Carlos Ortiz
#1 .. Kenny Lane
#2 .. Carlos Hernandez
#3 .. Dave Charnley
#4 .. Alfredo Urbina
#5 .. Bunny Grant
#6 .. Paul Armstead
#7 .. Doug Valiant
#8 .. Tenia Kosaka
#9 .. Nicolino Locche
#10. Joe Brown
__________________________________________________ _____________________________

September 29, 1963

Club Defensores de Villa Lujan ~ San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina

{#9} Nicolino Locche - 42-1-7 {8 KO's} ~ 136 lbs. ~ 5' 6" ~ 67" Reach ~ {Age; 24 years, 0 Months}
vs.
{NR} Carlos Cappella - 28-6-2 {20 KO's} ~ 133 lbs. ~ 5' 5" ~ 66" Reach ~ {Age; 23 years, 9 months}

World-Rated - Nicolino Locche takes on the young and hard-banging Carlos Cappella from Bahia Blanca.

Cappella is a 6-Year Professional, who at one-time was 'highly-touted' as a future Top 10 Junior-Lightweight
and possible 130 lb. Title Challenger.

Carlos Cappella



[I][/~ The Bout ~I]

In an odd-ball bout, Nicolino Locche spends most of his time directly in front of Cappella, bit not punching.

Nicolino is exhibiting excellent defense, and is content to display is 'defensive talent' to the 5000 Tucuman
spectators in attendance.

By Round 6, Nicolino had yet to make any offensive charges, and was letting Cappella do all the work.

During Round 7, Nicolino backed to the Ropes, and let Cappella punch away, while Nicolino bobbed, weaved
and ducked, while avoiding every incoming punch.

Over the last 3-Rounds {8, 9 and 10}, Nicolino fought back with an occasional left-hand to the body, and
a few fast 'left-right' punches to the head.

Gregorio Cappella tried to make the fight, but missed with nearly every punch he threw. But he was aggressive
throughout, and gave a good effort before tiring at the end of the bout.

The San Miguel de Tucuman Officials called the bout a 'Safe Draw'.

[Bill Paxtom]

October 11, 1963

Cordova Sport Club ~ Cordova, Argentina

{#9} Nicolino Locche - 42-1-8 {8 KO's} ~ 135 lbs.
vs,
{NR} Tristan Falfan - 25-5-4 {15 KO's} ~ 134 lbs.

Just 14-Days after fighting to a 10-Round Draw with Carlos Cappella, Nicolino is back in the Ring
with the local and popular 24 year-old Cordovan Lightweight -Tristan 'El Tecnico' Falfan, who
is a big-swinging fighter with power.

Nicolino had fought Tristan once before {December 14, 1962}, where Nicolino had won by a
Knockout {KO 6} in Cordoba.

Tristan was the 1956 Olympic representative for Argentina in the Featherweight Division.

Tristan 'El Tecnico' Falfan


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Bout ~

Nicolino opens up by taking immediate control and scores with his sharp left-hand to take the
first 2-Rounds easily.

But in Round 3, Nicolino goes to his 'game-playing', and gets into his defensive-mode and does
little for the next 3-Rounds, other than blocking-and-ducking as Tristan punches away with
an aggressive force.

In Round 7, Tristan catches Nicolino with a sharp right-hand, and opens up a cut on Locche's
left-eye. Tristan keeps up the pressure, and takes Round 7 and Round 8 as Nicolino is forced
on the defensive.

Behind entering Round 9, Nicolino goes on the offensive and rakes over the Cordova Lightweight
with solid left-right combinations.

Nicolino follows that up with a solid Round 10 as well, but he cannot put the fading Tristan down.

The Cordova Boxing Association rules the bout a 'Safe Draw'.

Reports have the score as { 196-196 } or 4-4-2 in Rounds.

[Bill Paxtom]

December 14, 1963

Estadio Luna Park ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina

{#8} Nicolino Locche - 42-1-9 {8 KO's} ~ 136 lbs. ~ 5' 6"
vs.
{NR} Raul Santos Villalba - 21-4-2 {13 KO's} ~ 136 lbs. ~ 5' 7 1/2"

Nicolino will be participating in his 13th-Bout in 1963. Nicolino has gone 9-0-3 so far this year,
but has fought 'back-to-back' 10-Round Draws in his '2' previous bouts.

Also, Nicolino was badly cut {over left-eye} in his last bout back on October 11th.

His opponent is 25 1/2 year-old Raul Santos Villalba, the {Mar del Plata Region} Lightweight
Champion. Raul is called 'the 'Spanish Sandy Saddler' as he delivers power with the leverage
of his long arms.

Raul is a fast and smooth boxer, with good power. Raul has several good wins on his record,
and has gone 7-0-1 in his last 8-Bouts.

Included, was a 'major upset' {W Dec 10} over unbeaten and #1 Argentinian Lightweight
Abel Ricardo Laudonio on September 7th.

Raul also held Laudonio to a {10 Round Draw} in the rematch on October 5th.

In his last bout, only 2-Weeks ago {November 30th} > Raul scored a {W Dec 10} over
Gregorio Cappella, the same fighter who held Nicolino Locche to a 10-Round Draw only
2-months earlier on September 27th.

Raul Santos Villalba