Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas vs. Pete Ranzany ~ 'WBA Welterweight Championship'

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ September 9, 1978

Charles C. Hughes Stadium ~ Sacramento, California

Attendance ...... 17,000

* Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas - 22-6-0 {20 KO's} ~ 5' 8" ~ 146 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 7 months}
vs.
* Pete Ranzany - 40-2-1 {26 KO's} ~ 5' 10 1/2" ~ 146 1/2 lbs. {Age; 26 years, 5 months}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

WBA Welterweight Champion - Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas was making the '7th' Title Defense of the
Championshio he won 2-Years earlier {July 17, 1976}.

Cuevas had 'stopped' each of his previous Challengers, as well as stopping then WBA Champion
Angel Espada when the young 18 year-old Mexican had won the Title.

There was no doubt that 'Pipino' was a vicious puncher, but there still remained the question,
as to whether he could handle a real good boxer over a long distance.

Lupe Sanchez {Manager for Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas}
"We are not here to prove if we can win over 15-Rounds. We're here to put Pete Ranzany
down and out on his back, and fast."

"We have never been worried about whether or not a fight goes longer than 5 or 6 Rounds.
'Pipino' is well-trained, and he can go 15-Rounds if he has to."

"Look, we are coming into Ranzany's home-town to fight him. Do we have any fears or worries.
No not really. We just asked to have WBA Officials as Judges, to insure a proper and fair Decision if
it goes 15-Rounds."

[Bill Paxtom]

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Mexican Skinny ~

Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas did not need this Title bout.

Though Pete Ranzany was ranked as the #1 WBA Challenger, the bout was not a 'mandatory'
within the required time span.

This bout was promoted by MagnaVerde Promotions {Dan Villanueva} who offered Lupe Sanchez
an excellent fight purse for his fighter.

But, there was $400,000 {and more} waiting for 'Pipino', if he signed to fight a unification bout
with WBC Champion - Carlos Palomino.

[Bill Paxtom]

Pete Ranzany

Sacramento's Favorite Son

In 1978, Pete Ranzany was the NABF Welterweight Champion, as well as the #1 WBA Welterweight.

A tall-and-lanky boxer {5' 10 1/2"} with a 72" reach. Pete was a smooth-aggressive fighter, and carried
fast-accurate fists

Back on May 3, 1978 >

Pete originally signed to challenge WBC Champion - Carlos Palomino on September 15, 1978
on the undercard of the Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali 'II" bout in New Orleans.

But, Carlos injured himself in early-August and their bout was dropped.

In mid-August 1978 > the bout with Pipino Cuevas was put together for the WBA Championship.

[Bill Paxtom]

WBA Ratings {August 1978}

*** Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas
#1 .. Pete Ranzany
#2 .. Armando Muniz
#3 .. Harold Weston Jr.
#4 .. Davey Green
#5 .. Clyde Gray
#6 .. Floyd Mayweather
#7 .. Ryu Sorimachi
#8 .. Randy Shields
#9 .. Everaldo Costa Acevedo
#10 . Mimoun Mohatar

Pete Ranzany had scored recent wins over >

* June 25, 1978 ........ KO 2 .......... Santiago Valdez
* May 2, 1978 ........... W Dec 10 ... Rafael Rodriguez
* March 14, 1978 ...... KO 4 .......... Joe Grier
* February 14, 1978 .. TKO 11 ...... Randy Shields ...... { NABF Championship }

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Welterweight Happenings ~

On May 29, 1978

It was announced that Carlos Palomino 'fractured' his left-hand in the 9th Round, in his
WBC Championship Bout with Armando Muniz on May 28th.

Manager - Jackie McCoy stated that his fighter {Carlos Palomino} would require at least
2 to 3 months rest, to allow for the left-hand to heal.

Jackie McCoy said that Carlos would most likely resume training in late-August and would
'now' make his next defense against #1 WBC-ranked - Wilfred Benitez in October 1978.

Carlos had signed a Fight Contract on May 2, 1978 - to make his next defense against
#2 WBC-ranked Pete Ranzany on September 15th.

Pete Ranzany was ranked as the #2 WBC and #1 WBA Welterweight now.

Manager - Joey Lopes and Trainer - Herman Carter did not want their fighter {Pete Ranzany}
to sit around and wait for a bout for the WBC Championship, which would be pushed back
at least 7-Months until early-1978.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June 25, 1978

Stateline, Nevada

* Pete Ranzany - 39-2-1 {25 KO's} ~ 150 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 2 months}
vs.
* Santiago Valdez - 19-2-0 {16 KO's} ~ 147 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 5 months}

Pete Ranzany in a tune-up bout, takes on dangerous Ohio-Bomber - Santiago Valdez.

It was 'bombs-away for 'Pistol Pete', as he tagged the young and hard-hitting Valdez with repeated long
range right-hands to the chin.

Though Santiago Valdez could punch, he had a 'porous defense', and could easily be tagged by right-hands
to the chin.

Pete put Santiago away in Round 2, as he slammed in '3' pin-point right-hands to the head that sent Valdez
to the canvas in a heap.