Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[Bill Paxtom]

July 22, 1975

~ Manager Harry Kabakoff Has Another Mexican Star ~

Russian - Boxing Manager - Harry Kabakoff has another star that he is pushing.

A talented 'master-boxer' in 21 1/2 year-old Vicente Mijares. The Mexican has posted
a record of 15-0-0 with 10 KO's, and is coming off an exciting-and-impressive win {KO 5}
over highly-regarded Sanjo Takemori of Japan '10-days' ago at the 'Olympic Auditorium'.

Harry Kabakoff >
"Vicente is the newest and most talented boxer coming out of Mexico now. He's lightning-fast,
and is a superbly-talented boxer."

"We have signed up with Promoter - Aileen Eaton, and Vicente will now be fighting at the
Olympic Auditorium on a regular basis."

"We have a good bout coming up in 3-weeks {August 9th} against a really tough-kid in
Memin 'El Ardillita' Becerra. He's won '18' of his last 21-Bouts, and his last loss was a
bad-deal {Hometown Decision Loss} in Hawaii to the local favorite.

"This will be a real good test for my fighter. We will be fighting at 128 lbs. for this bout,
but Vicente will eventually move up to Lightweight by the end of 1975."

WBC Lightweight Rankings {July 22, 1975}

*** Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki
#1 . Roberto Duran {WBA Champion}
#2 . Arturo 'Tury' Pineda
#3 . Leonico Ortiz
#4 . Ken Buchanan
#5 . Buzzsaw Yamabe
#6 . Morito Kashiwaba
#7 . Antonio Gomez
#8 . Alvaro Rojas
#9 . Jonathan Dele
#10 Miguel Bertruz

[Bill Paxtom]

August 9, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

* Vicente Mijares - 15-0-0 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 128 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 7 months}
vs.
* Memin 'El Ardillita' Becerra - 20-4-1 {5 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 127 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 9 months}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mijares Remains Undefeated, Scores Wide-Margin Decision Over 'El Ardillita' Becerra ~

Talented 'Super-Featherweight' Vicente Mijares scored an impressive and wide-points 10-Round Decision
over 'gritty' Memin Becerra.

Mijares, a 21 1/2 year-old 'master-boxer' used a variety of left-jabs, '2-Punch' combinations and right-hand
leads to thwart off any charges from 'tough-nosed' Memin Becerra.

Both Mexican fighters came in with 'wins' on their mind, but Beccera was no match for Mijares, as the
'fast-handed' boxer peppered Becerra in nearly every Round with quick-combinations to the head, and
powerful right-hands to the body.

Scorecards
* 7-2
* 7-1
* 7-1

Harry Kabakoff >
"This was a solid win for Vicente. We are now in the Top 10 of the NABF. We will now go up to Lightweight,
and take on somebody in the next level."

[Bill Paxtom]

September 27, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angles, California

* Vicente Mijares - 16-0-0 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 134 3/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 8 months}
vs.
* Claude 'Danger' Durden - 12-3-1 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 5 1/2" ~ 134 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 4 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

This will be Vicente Mijares' {1st-Bout} at Lightweight, and his 3rd-Bout at the Olympic Auditorium.

Claude Durden is a 'tough' Bull-Dog who is built like a small Smokin' Joe Frazier. Durden who is
from Los Angeles, is coming off a 'tremendous upset' {KO 4} over previously undefeated and 'touted'
Mexican-prospect - Antonio Gin 1-Month earlier {August 23rd} here at the Olympic.

Claude who is 'on-fire', has won '7-Straight' with {6 KO's} since November 1974.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Vicente Mijares Boxes Rings Around Durden At The Olympic ~

Undefeated Mexican-sensation - Vicente Mijares won by a wide-margin 10-Round Decision over hard-punching
'slugger' Claude Durden.

Mijares using quick footwork, avoided the 'early' forward-charges by 'slugger' Claude Durden, by covering up
well while staying on the perimeter of the Ring.

Though Durden pressed hard in the early going with an aggressive-charge, he unable to land consistently
with his heavy-hands over the first 3-Rounds, as Mijares showed a fine defense.

Starting in Round 4, the Mexican scored repeatedly with his left-jabs as Durden moved in while trying to slug
his way inside.

By Round 6, Durden had slowed down significantly, and was handily out-boxed > as Mijares 'rattled-in' fast left-jabs
and quick right-hands to the face.

Durden was sporting a bloody-nose' in Round 7, and was forced to 'grab-and-hold' to avoid getting 'peppered'
by the incoming fast-punches of the Mexican.

The last 3-Rounds, Mijares continued to jab with fast-stinging left-hands, and smart right-hand counters to
both the head and body.

Scorecards
* Referee - John Thomas ...... 6-2
* Judge - George Latka ........ 7-3
* Judge - Pat Murphy ........... 6-1

[Bill Paxtom]

November 29, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Lightweight Showdown at the Olympic Auditorium ~

* Randy Shields - 26-0-0 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ Reach; 73" ~ 136 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 0 months}
vs.
* Vicente Mijares - 17-0-0 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ Reach; 68" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 10 months}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Randy Shields, the tall-and-lanky boxer with the spearing left-jab. Shields is now ranked as the
#6 World-Ranked Lightweight.

Randy, who has only been a Professional since January 1974 {22-Months} is coming off an
'upset-win' {W Dec 10} over #2 World-Ranked - Arturo 'Tury' Pineda on August 23rd.

The North Hollywood Lightweight also has quality wins over >
* Centavito Hernandez
* Miguel Mayan - {twice}
* Arturo Leon
* Raul 'Rocky' Montoya

The Fight Poster bill lists Randy Shields with a record of 28-0-0 {19 KO's}.

The Mexican - Vicente Mijares will be facing his toughest opponent yet, and is listed as a {3-1} Betting-Underdog.

[Bill Paxtom]

November 29, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Lightweight Showdown at the Olympic Auditorium ~

#4 WBC / #5 WBA - Randy Shields - 26-0-0 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ Reach; 73" ~ 136 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 0 months}
vs.
#10 WBC / #14 WBA - Vicente Mijares - 17-0-0 {10 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ Reach; 68" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 10 months}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Randy Shields, the tall-and-lanky boxer with the spearing left-jab. Shields is now ranked as the
#6 World-Ranked Lightweight by Ring Magazine

Randy, who has only been a Professional since January 1974 {22-Months} is coming off an
'upset-win' {W Dec 10} over #2 World-Ranked - Arturo 'Tury' Pineda on August 23rd.

The North Hollywood Lightweight also has quality wins over >
* Centavito Hernandez
* Miguel Mayan - {twice}
* Arturo Leon
* Raul 'Rocky' Montoya

The Fight Poster bill lists Randy Shields with a record of 28-0-0 {19 KO's}.

The Mexican - Vicente Mijares will be facing his toughest opponent yet, and is listed as a {3-1} Betting-Underdog.

Just before this bout >

Los Angeles Times - Sportswriter Jim Murray wrote a great article about Randy Shields. Sonny Shields stated that
his son had a Professional Record of 27-0-0 with 15 KO's, and had posted an Amateur Record of 88-4.

The winner of this bout was to get a World Lightweight Championship Bout in early-1976
against either >
* WBA Champion - Roberto Duran
* WBC Champion - Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ November 29, 1975

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ Vicente Mijares In Shocker, TKO's Randy Shields ~

Mexican - Vicente Mijares ended the 'unbeaten string' of Randy Shields at '28', by scoring
a TKO at the end of the 8th Round.

Mijares who is 'unbeaten' himself now, with a record of 18-0-0 scored his '11th' Knockout win.

The 5' 11" Shields was the 'heavy-favorite at {3-1}, and got off to a good start over the first
4-Rounds, as he took advantage of his 5' Height, and 5" Reach advantage.

Shields {136 lbs.} used spearing left-jabs, and long right-hand leads to take 3 of the first 4
Rounds from the smart-boxing Mexican.

But the quick-hitting Mijares {135 lbs.} started to find the range in Round 5, and caught the
tall-and-lanky Californian with 'jarring' left-hooks to the jaw.

Mijares 'staggered' Shields near the end of Round 5 with a powerful right-hand to the chin,
and '2' left-hooks to the temple area.

In Round 6, Shields attempted to 'slug' with the stronger Mexican, and paid the price as he
was 'rocked' by left-hooks to the head, and again was 'staggered' by a right-hand to the chin.

In Round 7, Mijares continued to wear down the lanky-Shields, and at the {1:00 Mark} he caught
Shields with a slicing left-hook to the right-eye, which opened up a small-cut.

And mid-way thru the Round he caught Shields on his right-eye with another left-hook, and opened
up the small-cut, causing it to drip blood. Late in the session, the Mexican also staggered Shields again
with a solid 'left-right' combination to the jaw.

In Round 8, Mijares was relentless in his attack, and slammed in numerous left-hooks to the head,
opening up the cut on Shields right-eye worse, as blood started streaming down his face.

Referee - George Latka called a 'temporary-halt' at the 2:42 Mark, to have the Ringside Physician
check out the cut right-eye. Shields was allowed to continue, but he took another barrage to the area,
and bleeding badly at the end of the Round.

Before the start of Round 9, Randy Shields' corner stopped the bout, as they were unable to stem
the flow of blood.

The win goes down as a TKO 8 for the 'unbeaten' Vicente Mijares.

~ Mijares {Saldivar} TKO's Shields ~

[Bill Paxtom]

Ring Magazine {January 1976}

*** Roberto Duran {WBA Champion}
#1 . Ray Lampkin
#2 . Angel Mayoral
#3 . Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki {WBC Champion}
#4 . Hector Julio Medina
#5 . Buzzsaw Yamabe
#6 . Rudy Hernandez
#7 . Vicente Mijares Saldivar
#8 . Randy Shields
#9 . Arturo 'Tury' Pineda
#10. Bobby Chacon