Nicolino Locche ~ 'Comeback 1975'

[Bill Paxtom]

March 6, 1976

~ WBA Light-Welterweight Division Set On It's Ear ~

Teenage 'Wunderkind' Wilfred Benitez 'upsets' Antonio Cervantes.

17 1/2 year-old Wilfred Benitez upset the great Antonio Cervantes by a 15-Round
Split-Decision in Puerto Rico.

The 'undefeated' teenager fought with radar-like defense and with quick attacks to
fluster the Colombian - Cervantes over 15-Rounds.

The bout was close, and some say that it could have gone either way, and quite possibly
ruled a Draw. But no matter, we now have a new WBA Light-Welterweight Champion,
and his name is Wilfred Benitez.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 7, 1976

Immediately, Argentinian fight promoter - Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure contacted Father/Manager -
Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez, offering a fight purse of { $75,000 plus ancillary fee's} to have
his son Wilfred come to Buenos Aires to defend his 'newly' won WBA Championship
against Nicolino Locche on June 6, 1976.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 17, 1976

Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure upped his offer to { $100,000 }.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 8, 1976

Estadio Luna Park ~ Buenos Aires, Argentina

{4} Nicolino Locche - 115-4-14 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 140 lbs. ~ {Age; 36 years, 8 months}
vs.
{NR} Lorenzo Trujillo - 34-13-4 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 5" ~ 139 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 9 months}

Attendance ...... { 15,700 } 'Sell-Out' with Standing Room
Gate Receipts .. { $96,000 }
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ 'The Skinny' ~

Nicolino, who had now moved up to the #4 WBA Light-Welterweight, was fighting for the
1st-time in 3+ Months {since defeating Emiliano Villa on January 17th}.

Nicolino and his Manager - Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure were still hoping for a Title Bout with
young Wilfred Benitez, but that it would probably have to be in Puerto Rico, as Gregorio
'Papa' Benitez said that he did not want to take his teenage son out of Puerto Rico
for a World Title defense on foreign soil.

They soon found out that Wilfred Benitez was defending his WBA Title on May 31, 1976
and in Puerto Rico.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny II' ~

Manager - Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure was told to have Nicolino Locche ready, just in case
Challenger - Emiliano Villa was to pull out of his bout with Wilfred Benitez set for
May 31st.

A back-up date for Saturday ~ June 6th was penciled.

Manager - Carlos 'Tito' Lectoure wanted Nicolino to have at least one more 'tune-up' bout,
just in case they got a call to step in to challenge Wilfred Benitez.

An overflow 'sell-out' crowd of { 15,000 } attended for this bout.

Lorenzo 'Boom Boom' Trujillo was a Houston-based fighter. Lorenzo was a good little
compact fighter, who was ranked in the Top 10 of the Lightweights back in 1973 and 1974.

But Lorenzo, a 7-Year Pro was now just a 'trial-horse', as he had not a single win in
his last '9-Bouts', going 0-8-1 since January 1975.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Nicolino Win Again, Defeats American 'Boom Boom' Trujillo ~

1-week before this bout, Nicolino Locche announced that this would be his 'final bout' at
Estadio Luna Park, and that he would retire, unless he got an offer to challenge for the
WBA Light-Welterweight Championship against Puerto Rican - Wilfred Benitez.

Nicolino Locche, who is still seeking another chance at the WBA Light-Welterweight Crown
easily defeated American - Lorenzo Trujillo over 10-Rounds.

Nicolino took control from the out-set, and easily counter-punched the ever-pressing American,
who just did not have the fire-power to break through the 36 1/2 year-old Argentinian's defense.

Locche would simply back to the Ropes, and either let the American hit him, or bend at the waist
and avoid the incoming punches.

Then, when Trujillo stopped punching, Locche would explode off the Ropes by firing hard 'left-right'
punches on his smaller opponent.

Lorenzo Trujillo was 'penalized' {1-Point} in Round 7, for use of his head.



Scorecards
* 200-193 > {6-0-4 in Rounds}
* 200-193 > {6-0-4 in Rounds}
* 199-194 > {5-1-4 in Rounds}

Fight Purses
* Nicolino Locche ..... { $35,000 }
* Lorenzo Trujillo ...... { $5000 }

After the Decision was announced, the Estadio Lna Park erupted, and all { 15,000 } fans cheered
"Nico, Nico", and sang loudly for their Hero.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 8, 1976

Nicolino Locche > Final appearance at Estadio Luna Park.

[Bill Paxtom]

August 1976

~ Nicolino Locche To Continue ~

Nicolino Locche to meet Chlle Welterweight - Ricardo Molino Ortiz.

The bout is set for August 7th, and the venue will be at the resort Hotel Llao Lloa of
San Carlos de Baniloche, Rio Negro, Argentina.

Nicolino {Age; 36 years, 11 months} will bring his record of 116-4-14 with {14 KO's}
into the Ring against the 25 year-old Chilean, who has a record of 26-5-1 with {12 KO's}.

Ricardo Molina Ortiz, is the former Chilean Welterweight Champion, and is now ranked
as the #2 Welterweight in Chile.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Promoter > Oluna Pardo

Sold '120' special seats @ $150 for the theatre-style auditorium at the Hotel Llao Llao to
selected guests, with another 500 seats for the locale San Carlos de Baniloche attendees.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ August 7, 1976

Hotel Llao LLlao ~ San Carlos de Banicole ! Rio Negro, Argentina

Attendance ........ { 620 } Specially invited guests by Promoter > Oluna Pardo
Gate Receipts .... { $25,000 }

{3} Nicolino Locche ~ 116-4-14 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 144 lbs. ~ {Age; 36 years, 11 months}
vs.
{NR} Ricardo Molina Ortiz ~ 26-5-1 {12 KO"s} ~ 5' 8" ~ 150 lbs. ~ {Age; 25 years, 3 months}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Nicolino Locche is still rated at #3 WBA and #6 Ring Magazine at Light-Welterweight.

Though Nicolino announced that he would no longer fight after his last bout which was at Estadio Luna Park
on May 8th {3-Months earlier}, he was enticed to come back by Promoter - Oluna Pardo, as Nicolino
was offered a { $18,000 } fight purse guarantee.

Ricardo Molina Ortiz is a tough Welterweight from Chile, but he is nowhere near as skilled as
an aged Nicolono Locche.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Nicolino Scores Win Over Chile's Ricardo Ortiz ~

Nicolino Locche, fighting 1-month away from {Age; 37} and fighting at the heaviest of his career {144 lbs.},
withstood the hard-charges of his younger opponent 25 year-old Ricardo Ortiz to score 10-Round Decision
in a well fought contest.

Locche found himself pinned on the Ropes in the early going, as Ricardo Ortiz {150 lbs.} came in by bopping
Locche with short left-hooks to the body and right-hands to the head.

But, the 'Magic of Nicolino' was still there, as the former Champion rallied with quick-bolts to the face of
his opponent, and then avoided Ortiz' counters.

The action was fought 'evenly' during the first 6-Rounds, as both fighters had their moments. But Nicolino had
the slight-edge during Rounds 7 and 8, and pulled ahead slightly, as he countered well and avoided any of his
opponents charges.

The last 2-Rounds were again fought 'evenly' as neither fighter landed any damaging bows, though the action
was busy and entertaining.

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

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ August 7, 1976

The last opponent that Nicolino Locche fought.

[Bill Paxtom]

August 1976

..........WBA Ratings .................. Ring Magazine ......

*** Wilfred Benitez .................. *** Wilfred Benitez {WBA Champion}
#1 . Antonio Cervantes ............ #1 . Antonio Cervantes
#2 . Hector Thompson ............. #2 . Monroe Brooks
#3 . Nicolino Locche ................ #3 . Saensak Muangsurin {WBC Champion}
#4 . Emiliano Villa ................... #4 . Hector Thompson
#5 . Wongso Suseno ............... #5 . Davey {Boy} Green
#6 . Ariel Maciel ...................... #6 . Rudy Hernandez
#7 . Adriano 'Nani' Marrero ...... #7 . Nicolino Locche
#8 . Edardo Aracena ............... #8 . Cemal Kamaci
#9 . Tony Petronelli ................ #9 . Miguel Velasquez
#10. Saoul Mamby ................. #10. Saoul Mamby
#11. Frankie Benitez .............. #11. Tony Petronelli
#12. Cemal Kamaci ................ #12. Adriano 'Nani' Marrero