Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[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

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ February 26, 1976

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

~ NABF Lightweight Championship ~
~ WBC Elimination Bout ~

#4 WBC - Vicente Mijares - 18-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 1 month}
vs.
#7 WBC - Randy Shields - 27-1-0 {15 KO's} ~ 134 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 3 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

This bout is both for the NABF Lightweight Championship, as well as a WBC Lightwieght Eliminator,
with the winner 'guaranteed' a bout with WBC Lightweight Champion - Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki next.

Randy Shields is out to 'reverse' his loss by {TKO 8} to the smart-boxing Mexican 3-Months earlier,
back on November 29, 1975.

Manager - Harry Kabakoff {for Vicente Mijares} stated that his fighter will have no problem getting
by Randy Shields again.

The WBC Lightweight Champion - Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki of Japan last defended his Title on
December 4, 1975 > when he stopped {TKO 14} Alvaro Rojas.

The WBC has stated that the winner here, will get to challenge for the WBC Championship in
early-May 1976 > providing the fight purse bid offer is accepted.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ Vicente Mijares Repeats Win Over Randy Shields ~

Mexican boxing-master - Vicente Mijares repeated his earlier success, with anther win over 'highly-touted'
Californian - Randy Shields.

This time is was by a 12-Round Unanimous Decision, to capture the NABF Lightweight Championship.

Just as in their 1st-Bout, the tall-and-lanky Shields got off to a fast start, as he landed with his long
left-jab, and right-hand leads to the head over the first 4-Rounds.

But, Mijares used a steady body-attack throughout the middle-Rounds to erase the taller Shields' early
Rounds lead, as the Californian had taken advantage of his 5" Reach advantage to win the early sessions.

The Mexican started to move inside in Round 5, and slammed the 'thin-body' of Shields with solid
right-uppercuts to the mid-section and left-hook to the ribs.

The fast-handed Mexican hurt Shields with body-punches in Rounds 6 and 7, and had his opponent
backing away and 'scampering' in Rounds 8 and 9.

In Round 10, a now-desperate Shields attempted to 'swing-the-tide', and went toe-to-toe with Mijares,
and held his own for the first 2-Minutes of the session.

But by the end of the Round, Mijares had Shields backing away and to the Ropes. Mijares raked the
body of Shields, and had the 20 year-old bending in pain at the Bell.

Over the last 2-Rounds, Mijares used a 'stiff' left-jab to keep Shields on the outside and on the defensive,
as he went on to score a solid 12-Round Decision win.

Scorecards
* Referee - Dick Young ..... 6-4
* Judge - Larry Rozadilla ... 7-4
* Judge - Rudy Jordan ...... 7-5