Nicolino Locche '1963'

[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}

[Bill Paxtom]

1963

Nicolino had 13-Bouts this year, and went 10-0-3 with {0) KO's}.

As of December 31, 1963, Nicolino had a record of 43-1-9 with {8 KO's},
and held both the Argentinian and South Amercan Lightweight Titles.

Nicolino was now the #8 World-Ranked Lightweight.

Manager > Carlos 'Tito' Lecture was trying to entice World Lightweight Champion
Carlos Otiz to come to Buenos Aires to face 'El Intocable', even if it was for a 'non-title'
bout.