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

[Bill Paxtom]

February 26, 1970

Fight Promoter - Ramiro Machado

Discussing his fighter {Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano} and his recent loss to Guillermo 'Memo' Morales.

"It was just one of those nights. Cruz was fighting well for {2 1/2 Rounds}, and then he just
lost his strength for no reason.

He really labored in Rounds 4, 5 and 6. I believe he may have had 'the bug' while getting
prepared for this bout.

He was 'listless' for the whole 2nd-half of the bout, except for Round 7.

We have no other choice, but for Cruz to rest up for 6-Weeks, then we'll try to bring 'Memo' Morales
back in for a rematch.

I've already talked to his Manager - Edwin Inca Valero. Of course we will up the Mexican's
fight purse to { $3500 } this time, because a rematch will draw more interest.

[Bill Paxtom]

March 5, 1970

Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano

The loss to Guillermo 'Memo' Morales dropped Cruz Marcano from the #2 WBA Featherweight
down to #5 WBA.

Now with a record of 24-1-3 > 'El Loco' had fallen from the 'unbeaten' Ranks.

The 'loss' also pushed the 'talented' Venezuelan out of a potential WBA Featherweight
Championship bout with Japan's Shozo Saijo {which was being discussed}.

The 23 1/2 year-old Venezuelan was told by his Trainer - Hely Montes to 're-group',
and to rest his 'problematic' right-hand for 2-Months.


~ WBA Featherweight Rankings ~

*** Shozo Saijo
#1 . Johnny Famechon > {WBC Champion}
#2 . Vicente Saldivar
#3 . Jose Legra
#4 . Antonio Gomez
#5 . Cruz Marcano
#6 . Godfrey Stevens
#7 . Frankie Crawford
#8 . Eder Jofre
#9 . Jimmy Revie
#10. Guillermo 'Memo' Morales

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ May 8, 1970

Nuevo Circo 'New Circus' ~ Caracas, Venezuela

* Cruz Marcano - 24-1-3 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 127 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 2 months}
vs.
* Luis Ramirez - 37-12-3 {21 KO's} ~ 5' 5 1/2" ~ 129 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 6 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Cruz Marcano is taking his '1st-Bout' since getting upset by 'Memo' Morales on February 20th.

Cruz is also planning for a 'rematch' with 'Memo' Morales for late-June 1970, after he defeats
the veteran Luis Ramirez.

Luis 'El Estudiante' Ramirez is an 11-Year veteran from Torreon, Mexico. Luis is hard-punching
fighter, but he has seen better days, as he has gone {2-5-0} in his last '7' bouts since October 1968.

Luis plans to retire this year, no matter what his results are.

As a side-note > Luis holds a win {W Dec 10} over 'Memo' Morales 1-year earlier, back
on March 31, 1969
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Cruz Marcano Hammers Mexico's Ramirez, Wins One-Sided Decision ~

Venezuelan - Cruz Marcano, the #5 World-rated Featherweight hammered veteran Mexican -
Luis Ramirez for 10-Rounds in Caracas, Venezuela.

Marcano, also known as 'El Loco', used a steady assortment of left-jabs, and fast 'one-two'
combinations to the head of the slower-moving Ramirez.

Marcano was in control from the out-set, and floored the 27 1/2 year-old veteran with a
left-hook, and 'double' right-hand to the head in Round 7.

The Venezuelan displayed fine technique and quick-hands throughout the 10-Round bout.

Luis Ramirez showed heart-and-courage in taking a one-sided pounding, as well as fighting
back after suffering a Knockdown in Round 7.

Scorecards
* 100-92
* 99-91
* 100-90

[Bill Paxtom]

June 24, 1970

~ Ring Magazine Featherweight Ratings ~

*** Vicente Saldivar > {WBC Champion}
#1 . Shozo Saijo > {WBA Champion}
#2 . Antonio Gomez
#3 . Raul Cruz
#4 . Kuniaki Shibata
#5 . Cruz Marcano
#6 . Jose Luis Pimentel
#7 . Jose Legra
#8 . Eder Jofre
#9 . Fernando Sotello
#10. Tomasso Galli

Venezuelan Fight Promoter - Ramiro Machado was 'negotiating' to set up a
WBA Championship bout between Shozo Saijo and either one of his Venezuelan
Featherweights in > Antonio Gomez or Cruz Marcano.

He was also working on the possibility, of getting Cruz Marcano a challenge at
WBA Super-Featherweight Champion - Hiroshi Kobayashi.

Cruz {Age; 24 years, 3 months} was more than willing to move up to 130 lbs.,
if he could get a Championship bout.

Ramiro Machado >

I have '3' of my fighters angling for a World Championship. > Antonio Gomez,
Cruz Marcano and Alfredo Marcano. Unfortunately for them, they all are competing
at the same weight . One of them will have to move up to {130 lbs.}, as there just
isn't enough World Title's to go around.

[Bill Paxtom]

July 2, 1970

~ WBA Featherweight Rankings ~

*** Shozo Saijo
#1 . Vicente Saldivar > {WBC Champion}
#2 . Frankie Crawford
#3 . Antonio Gomez
#4 . Kuniaki Shibata
#5 . Cruz Marcano

~ Featherweight Happenings ~

{#1} Vicente Saldivar captured the WBC Featherweight Championship on May 9th.

{#2} Frankie Crawford was challenging WBA Champion - Shozo Saijo on July 5th, and in Japan.

{#3} Antonio Gomez had signed a contract to challenge the winner of the Shozo Saijo vs. Frankie Crawford
WBA Championship Bout. With a tentative date set for November 1970, and at the 'Olympic Auditorium' in California.

{#4} Kuniaki Shibata was aiming to challenge Vicente Saldivar for the WBC Championship, with the bout tentatively
set for later this year {November}.

{#5} Cruz Marcano was the 'odd-man out'.

[Bill Paxtom]

August 1, 1970

Caracas, Venezuela

Venezuelan Fight Promoter - Ramiro Machado

Announced today that his fighter Cruz Marcano, the #5 WBA-ranked Featherweight will
be fighting later this month.

The promoter stated that Cruz will be fighting a 10-Round bout at the Nuevo Circo in
Caracas, against Mexico's - Guillermo 'Memo' Morales.

The Mexican Featherweight is the 'only' fighter to defeat the World-Rated - Cruz Marcano,
as he socred an 'upset' 10-Round Decision over Marcano on Febrary 20th, and in Caracas.

Ramiro Machado >

"This will be a bout of great interest. Mainly because, 'Memo' Morales has the style to give
'El Loco' Marcano a very difficult time in the Ring."

"Cruz wants this bout in the worst way. He needs to get revenge, before he challenges for
a World Championship."

[Bill Paxtom]

{AP} Sunday ~ August 23, 1970

~ Venezuelan Boxer Dies In Car Crash ~

Cruz Marcano, the #5 World-Rated Featherweight boxer was killed in a car crash late
Satruday Night {August 22nd}.

The accident occurred around 11:00 PM - Saturday Night on a Mountain Road {Route 9}
along the northern shore in the Region of Pocotos, which is approximately 200 Miles east
of Caracas.

Cruz Marcano was returning to his home in Cumana, Venezuela after spending a Week
training at the Saint Theresa Gym in Caracas.

Reports stated that a car coming in the opposite direction crossed the center-line, and
collided head-on with the car that Cruz Marcano was driving. A passenger was also in the
vehicle with Mr. Marcano, but there have been no reports on that person's condition.

Ramiro Machado {Boxing Promoter and Boxing Manager} >

It is a tragedy. Cruz was a great person, and a fantastic boxer. He had a joy for life,
and loved his family.

He wanted to become a World Champion, to make some good money and to take care
of his family, especially his mother. He wanted to buy her a new home over-looking the
Caribbean Sea in Cumana.

Cruz had been training in Caracas for the week {Monday thru Saturday}. He left here
about 6:00 PM for the 6-Hour drive back home to Cumana. He planned to stay in Cumana
for 4-Days, and was planning to return back to Caracas next Thursday to resume training.

Additional Report >

Cruz Marcano {Age; 24 years, 5 months} had only lost 'once' in 29-Bouts over a 4-Year
career, in compiling a record of 25-1-3.

His nickname was 'El Loco' {The Crazy One}, for his sometime crazy antics in the Ring,
as in yelling at his opponent asking to be hit, or dropping his hands to his side and offering
up his chin as a target.

Cruz was scheduled for a bout at the Nuevo Circo in Caracas for September 5th, against
the only fighter to ever defeat him - Guillermo 'Memo' Morales.

The Venezuelan Press had projected Cruz Marcano as a future World Champion for 1971.