Jose Manuel Urtain vs. Jose 'King' Roman ~ 'Dramatic Battle in Puerto Rico'

[Bill Paxtom]

Monday ~ April 3, 1972

Hiram Bithorn Stadium ~ Puerto Rico

'Spanish War in Puerto Rico'

Hometown local - Jose 'King' Roman takes on visiting Spaniard - Jose Manuel Urtain.

[Bill Paxtom]

Monday ~ April 3, 1972

Hiram Bithorn Stadium ~ San Juan, Puerto Rico

Promoter ~ Larry Cruz

Attendance ~ {9130}

'Tale of the Tape'

Jose 'King' Roman {Puerto Rico}
Age.......... 25 years, 4 months
Height...... 5' 10"
Reach...... 72"
Weight..... 192 lbs.
Record..... 39-7-1 {18 KO's}
Rank........ #17

Jose 'King' Roman has steadily improved over the past 3 1/2 years. Since January 1969,
Jose has gone 22-2-0 with {11 KO's}.

His only losses over that time, was a close 10-Round Decision to Jack Bodell in the
United Kingdom on July 14, 1969, and a recent 10-Round Split-Decision loss to Robie Haris
on October 29, 1971 in California.

Jose is a muscular and fast-handed boxer, who has a solid left-jab and works well to the
body with both hands.

Jose is managed by 'Honest' Bill Daly, and is trained by Al Braverman.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jose Manuel Urtain {Spain}
Age......... 28 years, 11 months
Height..... 5' 11"
Reach...... 74"
Weight..... 196 lbs.
Record..... 39-3-2 {37 KO's}
Rank........ #16

Jose Manuel Urtain {'El Tigre de Cestona'} is both the European and Spanish Heavyweight
Champion.

Jose, who is the {7-2 Betting Favorite}, is managed by Puerto Rican based - Yamil Chade.

The Spaniard is hoping that a win here will catapult him into a World Heavyweight Championship
bout with Champion - Joe Frazier for mid-1972.

Jose will rely on his brute-strength and power-house punches which compliment his slugging-style.

Jose has been guaranteed a $25,000 Fight Purse.

Jose, who has been campaigning since July 1968 {3 3/4 years} will be fighting for the 1st time
outside of Europe.

Jose Manuel Urtain >

"I hope that I get a fair Decision if it goes the distance. There will be '3' Puerto Rican Officials
scoring this bout."

"I have to be honest. I have been here for 2-Weeks, and I cannot get a decent sparring mate.
There is not one good Heavyweight here on this island."

[Bill Paxtom]

'The Fight'

The 'heavily-favored' and visiting Spaniard - Jose Manuel Urtain {196 lbs.} came out
bombing in Round 1, and unleashed his vicious left-hooks to the body of the local kid
Jose Roman {192 lbs.}

By the end of the Round, the Puerto Rican was already showing signs of distress, as
the Spaniard dealt in his powerful left-hooks to the body.

In Round 2, it was more of the same as Urtain kept slamming away with powerful punches
to the body of the Puerto Rican.

In Round 3, Urtain continued with his vicious assault, and had Jose Roman on the defensive
and retreating as the pace of the bout was both 'fast and violent'.

But the hometown-kid Jose Roman weathered the early storm of Jose Manuel Urtain.

In Round 4, the Spaniard was in control early in the session, and continued winging
in hard left-hooks. But, Jose Roman rallied, as he scored with several quick flurries over
the middle-part of the session.

The 'turning point' of the bout came late in Round 4, when Jose Roman landed a crisp
right-hand to Urtain's left-eye. The slashing punch opened a bad-cut on the Spaniard's
left eye-brow.

The Ringside Physician inspected the 'cut' at the end of Round 4.

A motivated Jose Roman came out for Round 5 with new life, and scored with repeated
combinations on the now reluctant Jose Manuel Urtain. The visiting Spaniard slowed
down significantly, and could not match Jose Roman in hand-speed.

The Rinsgide Physician again inspected the 'cut' over Jose Manuel Urtain's left-eye
at the end of Round 5.

In Round 6, Jose Roman continued with an assortment of left-hands on the forward
pressing Spaniard.

But mid-way thru the session, Urtain changed tactics, and used his left-hand as a jab
instead of winging it in as a power-punch. Urtain was able to score, and opened up a
cut on the Puerto Rican's cheekbone.

Rounds 7 and 8 were fought both briskly and violent, as both fighters attacked. Roman
switched up, and was brilliant with his body work as he fired in 'swift' 3-Punch combinations.

The Spaniard countered with his heavy left-hooks to slow down Roman's speed attacks.

After 8-Rounds, the bout was very close on the Scorecards.

In the last 2-Rounds, Jose 'King' Roman clearly dominated, as he continued with his brilliant
body work. The 'fast-handed' Puerto Rican moved in and fired away unabated, as the Spaniard
was too slow and too tired to counter.

[Bill Paxtom]

Newspaper Reports

~ Jose 'King' Roman Wins In Dramatic Battle With Jose Manuel Urtain ~

~ Jose Roman Upsets Spaniard Urtain In San Juan Battle ~

~ Roman Defeats European and Spanish Champion Urtain ~

Scorecards
* Referee - Waldemar Schmidt ....... 99-94
* Judge - Jose Soto ....................... 97-93
* Judge - Ishmael Fernandez ......... 98-93

[TitoFan]

Thanks for that little slice of history. That was before I was following boxing.... but I remember the jokes about when Joe "King" Roman got a shot at Big George Foreman. The prevailing local joke was that the singers had not yet finished the national anthems when George lowered the boom on Roman. I also got a look at his final record and was surprised that he kept on fighting as long as he did, taking a lot of TKO/KO losses toward the end of his career.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thanks for that little slice of history. That was before I was following boxing.... but I remember the jokes about when Joe "King" Roman got a shot at Big George Foreman. The prevailing local joke was that the singers had not yet finished the national anthems when George lowered the boom on Roman. I also got a look at his final record and was surprised that he kept on fighting as long as he did, taking a lot of TKO/KO losses toward the end of his career.

Thanks Tito Fan,

Jose 'King' Roman's victory over Jose Manuel Urtain was an 'upset' and put
the Puerto Rican Heavyweight in the WBA Top 10 at the #10 position.

There was a call by Jose Manuel Urtain for an 'immediate rematch' in Spain.

But, it did not happen.

Jose 'King' Roman was a better boxer than he got credit for. All those late career
losses, was just Jose riding out the 'fame' as a former World Title Challenger.