Vicente Mijares ~ 'Talented Mexican Lightweight'

[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."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ September 3, 1976

Plaza de Toros Calafia ~ Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

Attendance ........... 6700

~ NABF Lightweight Championship ~

* Vicente Mijares - 21-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 134 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 8 months}
vs.
* Javier Muniz - 21-5-2 {11 KO's} ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 1 month}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Vicente Mijares continues to fight, and wait for a World Title bout. The 'master-boxing'
Mexican will be defending his NABF Lightweight Championship for the 2nd time.

Javier Muniz is a 'fast-handed' boxer from Los Angeles. The 3-Year Professional was at
18-1-2 only 1-Year earlier in July 1975. But Javier has slid by going { 3-4 } in his last
'7-Bouts' since August 1975.

Also, Javier has a 'granite chin' and has never been floored in his career. His '4' previous
losses {10-Round Decisions} have all been to World Class Lightweights >
* Rudy Hernandez
* Jimmy Heair
* Alfonso Jiminez
* Buzzsaw Yamabe
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ NABF Lightweight Champion Mijares Scores 'Decisive' Win In Mexicali ~

Mexican 'boxing-specialist' Vicente Mijares defended his NABF Lightweight Championship by
scoring a 'decisive' 12-Round Decision over scrappy Los Angeles Lightweight - Javier Muniz.

The 21 1/2 year-old Mijares used a 'consistent-and-sharp' left-hand to build up a wide-points
lead over the first-half of the bout.

In Round 4, Mijares 'badly-shook' Muniz when he caught him with a 'vicious' right-hook to
the jaw, and had his opponent 'wobbling' throughout the middle-session of the Round. But,
Muniz shook off the 'cob-webs' and just barely made it through the Round while back-pedaling
along the perimeter of the Ring.

A still 'groggy' Muniz made it through Round 5 by circling, and moving in close to grab
Mijares each time that he attacked.

Though Muniz was out-boxed, he never stopped trying, as he flung left-hooks and wide
right-hands from the outside against the smooth-boxing Mijares during an 'action-oriented'
6th and 7th Rounds.

But Mijares moved inside during the 8th and 9th Rounds, and slammed the durable Muniz with
left-hooks to the jaw and right-hands to the body, sending the Los Angeles fighter back on
his heels and against the Ropes.

With the bout 'well-in-hand', Mijares went back to 'smart-boxing' over the last 3-Rounds, and
was effective with left-jabs, and quick 'left-right' counter-punches each time that Muniz moved
in to attack.

Scorecards
* 118-113 {7-2-3 in Rounds} > Vicente Mijares
* 118-111 {9-2-1 in Rounds} > Vicente Mijares
* 117-112 {8-3-1 in Rounds} > Vicente Mijares

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ November 4, 1976

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

#3 WBA / #3 WBC - Vicente Mijares - 22-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 5' 6 1/2" ~ 134 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 10 months}
vs.
#11 WBA / #16 WBC - Mar 'Sea Base' Basa - 44-3-1 {14 KO's} ~ 5' 7" ~ 136 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 10 months}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Vicente Mijares in a 'stay busy' bout, while waiting for a World Championship bout.

Mar Basa is a quick and crafty-boxer from The Philippines. 'Sea Base' is a stable-mate
of WBA Super-Featherweight Champion - Ben Villaflor.

Up thru May 1976, Mar Basa had a 'posted' record of 43-1-1 with {14 KO's}, and was ranked
as the #7 WBA Super-Featherweight.

But a loss {L TKO 9} to #1 World-ranked Super-Featherweight - Samuel Serrano in Puerto Rico
on May 8th ended his incredible run.

The 8-Year Professional bounced back by scoring an 'upset win' {W Dec 10} over highly-regarded
and #12 WBA-ranked Lightweight Korean - Chung-Moon Chin back on August 10, 1976.

But on September 15th, 'Sea Base' was stopped {L KO 5} by #5 WBC Lightweight - Buzzsaw Yamabe
in a WBC South-Pacific Elimination bout in Honolulu, Hawaii.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Mijares Chases Down Filipino, Scores Decision Win At The Olympic ~

#3 World-rated Lightweight - Vicente Mijares chased-and-chased, and scored a wide-points 10-Round
Decision over 'fleet-footed' southpaw Mar Base of The Philippines.

The 'smart-boxing' Mijares stalked the light-punching Filipino for the outset, by firing in steady left-jabs,
and short right-hands to the body, as Mar Base stayed on the outside and tried to counter with right-jabs.

When the Filipino moved in close to trade, he was out-punched, and was forced to retreat and attempt
to counter from the outside.

Mijares had his way over the early going, and scored a 'flash-knockdown' in Round 4, when he caught
Mar Base with a hard-counter right-hand to the chin.

The Mexican then kept up the pace with a steady-offense, and had the Filipino in retreat-mode in every
Round. The Filipino was hurt in Rounds 8 and 9 as well, but the crafty-boxer was able to use his quick
footwork to escape and avoid getting trapped.

Scorecards
* Referee - John Thomas ...... 100-92
* Judge Eddie Fiero .............. 100-89
* Judge - Marty Dankin .......... 99-90
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry Kabakoff {Manager for Vicente Mijares} >
"There is not much more we can do, but wait for a contract to Challenge for one of the World Titles. We were
offered $10,000 to fight WBC Champion - Esteban DeJesus in a {non-title bout} on Television, and set for the
end of November. That is not acceptable for us."

'We are only looking for a Championship Bout now, no 'non-title' bouts."

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ April 2, 1977

Convention Center Arena ~ San Antonio, Texas

* Vicente Mijares - 23-0-0 {11 KO's} ~ 135 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 3 months}
vs.
* Canelo Salinas - 27-9-0 {10 KO's} ~ 134 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 1 month}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Vicente Mijares, now the #1 WBC-ranked Lightweight will be having his final 'tune-up bout' before
Challenging WBC Lightweight Champion.

Mijares had signed a contract back on March 1st, to challenge Esteban Dejesus in Puerto Rico
on May 13th.

Vicente last fought back on November 4th, 1976 {5 months ago}. Vicente was supposed to
fight WBC Lightweight Champion - Esteban Dejesus on February 12, 1977 - but he was 'bumped'
in favor of Shinji 'Buzzsaw' Yamabe.

This bout here in San Antonio is promoted by Don King, and the bout's are part of the
United States Boxing Tournament.

Vicente's bout is 'not' part of the Tournament.

Canelo Salinas is a 'trial-horse' from Mexico. But, the 5 1/2 year Professional does have
'2' early career wins {in 1973} over Rafael 'Bazooka' Limon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Mijares Blasts Out Salinas In 5, Looks For WBC Lightweight Crown Next ~

Vicente Mijares, the #1 WBC-ranked Lightweight methodically wore down opponent Canelo Salinas
with left-hooks to both the head and body, and finished of the weary Mexicali Lightweight in
Round 5, with a thunderous right-hand to the jaw.

Mijares boxed smoothly over the first 3-Rounds, displaying his excellent boxing skills. Mijares
scored with sharp left-jabs, and lighting-fast combinations on an over-matched Canelo Salinas.

In Round 4, Mijares started to throw harder punches {left-hooks} and had Salinas looking for
cover along the perimeter of the Ring and along the Ropes.

The 'writing-was-on-the-wall' in Round 5, as Mijares thumped his opponent with heavy left-hooks
to the head and body, that him reeling throughout the session. Late in the session, Mijares 'staggered'
Salinas with a straight right-hand to the head, and left-hook to the jaw, sending a 'dazed' Salinas
into a Corner.

Mijares then moved in, and 'slammed' a right-hook into the 'dazed' fighters jaw, dropping him to the
canvas where he was counted out by Referee - Leonard Zuniga at {2:31} of Round 5.

Harry Kabakoff >
"Vicente was 'firing' on all cylinders today. He was both sharp and powerful. I was a bit worried, because
he hasn't fought in 5-Months, and I thought that it would effect his timing. But this kid is a tremendous
boxer, and is without a doubt one of the best 135 lb. fighters {Lightweight} in boxing today."

"Now it's on to Esteban Dejesus. You are going to see a great fight. A classic, between a power-puncher
and a master-boxer. The winner will get Roberto Duran next. This will be Vicente's opportunity to make it
big. He will surprise everyone."