Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ November 20, 1971

Monumental Plaza de Toros 'Bull Ring' ~ Monterrey, Mexico

~ Antonio Gomez Gets Shaken Down In Monterrey, Mexico ~

Antonio Gomez, the WBA Feathwerweght Champion engaged in a 10-Round 'non-title'
bout with Mexican Featherweight - Raul Martinez Mora.

After 10-Rounds of > 'chasing, hitting and holding' > the little-known Mexican was awarded
a Unanimous 10-Round Decision by the '3' Scoring Officials.

While the Decision was announced, a 'stunned' corner of Antonio Gomez put their hands
to the sides of their heads in disbelief.

Even the 'Sell-Out' crowd of { 13,800 } who were sitting in the Plaza de Toros were 'shocked'
at the Decision.
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Antonio Gomez {130 lbs.} came in {+4 lbs.} over the featherweight limit, and appeared 'sluggish'
over the first 3-Rounds, as he pressed the ever-moving Raul Martinez Mora {128 1/4 lbs.}

The Mexican had his best early moments in Round 4, as he tagged the Venezuelan with several
chopping right-hand leads, and then 'grabbed-and-held', to prevent Gomez from following up with
a counter.

But Gomez used his vast-experience and strength to take the next 4-Rounds {5, 6, 7 and 8} by using
constant pressure and left-jabs with authority, to keep Mora on the outside-and-running.

In Round 9, Raul Martinez Mora was able to stall the Venezuelan by employing a tactic of >
* A double left-jab.
* Move in-close quickly.
* Then use his left-arm to grab Antonio's right-arm.
* Slam '2' right-hands into Antonio Gomez' left-side
* Then grab both of Gomez' arms.
* Wait for the Referee to call 'Break'
* Flee away fast, and run backwards.

Again in Round 10, the cagey 25 1/2 year-old Mexican used the same tactic as in Round 9, as
Antonio Gomez became frustrated with his opponents 'jab-and-stall' style.

At no time in the bout, was Antonio Gomez able to land his powerful right-cross on the 'cagey'
Mexican.

Scorecards
* 96-95 > {5-4-1 in Rounds} > Raul Martinez Mora
* 96-95 > {5-4-1 in Rounds} > Raul Martinez Mora
* 96-95 > {5-4-1 in Rounds} > Raul Martinez Mora

Fight Purses
* Antonio Gomez ....... { $15,000 } = {2015 Value = $78,000}
* Raul Martinez Mora .... { $2500 } = {2015 Value = $13,000}

[Bill Paxtom]

November 24, 1971

~ Antonio Gomez Still Upset With Scoring In Mexico ~

Antonio Gomez >

It was a 'bad' Decision by the Officials. He {Raul Martinez Mora} ran all night.
Each time that I moved in and threw a jab, he grabbed me {my left arm}, and
then hit me with a pitty-pat punch.

Then when the Referee called 'Break', he took off running like a Galloping Horse.
How does a Judge score a Round for a fighter like that.

All night he was throwing light left-jabs and running. Not once did he land a
good punch.

I am quite unhappy. I would say he 'stole the fight', as he spent the whole time
running and flicking out left-jabs while moving away from me.

Not once did I feel like a loser.

We watched the fight {Film} 3-Times, and we only scored 2-Rounds for Mora,
the 4th and the 10th.

I was doing all the work and made the fight. I easily won Rounds 5, 6, 7 and 8.

I will say, that the Mexican had a good defense, but he landed very few punches.

It was a 'surprise' Decision by the Mexican Officials. Everyone was shocked.

Every sports-writer at Ringside scored the bout for me. 'Ring Mundial' had it for
me by 3-Points {98-95}, that's 5-2-3 in Rounds.

And 'Gondel Publications' had it for me by a {98-96} score = 4-2-4 in Rounds.

I can agree with that.

[Bill Paxtom]

November 25, 1971

[I][/Ramiro Machado {Fight Promoter/Manager for Antonio GomezI]

That bout in Monterrey. An absolute embarrassment. That guy {Raul Martinez Mora}
ran all night.

The Promoter {Enrique Cessna} had promised me 'fair officials'. That was complete
'Bull Shit'.

It should have been ruled 'No Contest', as Mora did not come to fight, he came to hold
and run.

He's not a bad fighter, because he had '33' wins somewhere. {A record of 33-4-0}. He
had some skills, as he had an 'extraordinary-technique' of holding-and-hitting. But he
wouldn't exchange with Antonio, and he ran all night.

A fight is scored by who lands the effective 'punches', not by 'running'.

I wont say that the '3' Officials were corrupt, but I completely and 100% disagree with the
scoring and Decision. That kid didn't win '5' Rounds. The Judges all carded the same
Scorecard. I find that 'odd'.

The next time we fight Raul Martinez Mora, we should go to a 'Racetrack'.

[Bill Paxtom]

November 26, 1971 {UPI}

~ Promoter Warns Of WBC's Fate ~

Venezuelan - Ramiro Machado Says That ,The WBC Is Digging Its Own Grave. ~

Venezuelan Boxing Promoter - Ramiro Machado warned today that the World Boxing Council
may be 'digging-its-own-grave'.

With the recent series of WBC-sanctioned bouts, many of the Decisions have been 'highly
controversial' in many of the big bouts.

Ramiro Machado >
"The WBC is on its way out. The Mexico City based Boxing Council has been filled with
corruption. And it will soon disappear."

Ramiro Machado's own fighter {WBA Champion - Antonio Gomez} lost a 'disputed' last Saturday
{November 20th} in Monterrey, Mexico > and with numerous WBC Officials in attendance.

Ramiro Machado >
"The WBC is digging its own grave, and if it continues through its lack-of-seriousness and organization
it will die in Mexico City."

"They conceal absurd Decisions, have outright robberies in bouts with World Titles at stake, and also
have hidden Ratings."

"I can understand a 'local Decision' can take place in some bouts, as it happens all over the World.
But if you look closely, you will notice that all of them have been bouts that were 'sponsored' by
the WBC."

"Take a look at the bout between the WBC Champion - Pedro Carrasco and Challenger - Mando Ramos
in Madrid, Spain on November 5th. An outright 'robbery' of the tallest order. That bout is the 'negation'
of boxing."

[Bill Paxtom]

December 1971

~ WBA Ratings ~

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

On November 7, 1971 >

Ramiro Machado signed up Antonio Gomez to defend his WBA Featherweight Championship
against the Spain-based Cuban - Jose Legra who was ranked at #4 WBA.

The bout was set for Saturday Night ~ December 11, 1971 > and at the Nuevo Circo in Caracas, Venezuela.

Antonio Gomez was to recieve a Fight Purse of { $50,000 } and according to Oswaldo Sanchez
{Manager for Jose Legra}, his fighter was to receive { $10,000 } plus the 'ancillary rights' to
all of Europe, and the Caribbean Islands.

[Bill Paxtom]

December 1, 1971

~ Jose Legra Has A Bout With Influenza, Forced To Withdraw From WBA Title Bout ~

Manager - Oswaldo Sanchez stated the his fighter has been battling the 'Flu Bug' since early November.
And that over the past month, they were hoping that the Cuban-born boxer would 'shake' the lingering
Flu.

Jose Legra was set to challenge WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez on Saturday Night,
December 11th in Caracas, Venezuela.

Oswaldo Sanchez has asked for a 4-Week postponement, until mid-January 1972.

Oswaldo Sanchez >
"I know that Mr. Ramiro Machado wanted this bout to go on in Caracas, Venezuela. But for me to put my
weakened fighter {Jose Legra} in the Ring with a powerful Champion like Antonio Gomez is just not
'a smart decision'.

Jose Legra, a 27 1/2 year-old Cuban-born boxer, has lived in Barcelona, Spain since October 1963.

Jose is also the former WBC Featherweight Champion from {July 24, 1968 -thru- January 21, 1969}. Currently,
Legra is the European Featherweight Champion, and has held that Title for 18-Months, since June 26, 1970.

The Cuban is a 'brilliant' boxer and 'masterful' Ring Technician, who has an incredible record of
123-8-4 with {48 KO's} over an 11-year span.

Legra is ranked as a Featherweight at; #4 WBA and #7 WBC.

[Bill Paxtom]

December 3, 1971

~ Mexican Promoter Offers Antonio Gomez $60,000 To Defend His WBA Championship On Christmas Day ~

Mexican Fight Promoter - Enrique Cessna, after hearing that the Antonio Gomez vs. Jose Legra WBA Championship
bout for December 11th has been cancelled, immediately made a move.

Enrique Cessna has offered the WBA Featherweight Champion { $60,000 } to defend his Title against hard-punching
Mexican Knockout-Artist - Clemente Sanchez.

The promoter wants the bout to be held in the early Evening {8:00 PM} on 'Christmas Day' December 25th, in either
Monterrey {Nuveo Leon} or Tijuana.

Clemente Sanchez {Age; 24 years, 4 months} is from Monterrey, Mexico. Clemente is considered the 'hardest'
right-hand puncher in the Featherweight Division, with his record of 37-7-3 with {30 KO's}.

Currently, Clemente is ranked at #3 WBC and #5 WBA.

Since May 1968 {3 1/2 years}, Clemente has gone 24-1-1 with {23 KO's}. In his most recent outing, Clemente
scored a {TKO 8} over #7 World-Rated - Tahar Ben Hassen in a WBC Elimination bout on November 20th.

That night {November 20th} on the same 'Fight Card' - Antonio Gomez was 'upset' by Raul Martinez Mora by
a disputed and 'highly-controversial' 10-Round Decision.
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December 4, 1971

~ Ramiro Machado Not Interested In High-Price Offer ~

Ramiro Machado >
"I'm not brining my fighter {Antonio Gomez} to Mexico for any offer. Even one for { $60,000 }. Not after what
happened to us 2-Weeks ago in Monterrey."

"That was a horrible Decision against Antonio. They're not going to steal our WBA Championship from us.
Antonio had worked too hard, and waited too long to get it. They can keep their { $60,000 }."