Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 }."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ December 10, 1971

Nuevo Circo ~ Caracas, Venezuela

10-Round 'non-title' Bout

* Antonio Gomez ~ 36-3-0 {18 KO"s} ~ 5' 6" ~ 128 3/4 lbs. ~ Reach; 67" ~ {Age; 26 years, 3 months}
vs.
* Esteban Dejesus ~ 26-0-0 {18 KO's} ~ 5' 4 1/2" ~ 130 1/2 lbs. ~ Reach; 67" ~ {Age; 20 years, 4 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Antonio Gomez, who had a scheduled bout with Jose Legra for the WBA Championship on December 11th
{which was postponed} wants to get into the Ring.

Antonio last fought 3-Weeks earlier{November 20th} in Monterrey, Mexico -> where he lost a 'highly controversial'
10-Round Decision {non-title bout} to 'unranked' Mexican - Raul Martinez Mora.

Antonio has been in the Gym for '18' consecutive days, and he is in near 'perfect shape'.

Antonio, who was supposed to get a Fight Purse of { $50,000 } for his Title Defense against Jose Legra, is to
get { $25,000 } from the' Santa Teresa Promotions' to keep this 'Fight Date' going.

Antonio Gomez >
"I'm in great shape, and I want to honor my end of the earlier signed 'fight contract'. This kid {Esteban Dejesus}
is very good, as I have sparred with him at least a 'dozen times' over the past 2-Months"

"This will be a great bout, and the Venezuelan fans will be in for an exciting night."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Esteban DeJesus ~

Estabam {Age; 20 years, 4 months} is a fast-rising boxer. Esteban is 'undefeated' with a record of 26-0-0 {18 KO's},
and is also the Puerto Rican Lightweight Champion.

In the World Rankings, Estaban is ranked as the #10 Super-Featherweight, and is trained by Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez

For the 'kicker'

Estaban left Puerto Rico for Venezuala in late-September 1971, and has been in Caracas for 2 1/2 months. During
that time, Esteban has had '3-Bouts', and has won all of them impressively, including defeating the 'talented'
Leonel Hernandez on October 6th by a well-fought 10-Round Decision.

Estaban last fought 6-Week ago {October 30th in Caracas}, and he was supposed to fight on the 'undercard' of
the Antonio Gomez - Jose Legra Championship bout.

So, Estaban is in shape at {130 1/2 lbs.}.

Esteban DeJesus >
"I was preparing for bout for this date anyway. So I'm ready. This will be a very difficult challenge, but I cannot
pass up the opportunity, both financially and for name recognition."

"If I win, I have been promised a World Championship bout for the {130 lb. ~ Super-Featherweight Title} against
WBA Champion ~ Alfredo Marcano {Venezuela} here in February 1972.

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ December 10, 1971

Nuevo Circo ~ Caracas, Venezuela

~ Antonio Gomez Edges Puerto Rican Champ In 'Non-Title' Bout ~

~ Controversial Decision Goes Against Puerto Rican ~

WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez edged out a controversial Decision
Decision over a 'pesky-and-frisky' Esteban Dejesus of Puerto Rico in a 10-Round
'non-title' bout in Caracas, Venezuela.

Fighting before a hometown crowd of { 8700 } at the Nuevo Circo, the hometown hero
rallied over the last 2-Rounds to win a 'close' 10-Round Decision.

The bout was not smooth sailing for Gomez {128 3/4 lbs.} over the first 4-Rounds, as
the 20 year-old DeJesus {131 lbs.} outworked the Champion with a busy attack of
left-hooks and straight right-hands.

But the patient Champion used his experience to put constant-pressure on the Puerto Rican
Lightweight Champion during the later-Rounds. Gomez used heavy left-jabs, and added
'left-and-right' hooks to the body, in an effort to slow the 'fast-and-quick' youngster down.

But the shorter Puerto Rican would not back down, and came back with a solid offense time
and again, as he landed his hard left-hook to Gomez' head several times, and rocked the
Champion's head several times throughout the bout.

But Gomez rallied back in Round 9, and 'jarred' DeJesus with a hard counter right-cross to the
jaw, as the punch went over the Puerto Rican's low left-hand and into his 'chin' at the {2:10 Mark}.

DeJesus was in some trouble late in the Round as Gomez unleashed with a 'barrage', but the
younger fighter worked his way out of danger by moving-and-backing away until the Bell.

With the bout on the line, Gomez proved to be 'stronger' during the 10th Round, as the 20 year-old
visitor faded, and was not as busy as he was during the first 7-Rounds of the bout.

Scorecards
* 97-96 = {4-3-3 in Rounds} > Antonio Gomez
* 98-97 = {3-2-5 in Rounds} > Antonio Gomez
* 97-96 = {4-3-3 in Rounds} > Antonio Gomez
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ After Bout Comments ~

Antonio Gomez >
"I knew that it was going to be a tough fight, and it was. Esteban is a very, very good fighter. He gave
me a good tussle tonight. With a little more experience he will become a great fighter, and a World Champion."

Esteban Dejesus >
"I was doing great, until he caught me with that right-hand in Round 9. I didn't know where I was for the
last 2-Rounds. But I still thought that I had won. I carried the fight for the first 7-Rounds."

"He {Antonio Gomez} is very smart, and very strong. I will chalk this up as a learning experience. It will only
make me a more complete fighter down the road."

[Bill Paxtom]

January 6, 1972

~ Antonio Gomez and Raul Martinez Mora Sign For Rematch ~

WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez of Venezuela will make his 1st Title Defense
against Mexico's - Rail Martinez Mora.

The bout has been set for February 12th, in Maracay, Venezuela

Gomez fought and lost a 'disputed' 10-Round Decision to Mora on November 20, 1971 in
Monterrey, Mexico.

It was a 'non-title' bout, and the fight card was sponsored by the WBC. The 'controversy'
was in that Raul Martinez Mora 'ran all night' and was awarded the 10-Round Decision.

Yet, all '8' journalists at Ringside, and '3' Mexican Newspapers all called the bout for
Antonio Gomez.

Raul Martinez Mora, who was 'unranked' before that bout, is now ranked as the #10 WBA
Featherweight, and also #10 WBC Featherweight.

The little known Featherweight from Mexico City is now Mexico's newest 'boxing sensation'
following that 'upset win'.

The Mexican {Age 25 years, 11 months} has a record of 34-4-0 with {17 KO's}, and is known as 'The Spoiler'.

The WBA Champion - Antonio Gomez {Age; 26 years, 5 months} has a record of 37-3-0 {18 KO's].

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ January 22, 1972

~ WBA Featherweight Championship Bout Moved Up To February 5th in Maracay, Venezuela ~

The WBA Featherweight Championship bout between Champion - Antonio Gomez and
#10 WBA-ranked Challenger - Raul Martinez Mora has been moved up 1-Week to
Saturday - February 5th, from the original date of February 12th.

Venezuelan Promoter - Ramiro Machado stated that the bout had to be moved up, as to not
coincide with the Circus Festival being held that week in Maracay.

Raul Martinez Mora >
"I had to take 10-Days off because of Military Service {Raul Martinez Mora is Platoon Leader in
the Mexican Military}.

"I was out from January 12th -thru- January 22nd. But that is fine with me, because I always
stay in shape. I would have preferred to have those 10-Days in the Gym, but this is what happens
in Boxing when you are challenging for a World Title."

"Now they moved the bout up 7-Days, and I lose 10-Days from the Gym because of my
Military commitment."

"I will resume my training today, and plan to travel to Maracay later this week."

Antonio Gomez>
"It has been moved up 7-Days. That is all-right with me, as I have been in the Gym
since January 5th."

"I'm in much better condition now, than when I fought Raul Martinez Mora 2-Months
ago {November 20th}.