Nicolino Locche ~ "The Comeback"

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ December 16, 1972

Estadio Luna Park ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina

Attendance ....... { 13,200 }

{#9} Nicolino Locche - 107-3-14 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 140 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 33 years, 2 months}
vs.
{#15} Rey Mercado - 18-3-0 {6 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 136 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 2 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Nicolino Locche is having his 2nd bout in his comeback run.

His opponent is fast-handed Puerto Rican boxer in Rey 'King' Mercado. Rey is very quick and
physically-built, but is a small-sized Light-Welterweight. Mercado is a sound and good
technical boxer.

Rey is a 3-Year Professional, and is coming off an impressive 'upset' {KO 6} over French
Light-Welterweight Champion - Baldassare Picone on November 4th in Paris, France.

Rey also has an upset win {TKO 5} over #8 WBC Light-Welterweight - Chris Fernandez
back on June 30th at Madison Square Garden.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Nicolino Scores Decision Win Over Puerto Rican Speedster - Rey Mercado ~

Nicolino Locche was methodical in his 10-Round Decision win over fast-handed and fleet-footed
speed-specialist Rey 'King' Mercado.

The small-sized Puerto Rican was fast and quick over the early going, as he would dart in to
fire fast '2' and '3' punch combinations, and then bounce outside and away from the former
Light-Welterweight Champion.

But the bigger Argentinian bulled his way in close on Mercado during the middle-Rounds, and
used his brute-strength to maul his opponent, especially in Rounds 4, 5, 7 and 8.

Mercado rallied in Round 9, as he used the last of his strength and speed to out-box the
slower 33 year-old Locche.

In the Final Round {Round 10}, Locche was 'masterful' and went to his straight-forward pressing
style, and used solid left-hands to the body and short right-hands to the head which had the visitor
'groggy' and on shaky-pins over the last-half of the Round.

Nicolino Locche won by {3-Points} on all '3' Scorecards.

The Associated Press scored the bout { 6-3-1 } in Rounds for Nicolino Locche.

[Bill Paxtom]

December 1972

~ WBA Ratings ~

*** Antonio Cervantes
#1 . Bruco Arcari {WBC Champion}
#2 . Alfonso Frazer
#3 . Joao Henrique
#4 . Cemal Kamaci
#5 . Roger Zami
#6 . Chang Kil-Lee
#7 . Everaldo Costa Acevedo
#8 . Pedro Adigue
#9 . Nicolino Locche
#10. Manuel Ramos

Nicolino has dropped from *World Champion {March 10, 1972} all the way down to #9.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Ring Magazine ~

*** Antonio Cervantes {WBA Champion}
#1 . Bruno Arcari {WBC Champion}
#2 . Victor Ortiz
#3 . Alfonso Frazer
#4 . Carlos Maria Giminez
#5 . Romano Fanali
#6 . Eddie Perkins
#7 . Joseph Tetteh
#8 . Cemal Kamaci
#9 . Roger Zami
#10. Joao Henrique

This was the first time since November 1961, that Nicolino Locche had 'not' been Rated in
the Top 10 by Ring Magazine.

For 11 straight years, Nicolino was listed in the Top 10 of the Lightweight Division
{November 1961 thru March 1967} and Light-Welterweight Division {April 1967 thru
November 1972}.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ January 25, 1973

Estadio Luna Park ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina

Attendance ..... { 16,270 } 'Sell-Out'

{9} Nicolino Locche - 108-3-14 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 138 lbs. ~ {Age; 33 years, 3 months}
vs.
{8} Pedro Adigue - 34-12-5 {15 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 142 lbs. ~ {Age; 29 years, 11 months}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicolino will go for his 3rd straight win during his 'comeback run'. This will by Nicolino's
toughest opponent by far. Nicolino who is ranked at #9 WBA is taking on Pedro Adigue
who is ranked one-notch higher at #8 WBA.

Pedro Adigue of the Philippines is the former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion, from
{December 14, 1968 thru January 31, 1970}.

Adigue is an aggressive-boxer, who comes to fight. The Filipino has won '5-Straight' with
'4' coming by way of Knockout.

Pedro is currently the OPBF Light-Welterweight Champion.

This bout was originally scheduled for January 18th, but Pedro had difficulties in Manila
with his Passport and Visa.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Nicolino Locche Performs Like Ghost, Decisions Filipino Adigue ~

Nicolino Locche 'El Intocable' performed like a 'ghost' in the Ring, and was untouchable
in winning a 10-Round Decision over former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion - Pedro Adigue
of the Philippines.

The Argentinian {138 lbs.} fighting before a sell-out crowd of { 16,270 } at Estadio Luna Park
did his magic, by 'nodding, bobbing, stepping back and bursting forward' to totally confuse
the aggressive Filipino, and had the visitor swinging at air most of the time.

Locche 'jabbed-and-countered', while stepping side-to-side and lowering his arms, baiting
Adigue to swing away. And when he did, Adigue was unable to reach Loche with a single
hard-blow.

Though Locche was in control, many of the Rounds were 'close' or 'even', as the Argentinian
was minimal with his offense.

On the other hand, Pedro Adigue was tenacious, and attacked aggressively in every Round.
But the Filipino walked into counters in every Round.

Scorecards
* 199-196 > {4-1-5 in Rounds}
* 199-197 > {3-1-6 in Rounds}
* 198-197 > {3-2-5 in Rounds}

Fight Purses
* Nicolino Locche ....... { $20,000 }
* Pedro Adigue .......... { $10,000 } plus travel expenses and amenities.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicolino Locche >
"I performed well, and gave the Filipino a schooling. He hardly laid a glove on me, and I
boxed with smart tactics."

"I would like one more bout before I challenge 'Kid Pambele' {Antonio Cervantes}."

Pedro Adigue >
"This is ridiculous scoring. I was the one making the fight, as I was putting pressure on
him in every Round."

"He didn't want to fight, and he backed away every time that I moved in. How could he win.
I will never come back here to Argentina."

[Bill Paxtom]

February 1973

~ WBA Ratings ~

*** Antonio Cervantes
#1 . Bruno Arcari {WBC Champion}
#2 . Alfonso Frazer
#3 . Joao Henrique
#4 . Cemal Kamaci
#5 . Nicolino Locche
#6 . Roger Zami
#7 . Everaldo Costa Acevedo
#8 . Chang Kil-Lee
#9 . Pedro Adigue
#10. Josue Marquez

Following Nicolino's win {W Dec 10} over Pedro Adigue on January 25, 1973 > Nicolino
moved up in the WBA Ratings from {#9} to {#5}.

WBA Champion Antonio Cervantes, who won the Title back on October 28, 1972 by a {KO 10}
over Alfonso Frazer, had signed to make his '1st' Title Defense against smart-boxing but
light-hitting Puerto Rican - #10 WBA-ranked Josue Marquez on February 15, 1973.

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 9, 1973

Club Gimnasia y Esgrima ~ Ciudad Mendoza, Argentina

Attendance ....... { 14,500 } 'Sell-Out'

{5} Nicolino Locche - 109-3-14 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 140 lbs. ~ {Age; 33 years, 5 months}
vs.
{NR} Benny Huertas - 25-15-4 {8 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ 138 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 1 month}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicolino is having his 'final tune-up' bout, in hopes of Challenging WBA Light-Welterweight
Champion - Antonio Cervantes next month {March 1973}

Remarkably, this is Nicolino's 1st-Bout in his hometown of Mendoza in nearly 4-Years, since
{April 3, 1969}.

The bout is held at the Club Gimnasia es Grima de Mendoza, an outdoor football stadium
which seats { 10,500 } with an additional { 4000 } infield seats that have been added.

Benny Huertas is a tough-scrappy club-fighting Puerto Rican who is based out of Brooklyn,
New York.

Benny is a 'fan favorite', as he plows forward and is willing to trade with anyone. Benny
who is a 9-Year Professional, has a {KO 10} over Rey Mercado in {August 1971}, the same
fighter who went 10-Rounds with Nicolino only 2-Months ago on {December 16, 1972}.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Great Nicolino Scores An Easy Decision Over Benny Huertas ~

Former WBA Light-Welterweight Champion - Nicolino Locche scored an easy shut-out
10-Round Decision over trial-horse Benny Huertas.

Fighting before a sell-out crowd of { 14,500 } hometown fans in Mendoza > Nicolino
boxed smoothing and moved around the ring like an 'invisible ghost' as the Puerto
Rican visitor chased, but could not land with anything solid.

Locche out-muscled Huertas during the first-half of the bout, and then counter-punched
the ever-trying Puerto Rican over the second-half of the bout.

In Round 10, Nicolino displayed his 'magic', as he laid on the Ropes and let Huertas hit
him. Then Nicolino would wait for an opening, and explode with a fast-flurry of punches
to the head to drive Huertas back.

Scorecards
* 200-191 > {9-0-1 in Rounds}
* 200-191 > {9-0-1 in Rounds}
* 200-192 > {8-0-2 in Rounds}

[Bill Paxtom]

February 21, 1973

~ Nicolino Locche 'The Untouchable' Will Challenge WBA Champion - Antonio Cervantes ~

The long awaited rematch between Nicolino Locche and current WBA Light-Welterweight Champion
Antonio Cervantes will take place on March 17, 1973 in Maracay, Venezuela at the Maestranza
{Bull Ring} Cesar Giron Stadium.

Nicilino is the former Champion, and now is the #5 WBA-ranked Light-Welterweight. The 33 1/2 year-old
Argentinian has a record of 110-3-14 with {14 KO's}.

Locche , who lost his WBA Championship last year {March 10, 1972} to Panamanian - Alfonso Frazer,
was idle for 8-Months before returning on November 18, 1972.

The great boxing Argentinian has won 4-Straight during his comeback run, and hopes to regain the
Championship that he held for {3 years, 3 months} from December 12, 1968 thru March 10, 1972.

Nicilono had defended his Title '5' times during his reign, including an impressive and one-sided
{W Dec 15} over Antonio Cervantes only 15-Months earlier on {December 11, 1971}.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes of Colombia is an experienced 9-year Professional, who started
his career in January 1964.

The Champion claims to be {Age; 27 years, 3 months}, and has a record of 60-9-3 with {27 KO's}.

But, many in Colombia have stated that Antonio is closer to {Age; 30}, and that he has had
closer to 100-Bouts Bouts under his belt, not the '72' that are listed.

Antonio won the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship with a {KO 10} over Alfonso Frazer only
5-Months earlier on October 28, 1972.

Antonio has won '5-Straight' since losing to Nicolino Locche on December 11, 1971.

Antonio 'recently' defended his Title for the 1st-time, by scoring a 15-Round Decision over
Puerto Rican - Josue Marquez on February 15th.

Antonio Cervantes now lives in Caracas, Venezuela after leaving Colombia at the end of 1968.

[Bill Paxtom]

March 17, 1973

~ WBA Light-Welterweight Champion ~

Maestranze {Bull Ring} Cesar Giron Stadium ~ Maracay, Venezuela

Fight Promoter > Ramiro Machado

Attendance ......... { 10,320 }
Gate Receipts .... { $110,000 }

{*} Antonio Cervantes - 60-9-3 {27 KO's} ~ 5' 9" ~ Reach; 72" ~ 139 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 3 months}
vs.
{#5} Nicolino Locche - 110-3-14 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ Reach; 67" ~ 139 lbs. ~ {Age; 33 years, 6 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Antonio Cervantes entered the Ring as a 'slight-favorite' {5-3} to retain his WBA Champinship.

When they fought the '1st-Time' in December 1971 > Cervantes only used his left-jab, and was
reluctant to use his right-hand much, in fear of getting countered by Nicolino Locche, which he was.

Fight Purses;

* Antonio Cervantes .. { $50,000 } from the Gate Receipts.
* Plus the Television Broadcast rights .. { $15,000 in ancillary fee's} to Central America, Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
* Plus { $2500 } in an Advertising Fee from a Venezuela/Colombia Sporting Goods Company
* Total .. { $67,500 }

* Nicolino Locche ...... { $18,000 } from the Gate Receipts.
* Plus the Television Broadcast rights .. { $9000 in ancillary fee's} to South America {Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador}
* Also { $2500 } in up front Training Expenses, as well as Travel Expenses and amenities of an additional { $3500 }.
* Plus { $3000 } from 'Penaflor' {Vineyard and Wineries}, the sponsor of Nicolino Locche.
* Total .. { $36,000 }