Nicolino Locche '1963'

[Bill Paxtom]

Nicolino Loche '1963'

At the end of 1962, Nicolino was the #9 World-Ranked Lightweight, and had compiled a record
of 33-1-6 with {8 KO's}.

Included, Nicolino was the Argentinian Lightweight Champion, as well as being ranked as the
#1 South American Lightweight.

Nicolino at {Age; 23 years 3 months} was embarking on a strong 1963 to gain a chance at
the World Lightweight Championship.

Important Bouts in 1963

* February 1, 1963 ...... {W Dec 10} ....... Nicolino Locche - 33-1-6 {8 KO's} - vs. - Pedro Benelli - 51-14-5 {33 KO's}

Location > Mendoza ~ Mendoza, Argentina

Nicolino takes on old foe 29 1/2 year-old Pedro Benelli for the '4th-Time'.

Nicolino, fighting in front of his hometown fans, boxes circles around the durable and tough-hitting veteran, and
scores a solid 10-Round Decision.

Reports were that Nicolino won by a score of 199-194, or 6-1-3 in Rounds.

[Bill Paxtom]

Important Bouts in 1963

February 22, 1963

El Gigante del Norte ~ Salta, Salta, Argentina

Attendance ..... { 10,200 }

Nicolino Locche ~ 34-1-6 {8 KO's} ~ 135 lbs. ~ 5' 6"
vs.
Gregorio Cinta ~ 19-0-3 {8 KO's} ~ 146 lbs. ~ 5' 9"

Nicolino travels to Salta, to take on 'highly-touted' and unbeaten 20 year-old Salta native
Gregorio Cinta.

Gregorio is a Welterweight, and will have a size {11 lb.} advantage over the #9 World-Rated
Lightweight - Nicolino Locche.

According to reports >

Nicolino was mauled by the young and strong Cinta. Each time that Nicolino got free to swing,
the Salta Welterweight moved in, and nearly jumped on top of Locche.

Gregorio Cinta was effective when he got in close, and mauled over his smaller opponent. The
Salta Referee allowed the hometown youngster to hold-and-hit Nicolino throughout the
10-Round bout.

There was little clean action, and the bout was ruled a 10-Round Draw by the Salta Boxing Commission.

The Salta fans cheered for their young and still unbeaten local Hero, as he held the World-Rated
Nicolino Locche to a Draw, albeit a controversial one.

Note; The 'Draw' to Gregorio Cinta dropped Nicolino Locche from the #9 World-Ranked Lightweight
to #11.

[THE THIRD MAN]

'The Untouchable"

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Rematch ~

May 24, 1963

Mendoza Association of Boxing ~ Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina

Nicolino Locche ~ 36-1-7 {8 KO's} ~ 135 lbs.
vs.
Gregoria Cinta ~ 21-0-4 {10 KO's} ~ 145 lbs.

A 'rematch' of their controversial bout on February 22nd in Gregorio Cinta's hometown
of Salta.

This time, Nicolino gets the room he needs, and stays away from the mauling Cinta.

The first 3-Rounds are fought 'evenly', as both spend their time by feinting or moving.

Nicolino is solid and steady over the middle-Rounds against the 20 year-old Cinta, by
scoring with left-jabs to the face, and left-hooks to the liver.

Each time that the Salta Welterweight moves in to maul, the Referee immediately breaks
up the holding. The visiting Cinta cannot land with anything effective, and cannot get
close enough to out-muscle Nicolino like he had in their '1st-Bout'.

By Round 7, Cinta has a bruised up face, and is no longer the 'frisky fighter' he was earlier.

Nicolino seals the bout by sweeping the last 3-Rounds of the bout.

Reports have the bout scored at { 200-195 } or 5-0-5 in Rounds for the hometown Hero
Nicolino Locche.

[Bill Paxtom]

June 8, 1963

Mendoza Association of Boxing ~ Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina

Nicolino Locche - 37-1-7 {8 KO's} ~ 134 lbs.
vs.
Eulogio 'El Siki' Caballero - 35-12-11 {21 KO's} ~ 136 lbs.

A rematch of their previous bout 1-Year earlier on {June 5, 1962}

Nicolino is fighting again, just 15-Days after his bout with tough and 'unbeaten'
Welterweight - Gregorio Cinta.

Nicolino and the 28 year-old southpaw Uruguayan veteran 'box-and-counter' each
other of the first 5-Rounds, which are fought 'fairly even'.

But Nicolino turns it on Round 6, and has Eulugio on the canvas from a left-hook to the liver
and right-hand to the face.

Nicolino then out-boxes Eulugio over the last 4-Rounds, and cruises to a solid but still
competitive 10-Round Decision.

Reports were that Nicolino won by a score of { 199-194 }, or 5-1-4 in Rounds.

23 1/2 year-old Nicolino cements his position as the #1 Ranked South American Lightweight,
and will challenge for that Title at the end of the month {3-Weeks}.

Eulogio 'El Siki' Caballero

[Bill Paxtom]

June 5, 1963


[I][/~ Lightweight Rankings ~I]

**** Carlos Ortiz
#1 .. Carlos Hernandez
#2 .. Dave Charnley
#3 .. Bunny Grant
#4 .. Alfredo Urbina
#5 .. Joe Brown
#6 .. Paul Armstead
#7 .. Doug Valiant
#8 .. Tenia Kusaka
#9 .. Arthur Persley
#10 . Sebastio Nascimiento
#11 . Nicolino Locche

[Bill Paxtom]

June 29, 1963

Estadio Luna Park ~ Buenos Aries, Argentina

'South American Lightweight Championship'

{#10} Sebastiao Nascimento - 25-3-6 {10 KO's} ~ 134 1/2 lbs. ~ 5' 8 1/2" ~ {Age; 26 years, 1 month}
vs.
{#11} Nicolino Locche - 38-1-7 {8 KO's} ~ 134 1/4 lbs. ~ 5' 6" ~ {Age; 23 years, 9 months}

Sebastiao Nascimento is tall-and-lanky aggressive southpaw from Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Sebastiao is an experienced 6-Year Professional, who won the Brazilian Lightweight Championship
back in January 1960.

Sebastiao captured the South American Lightweight Title when he defeated {W Dec 15} Argentinian
Jaime Gine on September 11, 1962.

The lanky Brazilian has defended the Title 'once', and this will be his 2nd-Defense. Also, Sebastiao
has '3' wins over talented Argentinian - Jaime Gine.

Sebastiao will be defending his title on Nicolino's home territory, and in front of { 9500 } Argentinian
supporters.

~ Sebastiao Nascimento ~

[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

[Bill Paxtom]

December 14, 1963

Estadio Luna Park ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina

~ Fight of the Year ~

~ Nicolino Locche Edges Raul Santos Villalba In War At Lune Park ~

Nicolino Locche and Raul Santos Villalba thrilled the 10,000 spectators at Estadio Luna Park
with a wild 10-Round Lightweight battle.

The 'defensive-wizard' Nicolino Loche turned Tiger, and turned the bout into a slugfest in
Round 3, when he had Villalba reeling back on his heels, after getting hammered earlier
in the bout.

Nicolino pounded the Mar del Plata Lightweight 'time-and-again' with jarring right-crosses
to the chin in Rounds 4, 5 and 6.

But Villalba would not back down, and came charging back with vicious left-right combinations
to the head of Locche late in Round 6, to bring the Luna Park crowd to its feet with roars.

Both fighters threw caution to the wind, and went toe-to-toe in Rounds 7 and 8, as each other
was rocked after absorbing solid blows to the chin

In Round 9, Villalba came out blazing, and had Nicolino backing up in a defensive posture, as
he unloaded with everything he had.

But the cagey Locche rolled with the punches, and came charging back at the end of the
Round by shaking Villalba with a left-right to the chin.

With the bout up for grabs entering the Final Round > Locche took command and slammed
Villalba with fast left-hooks into his right-side and mid-section, as he steam-rolled forward
to gain the edge.

Villalba was game and fought back, but over the second-half of the Round he was forced to
back up and cover up, as he was weary at the Bell.

Scorecards
* 197-196 {4-3-3 in Rounds}
* 197-196 {4-3-3 in Rounds}
* 198-197 {3-2-5 in Rounds}