Nicolino Locche ~ "The Comeback"

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Antonio Cervantes vs. Nicolino Locche 'II" ~

After Round 9

Scorecards
* 98-96 > {3-1-5 in Rounds} > Antonio Cervantes
* 96-95 > {5-4-0 in Rounds} > Antonio Cervantes
* 97-95 > {5-3-1 in Rounds} > Antonio Cervantes

All of the scoring officials were more than fair in awarding points to Nicolino Locche.
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In Nicolino Locche's corner, handlers {Trainer; Miguel Pavillon} and {Physician; Dr. Robert Paladino}
desperately work on the cut left-eyebrow of their fighter.

Manger/Advisor; Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure leans through the Ropes to discuss the situation with Nicolino.
Mr. Lectoure wants to stop the bout, and pleads with Nicolino to end it.

The great Argentinian Warrior refuses, and wants to go on and believes he can turn the bout around.

Referee - Luis Salbaran [center] looks in on the group in Locche's corner.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ It's All Over For Nicolino ~

Nicolino Locche is checked out by his handler {Dr. Robert Paladino}. Nicolino waited in
his corner for the Bell to sound to start Round 10.

Just as the Bell sounded, Dr. Paladino threw a white-towel into the center of the Ring.

Nicolino who did not know it, but his Trainer - Miguel Pavillon was directly behind him,
standing behind the Ring Post outside the Ring.

As Dr. Paladino threw in the towel, Trainer - Miguel Pavillon grabbed the back waist-band
of Nicolino's boxing-trunks, preventing him from walking out of the Corner.

Nicolino was visibly upset, and wanted to go out to fight on. Then Referee - Luis Salbaran
waved that the bout was over.



Immediately Manager/Advisor - Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure jumped up into the ring to console his
fighter.

Also, Argentinian compatriot and World Middleweight Champion - Carlos Monzon went up into
the Ring immediately to console his fellow countryman.
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Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure >

"The cut was very bad at the end of Round 8. And, I told the {corner}, if the cut got any worse
to stop the bout, as I knew Nicolino would never quit."


"Then in Round 9, Nicolino was badly out-punched by Cervantes, and he could not see the hard
right-hand punches coming in on his left-eye. There was no need to let it go any further as the
Champion {Cervantes} had too much speed and power."

[Bill Paxtom]

Monday ~ March 19, 1973

~ Nicolino Locche To Retire ~

33 1/2 year-old Nicolino Locche of Argentina will retire, with a record of 110-4-14 in '128-Bouts'
over a '14-Year' career that started on December 11, 1958.

Nicolino, 'El Intocable' was stopped by a TKO 10 by WBA Champion - Antonio Cervantes on
Saturday Night {March 17th} in an attempt to regain his Light-Welterweight Championship.

In that bout, Antonio Cervantes had too much speed and power for Nicolino to overcome, as the
Champion took control from the outset of their bout, and was the more effective boxer.

The 'popular' Argentinian suffered a bad gash on his left eyebrow in Round 3, and it was examined
'3' separate times by the Ringside Physician during the bout. The cut was re-opened in Round 7,
and hampered the Argentinian's vision over the last 2 1/2 Rounds.

Antonio Cervantes continually targeted the left-eye, by placing sharp left-jabs on the eye area.
The Champion had Locche spinning dizzily during Round 9, as he circled to his right and sent slashing
right-hands into the cut, opening the gash further.

Nicolino made a great show, but he was no match for Cervantes, the same fighter he handily defeated
a 15-Months earlier, on December 11, 1971.
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Nicolino Locche >

"I was never hurt by Cervantes' punches, but that right-hook in Round 3 damaged my eyebrow. My
cornermen did a good job of sealing the cut, but he {Cervantes} re-opened it again in Round 7."

"I had a good Round 8, and I thought that I could swing the tide, but the blood from the cut got in
my left-eye, and I had a hard time seeing out the eye in Round 9."

"Cervantes was very good, and he now has a hard right-hand to go with a slashing left-jab. He hit
me with more punches than anybody else has in all my previous '127-Bouts'.