Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ February 5, 1972

Maestranza 'Cesar Giron Bull Ring' ~ Maracay, Venezuela

~WBA Featherweight Championship ~

Attendance ..... { 12,000 } 'Sell-Out'

'WBA Champion' - Antonio Gomez - 37-3-0 {18 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 125 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 4 months}
vs.
#10 WBA - Raul Martinez Mora - 34-4-0 {17 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 124 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 25 years, 11 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Antonio Gomez Retains Crown By KO In 7th ~

WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez made the '1st' Title defense of his crown, and scored a
Knockout over 'pesky' Challenger - Raul Martinez Mora at {1:34} of Round 7.

Fighting in front of over { 12,000 } Venezuelans in Maracay {approximately 120 Miles away from Caracas},
the Champion bombarded his Challenger in Round 7.

The bout started off quietly, as neither fighter made an aggressive move during the first 2-Rounds, as each
feinted, and parried each others left-jabs.

But in Round 3 there was an explosion, as the Champion came out very aggressively and started bombing away,
as he sent the 'defensive stylist' Mora reeling to the Ropes.

Just past the {1:40 Mark}, the Champion caught the Mexican with a 'left-uppercut' and 'right-cross' to the chin,
dropping him to his knee's for a '4-Count'. But the gritty Challenger was up and came back swinging.

But again the Champion had too much power, and dropped Mora again at the {2:28 Mark} with a right-hook
to the chin. Still the Challenger got up at the '5-Count', and Referee - Luis Salbaran allowed the bout to continue.

In Round 4, the Champion came out looking to finish it, as the { 12,000 ] fans inside the 'Bull Ring' cheered
for their Hero to end it. But the 'cagey' Challenger got on the 'fast lane', and Mora 'circled-and-moved' while
staying outside and away from the powerful-swinging Champion while using a tight-defense.

In Round 5, the Mexican again stayed on the outside and used his 'tight-defense' to avoid the Champion's
heavy-hands. But very late in the Round, the Challenger got 'brazen' and actually traded with the Champion
at Center-Ring, and held his own throughout the last 30-Seconds of the session.

Again in Round 6, Mora decided to fight-back, rather than to jab-and-run. Again, The Challenger held his own
with the harder-hitting Venezuelan, as each traded good punches.

In Round 7, again the fighters 'stood-and-traded', as the action was 'fairly-even' over the first 1:00.

Just past the {1:00 Mark}, both fighters went 'toe-to-toe' at Center-Ring, then suddenly Raul Martinez Mora stopped
punching, and moved back to the Ropes after an 'interesting' exchange of blows.

The Champion then stepped in, and sent in some 'heavy-blows' on the Challenger, then came in with a 'tremendous'
right-hand into the 'belly' of the Challenger.

Raul Martinez Mora went down on his side, and stayed there as he was counted out at {1:34} of Round 7
by Referee - Luis Salbaran.

[Bill Paxtom]

February 5, 1972

~ WBA Featherweight Championship ~

~ Champion - Antonio Gomez Retains Title By {KO 7} Over Challenger - Raul Martinez Mora ~

{Associated Press}
Antonio Gomez barreled over Raul Martinez Mora in Round 7, and ended the bout by smashing
a tremendous right-hand in to the Challenger's mid-section, flooring him for the count.

Despite the Champion's superiority, Raul Martinez Mora showed great courage after receiving
some heavy-blows in the bout.

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~ After Bout Comments ~

Antonio Gomez >
"It was a very emotional boxing match for me. People have been questioning my ability, by
stating that I was 'overrated'.

"Several of the Mexican Publications were writing that I was afraid to fight any of the
top Mexican Featherweights {ie; Clemente Sanchez, Vicente Saldivar and Enrique Garcia}."

"Well, I was given a 'bad decision' in Monterrey last year {November 20, 1971}, and I am
not sure if I will ever go back to Mexico for a bout, even a 'non-title' bout."

"That being said, Raul Martinez Mora is a great boxer. He takes a good punch, and he has
a very difficult style. He is always moving, and never presents an opening. Tonight, I was
just too sharp for him."

Raul Martinez Mora >
"Antonio is great Champion. He punched too hard for me tonight."

"I was coming back and doing well in Round 7, but he caught me with a right-hand that 'stunned me'
at Center-Ring. I had to back up to the Ropes to clear my head, but he was right on top of me."

"That right-hand to my mid-section took 'all-the-wind' out of me. I could not move when I went
down."

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Some Photo's ~

Antonio Gomez 'El Leon de Cumana'

Below {September 2, 1971 ~ Tokyo, Japan}

Antonio Gomez sends WBA Champion - Shozo Saijo down to the canvas at {1:28 Mark} of Round 5.
It was the first of '3' knockdowns in this Round, which was later stopped by way of the '3 Knockdown Rule'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ June 17, 1972

Maestranza 'Cesar Giron Bull Ring' ~ Maracay, Venezuela

'Non-Title Bout'

* Antonio Gomez - 38-3-0 {19 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 129 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 9 months}
vs.
* Enrique Garcia - 31-6-1 {19 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 128 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 1 month}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

WBA Featherweight Champion - Antonio Gomez {Venezuela} takes a 10-Round 'non-title'
bout to stay sharp.

Antonio last fought back on February 5, 1972 {4 1/2 months ago}, and Co-Manager
Willie Ketchum wants his fighter back in the Ring.

His opponent, is 'tough-nosed' Mexican Featherweight - Enrique 'Negro' Garcia.

Enrique is managed by; Lupe Sanchez. The {6 1/2 year} Professional has won '5-Straight'
and is World-ranked as the #17 WBC Featherweight.

Both Antonio Gomez and Enrique Garcia were supposed to face each 2-Years earlier, back
in May 1970, at the 'Olympic Auditorium' in Los Angeles, California. But Enrique pulled
out of that bout.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Antonio Gomez Sails By Enrique Garcia In 'Non-Title' Go In Maracay, Venezuela ~

WBA Champion - Antonio Gomez fighting in a 'non-title' bout in front of { 9200 } fans scored a
'workman-like' 10-Round Decision over a tough but limited opponent in Mexican Featherweight
Enrique Garcia.

Gomez {129 1 /4 lbs.} looked a bit heavy, and was not as quick as he normally is. Instead, the
Venezuelan used his 'strength-and-power' to man-handle his opponent throughout the bout.

The WBA Champion had Garcia a bit 'wobbly' in Rounds 6 and 9 > but was unable to floor
the 'tough-nosed' Mexican.

The Mexican was a 'game fighter' who had an excellent defense. But Enrique Garcia {128 lbs.}
displayed very little quality boxing.

Besides being a bit heavy, Antonio Gomez was somewhat 'vague' in his attack, and was not able
to deliver his vaunted right-cross with any regularity.

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

[Bill Paxtom]

June 22, 1972

~ WBA Champion - Antonio Gomez To Defend Title Against Panamanian - Ernesto Marcel ~

The 'highly-anticipated' 15-Round bout is slated for August 6th, and to be held in Maracay, Venezuela.

~ WBA Ratings ~

*** Antionio Gomez
#1 . Ernesto Marcel
#2 . Eder Jofre
#3 . Clemente Sanchez > {WBC Champion}
#4 . Vicente Saldivar
#5 . Kuniaki Shibata
#6 . Tahar Ben Hassen
#7 . Jose Legra
#8 . Danny Lopez
#9 . Bert Nabalatan
#10. Jose Luis Del Campo
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June 30, 1972

It was released today that the WBA Featherweight Championship bout between Champion -
Antonio Gomez and Challenger - Ernesto Marcel has been re-scheduled from August 6th
to August 19th.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ August 19, 1972

Maestranza 'Cesar Giron Bull Ring' ~ Maracay, Venezuela

~ WBA Featherweight Championship ~

Attendance ..... { 12,650 } 'Sell-Out'

* WBA Champion ~ Antonio Gomez - 39-3-0 {19 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ Reach; 68" ~ 123 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 11 months}
vs.
#1 WBA-Ranked ~ Ernesto Marcel - 33-3-2 {20 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ Reach; 68" ~ 124 3/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 3 months}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

This bout will be Antonio's '2nd' Title Defense, since winning the WBA Championship on September 2, 1971.

Antonio has been experiencing problems with his quadrilaterals and lower-back, and has been taking it easy
in sparring-sessions.

The 'word' is, that Antonio has been sliding, and that he is no longer the quick-puncher that he once was.

The early Betting-Line had favored Antonio at {5-3}, but the odds have 'dropped', and now it is an 'Even Money'
bout.

Antonio Gomez >
"I will win by a Knockout by Round 12. He is fast, but eventually I will catch the Panamanian. My right-hand
is still the best punch in the division."

"He is very quick, but he can be hit."

"I have been experiencing pains in my legs {quadrilaterals}, and in my lower-back. I 've had to take it easy for a
few days. But I will ready the 'day of the fight'. It will get better, as it is something that I have experienced before.
I am used to it."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Ernesto Marcel wil be challenging for a World Title for a 2nd time. Back on November 11, 1971 > Ernesto travelled
to Japan to take on WBC Champion - Kuniaki Shibata.

In that bout, which was one of the 'Best' ever at Featherweight, Ernesto gave the Champion a battering thru
12-Rounds. But Shibata put forth an amazing late-rally to 'save' his Championship by a 'Draw'. But many
Sportswriters had Ernesto winning, and the Decision was 'justly disputed'.

'Ring Magazine' has listed Ernesto Marcel as the #1 Featherweight, ahead of Champion - Antonio Gomez
who has 'slipped' to #4 despite being the WBA Champion.

[Bill Paxtom]

August 19, 1972

~ WBA Featherweight Championship ~

Antonio Gomez vs. Ernesto Marcel
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Challenger - Ernesto Marcel

Ernesto 'Nato' Marcel is a talented boxer, with the quickest-hands and feet in boxing.
The Panamanian {Age; 24 years, 4 months} is at his peak physically, and is a superior
boxer and Ring General.

A Professional for {6 years, 4 months} since April 1966, the young Panamanian is well
experienced in '38-Bouts.'

Ernesto is a 'punches-in-bunches' machine, and seems to have immense amounts of
non-stop energy.

Since fighting to a 'controversial' Draw 15 with WBC Champion - Kuniaki Shibata on
November 11, 1971 > Ernesto has scored back-to-back 'blistering' 1st-Round Knockouts
over quality opponents.

* June 10, 1972 ...... {KO 1} over Jose Luis Lopez
* February 5, 1972 .. {KO 1} over Jose Smecca

Ernesto has also been called the 'Venezuelan Smasher', as he has defeated '4' quality Venezuelan
opponents in hs career, including former WBA Super-Featherweight Champion - Alfredo Marcano
'twice' earlier in his career, back on October 31, 1970 and again on May 4, 1971.

Ernesto 'Nato' Marcel >
"I will win by a clear victory, maybe by Knockout, if it comes. I do not pick the Round, as I am
not Cassius Clay."

"I have put in 100 Rounds of sparring in 4-weeks. I am in 'perfect' physical condition."

"I know what I have to do to win. Constant pressure and movement. You cannot stand in front
of Antonio and let him get set. He has problems with boxers who move, as his footwork is not
his strong suit."