Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday Night ~ September 2, 1971

Metropolitan Gym ~ Tokyo, Japan

WBA Featherweight Championship

Champion ~ Shozo Saijo
vs.
#1 WBA-ranked ~ Antonio Gomez

Pre-Fight Chatter >

Antonio Gomez >
"I will win by a Knockout. I'm going to 'Kayo' Shozo Saijo. My President {Rafael Caldera of Venezuela} just sent
me a 'telegram', stating the entire country of Venezuela will be pulling for me."

Shozo Saijo >
"I am fully confident, that I'll win. But I make no predictions on the way I'll win. I hear that he is saying that
he will win by a Knockout. Well, I'll exchange 'blows' toe-to-toe if he likes. Besides boxing, I can punch
hard just as well."