Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas vs. Pete Ranzany ~ 'WBA Welterweight Championship'

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ September 9, 1978

Charles C. Hughes Stadium ~ Sacramento, California

Attendance ...... 17,000

* Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas - 22-6-0 {20 KO's} ~ 5' 8" ~ 146 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 7 months}
vs.
* Pete Ranzany - 40-2-1 {26 KO's} ~ 5' 10 1/2" ~ 146 1/2 lbs. {Age; 26 years, 5 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

WBA Welterweight Champion - Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas was making the '7th' Title Defense of the
Championshio he won 2-Years earlier {July 17, 1976}.

Cuevas had 'stopped' each of his previous Challengers, as well as stopping then WBA Champion
Angel Espada when the young 18 year-old Mexican had won the Title.

There was no doubt that 'Pipino' was a vicious puncher, but there still remained the question,
as to whether he could handle a real good boxer over a long distance.

Lupe Sanchez {Manager for Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas}
"We are not here to prove if we can win over 15-Rounds. We're here to put Pete Ranzany
down and out on his back, and fast."

"We have never been worried about whether or not a fight goes longer than 5 or 6 Rounds.
'Pipino' is well-trained, and he can go 15-Rounds if he has to."

"Look, we are coming into Ranzany's home-town to fight him. Do we have any fears or worries.
No not really. We just asked to have WBA Officials as Judges, to insure a proper and fair Decision if
it goes 15-Rounds."