Bobby Chacon vs. David Sotello ~ "The Riot at The Forum"

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ February 25, 1976

The Forum ~ Inglewood, California

Attendance ............. 7894
Gate Receipts ........ $98,000

Bobby Chacon {left} digs a right-hand into the mid-section of David Sotello.

Bobby {131 lbs.} got off to a good start early, by scoring to the body with right-hooks, and to the
mid-section with straight right-hands, mixed in with poking left-jabs to the face of the clumsy
and awkward Mexican.

David Sotello {131 lbs.} though getting out-punched, continued to press forward, and slung left-hooks
from the upper-deck, which all had missed.

By the end of Round 5, 'The Schoolboy' was pitching a shut-out, as he landed with regularity with
left-right punches, while waving to the fans at Ringside, each time after he landed a good punch.

David Sotello continued to miss with wild left-hooks and pole-axe right-hands, but he was a 'game'
trial-horse.

In Round 6, a cheerful Bobby Chacon 'waved' to the crowd of 7894 and his family at Ringside, while
easily out-boxing Sotello from the outside.

Between Rounds 6 and 7, Bobby 'chatted' with the fans at Ringside, and smiled to the celebrities,
like it was 'easy-and-routine' business on stage.

In the opposite corner, the plodding David Sotello who had been clearly out-boxed over the first 6-Rounds
was still full-of-energy, as his small group of 200 supporters were still cheering him on.

[Bill Paxtom]

Coming out for Round 7, Bobby Chacon was pitching a shut-out on all '3' Scorecards.

The bout had been an easy 'piece-of-cake'.

Bobby had landed with nearly all of his punches on his over-matched opponent >
Left-jabs, left-hooks, 'left-right' combinations, and right-hands to the mid-section.

But David Sotello was still there. Over 6-Rounds, Sotello must have thrown nearly
200-Punches, and still had yet to land with a decent punch.

Before Round 7 started, Bobby was 'smiling' and waving to everybody at The Forum.

Round 7

Again it was easy going for Bobby, as he peppered the 'wild-swinging' and raw-fighting
David Sotello with left-jabs. mixed in with a few 'left-right' combinations.

But by the mid-way session in the Round, Bobby started to get 'cocky'. Instead of boxing
smartly, Bobby lowed his guard and started playing around.

It was like Bobby wanted to give Sotello a chance. Now the Mexican was able to get in a little
closer, and was finally able to land with a few glancing blows.

Still, Bobby was in control, and backed to the Ropes where he did a little 'Rope-A-Dope',
and played to the crowd while Sotello moved in and flung-in awkward punches.

Sotello did enough work in this Round to make it 'Even', as Bobby did 'nothing' over the
second-half of the Round as he played to the crowd of 7894 while leaning on the Ropes.

Scorecards thru 7 Rounds
* Referee - Chuck Hassett ....... 8-0
* Judge - Lou Filippo .............. 6-0
* Judge - Richard Steele ......... 6-0

[Bill Paxtom]

Round 8

~ Very Controversial ~

Bobby again was in control early, and boxed from the outside by mixing in left-jabs from
the perimeter.

Each time that Sotello tried to move forward and in close, Bobby would fire in a right-hand
to the mid-section to stall Sotello's efforts.

But by the mid-way point in the Round, Bobby was suddenly not moving at all, and was
staying stationary at Center-Ring while looking for 'one-punch'.

This allowed Sotello to edge in closer, where he attempted his 'wide-hooks'.

It now looked as if Bobby was 'trying-to-cruise', as his legs suddenly looked heavy.

By the {1:50 Mark}, the Mexican was now on the offensive, by throwing looping-punches, as
Bobby 'rolled' and blocked the incoming 'telegraphed hooks'.

As Bobby defended, Sotello kept throwing, though most of his punches were either blocked
or avoided by Bobby as he swayed or ducked.

Then it happened >

At the {2:03 Mark} > David Sotello came in with a 'right-left' into Chacon's body. Instead of stepping
back, Bobby tried to counter with a right-hand to the mid-section {a counter-punch that he had
landed successfully the previous '100' other times he threw it in this bout}.

As Bobby came in with the straight right-hand, his left-guard was down and his face was exposed.

David Sotello then countered with a 'slashing right-hand' that caught Bobby over his left-eye, which
immediately 'ripped' open a cut on the eye-brow, as well as momentarily 'stunning' Chacon.

Bobby then 'froze', and for some reason he lowered his guard to see what his opponent was doing.

Then quickly, David Sotello came in with a 'tremendous' wide left-hook which landed 'flush' on
Bobby's chin at the {2:08 Mark}.

'Boom' > The punch landed, and sent Bobby down and 'tumbling' over backwards at
left-side Center-Ring.

It took Referee - Chuck Hassett a good '4-Seconds', before he moved in and started to
give Bobby a count.

At first it looked like Bobby Chacon 'was out'. But Bobby struggled mightily, and just barely
got to his feet at the '9-Count' from Referee - Chuck Hassett {thanks to the delay in starting
the count}.

When Bobby got up, he was 'out-on-his-feet'.

The Mexican fans were going crazy, as it was clear that the Referee took a long time to
'slow-count' Bobby. {Most calculated the count to be '13-Seconds'}.

Then the controversy >

As a 'badly-dazed' and wobbly-knee'd Chacon got up, he also a 'bad-cut' over his left-eye.

Immediately > Referee - Chuck Hassett slowly looked over the cut for a good 10-Seconds, before
calling 'Time' at the {2:32 Mark}.

Then he walked 'a still dazed' Chacon over to the Ringside Physician to have the cut over his
left-eye examined.

It took the Ringside Physician a good 30-Seconds to look over the cut, before allowing the
bout to continue.

When the bout resumed, the Time Clock picked up the action at the {2:32 Mark}, and Bobby
had regained some of his balance.

For David Sotello, he had lost precious time {a good 40-Seconds} in his chance to put a
'badly dazed' Chacon away.

As soon as Referee - Chuck Hassett said 'BOX', the Mexican tore into the still 'groggy' Chacon
with a 'barrage'.

Bobby was driven into the Ropes where he covered up, as Sotello flung left-hooks and
overhand-rights and 'lathered' Bobby's gloves which were in front of his face. Several of
the punches got through to Bobby's head.

Just as Sotello had Chacon ready to 'topple' at the {2:47 Mark}, the Mexican lost his mouthpiece.

Referee - Chuck Hassett called 'Time', and picked up the mouthpiece and had it rinsed off
by David Sotello's cornerman.

When the action resumed, a good 20-Seconds had passed.

With 13-Seconds left, Bobby instinctively moved off the Ropes and into Sotello, in an attempt
to swarm him and prevent the Mexican from getting in any more 'free' head shots.

Bobby tried to 'grab-and-hold', but he was 'rocked again' as he was nailed by a looping right-hand to
the head.

At the end of the Round, the Mexican supporters of David Sotello were roaring with chants of
'May-Hee-Co'.

[Bill Paxtom]

Between Rounds 8 and 9 >

A 'frantic' Chacon Corner attempted to revive Bobby by pouring ice-cold water
over his head and down his back.

The cut-man applied gobs of Vaseline over the cut on his left eye-brow.

In David Sotello's corner, they were excited, as the supporters behind his corner
were cheering 'May-Hee-Co'.

They told their fighter to go out a 'finish' Chacon.

Round 9

The Mexican came out swinging, as a 'still groggy' Chacon teetered on wobbly-knee's.

Bobby immediately moved to the back Ropes, and covered up with both gloves up. Sotello came in
punching, and threw punches from awkward angles, both 'high-and-low'.

By the {0:45 Mark}, Bobby had appeared to clear the 'cobwebs in his head', and started
to punch back with left-hooks while moving to his right, to the back-left Ropes.

But David Sotello was still there 'flinging' clumsy hooks, as he kept Bobby pinned on the
back-left Ropes for a good 50-Seconds.

Bobby Chacon was surviving 'purely-on-instinct'.

Just as Sotello was blasting-away, Bobby snuck off the Ropes and backed out to Center-Ring,
at the {1:45 Mark} as Sotello missed with his wild-swings.

Sotello continued to move in close, and slammed away with hard 'right-left' punches to
Chacon's body.

The Mexican was looking for a 'home-run punch' which would end it, but suddenly at the
{2:10 Mark} Bobby Chacon came alive.

Bobby then went 'toe-to-toe' with Sotello.

The action was 'even' over the last-minute of Round 9, as Bobby looked to have regrouped
and regained his balance, despite taking a few solid punches to the head and getting shellacked
over the first 2-Minutes of Round 9.

[Bill Paxtom]

Scorecards after 9-Rounds

* Referee - Chuck Hassett ...... 8-3 {Bobby Chacon}
* Judge - Lou Filippo ............. 6-3 {Bobby Chacon}
* Judge - Richard Steele ........ 6-2 {Bobby Chacon}

Coming out for Round 10 > all that Bobby Chacon had to do was survive, to win.

In the corner, Joe Ponce {Manager for Bobby Chacon} told his fighter to move, and
keep circling to the left and away from David Sotello's left-hook.

And that if Sotello gets in close, grab him and hold on until the Referee has to 'rip'
your arms off him.

Round 10

At the Bell >

Bobby came out of his Corner, and 'foolishly' moved to Center-Ring to trade.

The Mexican - David Sotello came out 'winging', and immediately went to attack-mode.

In the corner, Manager - Joe Ponce was 'screaming' at Bobby >
"Move Bobby, move. 'Fucking' move. Get away from him."

But Bobby 'instinctively' went to fighting, and started to trade with the 'still aggressive'
Mexican.

Both traded punches for the first {20-Seconds}, and then >

Sotello landed a good 'looping right-hand' to the head, and Bobby wobbled backwards
to the back-left Corner at the {0:25 Mark}.

Sotello moved in fast with a 'barrage-of-punches' to the head and body, as Bobby sagged into
the Ring-Post.

Then Sotello shot in a left-hook to the face, and Bobby's knee's buckled. Chacon was in 'serious'
trouble at the {0:40 Mark}.

The David Sotello supporters were now in a 'frency' screaming .... 'May-Hee-Co'.

Referee - Chuck Hassett took a good look at Chacon at the {0:50 Mark}, but made no move.

The 'clumsy-punching' Sotello continued to 'whack away', and at the {1:20 Mark} he caught
Bobby with a 'slashing right-hook' to the left-eye, opening up the cut more as blood flowed
down Bobby's left-cheek.

[Bill Paxtom]

Scorecards after 9-Rounds

* Referee - Chuck Hassett ...... 8-3 {Bobby Chacon}
* Judge - Lou Filippo ............. 6-3 {Bobby Chacon}
* Judge - Richard Steele ........ 6-2 {Bobby Chacon}

Coming out for Round 10 > all that Bobby Chacon had to do was survive, to win.

In the corner, Joe Ponce {Manager for Bobby Chacon} told his fighter to move, and
keep circling to the left and away from David Sotello's left-hook.

And that if Sotello gets in close, grab him and hold on until the Referee has to 'rip'
your arms off him.

Round 10

At the Bell >

Bobby came out of his Corner, and 'foolishly' moved to Center-Ring to trade.

The Mexican - David Sotello came out 'winging', and immediately went to attack-mode.

In the corner, Manager - Joe Ponce was 'screaming' at Bobby >
"Move Bobby, move. 'Fucking' move. Get away from him."

But Bobby 'instinctively' went to fighting, and started to trade with the 'still aggressive'
Mexican.

Both traded punches for the first {20-Seconds}, and then >

Sotello landed a good 'looping right-hand' to the head, and Bobby wobbled backwards
to the back-left Corner at the {0:25 Mark}.

Sotello moved in fast with a 'barrage-of-punches' to the head and body, as Bobby sagged into
the Ring-Post.

Then Sotello shot in a left-hook to the face, and Bobby's knee's buckled. Chacon was in 'serious'
trouble at the {0:40 Mark}.

The David Sotello supporters were now in a 'frency' screaming .... 'May-Hee-Co'.

Referee - Chuck Hassett took a good look at Chacon at the {0:50 Mark}, but made no move.

The 'clumsy-punching' Sotello continued to 'whack away', and at the {1:20 Mark} he caught
Bobby with a 'slashing right-hook' to the left-eye, opening up the cut more as blood flowed
down Bobby's left-cheek.

Bobby was 'rocked', but he was able to get off the Ropes, and moved out sideways to
Center-Ring at the {1:30 Mark}.

Sotello then came 'barreling-in' head-first, and drove his head into Bobby's chest, sending
Chacon flying backwards across the Ring and into the right-side Ropes.

Bobby immediately covered up, as Sotello came in with winging-hooks to the head. Bobby
was able to 'roll-with-the-punches', and looked to be able to withstand the onslaught while
pinned on the Ropes.

But Sotello slammed in a 'thunderous' right-hook to the head at the {2:05 Mark}, and Bobby
was visibly shaken.

The Forum crowd was now 'going crazy'.

At the {2:10 Mark}, 'a shaken' Chacon slide to his right, and moved over to the back-center
Ring area as Sotello continued to wing wildly.

There, Bobby tried to fight back. Then both fighters 'slugged' it out with a deafening noise
from the crowd inside The Forum smothering over the Ring.

[Bill Paxtom]

Scorecards after 9-Rounds

* Referee - Chuck Hassett ...... 8-3 {Bobby Chacon}
* Judge - Lou Filippo ............. 6-3 {Bobby Chacon}
* Judge - Richard Steele ........ 6-2 {Bobby Chacon}

Coming out for Round 10 > all that Bobby Chacon had to do was survive, to win.

In the corner, Joe Ponce {Manager for Bobby Chacon} told his fighter to move, and
keep circling to the left and away from David Sotello's left-hook.

And that if Sotello gets in close, grab him and hold on until the Referee has to 'rip'
your arms off him.

Round 10

At the Bell >

Bobby came out of his Corner, and 'foolishly' moved to Center-Ring to trade.

The Mexican - David Sotello came out 'winging', and immediately went to attack-mode.

In the corner, Manager - Joe Ponce was 'screaming' at Bobby >
"Move Bobby, move. 'Fucking' move. Get away from him."

But Bobby 'instinctively' went to fighting, and started to trade with the 'still aggressive'
Mexican.

Both traded punches for the first {20-Seconds}, and then >

Sotello landed a good 'looping right-hand' to the head, and Bobby wobbled backwards
to the back-left Corner at the {0:25 Mark}.

Sotello moved in fast with a 'barrage-of-punches' to the head and body, as Bobby sagged into
the Ring-Post.

Then Sotello shot in a left-hook to the face, and Bobby's knee's buckled. Chacon was in 'serious'
trouble at the {0:40 Mark}.

The David Sotello supporters were now in a 'frency' screaming .... 'May-Hee-Co'.

Referee - Chuck Hassett took a good look at Chacon at the {0:50 Mark}, but made no move.

The 'clumsy-punching' Sotello continued to 'whack away', and at the {1:10 Mark} he caught
Bobby with a 'slashing right-hook' to the left-eye, opening up the cut more as blood flowed
down Bobby's left-cheek.

Bobby was 'rocked', but he was able to get off the Ropes, and moved out sideways to
Center-Ring at the {1:20 Mark}.

Sotello then came 'barreling-in' head-first, and drove his head into Bobby's chest, sending
Chacon flying backwards across the Ring and into the right-side Ropes.

Bobby immediately covered up, as Sotello came in with winging-hooks to the head. Bobby
was able to 'roll-with-the-punches', and looked to be able to withstand the onslaught while
pinned on the Ropes.

But Sotello slammed in a 'thunderous' right-hook to the head at the {1:40 Mark}, and Bobby
was visibly shaken.

The Forum crowd was now 'going crazy'.

At the {1:50 Mark}, 'a shaken' Chacon slide to his right, and moved over to the back-center
Ring area as Sotello continued to wing wildly.

There, Bobby 'instinctively' tried to fight back. Then both fighters 'slugged' it out with a deafening
noise from the The Forum crowd as the noise reverberated over the Ring.

The Controversial Ending

While both were slugging away for 15-Seconds, David Sotrello caught Bobby with a solid right-hand
to the left-eye area at the {2:08 Mark}. The punch sent blood spattering, and Bobby was 'stunned'.

Sotello then 'rained' a series of blows into Chacon who's legs buckled as he reeled backwards
to the left-side Ring area.

Referee - Chuck Hassett moved in, and it looked like he was going to 'stop-the-action', when
David Sotello unloaded with an over-hand right to the head, and then caught Bobby with a
'picture-perfect' left-hook to the chin.

Bobby was literally 'pole-axed' to the canvas, as his legs kicked out behind him, and he fell
face-first into the canvas at the {2:17 Mark}.

The Forum crowd exploded with roars, and the Sotello supporters rushed from their seats to
Ringside screaming ..... 'May-Hee-Co' - May-Hee-Co'.

As Bobby Chacon lay on the canvas, Referee - Chuck Hassett took an extremely long time
directing David Sotello over to a 'Neural-Corner'.

By the time the Referee got back to Chacon {who was still laying face-first in the canvas}, nearly
6-Seconds had past, as the noise inside the Ring area was deafening.

Then Referee - Chuck Hassett 'slow-counted' from {1}. While Hassett was counting > David Sotello was in
the Neutral-Corner with his hands raised up in the air, while bouncing up and down thinking that
he won by a Knockout.

At this moment, several of the Mexican-supporters of David Sotello rushed into the Ring and swarmed
their Hero while cheering wildly.

It was a frenzy inside the Ring, as the Officials could not stop the charge.

In the meantime, Referee - Chuck Hassett was still counting {very slowly} as Bobby Chacon somehow
managed to get up at the {Referee's} '9-Count', at the {2:35 Mark}.

There was still 25-Seconds left on the Time Clock, but there was so many people inside the Ring, nobody
knew what happened, as nobody could hear.