Ralph Racine 'Niagara Falls Lightweight'

Ralph Racine,

An exciting Lightweight from Niagara Falls, Canada.

Started off his career as a stand-up boxer, but eventually developed a blistering right hand.

As a 20 year-old, turned professional in May 1976 as a 130 lb. Super-Feathrweight.

Ralph 'rambled' through with '9' straight wins, but only scored '2' knockouts. The right hand
power was still developing.

Unfortunately Ralph lost '4' of his next '5 bouts, and by March 1977 the 133 lb. prospect was
reeling with a record of 10-4-0 (3 KO's).

Trainer - Johnny Sudac worked on strengthening the Ralph's right hand and improved the leverage.

Over the next 2-years, Ralph went on a tear, and went 12-1-1 (8 KO's), including victories over
'fringe Lightweight contenders' - Al Ford (2x) and Larry Stanton.

Ralph's only loss, a close 10-Round Decison to veteran tough guy, Gaetan Hart.

By February 1979, Ralph Racine had improved to 22-5-1 (11 KO's), and was ranked in the Top 15
of the Lightweight Division.

While impressing, the 22 1/2 year-old was offered a 'Main Event Bout' at the Felt Forum in
New York City for a February 26, 1979 date.

This content is protected

 

February 26, 1979

Felt Forum - New York City

Ralph Racine 22-5-1 (11 KO's)...................(#15 Lightweight)
vs.
Ezequiel 'Cocoa' Sanchez 27-7-2 (9 KO's)....(#10 Super-Featherweight)

The 22 1/2 year-old - 5' 9 1/2" tall and lean Canadian - Ralph Racine is
looking for a win, to move into the edge of the Top 10 Lightweights.

The 25 year-old 5' 8" Dominican, veteran Ezequiel Sanchez has been
guaranteed a Championship bout for the WBA Super-Featherweight Title
with Champion - Samuel Serrano if he can defeat Ralph Racine.

Suprisingly, Ezequiel came into the bout at 136 lbs., and Ralph came in at
133 lbs.

Ezequiel 'Cocoa' Sanchez

This content is protected

 

February 26, 1979

Ralph Racine scores a last round stoppage 'TKO 10' over Ezequiel 'Cocoa' Sanchez
in one the best Lightweight bouts at the Felt Forum.

Both fighters went at it from the opening bell, with the Canadian landing hard left jabs
while attempting to nail Ezequiel with his dangerous right hand.

The crafty 'Cocoa' Sanchez, a fast-handed boxer/counter-puncher in the early rounds,
suddenly turned aggresor in the middle rounds turned the flow of the fight.

Both fighters banged away in the crucial 8th and 9th Rounds, and entering Round 10
the Lightweight bout was up for grabs.

Scorecards after 9 Rounds.
* Referee, Arthur Mercante.....7-2-0 (Ralph Racine)
* Judge, Sam Iron.................4-3-2 (Ezequiel Sanchez)
* Judge, Artie Aidala..............4-4-1 (Even)

In Round 10, Racine sensing he needed the round for the win, attacked and dropped
'Cocoa' early in the round with a left hook. 'Cocoa' got up at the '5-Count' and moments
later was met by Racine, who unleashed a flurry of hard punches on the stunned
Dominican.

As Racine flailed away, he landed a long right hand to the head of Sanchez who wobbled
back and was unable to defend himself, when Referee - Arthur Mercante jumped in and
stopped the bout a 1:17 of Round 10.

The win improved Ralph Racine to 23-5-1 (12 KO's). After the bout, the Canadian
suggested that he would like to fight Alexis Arguello next.

 

Ralph Racine,

Following his exciting win over 'World Ranked' Ezequiel 'Cocoa' Sanchez in New York City
on February 26, 1979

The 22 1/2 year-old Racine, who had won '7' straight with (5 KO's) was regarded as one of the
more exciting Lightweights in Northeast, and featured a 'paralyzing right hand', to go with a record
of 23-5-1 (12 KO's).

6-weeks later - April 6, 1979

Teddy Brenner of Madison Square Garden then brought back the Niagara Falls Lightweight
to New York, to take on talented Nicaraguan Super-Featherwight - #9 WBC-ranked
Marco Barahona 15-1-1 (4 KO's).

Marco Barahona, a stable-mate of Alexis Arguello was a test for Ralph Racine, to see
if he would be a capable opponent for 'The Explosive Thin Man', and possible May 21, 1979
bout at Madison Square Garden.

With, Alexis Arguello in attendance watching.

The near 23 year-old, 5' 9" 133 lb. Ralph, pressed early, and rocked the 22 year-old 5' 8" 135 lb.
Barahona back on his heels in the first '2-Rounds', with his devastating right hand, while trying
for an early stoppage. Ralph was over-whelming Barahona with his strength, and looked like it
was going to be a blow-out.

But, midway thru Round 4, the slick-moving boxer had figured the Canadian out, and smoothly out-jabbed
his taller and stronger opponent. Barahona would double-jab as Racine pressed forward, then as
Ralph would load up to throw his devastating right hand, Barahona would slide to his right and duck,
then with Ralph off-balance, Barahona would counter with a crisp right to Racine's face.

After getting out-boxed in Rounds 5, 6 and 7 - the right-hand happy Racine was finally able to land
some decent punches in Round 8, and was able to catch his fleet-footed opponent with a good left
hook that shook him, then followed up with several good combinations, forcing Barahona to flee.

In Round 9, Barahona re-grouped, and continued with his successful jabbing and countering,
while Ralph Racine punched at air. Entering the 'final round', the Nicaraguan appeared to have
a 1-point edge on the scorecards.

Coming out for Round 10, Ralph Racine attacked, much like he did in his bout with Ezequiel 'Cocoa'
Sanchez. Racine stalked the 'slickster' Barahona, while trying to land his right hand. Barahona was
able to slide, and stay away, until late in the round when he got caught with a hard left hook that
buckled his legs. The Felt Forum fans arose from their seats cheering, while Ralph pounced on his
stunned opponent and bombed away with right hands.

With his back to the ropes, Barahona was hit with several hard punches and looked ready to crash,
but he was able to absorb Racine's hard blows and barely stayed on his feet until the final bell.

Marco Barahona was awarded a 'disputed' 10-Round Split-Decision.


'Racine Hot After N.Y. Loss'

Ralph Racine was 'hot' after his disputed 10-Round Spilt-Decision loss to Marco Barahona.
The Niagara Falls fighter is one of the best Lightweights in boxing today. His Manager
John Sudiak said he would seek a rematch with the Barahona in late-May, and in New York,
to set the record straight.

This content is protected

 

Ralph Racine came back to New York on May 21, 1979

But instead of a 'rematch' with Marco Barahona -

He got Julio 'El Diablito' Valdez, a 27 year-old Dominican who was a 'tricky' boxer with
fast hands and great movement.

The 5' 7" Dominican, had a deceiving record of 16-8-1 (2 KO's) - as he had gone
14-1-1 in his last '16-bouts', with his only loss a 15-Round Decision to WBA
Super-Featherweight Champion in his last bout in February 17, 1979.

'El Diablito', the #5 WBA Super-Featherweight - was not a heavy puncher, but his
fast hands and clever inside fighting helped him score victories over Alfredo Escalera,
Francisco Villegas and Marco Barahona.

The Fight,

Ralph went right after 'El Diablito' in the opening round, and Valdez was right there
slugging away, when suddenly after a brisk exchange, Valdez whipped in an overhand
right to Ralph's chin, dropping him.

For the next 6-Rounds, Valdez out-punched and out-smarted the plodding Racine, by
landing overhand rights time and again to Ralph's head, stunning him several times.
Valdez easily built up a shut-out on the cards, as Ralph was swinging at air.

Ralph was able to close the distance on Valdez in Round 7, and over the last 4-Rounds,
as he was finally able to land some medium-power punches to Valdez' upper-body, but his
offense was limited to single-punches only, as Valdez would smartly tie up Ralph
whenever he got momentum.

Ringside Scorecard {6-2-2} for Julio Valdez.

Losses in 2 out of 3 bouts to World-ranked Super-Featherweights dropped Ralph Racine
to 24-7-1, and out of the Top 20 Lightweights.

 

August 2, 1979

Detroit, Michigan

Hilmer Kenty vs Ralph Racine

Does anyone having any details on this Lightweight bout.

Hilmer Kenty 12-0-0 {8 KO's} - vs. - Ralph Racine 24-7-1 {13 KO's}

Ralph scored a 'flash-knockdown' on Hilmer in the 1st-Round, by landing a counter
left hook/right cross.

Ralph also landed a crisp straight right to Hilmer's chin that stiff-legged him near
the end of Round 1.

Ralph floored Hilmer again in Round 2, this time with a lead right-hand cross to the
chin that Hilmer never saw.

But, Hilmer collected himself, and went on to out-box Ralph, and escaped with a close
and disputed 10-Round Decision.

 

Winnipeg Free Press......

 

Joseph Bruno and the New York Tribune......Had a good sports section.


On Niagara Falls Ralph.

Ralph Racine had '3-bouts' in New York back in early-1979.

Exciting 135 lb. banger, if you remember. Ralph would start out fast and fade by the 3rd-Round.

Then would plod away for the next 5-rounds, while getting hit with
'sucker punches'.

Then he would get 'hot' in Rounds 9 and 10, and come barn-storming
back.

Teddy Brenner was hoping to match Ralph with Alexis Arguello, but
Ralph lost to Marco Barahona and Julio 'El Diablito' Valdez - and that
ended that.

 

Winnipeg Free Press

April 13, 1980

Municipal Auditorium - Kansas City, Missouri

Ralph Racine won his '3rd' straight bout since losing to Hilmer Kenty in August 1979 in Detroit.

Ralph (137 lbs.) scored a {TKO 8} over #14 Light-Welterweight - Dale Hernandez (Omaha, Nebraska) who
came into the ring with a 36-3-0 (22 KO's) record. The 24 year-old Canadian had some trouble
with the stubborn 29 year-old veteran in the early rounds, as the Hernandez scored with good punches
to the head, which kept the hard-punching Canadian off of him.

But, Ralph came on, using his hard right-hand and speedy punches in Round 5, pushing the (136 lb.)
Hernandez backwards.

The 5' 10" tall Racine, stunned the shorter Hernandez in Rounds 5, 6 and 7 - before battering his
opponent with hard right hands in Round 8, driving him across the ring and leaving him defenseless
before the Referee stopped the bout.

But despite winning, Ralph is continuing to take too many blows to the face and head.

Racine now improves to 27-8-1 (15 KO's), and is now ranked as the #10 WBA Lightweight. Ralph has
a scheduled bout with Gaetan Hart on May 7, 1980 for the Canadian Lightweight Championship.

If Ralph Racine wins that bout, he has been guaranteed a bout with WBA Lightweight Champion
Hilmer Kenty on June 20, 1980 - on the undercard of the Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran WBC Welterweight
Championship.

This content is protected

 

May 7, 1980

Paul Sauve Arena - Montreal Quebec

Attendance; 4000

Canadian Lightweight Championship

Gaetan Hart....41-20-4 (19 KO's)....#15 WBA / #20 WBC Lightweight
vs.
Ralph Racine....28-8-1 (16 KO's).....#10 WBA / #19 WBC Lightweight

What is on the line, the Canadian Lightweight Championship. If Ralph Racine wins,
he will be guaranteed a bout versus WBA Lightweight Champion - Hilmer Kenty on
June 20, 1980 - on the undercard of the Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran WBC
Welterweight bout in Montreal.

A win by Gaetan Hart, will put him in the Top 10, and edge him closer to a future chance
at his goal for a World Championship bout.

What happened........

This content is protected

 

A short video of Ralph Racine.

Including, where Ralph was battered by Gaetan Hart in Round 12 of their May 7, 1980 bout.

In Round 12, Gaetan pushed Ralph to the ropes, where he pinned an exhausted Racine and
unleashed a relentless assault. Then with a 'stunned' Racine in front of him and draped with
his back leaning over the top rope strand, Gaetan delivered about '30' unanswered head blows
to a fighter who was out-on-his feet'.

Referee - Guy Butras then jumped in at the 2:43 Mark (with 17-seconds left in the bout), and
stopped the pummeling.

Ralph Racine staggered back to his corner in a daze, where his handler's helped him sit on
the corner stool. Moments later Ralph lost consciousness, and collapsed.


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRgKhLeAUw4&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]

 

EL MAN,

Much more in the Ralph Racine History, regarding the Gaetan Hart bout, held on May 7, 1980.

First on Ralph,

The 24 year-old from Niagara Falls, was a 5' 10' fast-handed puncher, with a
paralyzing right-hand. But, Ralph was a 'flatt-footed fighter' who needed time to set up.

He required distance between him and his opponent, to unload his long right hand power
punch. His defense though, was 'shoddy' at best, as he could easily be hit with 'sucker punches'.
Ralph had a good chin, but he had been rocked and stunned many times in his recent bouts
against 'better-calibre' opponents.

In his May 13th bout with #14 Light-Welterweight - Dale Hernandez 36-3-0 (22 KO's), a hard-punching
Omaha, Nebraska fighter, Ralph was stunned several times by numerous shots to the head,
before rallying to score a TKO 8 victory.

Amazingly, Ralph had another bout after that. On April 24, just 11-days after the Dale Hernandez
bout, he had a mini-war with Bruce 'The Mouse' Strauss 27-11-2 (19 KO's). Out-weighed by
8 lbs., the 135 lb. Racine got punched around in the first 3-Rounds, before he came rallying
back to score a TKO 5, by flooring 'The Mouse' '3-times' with left hooks to the body.

In his scheduled bout with Gaetan Hart on May 7, it would be Ralph's 'third bout' in 24-days.

In preperation for his upcoming bout with Gaetan Hart, Ralph was put in the ring with 155 lb.
sparring-partners, to help prepare him for a pressure-type fight.