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

[Beanflicker]

Pipino... hard puncher... but overrated!

[Bill Paxtom]

Pipino... hard puncher... but overrated!

No, he was not.

Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas peaked at an early age.

'El Toro' started boxing as a Professional in November 1971 at {Age; 13 years, 11 months} as a Lightweight.

[Beanflicker]

I don't think he had much of a chin to be honest!

Also famous for getting beaten up in the gym by a teenaged Tony Ayala Jr!

[Bill Paxtom]

I don't think he had much of a chin to be honest!

Also famous for getting beaten up in the gym by a teenaged Tony Ayala Jr!

His chin was rated as 'excellent'.

Getting KO'd by Thomas Hearns doesn't mean you have 'no chin.

The Tony Ayala Jr. issue was 'a total fabrication' for publicity.

It never happened, just ask the people from San Antonio. Nobody ever saw it, or has photo's of this 'so-called session'.

Thru August 1, 1980 >

Nobody had ever hurt, staggered, or dropped Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas.

[Bill Paxtom]

Frankola

The Charles Hughes Stadium was a medium-sized {Capacity; 21,300} outdoor stadium in Sacramento, California.

The attendance figures were listed at 17,000+.
* Gate Receipts .... $196,000

This was also broadcast thru 40 Closed Circuit Outlets.

Fight Purses

* Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas ...... $157,800
The Champion was 'guaranteed' a minimum of $100,000 of the Gate Receipts, against 55% of the Total Take = {$107,800}
The Champion was 'guaranteed' a minimum of $35,000 from the Closed Circuit revenue.
The Champion received an additional $15,000 for the 'delayed' Broadcast rights, for the Spanish Television Network.


* Pete Ranzany ................ $55,000
The Challenger was 'guaranteed' a flat fee of $55,000.

[Bill Paxtom]

Pre-Fight

It was a 'rainy night' in Sacramento, California.

The Champion - Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas looked in 'perfect' physical shape, as he was 'rock-hard'
and finely tuned.

'Pipino' had been training in Mexico City for 3-Weeks, before arriving in Los Angeles in late-August
for 10-Days of intense sparring.

'Pipino' was sparring with both Middleweight - Marcos Geraldo and 'tough-nosed' Jose Luis Palacios

The Champion arrived in Sacramento 5-Days before the bout, to add in some fine-tuning.

'Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas >
"I do not predict a knockout. I only predict that I will win. It doesn't matter to me, just as
long as I win."

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The Challenger - Pete Ranzany looked both 'calm-and-cool', and very relaxed in front of his
hometown supporters.

Pete had sparred over '120-Rounds' in 5-Weeks leading up to this bout. Pete's sparring-mates
were Top 20 Welterweight - Babilah 'Babs' McCarthy and 'up-and-coming' Ronald 'Too Sweet' Cummings.

Pete Ranzany >
"I will surprise 'Pipino'. He thinks that I will box-and move, but I can slug if I have to. I will be
the best fighter that 'Pipino' has ever faced."