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

[Bill Paxtom]

Pete Ranzany

'I hit 'Pipino' Cuevas with everything in the 1st-Round. I couldn't dent him. I did send him
back on his heels a few times, but he was so strong."

"I landed a perfect left-hook on his chin, and my fist bounced off it like it was a block
of granite. That was the first time I was worried. I was amazed at his chin, as he took
the punch like it was nothing."

"In 1978, he would have beaten Carlos Palomino or Wilfred Benitez with ease. Ray Leonard
was nowhere in his league at that time. And Roberto Duran would have been 'creamed' in 1978."

"He just hit too hard."

[Bill Paxtom]

~ More Skinny ~

According to Joey Lopes {Manager for Pete Ranzany}

"We wanted to take the fight to 'Pipino' in the 1st-Round. We wanted to test both his
heart and chin."

"Well, we found out that he had both. In all honesty, we know that Pete would have had
a better chance against Carlos Palomino, based on styles."

"Carlos was a plodder, and he always got off to a slow-start. Pete wouldn't have had to
deal with the heavy-pressure early. It was my mistake, as I should have waited to get
Pete a shot at Carlos, or even Wilfred Benitez for later in 1979."

"In 1978, I can't name a better or harder hitting Welterweight than 'Pipino' Cuevas."

[Bill Paxtom]

Round 2

Pete Ranzany came out fast, to try to take advantage of his faster hand-speed.

0:02 > Both meet at Center-Ring.
0:03 > Ranzany fires first with a long left-jab to the face.
0:04 > The Champion backs up.
0:05 > Ranzany leans in.

0:07 > Both fighters circle to their left.
0:09 > Ranzany stays busy with a '4-Punch' combination.
0:11 > Cuevas is looking to counter.
0:12 > Ranzany scores with a left-jab to the face, a right to the body, and a left-hook to the head.

0:13 > The Champion backs away, and to the left-side Ring area.
0:14 > Ranzany steps in, and lands with a good 'one-two' to Cuevas' jaw.
0:15 > Cuevas backs into the left-side Ropes.
0:16 > Cuevas spins 90* to his left, and moves to the back Ring area.

0:17 > A confident Ranzany moves in.
0:18 > Ranzany looks 'too fast' for the Champion.
0:19 > Ranzany sends in '2' fast left-jabs to the head.
0:20 > Cuevas circles 180*, and out to Center-Ring.

0:21 > Cuevas flicks out a counter left-jab.
0:22 > Ranzany moves to his left, and to the right-side Ring area.
0:24 > Both duck, and move in close.
0:25 > Cuevas connects with a good left-hook to the Challenger's chest.

0:26 > Cuevas adds in a right-hook to the mid-section.
0:26 > Ranzany counters with a left-hook to the head.
0:27 > Ranzany pecks in with a left-jab.
0:28 > Cuevas rips in with a right-hook to the head.

0:29 > Both fighters are at Center-Ring, and move in close.
0:30 > Cuevas raps his right-arm over Ranzany's neck.
0:31 > Cuevas slams in '3' hard left-hooks into Ranzany's chest area.
0:33 > Ranzany backs out to the left-side Ring area.

0:34 > Both trade left-jabs.
0:35 > Ranzany circles to his left, and to the back-right Ring area.
0:36 > Ranzany fires in a left-jab, but he drops his guard low.
0:36 > Cuevas counters with a 'jarring' right-hook to the chin.

0:36 > Pete Ranzany is 'shaken'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Round 2

Pete Ranzany came out fast, to try to take advantage of his faster hand-speed.

0:02 > Both meet at Center-Ring.
0:03 > Ranzany fires first with a long left-jab to the face.
0:04 > The Champion backs up.
0:05 > Ranzany leans in.

0:07 > Both fighters circle to their left.
0:09 > Ranzany stays busy with a '4-Punch' combination.
0:11 > Cuevas is looking to counter.
0:12 > Ranzany scores with a left-jab to the face, a right to the body, and a left-hook to the head.

0:13 > The Champion backs away, and to the left-side Ring area.
0:14 > Ranzany steps in, and lands with a good 'one-two' to Cuevas' jaw.
0:15 > Cuevas backs into the left-side Ropes.
0:16 > Cuevas spins 90* to his left, and moves to the back Ring area.

0:17 > A confident Ranzany moves in.
0:18 > Ranzany looks 'too fast' for the Champion.
0:19 > Ranzany sends in '2' fast left-jabs to the head.
0:20 > Cuevas circles 180*, and out to Center-Ring.

0:21 > Cuevas flicks out a counter left-jab.
0:22 > Ranzany moves to his left, and to the right-side Ring area.
0:24 > Both duck, and move in close.
0:25 > Cuevas connects with a good left-hook to the Challenger's chest.

0:26 > Cuevas adds in a right-hook to the mid-section.
0:26 > Ranzany counters with a left-hook to the head.
0:27 > Ranzany pecks in with a left-jab.
0:28 > Cuevas rips in with a right-hook to the head.

0:29 > Both fighters are at Center-Ring, and move in close.
0:30 > Cuevas raps his right-arm over Ranzany's neck.
0:31 > Cuevas slams in '3' hard left-hooks into Ranzany's chest area.
0:33 > Ranzany backs out to the left-side Ring area.

0:34 > Both trade left-jabs.
0:35 > Ranzany circles to his left, and to the back-right Ring area.
0:36 > Ranzany fires in a left-jab, but he drops his guard low.
0:36 > Cuevas counters with a 'jarring' right-hook to the chin.

0:36 > Pete Ranzany is 'shaken'.

0:37 > Cuevas moves in fast, and 'slams' in a left-hook to the head.
0:37 > Ranzany covers up along the right-side Ropes.
0:38 > Cuevas digs in with a 'right-left' to the body, and a right-left' to the head.
0:40 > Ranzany fires back with a fast 'right-left'.

0:41 > The bout is now a 'Slugfest'.
0:42 > Cuevas 'misses' with a right-left.
0:43 > Ranzany 'misses' with a big left-hook as Cuevas ducks.
0:44 > The fighters are now toe-to-toe.

0:45 > Cuevas slams in a 'double' left to the head, and comes back with a 'digging' right-hook to the body.
0:46 > Ranzany is pinned on the right-side Ropes and covers up.
0:47 > Cuevas wings in a hard 'right-left, but both punches glance off Ranzany's gloves.
0:48 > Ranzany counters with a left-hook to the head.

0:49 > Cuevas is slugging 'wildly'.
0:50 > Ranzany moves to the front-right Corner, and is covering up.
0:51 > Cuevas 'misses' with a wild 'left-right-left'.
0:52 > Ranzany 'ducks low' to avoid the bombs.

0:53 > Cuevas catches Ranzany with a left-hook to the 'top-of-the-head' as Ranzany bends low.
0:55 > Cuevas is still firing 'wildly'.
0:56 > Cuevas sticks out a measuring right-hand.
0:57 > Cuevas scores with a 'big' left-hook to the head.

0:58 > Cuevas comes back with a 'tremendous' clubbing-right to Ranzany's jaw.

0:59 > Pete Ranzany is 'hurt', as he is driven into the front-right Corner.

0:59 > The Champion 'winds up', and unleashes a big left-hook to the head.
1:00 > Cuevas comes back with a 'vicious' right to the jaw, and just misses with a 'wicked' left hook as Ranzany 'sags'.

1:01 > Pete Ranzany 'collapses' in the front-right Corner.

1:04 > Amazingly, Pete Ranzany gets up quickly at the '3-Count'.
1:10 > Referee - Isidoro Rodriguez 'grabs' Ranzany's gloves, and asks him if he's ready to go on.
1:11 > Pete Ranzany nods 'Yes'.
1:12 > Pete moves out to Center-Ring, just as Cuevas is running across the Ring.

1:13 > At Center-Ring, Cuevas just misses with big sweeping right-hook.
1:14 > Ranzany counters with a long left-jab to the Champion's face, just as Cuevas is loading up to throw a left-hook.
1:15 > Ranzany backs to the left-side Ring area, as Cuevas moves in.

[Bill Paxtom]

Round 2

Pete Ranzany came out fast, to try to take advantage of his faster hand-speed.

0:02 > Both meet at Center-Ring.
0:03 > Ranzany fires first with a long left-jab to the face.
0:04 > The Champion backs up.
0:05 > Ranzany leans in.

0:07 > Both fighters circle to their left.
0:09 > Ranzany stays busy with a '4-Punch' combination.
0:11 > Cuevas is looking to counter.
0:12 > Ranzany scores with a left-jab to the face, a right to the body, and a left-hook to the head.

0:13 > The Champion backs away, and to the left-side Ring area.
0:14 > Ranzany steps in, and lands with a good 'one-two' to Cuevas' jaw.
0:15 > Cuevas backs into the left-side Ropes.
0:16 > Cuevas spins 90* to his left, and moves to the back Ring area.

0:17 > A confident Ranzany moves in.
0:18 > Ranzany looks 'too fast' for the Champion.
0:19 > Ranzany sends in '2' fast left-jabs to the head.
0:20 > Cuevas circles 180*, and out to Center-Ring.

0:21 > Cuevas flicks out a counter left-jab.
0:22 > Ranzany moves to his left, and to the right-side Ring area.
0:24 > Both duck, and move in close.
0:25 > Cuevas connects with a good left-hook to the Challenger's chest.

0:26 > Cuevas adds in a right-hook to the mid-section.
0:26 > Ranzany counters with a left-hook to the head.
0:27 > Ranzany pecks in with a left-jab.
0:28 > Cuevas rips in with a right-hook to the head.

0:29 > Both fighters are at Center-Ring, and move in close.
0:30 > Cuevas raps his right-arm over Ranzany's neck.
0:31 > Cuevas slams in '3' hard left-hooks into Ranzany's chest area.
0:33 > Ranzany backs out to the left-side Ring area.

0:34 > Both trade left-jabs.
0:35 > Ranzany circles to his left, and to the back-right Ring area.
0:36 > Ranzany fires in a left-jab, but he drops his guard low.
0:36 > Cuevas counters with a 'jarring' right-hook to the chin.

0:36 > Pete Ranzany is 'shaken'.

0:37 > Cuevas moves in fast, and 'slams' in a left-hook to the head.
0:37 > Ranzany covers up along the right-side Ropes.
0:38 > Cuevas digs in with a 'right-left' to the body, and a right-left' to the head.
0:40 > Ranzany fires back with a fast 'right-left'.

0:41 > The bout is now a 'Slugfest'.
0:42 > Cuevas 'misses' with a right-left.
0:43 > Ranzany 'misses' with a big left-hook as Cuevas ducks.
0:44 > The fighters are now toe-to-toe.

0:45 > Cuevas slams in a 'double' left to the head, and comes back with a 'digging' right-hook to the body.
0:46 > Ranzany is pinned on the right-side Ropes and covers up.
0:47 > Cuevas wings in a hard 'right-left, but both punches glance off Ranzany's gloves.
0:48 > Ranzany counters with a left-hook to the head.

0:49 > Cuevas is slugging 'wildly'.
0:50 > Ranzany moves to the front-right Corner, and is covering up.
0:51 > Cuevas 'misses' with a wild 'left-right-left'.
0:52 > Ranzany 'ducks low' to avoid the bombs.

0:53 > Cuevas catches Ranzany with a left-hook to the 'top-of-the-head' as Ranzany bends low.
0:55 > Cuevas is still firing 'wildly'.
0:56 > Cuevas sticks out a measuring right-hand.
0:57 > Cuevas scores with a 'big' left-hook to the head.

0:58 > Cuevas comes back with a 'tremendous' clubbing-right to Ranzany's jaw.

0:59 > Pete Ranzany is 'hurt', as he is driven into the front-right Corner.

0:59 > The Champion 'winds up', and unleashes a big left-hook to the head.
1:00 > Cuevas comes back with a 'vicious' right to the jaw, and just misses with a 'wicked' left hook as Ranzany 'sags'.

1:01 > Pete Ranzany 'collapses' in the front-right Corner.

1:04 > Amazingly, Pete Ranzany gets up quickly at the '3-Count'.
1:10 > Referee - Isidoro Rodriguez 'grabs' Ranzany's gloves, and asks him if he's ready to go on.
1:11 > Pete Ranzany nods 'Yes'.
1:12 > Pete moves out to Center-Ring, just as Cuevas is running across the Ring.

1:13 > At Center-Ring, Cuevas just misses with big sweeping right-hook.
1:14 > Ranzany counters with a long left-jab to the Champion's face, just as Cuevas is loading up to throw a left-hook.
1:15 > Ranzany backs to the left-side Ring area, as Cuevas moves in.

1:16 > Cuevas leans in, and slams Ranzany with a 'right-left'.
1:17 > Cuevas comes back with 'booming' chopping right-hand to the jaw.
1:18 > Ranzany tries to fight back with a 'right-left' to the body.
1:19 > Cuevas is firing with 'reckless abandon'.

1:19 > Ranzany is pinned in the front-left Corner.
1:20 > Cuevas 'explodes' a big left-hook into Ranzany's chin, snapping his head back.
1:20 > Ranzany 'crashes' in a heap to the canvas.
1:26 > Ranzany pulls himself up at '6' by grabbing the Ropes with his left-hand.

1:28 > Referee - Isidoro Rodriguez completes the '8-Count'.
1:30 > Ranzany dances to his left, to the back-left Ring area.
1:30 > Cuevas comes charging in, with his left-hand loaded.
1:31 > Ranzany ducks low, and moves to his right.

1:31 > Cuevas fires in with a 'left-right' to the upper-body.
1:32 > Ranzany 'reels' backwards, and into the left-side Ropes.
1:33 > Cuevas moves in, and slams away with a 'right-left-right'.
1:34 > Ranzany stumbles forward.

1:35 > Cuevas adds in a hard 'left-right'.
1:36 > Ranzany reels back into the front-left Corner.
1:37 > Cuevas lands with a hard left-hook, as Ranzany leans forward.
1:38 > Cuevas pushes Ranzany across the Ring.

1:39 > Cuevas catches Ranzany with a looping right-hand to the head.
1:40 > Ranzany falls backwards into the right-side Ropes.
1:41 > Cuevas unloads with a 'fast-and-brutal' {right-left-left-right} to the head.
1:42 > Cuevas smashes in a 'jolting' left-hook to the chin.

1:43 > Amazingly, Ranzany tries to punch back with a 'weak-right' and left-hook.
1:44 > Cuevas sends in a 'right-left' as Pete is now straight-and-upright on the Ropes.
1:45 > Cuevas connects with a left-hook.
1:46 > Cuevas lands a left-hook 'flush' on Ranzany's chin, and comes back with a right to the head.

1:46 > What is holding Pete Ranzany up ?

1:46 > Ranzany stumbles forward, and grabs Cuevas around the waist.
1:50 > Cuevas breaks free, and re-loads, as Ranzany reels back into the right-side Ropes.
1:51 > Cuevas unloads with a 'big' left-uppercut to the chin, and a follow up right-hand to the head.
1:52 > Again, Ranzany tries to punch back, and sends out '3' light left-jabs.

1:53 > Cuevas counters with a 'big' right-hook to the chin.
1:54 > Cuevas adds in a 'big' left-uppercut, and left-hook to the forehead as Ranzany ducks.
1:55 > Ranzany is covering up.
1:56 > Cuevas slams in a 'left-left-right-left' as Ranzany is near defenseless.

1:57 > Referee - Isidoro Rodriguez calls a halt to the one-sided onslaught.

[Bill Paxtom]

Pete Ranzany

"I really don't remember anything after that left-hook {1:20 Mark}. I have never been
hit like that before. 'Pipino' had so much power, that his punches cracked your bones."

"I had sparred with Carlos Palomino, and I fought Armando Muniz. They were both real
hard punchers, but neither of them could hit like 'Pipino'. His punches went into you,
and left you numb."

[walrus]

@Bill Paxtom I would like all your posts but you write so many of them my finger starts to hurt

[Bill Paxtom]

According to reports >

Just after the September 9, 1978 bout with Pete Ranzany.

Manager - Lupe Sanchez turned down an offer for $300,000 for his fighter {Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas}
to fight WBC Champion - Carlos Palomino in a 10-Round 'non-title' bout for late-October in
Los Angeles at The Olympic Auditorium.

Later it was reported that there was $400,000 'on-the-table' for a WBA/WBC Unification Bout,
with the bout to be held at 'The Forum' in Inglewood, California for January 1979.

Manager - Lupe Sanchez wanted a fight purse of $500,000.

[Bill Paxtom]

Pete Ranzany

Took a beating in Round 2, getting floored 'twice' and absorbing a frightful battering
to the head from Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas.

Yet, Pete was still on his feet when the bout was stopped.

A tough guy.

Back Right > Referee - Isidoro Rodriguez consoles a still upright Pete Ranzany, as the bout
is stopped at {1:57} of Round 2.