Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[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."

[Bill Paxtom]

August 13, 1970

~ WBA Featherweight Rankings ~

*** Shozo Saijo
#1 . Vicente Saldivar {WBC Champion}
#2 . Antonio Gomez
#3 . Frankie Crawford
#4 . Jose Legra
#5 . Eder Jofre
#6 . Roberto Duran
#7 . Raul Cruz
#8 . Kuniaki Shibata
#9 . Godfrey Stevens
#10. Ernesto Marcel

Note > Look who enters the Top 10 at #6.

Also > 8 of the 11 fighters listed either were or became World Champion.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ September 5, 1970

'Olympic Auditorium' ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Featherweight Clash ~

NABF Featherweight Championship

* Antonio Gomez ~ 29-2-0 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 125 lbs. ~ {Age; 25 years, 0 months}
vs.
* Fernando Sotello ~ 34-10-1 {21 KO's} ~ 5' 7 1/2' ~ 126 lbs. {Age; 28 years, 5 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This bout was 'sanctioned' as NABF Championship Bout.

Fernando Sotello is the Mexican Featherweight Champion, as is ranked at #7 Ring Magazine.

The dangerous-punching Mexican is managed by Lupe Sanchez.

The fighters signed for signed contacts for this bout on August 28th.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Fernando Sotello is coming off '3' straight impressive Knockout wins;
* December 7, 1969 ....... {KO 7} ~ Lionel Rose
* March 22, 1970 ........... {TKO 10} ~ Vicente Garcia
* August 5, 1970 ............ {KO 1} ~ Cesar Sinda

Fernando also has wins over;
* March 7, 1969 ............ {TKO 5} ~ Alfredo Marcano
* January 24, 1969 ........ {W Split-Dec 10} ~ Dwight Hawkins

And as a 'kicker', Fernando has win {W Split-Dec 10} over Antonio's older brother Pedro Gomez,
and he did it in Caracas, Venezuela > 3-Years earlier on September 2, 1967.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ September 5, 1970

'Olympic Auditorium' ~ Los Angeles, California


~ Gomez Halts Sotelo In '9th' At Olympic Auditorium ~

~ Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez Captures NABF Featherweight Belt ~

Venezuelan - Antonio Gomez displayed his punching-power tonight, as he demolished
Mexican Featherweight Champion - Fernando Sotelo by TKO at 2:17 of Round 9.

Both fighters were cautious early, as each was wary of the others punching-power. But in
Round 4, Gomez {125 3/4 lbs.} 'exploded' a right-hand into the face of Sotelo {124 lbs.},
sending him to the canvas, where he received the 'Mandatory 8-Count'.

But despite the 'knockdown', the Venezuelan needed '5' more Rounds, before catching
Sotelo with a 'barrage-of-punches' in the later-session of Round 9, where Referee -
Dick Young jumped in to halt the 'now' one-sided bout.