Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[Bill Paxtom]

March 1, 1976

~ Harry Kabakoff Seeks Lightweight Championship For His Fighter ~

Fight Manager - Harry Kabakoff is hoping to get WBC Lightweight Champion
Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki to sign a deal to defend his Title against Vicente Mijares
for sometime in late-April of early-May, and at the 'Olympic Auditorium'.

Harry Kabakoff >
"We beat Randy Shields last week for the NABF Title, and it was a WBC Eliminator. Now
we are supposed to be the next one in line."

"We have $95,000 on the table for the Japanese fighter, and all we have to do is get
him to sign the contract."

"We wanted to Challenge WBA Champion - Roberto Duran as well, but he was supposed
to defend against San Diego's - Angel Mayoral in Las Vegas. But nobody has seen Duran
since December 1975, when he defeated {KO 15} Leonico Ortiz."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WBC Ratings .......................... WBA Ratings

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

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ April 22, 1976

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Attendance .......... 5131
Gate Receipts ..... $41,600

~ NABF Lightweight Championship ~
~ WBC Lightweight Eliminator ~

#4 WBC - Arturo 'Tury' Pineda - 26-6-1 {22 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 134 1/2 lbs. {Age; 23 years, 10 months}
vs.
#5 WBC - Vicente Mijares - 19-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 3 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Arturo 'Tury the Fury' Pineda is regarded as the one of the hardest-hitters in the Lightweight Division.

'Tury' is most dangerous when he's hurt, as he can 'bomb' with either hand. Pineda is no stranger to
the Lightweight Championship , as he has fought WBC Champion - Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki {twice} and
both times nearly came out a Champion.
* September 12, 1974 ..... Draw 15
* June 5, 1975 ................ L Dec 15

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Vicente Mijares} >
"We know that Pineda is one of the hardest punchers in the Lightweight Division, but he's got to
hit Vicente on the chin and that is no easy task."

"Vicente is too skilled of a boxer, and he is going to 'stiff' Pineda. We'll stop him in the 6th Round."

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ April 22, 1976

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Attendance .......... 5131
Gate Receipts ..... $41,600

~ NABF Lightweight Championship ~
~ WBC Lightweight Eliminator ~

#4 WBC - Arturo 'Tury' Pineda - 26-6-1 {22 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 135 bs. {Age; 23 years, 10 months}
vs.
#5 WBC - Vicente Mijares - 19-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 134 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 3 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Arturo 'Tury the Fury' Pineda is regarded as the one of the hardest-hitters in the Lightweight Division.

'Tury' is most dangerous when he's hurt, as he can 'bomb' with either hand. Pineda is no stranger to
the Lightweight Championship , as he has fought WBC Champion - Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki {twice} and
both times nearly came out a Champion.
* September 12, 1974 ..... Draw 15
* June 5, 1975 ................ L Dec 15

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Vicente Mijares} >
"We know that Pineda is one of the hardest punchers in the Lightweight Division, but he's got to
hit Vicente on the chin and that is no easy task."

"Vicente is too skilled of a boxer, and he is going to 'stiff' Pineda. We'll stop him in the 6th Round."

~ Vicente Mijares Takes Decision Over 'Tury' Pineda In Fight Of The Year ~

Both Mexican country-man took turns punching each other for 12-Rounds, and Vicente Mijares
came out on top, by scoring a Unanimous 12-Rond Decision over 'Tury' Pineda.

Mijares also retained his NABF Lightweight Championship.

The action got heated immediately, as both fighters exchanged hard-hooks in the Opening Round,
with each getting 'rocked'.

Mijares, the better boxer of the two, had a great Round 2, as he 'staggered' Pineda with left-hooks,
and opened up a cut over Pineda's left-eye with a 'slashing' right-hand.

Mijares continued with his smooth boxing in Round 3, and 'jarred' Pineda with several right-hooks
to the head, as well as maintaining a solid body attack.

But the tough and hard-hitting Pineda came back strong in Round 4, by winging in bombs
from the outside, forcing Mijares to cover up, and move.

Pineda kept up the fast-pace in Round 5, and slammed in several right-hands to the nose of
Mijares, causing it to flow blood.

But in Round 6, Mijares stemmed-the-tide, and 'staggered' Pineda with a left-hook to the jaw, and
battered Pineda into the Ropes. Mijares also ripped away with combinations opening a cut over
Pineda's right-eye.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe in an all-action Round 7, as each landed good punches in
non-stop trading.

In Round 8, Mijares 'raked' Pineda over with a 'two-fisted' barrage, and opened up another cut
over his countryman's right-eye, as well as 'staggering' Pineda 'twice' with sold left-hooks to
the head.

But Pineda showed heart and courage, as he came back late in Round 9 with a torrid and blistering
attack, that had Mijare's nose flowing blood badly.

But Mijares showed his marvelous boxing-skills, as he jabbed, countered and then rocked Pineda
with 'left-right' attacks during Round 10.

Both fighters were bloody, as they banged away over the last 2-Rounds, but it was Mijares
who landed the sharper punches, and had Pineda reeling over the last-half of Round 12,
and nearly 'out' at the Final Bell.

Scorecards
* Referee ......... 7-4
* Judge ............ 8-3
* Judge ............ 8-3

[Bill Paxtom]

April 25, 1976

WBA Ratings ................................................ WBC Ratings

*** Roberto Duran ................................................ Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki
#1 . Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki {WBC Champion} ........ Roberto Duran {WBA Champion}
#2 . Hector Julio Medina ........................................ Esteban DeJesus
#3 . Esteban Dejesus ............................................. Hector Julio Medina
#4 . Vilomar Fernandez .......................................... Vicente Mijares
#5 . Vicente Mijares ............................................... Randy Shields
#6 . Leonico Ortiz .................................................. Arturo 'Tury' Pineda
#7 . Tony Jumoa-As .............................................. Vilomar Fernandez
#8 . Tae-Ho Kim .................................................. .. Buzzsaw Yamabe
#9 . Buzzsaw Yamabe ............................................ Fernand Roelands
#10. Ray Lampkin .................................................. Edwin Viruet

Harry Kabakoff >
"They tell me that Roberto Duran has ate himself out of the Division, and is over 150 lbs. now.
He's never getting back down to Lightweight. They might as well 'vacate' the Title."

"Hell, his Manager {Carlos Eleta} and Promoter {Don King} won't let him fight anybody good."

"We were supposed to get the next fight with 'WBC Champion - 'Guts' Suzuki, but they just
offered him $170,000 to go to Puerto Rico to hand over his Title to Esteban Dejesus. We
were 'back-dealt' by the World Boxing Council 'twice' in 2-months."

[Bill Paxtom]

June 15, 1976

Nassau Coliseum ~ Long Island, New York

'Main Event' ..... George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier

Promoter ......... Don King
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ WBC Lightweight Eliminator ~

#4 WBC - Vicente Mijares - 20-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 68" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 5 months}
vs.
#7 WBC - Vilomar Fernandez - 19-4-1 {4 KO's} ~ 5' 6" ~ 67" ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 10 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

This will be the 4th-Straight bout for Mexican - Vicente Mijares that is a WBC Eliminator.

Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Vicente Mijares} >
"They {World Boxing Concil} keep giving us these promises. We have won '3-Staright' bouts
over Top-Rated WBC fighters, and each time that we win, we get jerked around."

"I told WBC President - Jose Suliaman, that this is it. No more 'shenanigans'. When we
beat Vilomar Fernandez, we want a contract handed to us in the locker room after the bout."

"We are coming here to New York, and into Vilomar Fernandez' back yard. This is a big risk,
because Vilomar gets a lot of close Decision's here. I'll be watching the Official's with a sharp
eye, and they better be fair, or I'll destroy the place."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vilomar Fernandez is a quick-and-nifty boxer, who has a great defense, and excellent technical
skills. Though Vilomar is not a big-puncher, he is a sharp counter-puncher.

The Bronx, New York based Puerto Rican has won '5-Straight', but only has fought {once} since
August 22, 1975 > that being an impressive 10-Round Decision over World-Rated - Ray Lampkin
4-Months earlier on February 6, 1976.

Vilomar Fernandez >
"I beat 'undefeated' - Ray Lunny 'III' back in August 1975 for the American Lightweight Championship,
and I was supposed to get a World Title bout. I sat around for 3-Months waiting, and then they
'shuffled' the Ratings in November 1975, and I was pushed aside."

"It's not me. I want to fight, but nobody wants to come up against me, because I'm too tricky. They
call me 'a cutey', and a guy to stay away from."

[Bill Paxtom]

June 15, 1976

Nassau Coliseum ~ Long Island, New York

Vicente Mijares {Gold Trunks} vs. Vilomar Fernandez {Blue Trunks}

Vicente used an aggressive attack early, by moving in with right-hand leads, and fast left-hooks
to the head over the first 3-Rounds.

Vilomar was forced on the defensive early, and could not match Vicente's hand-speed or more
effective offense.

In Rounds 4 and 5, Vilomar went to 'side-to-side' movement, and frustrated the aggressive Mexican by
staying outside, where he avoided exchanges. Vilomar was able to hold the aggressive Mexican 'even'
during the exchanges.

In Round 6, Vilomar had his best session, as he scored with 'quick' right-hand leads, and fast 'left-right'
counters each time that Vicente missed with a lead punch.

By Round 7, Vicente was ''frustrated' with chasing the elusive New Yorker. Now, Vicente loaded-up,
looking the 'one-punch' knockout.

This played right into Vilomar's hands, as he was effective with counter-punching, by scoring with
left-jabs, and fast right-hand counters, then moving away in Rounds 7 and 8.

In Round 9, the action was 'even', until late, when Vicente caught the tricky New Yorker with a
'jolting' left-hook to the jaw, that buckled Fernandez' legs. Vicente then ripped away with a series
of punches that had Vilomar covering up along the Ropes.

In Round 10, Vicente tore into Vilomar with 'left-right' combinations, and 'shook' the crafty New Yorker
with a flurry at Center-Ring.

Vilomar was forced to cover up, and was 'badly peppered' by the Mexican over the last-half of
the 10th Round.

Scorecards
* Referee - Pete Della ........... 5-3 > {Vicente Mijares}
* Judge - Tony Castellano ..... 5-4 > {Vilomar Fernandez}
* Judge - Harold Lederman ... 6-4 > {Vicente Mijares}

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Mid 1976 Lightweight Happenings ~

WBA Lightweight Champion - Roberto Duran

Had defended his Title on May 23rd with a win {KO 14} over 'pesky' Lou Bizzarro.

Roberto, who had signed a '3-Bout' $375,000 Fight Contract with Promoter - Don King
in December 1975, was trying to 'pick-and-choose' his opponents.

The Duran Camp was contemplating a jump up to the 140 lb. Light-Welterweight Division,
to challenge new Champion > 'teenager' Wilfred Benitez.

The Panamanian-based WBA put 'no pressure' on their favorite son > Roberto Duran to
defend his Lightweight Championship against the 'mandatory challenger'.

Esteban Dejesus won the WBC Championship on May 8, 1976 when he defeated Ishimatu
'Guts' Suzuki by a 'wide' 15-Round Decision.

Esteban had signed a contract to defend his Title against the #1 WBC-ranked Challenger
Hector Julio Medina within the 120-Days stipulated by the WBC. That bout was set for
late-August or early-September.

Vicente Mijares

Had won '4-Straight' Lightweight Elimination bouts since November 29, 1975 > yet was still
waiting for the chance to challenge for the Lightweight Championship.

The 21 1/2 year-old Vicente, now at 21-0-0, was ranked in the Top 3 of both the WBC and WBA.

Harry Kabakoff >
"We have given up on chasing Roberto Duran. The WBA gives us no help, and has allowed him to
defend his Championship against an 'unranked guy' in Lou Bizzarro. He {Bizzarro} was 'undefeated',
but he was a 'club-fighter' who beat no one."

"We are hoping to secure a bout with WBC Champion - Esteban DeJesus for the end of the year,
if he gets by that Dominican {Hector Julio Medina}, which will be no easy task. That kid {Medina}
can fight."