Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ September 2, 1971

Metropolitan Gym ~ Tokyo, Japan

~ WBA Featherweight Championship ~

Attendance ...... { 5230 }

{**} - Shozo Saijo ~ 29-6-2 {8 KO's} ~ 5' 8" ~ 126 lbs.~ Reach; 70" ~ {Age; 24 years, 8 months}
vs.
{#1} - Antonio Gomez ~ 34-2-0 {16 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 125 lbs. ~ Reach; 67" ~ {Age; 26 years, 0 months}
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~ The Skinny I ~

Finally, after 6-Months of 'haggling' and 'negotiating', Shozo Saijo of Japan will defend his WBA Featherweight
Championship against #1 WBA contender, Antonio Gomez of Venezuela.

Shozo Saijo has been the WBA Champion since September 27, 1968 {2 years, 11 months}, and during that
span Shozo has made '5' successful Title Defenses.

Shozo's ride hasn't been an easy one, as the WBA had withdrawn recognition of his Crown due to the failure
to defend against Antonio Gomez, as he 'pulled-out' of no less than '3' previous scheduled Dates, set for;
November 1970 --- May 28, 1971 --- and August 12, 1971 {3-Weeks earlier}.
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~ The Skinny II ~

Antonio Gomez has been the 'Mandatory Challenger' since August 1970, has he has been patiently waiting for
this opportunity for 1-Year.

This bout will be a personal 'grudge-fight' for Antonio, as his older brother Pedro Gomez fought and 'lost' a
tough 15-Round Decision to Shozo Saijo {2 1/2 years earier} back on February 9, 1969.
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~ The Skinny III ~

Shozo Saijo last fought on July 1, 1971 > where he defeated {W Dec 10} Ray Vega, the same Mexican fighter
who was stopped by Antonio Gomez on Januray 10, 1971.

Shozo last defended his WBA Championship on February 28, 1971 > where he defeated {W Dec 15} the 'pesky'
Californian - Frankie Crawford in a rematch of their July 5, 1970 'Hell-Raising' bout.

The word going around, is that Shozo {with his tall-and-lanky frame} is having difficulty getting down to 126 lbs.,
as he was {131 lbs.} when he defeated Ray Vega on July 1st {2-Months ago}.

The Champion will receive a Fight Purse of { $55,000 }.

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~ The Skinny IV ~

Antonio Gomez arrived in Tokyo, Japan > on August 20th, so he has had 12-Days to get acclimated to the climate.

Antonio last fought on May 28, 1971 > where he scored a {TKO 1} over Vicente Garcia. Before that, he scored
a {KO 7} over Ray Vega on January 10, 1971. > So, in the last 7 1/2 Months, Antonio has gone less than a
'Full Round'.

The concern here, is that Antonio may be 'stale' and also may not have the 'timing' to reach the tall-and-lanky
Champion.

Antonio has accepted a { $15,000 } Fight Purse, plus '4' Round-Trip Airline Tickets > 'plus' the Venezuelan
Television rights, Radio broadcast rights, and an outside Referee.

On the 'betting-scene', Antonio has been installed as the {7-4} Betting-Favorite despite being the visiting
boxer.