Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 14, 1970

'The Forum' ~ Inglewood, California

~ Venezuelan Gomez Scores 'The Knockout' Heard Throughout The Forum ~

"Antonio Gomez 'flattens' Gil Noriega with 1-Punch Knockout in 8th"

World-Rated Featherweight - Antonio Gomez ended this night's battle at 'The Forum'
by catching Mexican - Gil Noriega with a single-right hand to the jaw in Round 8.

In a battle which was billed as a 'finesse-boxer' versus a '1-Punch knockout-artist', it was the
finesse-boxer who came away with the 'single-punch' Knockout victory at {2:19} of Round 8.

24 year-old Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez and Mexican - Gil Noriega thrilled the fans at 'The Forum'
with a wild shootout.

The { 17,091 } in attendance were on their feet after every Round, applauding and cheering. Gomez
had the slight-edge in Points after 6-Rounds, as he was the more accurate of the 'two' Featherweights.

But the 'upright' and hard-punching Mexican stayed in the fight, as he was clearly the harder-hitter
during close-exchanges.

The turning-point in the bout came mid-way thru Round 7, as Gomez continued with a steady-attack
and was elusive with a tight-defense, and Noriega began to tire, as he could not keep up with the
steady-fast pace.

Then Gomez caught Noriega with a hard 'left-right' to the chin, and the Mexican went down on his
right-side. He was up at the '4-Count', and was ready to fight on.

But, Noriega was not able to keep the fast-punching Venezuelan off of him, and near the end of Round 7
he went down again after absorbing a '7-Punch' combination to the head. The Mexican pulled himself up at
the '4-Count' again, and made it back to his corner as the 'Bell' sounded.

In Round 8, Gomez slowly wore down Noriega with fast and sharp 'left-jabs' to the face, that had the Mexican
blinded with the incoming fast-hand speed.

Then suddenly, Gomez stepped in and delivered a 'thudding' right-hand to Noriega's jaw that everyone in
'The Forum' heard.

The Mexican then fell face-first into the canvas, and was counted out at {2:19} of Round 8.

Scorecards at the time of the Knockout
* 7-2 > {Antonio Gomez}
* 6-2 > {Antonio Gomez}
* 6-2 > {Antonio Gomez}

Fight Promoter ~ George Parnassus

"I will do everything possible to bring WBA Featherweight Champion - Shozo Saijo here to defend his
Crown against Antonio Gomez. He's one of the best '3' Featherweights in the World today."

"This Venezuelan is an exciting boxer, and he deserves a World Title opportunity."

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ April 21, 1970

Plaza de Toros {Downtown 'Bull Ring'} ~ Tijuana ~ Baja California, Mexico

Attendance ...... { 6300 }

{#4} - Antonio Gomez ~ 27-2-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 127 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 7 months}
vs.
{#10} - Guillermo 'Memo' Morales - 20-4-0 {18 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 127 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 6 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Antonio Gomez is still fighting on a George Parnassus 'sponsored' fight card in Baja California.

The Los Angeles based Fight Promoter is hoping to get the Venezuelan a WBA Championship
bout by the end of the Summer of 1970.

But > Guillermo 'Memo' Morales is a dangerous punching fighter from Mexico City, and one who
is not to be taken lightly.

'Memo' is coming off a major 'Featherweight Upset', when he defeated #2 WBA-ranked Cruz Marcano
in his home-area of Caracas, Venezuela on February 20, 1970.

In that bout, 'Memo' blasted the highly-touted and 'unbeaten' Cruz Marcano all over the Ring,
and won an 'impressive' 10-Round upset Decision.

The 'loss', knocked Cruz Marcano out of a World Featherweight Championship bout.

Guillermo, who is managed and trained by Edwin Inca Vacero, has been promised a 'big money'
bout at 'The Forum', if he can score another 'upset' over a 'top-tier' Venezuelan Featherweight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Antonio Gomez 'Smashes' Morales In '4' In Tijuana ~

Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez over-whelmed Mexican - Guillermo 'Memo' Morales with a series of
combinations in Round 4, en-route to a TKO win at 1:53.

Gomez {127 lbs.} fighting with a 'spirited attack', used an assortment of left-jabs, 2-Punch combinations
and jolting right-hands to batter and smash an over-matched 'Memo' Morales {127 lbs.} in Round 3, to
set up his opponent for the following Round.

Morales, who came into the Ring with a 'reputation' as a vicious fighter, was left battered and beaten
in Round 4, after taking a one-sided pounding by the skillful Venezuelan.

Morales did not go down, but he was left 'dazed' in a Neutral-Corner when the Referee halted the
one-sided battering.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 8, 1970

~ WBA Featherweight Rankings ~ ..................... ~ 'Ring Magazine' ~

*** Shozo Saijo .................................................. ........ *** Johnny Famechon
#1 . Johnny Famechon > {WBC Champion} ................. #1 . Shozo Saijo
#2 . Vicente Saldivar .................................................. #2 . Antonio Gomez
#3 . Jose Legra .................................................. ........ #3 . Vicente Saldivar
#4 . Antonio Gomez ............................................... #4 . Kuniaki Shibata
#5 . Godfrey Stevens .................................................. #5 . Alfredo Marcano
#6 . Raul Cruz .................................................. .......... #6 . Jimmy Revie
#7 . Frankie Crawford ................................................. #7 . Fernando Sotelo
#8 . Miguel Herrera .................................................. .. #8 . Hiroshi Sojo
#9 . Eder Jofre .................................................. ......... #9 . Jose Legra
#10. Ernesto Marcel .................................................. . #10. Eder Jofre

Antonio Gomez was being labeled as 'The Uncrowned Featherweight Champion'

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ May 20, 1970

~ Featherweights To Fight At The Olympic ~

Boxing Matchmaker - on Chargin has signed of '2' of the Top Featherweights in the World
to fight in a 12-Round bout for the NABF Featherweight Championship.

Din has signed Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez to challenge Ray Echavarria of San Jose, California
for Thursday Night ~ June 5th at 'The Olympic Auditorim'.

Antonio Gomez is the #2 WBA-ranked Featherweight, and the 24 year-old Venezuelan is
'unbeaten' with a record fo 28-0-0 with {12 KO's}.

Ray Echavarria is the #2 NABF-ranked Featherweight, and will bring in a record of 30-2-2
with {8 KO's}.

The 26 year-old Echavarria who stands at 5' 2", is built like a 'fire-plug' and is one of the
toughest fighters around in the Ring

The winner has been promised a Championship bout with the WBA Champion ~ Shozo Siajo.

This Featherweight Bot will be televised by KTLA {Channel 5} on Thursday Night, June 5th.

Note > Antonio Gomez has a reocord of 28-2-0, and it was incorrectly stated that the Venezuelan
was undefeated at 28-0-0 for the 'Press Release'.

Note > Antonio Gomez was supposed to have faced Enrique Garica set for Thursday, May 21st
at 'The Olympic'. But Enrique Garcia pulled out claiming an injury.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ June 4, 1970

~ Antonio Gomez Olympic Choice In Main Event Tonight ~

Antonio Gomez of Venezuela, billed as 'The Uncrowned Featherweight Champion'
will take on late-substitute - Centavito Antonio Hernandez.

Hernandez, a 21 year-old from Sonora, Mexico is a late-substitute for original opponent
Ray Echavarria, who pulled out due to a wrist injury.

Hernandez has an impressive record of 26-5-0 with {20 KO's}, and is an aggressive
puncher who has a devastating left-hook.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ June 4, 1970

'Olympic Auditorium' ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Antonio Gomez Wins In Unimpressive 'Split-Decision' Over Late-Sub ~

Venezuelan Antonio Gomez, the #2 World-rated Featherweight was unimpressive in winning
a 10-Round Decision over 'late-sustitute' Centavito Antonio Hernandez.

Gomez {126 lbs.} did just enough to 'not lose', but fought uninspired against a 'tenacious',
but lacking in skills opponent.

The 24 year-old Venezuelan was billed as 'The Uncrowned Featherweight Champion', but he
he fought like somebody ranked #25.

Each time that Gomez attempted to lead, he was met by a 'quick-and-hard' left-hook from
the 'unranked' Centavito Hernandez {126 lbs.}, forcing Gomez to step back.

Hernandez, from Sonora, Mexico was a 5-Day substitute, but the little known Mexican fought
hard throughout, and had the 'Olympic Auditorium' fans cheering "Vito, Vito" from the 4th Round
and on, after he tagged Gomez with a good left-hook at the end of Round 4 which 'buckled'
the Venezuelan's knee's.

Gomez was 'lacklustre', and did not fight with any 'vigor' during Rounds 5 and 6.

In Round 7, Gomez started off well, but Centavito rallied with a series of left-hooks to Gomez' head,
that put the Venezuelan back on his heels 'twice' during the Round.

Sensing that the bout was 'too close for comfort', Gomez put forth a steady assortment of left-jabs
and quick {but light} counters in > Rounds 8 and 9 to prevent an 'upset loss'.

Scorecards
* Referee - Dick Young ....... {5-4} > Antonio Gomez
* Judge - Rudy Jordan ........ {5-3} > Antonio Gomez
* Judge - Bob Dossey ......... {5-4} > Centavito Hernandez

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ June 5, 1970

Don Chargin {Boxing Matchmaker}

Despite the lackluster performance of Antonio Gomez last night, Don Chargin is still 'hell bent'
on getting a World Championship bout for the Venezuelan.

Don Chargin >
"I'm going to Sendai,Japan next month, to try an convince the winner of the WBA Featherweight
Championship bout between Champion - Shozo Saijo and Frankie Crawford to fight Antonio Gomez."

"Saijo and Crawford are scheduled to fight on July 5th. I have already talked to the Misako Kanehara
{Manager of Shozo Saijo}, and he said that 'if the money is right', they will come to Los Angeles at
the end of August, providing the bout with Frankie Crawford goes as planned and without too
much difficulty."