Cruz Marcano ~ The Boxer that they called 'El Loco"

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ December 20, 1969

Nuevo Circo 'New Circus' ~ Caracas, Venezuela

~ Venezuela Featherweight Championship ~

* Pedro Gomez - 25-4-2 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 126 lbs. ~ {Age; 28 years, 0 months}
vs.
* Cruz Marcano - 23-0-3 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 125 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 6 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano > Is fighting for the '1st-time' in over 4-months, after his 'war' on
August 15th in 'The Fight of the Year' with Alfredo Marcano.

Cruz has been recovering from a fractured-bone in his right-hand.

While the 'unbeaten' South American has been labeled a can't miss Champion by the 'boxing experts',
there has been a concern over his 'power-loss' in 1969.

In '6-Bouts', Cruz has had to go the 'full-route' in each bout, and has not scored a Knockout,
and only has registered '2' Knockdowns in '60-Rounds'.

Cruz Marcano is rated as the #3 WBA Featherweight.
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Pedro Gomez > Is the older brother of Antonio Gomez. Pedro had been 'The Star' of Cumana
and Venezuela's 'Top' Featherweight in early-1969.

Also, Pedro had been the Venezuelan Featherweight Champion since February 1968.

The 4-Year Professional was the #1 WBA Featherweight in February 1969, and earned the challenge
for the WBA Featherweight Championship on February 9th against Japan's - Shozo Saijo in Tokyo, Japan.

In that bout, Pedro fell behind 'badly' after 10-Rounds, but put on a remarkable come-back over the
last 4-Rounds. But, Pedro came up just short and lost a 'tough' 15-Round Decision to the WBA Champion.

Since that loss on February 9th >

Pedro had lost 'back-to-back' bouts {L TKO 6} to Mexican - Vicente Garcia on 'May 1st', and a {L Dec 10}
to American - Richard Sue on 'August 1st'.

But on August 29th, Pedro 'reversed' the tables on Richard Sue, and won a {W Dec 10}.

Pedro is rated as the #11 WBA Featherweight.
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~ Cruz Marcano 'Captures' The Venezuelan Featherweight Championship, Defeats Pedro Gomez ~

'Unbeaten' Cruz Marcano made it '27-Straight' bouts without a loss, as he easily defeated Pedro Gomez to capture
the Venezuelan Featherweight Championship.

The 23 year-old Marcano used a 'steady' left-jab and 'crisp' right-hands in every Round, to bruise up the face of
the 28 year-old Champion.

Cruz Marcano, who is from Cumana, just like the Champion, was in control from the Opening Round, and out-sped
Pedro Gomez in every exchange, throughout the 12-Round bout.

El Nacionale' scored the bout {118-112} or {8-2-2} in Rounds for the 'new' Champion - Cruz Marcano.