Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ August 22, 1969

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

~ Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez 'Upsets' #3 World-Ranked - Dwight Hawkins ~

~ Venezuelan Sends Hawkins Out Of The Ring In The 10th, Wins By KO ~ ~

In the First-Bout of the evening at The Forum, and in front of a crowd of 18,549 who paid
$270,545.

Antonio Gomez 127 lbs. {Caracas, Venezuela} 'upset' Dwight Hawkins 124 lbs. for a Knockout at
2:18 of the Final Round {Round 10}.

Hawkins, a 31 year-old veteran and #3 World-Rated Featherweight was the Heavy-Favorite
at {3-1}, but he met his match tonight.

Both Hawkins and Gomez displayed fine ring-work and boxing-skills over the first 5-Rounds,
as each scored with fast jabs, and quick 'one-two' punches on the inside.

But starting in Round 6, the 'almost' 24 year-old Venezuelan started to put good combinations
together, and had the Los-Angeles-based Hawkins retreating.

Gomez had Hawkins bending over from several hard body-blows in Rounds 8 and 9, and the
end was looking near for the 31 year-old Hawkins.

Mid-way thru the Final Round, Gomez 'staggered' the fading veteran with a series of combinations,
and then had Hawkins in serious trouble after landing with a 'right-left-right' to the head at the {1:50 Mark}.

Hawkins was 'wobbling' on shaky-pins as he backed to the Ropes, and tried to defend himself.

But then Gomez stepped in, and delivered a 'solid combination' to the 31 year-old veteran's chin, and Hawkins
went though the Ropes and upon the Ring Apron, where he was 'counted-out' at {2:18} of Round 10.

After The Bout >

Manager - Johnny Flores 'immediately' retired his fighter Dwight Hawkins after this bout.