Cruz Marcano ~ The Boxer that they called 'El Loco"

[Bill Paxtom]

December 1968

~ The Featherweights from Venezuela
__________________________________________________ ____________________

Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano

Born ............ March 14, 1946
Home Base .. Cumana, Venezuela
Age ............. 22 years, 9 months
Height ......... 5' 6 1/2"
Style ........... Aggressive Puncher
Record ........ 17-0-2 {11 KO's}
Ranking ...... #10 WBA

Considered by many, as the 'next' fighter to become World Champion
__________________________________________________ ____________________

Nestor 'Razzy' Rojas

Born ............ November 1, 1946
Age ............. 22 years, 1 month
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 7"
Style ........... Boxer Technician
Record ........ 18-5-1 {5 KO's}
Rank .......... {Not Rated}

Nestor Rojas has been a Professional since {1965}. Nestor holds a win {W Dec 8} over Antonio Cervantes
on > July 14, 1967 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Nestor lost {L Dec 10} to Antonio Cervantes on November 28, 1968.
__________________________________________________ _______________________________________

Jose Luis 'Pavito' Hernandez

Born ............ May 22, 1944
Age ............. 24 years, 6 months
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela {Federal District}
Height ......... 5' 6"
Style ........... Aggressive Puncher
Record ........ 20-1-1 {16 KO's}
Rank ........... #20 WBC

'Pavito' Hernandez was a great Amateur boxer who had compiled a record of 117-4 with {55 KO's}, before
turning Professional in June 1964.

But 'persistent' hand problems {bone fractures} stalled his Pro Career, as he only had '2-Bouts' over the
past 2-Years.

Jose Luis was Trained by Melquiades 'Tabuito' Sanz.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________

Orlando 'Rando' Ruiz

Born ........... September 11, 1945
Age ............ 23 years, 2 months
Home Base .. Maracaibo, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 8"
Style ........... Southpaw Boxer/Stylist
Record ........ 19-5-3 {4 KO's}
Rank ........... {Not Rated}

Orlando has been a Professional since 1964. The southpaw has been campaigning as a 130 lb. Super-Featherweight,
and has been fighting out of Miami Beach, Florida.

On a 'bad note', Orlando was clobbered {L KO 1} in the 1st-Round by Antonio Cervantes on November 25, 1968.
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Orlando 'Red Viper' Rivas

Born ........... May 22, 1948
Age ............ 20 years, 6 Months
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 8"
Style ........... Fast Boxer ~ Defensive Specialist
Record ........ 11-1-1 {3 KO's}
Rank ........... {Not Rated}

Orlando has only been a Professional for less than 2-Years.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________

Francisco Bolivar

Born ........... May 24, 1940
Age ............ 28 years, 6 months
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 6 1/2"
Style ........... Aggressive Puncher/Boxer
Record ........ 46-7-1 {25 KO's}
Rank .......... #26 WBC

A 'smart-and-cagey' 9-Year Professional, who can either punch or box, depending on the opponent.
__________________________________________________ _______________________________________

Diego 'Chita' Tovar

Born ............ October 1, 1949
Age ............. 19 years, 3 months
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 7 1/2"
Style ............ Boxer / Counter-Puncher
Record ......... 11-0-0 {4 KO's}
Rank ........... {Not Rated}

A very fast-handed boxer. A 'highly-touted' Featherweight prospect from 'The Federal District' of Caracas.

Diego has not fought an 8-Rounder yet, and is being groomed at the Santa Teresa Boxing Club.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Gustavo 'El Cerebro' Briceno

Born ............ November 3, 1947
Age ............. 21 years, 1 month
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 9"
Style ........... Pure Boxer
Record ........ 13-0-0 {1 KO}
Rank .......... {Not Rated}

A 'tall-and-lanky' pure boxer who is all box-and-jab, and no punch. Only a Pro for 1-Year.

This talented boxer scored an 'upset' {W Dec 8} over Antonio Gomez on November 4, 1968.
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Freddie 'Cochocho' Rengifo

Born ............ January 10, 1945
Age ............. 23 years, 11 months
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 7"
Style ........... Boxer/Puncher
Record ........ 26-5-0 {12 KO's}
Rank .......... {Not Rated}

A generally good all-around boxer.

Things were going well for Freddie thru April 1967, as he had posted a record of 23-1-0, and was ranked
as the #4 Featherweight by 'Ring Magazine'.

Included were wins in 1966 over the following 'Top 10' World-Rated boxers;
* May 30 ......... Hiroshi Kobayashi
* July 3 ............ Carmelo Coscia
* October 17 .... Antonio Amaya
* December 16 .. Johnny Jamito

But, Freddie has only gone 3-5-0 in his last '8-Bouts', and has been stopped in all '5' losses.

On July 1, 1968 > Freddie took the #2 World-Rated Featherweight - Johnny Famechon '10' tough
Rounds before getting stopped by {L TKO 10}.
__________________________________________________ _______________________________

Pedro Gomez

Born ............ December 3, 1941
Age ............. 26 years, 11 months
Home Base .. Cumana, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 6"
Style ........... Boxer/Puncher
Record ........ 23-1-2 {12 KO's}
Rank .......... #2 WBA

Pedro Gomez is the older brother of Antonio Gomez.

Pedro is a 'great' boxer, and a good puncher. He is a 'Top 2' World-Rated Featherweight, and is also the
Venezuelan Featherweight Champion.

Back on July 27, 1968 ..... "Pedro Gomez Signs Fight Pact"

Boxing Matchmaker - Mickey Davies of the 'Olympic Auditorium' in Los Angeles has signed Pedro Gomez
up to fight the winner of the upcoming WBA Championship Bout between Champion - Raul Rojas and
Japanese Challenger - Shozo Saijo scheduled for August 1968.

Mickey Davies said that he had plans to match the winner of the Rojas-Saijo Championship Bout with
Pedro Gomez for early-Fall 1968 at the 'Olympic Auditorium', or the 'Sports Arena'.

Rafito Cedene {Advisor for Pedro Gomez} stated that his fighter was anxious for the Title challenge.
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________

Antonio Gomez ~ 'El Leon de Cumana'

Born ............ September 7, 1945
Age ............. 23 years, 2 months
Home Base .. Cumana, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 6"
Style ........... Boxer - Defensive Specialist
Record ........ 18-2-0 {7 KO's}
Rank .......... {Not Rated}

Antonio Gomez, the younger brother for Pedro Gomez.

At the time, Antonio was primarily a 'one-arm' boxer, using his right-hand as his primary weapon.
But, Antonio was a 'defensive-specialist', as he was both elusive and quick.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Alfredo Marcano

Born ............ January 17, 1947
Age ............. 21 years, 10 Months
Home Base .. Cumana, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 5 1/2"
Style ........... Aggressive Boxer/Puncher
Record ........ 23-2-3 {17 KO's}
Rank ........... #12 WBA {Super-Featherweight}

Alfredo is a muscular and solid punching fighter. Alfredo has bounced between Featherweight {126 lbs.}
and Super-Featherweight {130 lbs.}.

Alfredo is coming off '3-Straight' wins over a few of the 'Top' Colombian Featherweights.
* July 14, 1968 ......... TKO 6 ......... Bernardo Caraballo
* October 6, 1968 ...... KO 6 .......... Enrique Higgins
* October 28, 1968 .... W Dec 10 ... Antonio Herrera
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________

Carlos 'Morocho' Hernandez

Born ............ April 22, 1939
Age ............. 29 years, 7 months
Home Base .. Caracas, Venezuela
Height ......... 5' 10"
Style ........... Aggressive Boxer/Puncher
Record ........ 50-9-4 {36 KO's}
Rank ........... #2 WBA {Lightweight}

Carlos Hernandez is the former World Super-Lightweight Champion {January 18, 1965 - thru - April 29, 1966}.

Carlos has stated that he was campaigning as a Lightweight, and would even drop down to 130 lbs., if he
could 'lock down' a World Title bout.
__________________________________________________ _________________________________________

Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes

Born ............... December 23, 1945
Age ................ 22 years, 11 months
Home Base ..... Maracay, Venezuela {By way of Cartagena, Colombia}
Height ............ 5' 9"
Style .............. Boxer - Stylist
Record ........... 42-5-3 {12 KO's}
Rank .............. #10 WBA Super-Featherweight

Antonio Cervantes left Cartagena, Colombia for Maracay, Venezuela on November 6, 1968.

At the time, Antonio was the Colombian Featherweight Champion, but was having difficulty
making 126 lbs.

Antonio turned Professional in January 1964 {Age; 18 years, 1 month}.

But there has been some question about Antonio's true age, as some have stated that he is 3-Years
older, and has had an additional '25-Bouts' on his record, where he went 22-2-1 with {9 KO's}.

That would put Antonio at {Age; 26 years old}, and put his record at 64-7-4 with {21 KO's}.

At the urging of Venezuelan Businessman and Fight Promoter/Manager - Ramiro Machado, Antonio
moved to Venezuela and immediately was hooked up with Trainer - Melquiades 'Tabaquita' Sanz.

After only 3-Weeks, Antonio has had '2' quick bouts in Caracas, and only 3-Days apart >
* November 25, 1968 ....... KO 1 ......... Orlando Ruiz
* November 28, 1968 ...... W Dec 10 ... Nestor Rojas