Nicolino Locche ~ 'Comeback 1975'

[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 }
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~ '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.
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~ 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.
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~ 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.