Nicolino Locche ~ "The Comeback"

[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'.