Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

November 10, 1969

Nuevo Circo {New Circus} ~ Caracas, Venezuela

{#7} Antonio Gomez ~ 25-2-0 {10 KOs} ~ 5' 6" ~ 128 lbs. ~ Reach; 67" ~ {Age; 24 years, 2 months}
vs.
{#17} Antonio Cervantes ~ 47-7-3 {16 KO's} ~ 5' 9" ~ 130 lbs. ~ Reach; 72" {Age; 23 years, 11 months}
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World-Rated Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez takes on Colombian - Antonio Cervantes.

Both fighters are 'managed' by Venezuelan - Ramiro Machado.

Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes had moved from Colombia to Venezuela in 1968, to get better 'money' fights,
and to improve his skills against better competition.

Th word here is, that this will be a 'close fight'.

Though 'Kid Pambele' claims to be {Age; 23 years 11 months}, some of the Colombian Sportswriters stated
that Cervantes was really 3 years older.

And, Cervantes probably had an additional 25-Bouts on his ledger in the small-clubs of Colombia on his ledger.

Colombian Sportswriter - Jaime Santoves stated that > Antonio Cervantes 'true record' was closer to > 69-9-4 {23 KO's},
and he was an 'all box' and 'little-punch' thin-rail boxer.
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~ Gomez Edges Cervantes By Decision Over 10 ~

In a battle of jabs and defense, it was Antonio Gomez who edged out Colombian - Antonio Cervantes over 10 Rounds.

Gomez {128 lbs.} giving up 3" in Height, and 5" in Reach, withstood the constant left-jab of Cervantes {130 lbs.} during
the first-half of the bout, to get inside and pound the body of the 'reed-thin' Colombian over the last 3-Rounds to capature
a close Unanimos Decision.

Throughout the first 4-Rounds, Cervantes used his left-jab like a 'broom-stick handle' to poke Gomez in the face and
around the eyes.

Realizing that he could not 'out-jab' the Colombian, Gomez slowly closed the distance and worked the body of Cervantes
with short hooks to the ribs during Rounds 5, 6 and 7 while employing a 'keen defense'.

With the bout 'close on the scorecards',
Gomez fought faster than Cervantes over the last 3-Rounds, and used his shorter reach on the inside where he stayed
busy working the Colombian's ribs with constant '2-Punch' combinations during Rounds 8, 9 and 10.

Scorecards
* 96-94 > {6-4-0 in Rounds}
* 97-95 > {5-3-2 in Rounds}
* 97-95 > {5-3-2 in Rounds}