Antonio Gomez ~ "El Leon de Cumana"

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Antonio Gomez vs. Ernesto Marcel ~

Round 12 ..... Ernesto threw another high amount of {58} punches, and dominated the Round ....{10-9} > Ernesto Marcel
> Ernesto cruised over the first-half of the session.
> During the second-half of the session, it was all Ernesto, as he worked both the body and head.
> Antonio had a cut left-eye, swollen eye-lids, a bloody nose and bloody mouth.
> The Champion was getting 'thrashed' by the fast-handed Panamanian Challenger.

Round 13 ..... A near replay of Round 12, as Ernesto threw {63} punches, and was in complete command. ........ {10-9} > Ernesto Marcel
> Ernesto again laid-back over the first {1:00}.
> Ernesto took over at the {1:10 Mark}, and landed a steady-flow of 'Bee-Sting' punches.
> Ernesto 'peppered' the Champion with light {but quick} punches to the face.
> The Challenger also added in a good mixture of hooks to the mid-section and sides of the Champion.

Round 14 ..... Ernesto boxed smoothly, and still landed with {52} punches in another dominant Round ........ {10-9} > Ernesto Marcel
> Ernesto dances-and-circles for the first 40-Seconds.
> Ernesto then attacked, but sent in several low-blows on the Champion.
< There was a 'halt to the action' at the {0:45 Mark}, as Referee - Luis Salbaran gave the Champion {14-Seconds} to recover.
> When the action resumed, both fighters went toe-to-toe for 20-Seconds.
> By the {1:25 Mark}, Ernesto had taken complete control, and was man-handling the Champion in the front-right Corner.
> Ernesto continued to punch away, as the Champion could do little.
> Ernesto's punches had no power, but they came in rapid and steady on Antonio.

Round 15 ...... Ernesto while fighting 'safely-and-smart', threw only {15} punches in 'safety-first' Round ......... {10-10} > 'Even'
> Ernesto came out moving to his left, and circled the Champion.
> Ernesto had no intentions of trading, as he is 'miles ahead' on Points.
> Ernesto then changes direction, and circles to his right.
> Ernesto jumps in an attacks with a {5} punch flurry.
> At the {1:00 Mark} > The Panamanian contingent cheers > "Marcel, Marcel", then "Panama, Panama".
> Ernesto goes back to moving and circling.
> A 'frustrated' Antonio Gomez drops his hands, and gestures to Ernesto > "Come on, lets fight."
> Ernesto moves in in the Champion, and swarms all over him with light-punches.
> The action slows over the 2nd-Half, as Ernesto is too 'cool of a customer' to make a mistake.
> Antonio continues to look for an opening that never comes.
> Bell.

After the Bell >

> The Champion - Antonio Gomez throws his hands out at the Ernesto Marcel in disgust.
> Ernesto does the same thing back to Antonio

> After 5-Seconds they change their attitude and hug each other at Center-Ring.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ August 19, 1972

~ Ernesto Marcel Takes WBA Title From Antonio Gomez ~

Young Panamanian Challenger - Ernesto Marcel battered WBA Feathwerweight Champion - Antonio Gomez
from the 'opening bell', and throughout in a one-sided 15-Round bout.

The 24 year-old Panamanina used lightning hand-speed with quick combinations, as well as fast right-hand
leads, as he gave the 27 year-old Champion from Venezuela a bad-beating in nearly every Round.

Ernesto Marcel 'shook up' the Champion in Rounds {6, 7, 8, and 9}, and had Gomez on the Ropes while
dishing out flurries to the head and face.

By the 10th Round, Antonio Gomez was bleeding from the mouth, nose and right-eye brow, as well as
having puffy eye-lids. At no time did the Champion look like a winner, as he was unable to deliver
his vaunted right-hand, except for a few brief times during Rounds {4, 5 and 10}.

The Challenger was unable to floor the Champion, despite having him in serious trouble several times
during the 11th Round.

The fast-handed and fleet-footed Panamanian cruised over the last 4-Rounds, and won a one-sided and
convincing Decision, despite {1} Official having an absurd Scorecard, by calling the bout a 'Draw'.

Scorecards
* Judge - Carlos R. Cataya ...... 146-146 > 'Even'
* Judge - Santos Arizmendi ..... 148-141 > Ernesto Marcel
* Referee - Luis Salbaran ........ 148-144 > Ernesto Marcel

The Associated Press scored the bout > 148-139 for Ernesto Marcel.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antonio Gomez >
"My opponent beat me. He clearly won. I just couldn't get going tonight, and I want to say that I'm sorry
to my supporters here in Caracas."

Ernesto Marcel >
"I knew that Antonio could not match me in speed. So I just kept throwing punches and I prevented
him from getting set to throw his powerful right-hand.

"If he wants a rematch, I will give him one. He was a good Champion, and he gave me an opportunity
to fight for the WBA Championship when I asked for one. I'll always respect him for that. He didn't
make excuses."

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Antonio Gomez ~

September 15, 1972

"I will take some time off, to rest. I am {Age; 27 years-old} now, and it is more
difficult to prepare for fights now. When I was younger, it was much easier."

"I will most likely not box for the rest of the year, as I have been experiencing
problems with my back and 'quadrilaterals'. I will return in 1973, and will get my
Title back."