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}
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~ 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.
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~ 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.