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

[Bill Paxtom]

January 1969

Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano

The hard-punching and 'crazy' Venezuelan was riding an 'unbeaten' record of
18-0-2 with {12 KO's} following the destruction {KO 4} of Antonio Cervantes on
December 23, 1968 in Caracas, Venezuela.

It was a most talked about win in Venezuela.


~ Ring Magazine Ratings ~

*** 'vacant'
#1 . Jose Legra
#2 . Johnny Famechon
#3 . Shozo Saijo
#4 . Fighting Harada
#5 . Dwight Hawkins
#6 . Jose Jiminez
#7 . Bobby Valdez
#8 . Howard Winstone
#9 . Cruz Marcano
#10. Raul Rojas

[Bill Paxtom]

1969

Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano

Following the 'impressive' deciphering { KO 4} of Antonio Cervantes on December 20, 1968
> 'El Loco' became an instant legend in Venezuela, and both Central and South America.

Even in Los Angeles and New York, there was interest in bringing this 'Crazy Venezuelan'
to America.

Now with a record of 18-0-2 {12 KO's}, Cruz Marcano was > 'the most talked about Venezuelan boxer'.

The 'Word' was > He destroyed the Great Colombian - 'Kid Pambele'.
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But, Manager/Trainer - Ely Montes wanted his fighter to get a few more bouts under his
belt against some veteran fighters, before going for a bout in America under the 'bright lights'.

So, Ely Montes set Cruz Marcano up '2' bouts at the Nuevo Circo in Caracas, Venezuala.

* February 10, 1969 ....... vs. Antonio Herrera

Antonio Herrera was a 30 year-old {10-Year Pro} veteran from Cartagena, Colombia. The former
#1 WBA Featherweight {December 1967} brought in a fine record of 47-11-5 with {7 KO's}.

The 'all-box' Colombian was now a fading boxer, as Antonio had lost '5-Straight', including his chance
at the World Featherweight Championship {December 14, 1967} when he lost to Raul Rojas.

The Result ........ Cruz Marcano {W Dec 10} over Antonio Herrera

News Reports stated >

That Cruz dominated the bout, and had the light-punching 'cagey boxer' backing away and fighting
defensively all night.

Antonio Herrera did display some effective offense in Rounds 1, 5 and 6, but in the majority of the
Rounds, the Colombian was forced to use his tight-defense to stay away from the hard-punching
Venezuelan.

Cruz won '7' of the Rounds, Antonio Herrera earned '1' Round, and with '2' Even, as Cruz Marcano
won an easy and convincing 10-Round Decision.
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* March 14, 1969 ......... vs. Francisco Bolivar

Francisco Bolivar, a 10-Year Venezuelan veteran. Francisco {Age 28 years, 10 months} brings in a
record of 47-7-1 with {25 KO's}.

Francisco is a 'tough veteran boxer', and is by no way an easy mark.

The Result .......... Cruz Marcano {W Dec 10} over Francisco Bolivar

News Reports stated >

Cruz Marcano was given a tough opponent in veteran Franciso Bolivar. The 'veteran' was not
intimidated by the young Marcano's vaunted punching-power, and Francisco smartly stayed
in close, and did not allow Cruz the room to wail away.

But, it was Cruz Marcano who did display the harder punching, as Franciso could not match
the younger fighters strength especially during the middle-Rounds.

Cruz turned a 'close bout' in his favor during Rounds 6, 7 and 8 > as he was doing all of
the effective punching.

The Scorecards >
* 97-95 {5-3-2 in Rounds} > Cruz Marcano
* 97-94 {6-3-1 in Rounds} > Cruz Marcano
* 97-95 {5-3-2 in Rounds} > Cruz Marcano

[Bill Paxtom]

April 1969

~ Sport Grafico ~

Articles about >
* Pedro Gomez {Venezuelan Featherweight}
* Mickey Mantle {New York Yankees Baseball Player}
* Cruz Marcano {Venezuelan Featherweight}

The article on Cruz Marcano >

Discusses the vaunted punching-power of 'El Loco', and his Trainer - Ely Montes.

Also, mentioned Cruz Marcano's upcoming bout with #2 Mexican Featherweight
Aurelio Muniz, set for April 19th in Mexico City, Mexico.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ April 19, 1969

Arena Coliseo ~ Mexico City, Mexico

{#7 WBA} - Cruz Marcano ~ 20-0-2 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 127 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 1 month}
vs.
{#6 WBC} - Aurelio Muniz ~ 34-2-1 {17 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 127 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 7 months}
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Cruz Marcano, is having his '1st-Bout' outside of Venezuela. The 23 year-old 'bomber' has now
moved up to the #7 WBA Featherweight, as well as #7 Ring Magazine

Aurelio Muniz is an excellent boxer/puncher from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Aurelio also was the
Mexican Featherweight Champion from > August 4, 1967 thru October 20, 1967.

Aurelio is Managed by George Hughes, who thinks that his fighter has the 'right style' to
handle Cruz Marcano.

Besides '1' early career loss, the only other fighter to defeat Aurelio was World-Rated
Vicente Garcia for the Mexican Featherweight Championship.

Aurelio is ranked as the #6 WBC Featherweight, and is ranked at #6 Ring Magazine.
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~ Cruz Marcano Smooth In Mexico, Decisions Aurelio Muniz ~

Cruz Marcano fighting in front of a partisan Mexico City crowd, scored an impressive 10-Round
Decision over 'tough' Aurelio Muniz in a 10-Round Featherweight bout.

The 'highly-touted' Venezuelan got off to a fast start, as he used a variety of 'lefts-and-rights' to
keep the hard-charging Mexican off of him during the first-half of the bout.

Marcano also exhibited a 'tight-defense' and solid chin, as he was not affected by Muniz' hard hooks
to the head during Rounds 6 and 7.

Marcano put the 'icing-on-the-cake' in Round 8, when he caught Muniz with a volley of head-blows,
dropping the Mexican for a '3-Count'.

The 'tough-and durable' Mexican fought back hard after the Knockdown, and presented himself well
over the last 2-Rounds as well.

Scorecards
* 97-94 > {5-3-2 in Rounds} = Cruz Marcano
* 97-93 > {6-3-1 in Rounds} = Cruz Marcano
* 96-93 > {6-4-0 in Rounds} = Cruz Marcano






'

[Bill Paxtom]

May 8, 1969

~ Ring Magazine Ratings ~

*** Johnny Famechon ... {WBC Champion}
#1 . Shozo Saijo ........... {WBA Champion}
#2 . Jose Legra
#3 . Dwight Hawkins
#4 . Cruz Marcano
#5 . Fighting Harada
#6 . Jose Jiminez
#7 . Felipe Torres
#8 . Fernando Sotelo
#9 . Howard Winstone
#10. Raul Rojas
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May 22, 1969

Manager/Promoter - Ramiro Machado discussing his fighter- Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano >

We were nervous taking Cruz to Mexico City on April 19th. We were fighting in front of a partisan crowd
of 10,000 Mexicans.

That kid {Aurelio Muniz} was a tough Featherweight, and he was ranked {1} notch above us at #6 Ring Magazine.
We had to take the fight, if we wanted to move up in the World Ratings

I just told the 'Promoters' in Mexico that I wanted a 'fair scoring' of the bout, and nothing less. Otherwise I
would never bring back another Venezuelan fighter there, ever.

Well, Cruz fought a great fight, and we got a 'fair' officials scoring of the bout. I told Cruz to fight 'El Loco'
over the first 5-Rounds to build up a points lead, and to take the Mexican crowd out of the fight. And, he
did just that, as Cruz won the first 5-Rounds.

From that point on, he fought 'cagey smart', and even dropped him {Aurelio Muniz} in Round 8. He then
fought defensively over the last 2-Rounds, but Cruz still won by a comfortable-margin.

[Bill Paxtom]

June 6, 1969

Nuevo Circo ~ Caracas, Venezuela

{#4} - Cruz Marcano ~ 21-0-2 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 129 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 3 months}
vs.
{#14} - Bobby Valdez ~ 22-7-4 {8 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 129 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 6 months}
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Cruz Marcano has now moved up to the #4 World Ranked Featherweight. A win here,
and Cruz has a date set for him in Los Angeles for August.

Bobby Valdez, a stylish-boxer from San Diego, California. Only 5-Months ago, Bobby
was slotted as the #5 World-Ranked Featherweight.

But, back-to-back losses to {L TKO 6} Felipe Torres on January 13, 1969 - and a
{L Dec 10} to Godfrey Stevens on April 19, 1969 ~ has dropped the California Featherweight
down to the #14 Featherweight.
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~ Cruz Marcano Chases, Scores Decision Over 'Speedy' Bobby Valdez ~

Venezuelan - Cruz Marcano fighting in front off 8000 home-country supporters at the Nuevo Circo
chased all noght in trying to catch California Featherweight 'Speedy' Bobby Valdez.

After losing the 1st-Round, Marcano took control in Round 2 when he staggered Valdez with a
left-hook to the jaw, and had him wobbly. Marcano then literally chased the Californian around
the Ring, in attempt to unload his heavy-fists.

By the 5th Round, Marcano became frustrated, and threw his arms 'up-in-the-air', and yelled at his
American opponent > "C'mon, lets fight".

The fast, but light-hitting Valdez stayed on his wheels, and circled about on the outside, and away
from the Venezuelan.

Marcano spent most of the bout moving in, and trying to dish out combinations. But the Venezuelan
had to take what was available, and was only able to score with left-jabs, or an occasional wide-sweeping
hook.

Scorecards >
* 98-94 = {6-2-2 in Rounds} = Cruz Marcano
* 99-94 = {6-1-3 in Rounds} = Cruz Marcano
* 98-93 = {7-2-1 in Rounds} = Cruz Marcano

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ June 6, 1969

Nuevo Circo 'New Circus' ~ Caracas, Venezuela

#3 ~ Cruz Marcano - 22-0-2 {13 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 129 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 3 months}
vs.
{NR} ~ Pedro Rodriguez - 19-6-1 {9 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 130 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 1 month}
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~ The Skinny ~

Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano will take on another tough Mexican Featherweight. Cruz has won
'4-Straight' by 10-Round Decision, and there are 'rumblings' about his power {or lake there of}.

Pedro Rodriguez is a Los-Angeles based Featherweight. Pedro is a gritty 'club-fighter' who is
known for his durability and toughness. As, he has only been stopped {by cuts} once
in '26-Bouts' over a 5-Year career.

Pedro went 10-Rounds with WBA Featherweight Champion - Shozo Saijo only 2-Months earlier,
on April 14th.
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~ Cruz Marcano Remains Undefeated, Defeats Pedro Rodriguez ~

Cruz Marcano won an 'easy' and one-sided 10-Round Decision over a game but out-classed
Pedro Rodriguez of Los Angeles, California.

The 'talented' and World-Rated Venezuelan won the first 6-Rounds of the bout by scoring with
left-hooks and jolting right-hands into his tough but limited opponent.

With the bout well under control, 'El Loco' played to the crowd of { 8700 } in the Nuevo Circo
Arena, by dancing with his hands-up-in-the-air, and blowing kisses to the crowd over the last
4-Rounds, as his opponent was perplexed by the display.

Scorecards
* 99-94 > {6-1-3 in Rounds}
* 100-94 >{6-0-4 in Rounds}
* 99-93 > {7-1-2 in Rounds}

Cruz Marcano >
"I knew that I had the bout won after the 6th Round, so I decided to have a little fun by going
'El Loco' in he Ring."

"I was not trying to embarrass Pedro. I only wanted to entertain the spectators."