Nicolino Locche ~ "The Comeback"

[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 }

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Antonio Cervantes vs. Nicolino Locche 'II"

~ The Bout ~

Both fighters looked physically fit. The Champion - Antonio Cervantes would have a 3" Height
and 5" Reach advantage, to go along with youth {6 years, 3 months younger} speed and new
found power.

The 5' 9" Cervantes, now had a more muscular upper-back in his thin body.

Nicolino Locche looked his typical self, with a thick upper-body, to go along with his natural
brute-strength.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________

Round 1

Both fighters started out at Center-Ring, with Cervantes slowly circling to his left while flinging out
sharp left-jabs.

Nicolino was content to look to counter, while staying low.

Cervantes had good aggressive 'expolosions' at the {1:00}, {2:04}, {2:33} Marks, which drove
Nicolino backwards and into the Ropes.

Cervantes was showing excellent speed, and now a dangerous slashing right-hand which snapped
Nicolino's head back 'twice' in this Round.

Round 1 ....... {10-9} Antonio Cervantes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 2

Both met at Center-Ring, and exchaged left-jabs.

At the {0:35 Mark} > Cervantes caught Nicolino with a hard 'left-right-left', and then exploded with a
fast '9-Punch' combination that drove Nicolino into the left-side Ropes.

Both returned to Center-Ring, and exchanged hard left-jabs. Nicolino scored with a hard left at the
{0:58 Mark}.

Nicolino went to bending low to avoid Cervantes long-range spearing left-jabs. At the {1:14 Mark},
both fighters got into a heated exchange at Center-Ring.

At the {1:42 Mark}, both continued to land good left-hands. Over the last-minute, Cervantes stayed
aggressive, and scored with '2' fast {3-Punch} explosions to force Nicolino on the defensive.

Round 2 ....... {10-9} Antonio Cervantes

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Antonio Cervantes vs. Nicolino Locche 'II' ~

Round 3

Both meet at Center-Ring, and exchange left-jabs. Immediately at the {0:10} Mark,
Niclino goes aggressive and attacks with a {4-Punch} flurry driving Cervantes into
the back-right Corner.

As Nicolino is coming in, Cervantes whips in a fast overhand-slashing right-hand that
catches Nicolino on the left eye-brow, which immediately opens up a 'bad gash'.

Nicolino backs out to Center-Ring, as he is stung by the slashing-punch. Cervantes
moves out quickly, and attacks with rapid-punches at Center-Ring.



Cervantes stays aggressive, as both trade. Cervantes droves Nicolino over to the right
side Ropes, and rips away with a right-uppercut and continues with left-jabs to Nicolino's
left eye area.

At the {1:00 Mark} both fighters trade at Center-Ring in an aggressive barrage. Cervantes
drives Nicolino into the back right Ring area at the {1:13 Mark}, where the fighters clinch.

Referee - Luis Salbaran notices the 'bad gash' over Nicolino's left-eye, and calls for the Ringside
Physician to examnine the cut. The Doctors says that the bout can resume.

The action resumes at the {1:36 Mark}. Both fighters now go at it at Center-Ring, by trading
with hard combinations. The Cesar Giron Stadium erupts with 'roars'.

Both continue to trade bombs for the next 20-Seconds. Nicolino backs off at the {2:00 Mark},
and moves away as Cervantes moves in by firing out fast left-jabs

At the {2:21 Mark} Cervantes lands a hard left-hook underneath into Nicolino's mid-section
that make his bend at the waist. Nicolino goes to moving again, as Cervantes stalks with
spearing left-jabs targeting Nicolino's left eye area.

Nicolino makes a brief charge at the {2:48 Mark}, and backs Cervantes up into the front Ropes.

Roudn 3 .... {10-9} Antonio Cervantes