Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas, born on December 12, 1957 Professional Debut, On November 14, 1971, and in Mexico City, the 13 year, 11 month old 5' 7" 135 lb. 'Pipino' made his professional debut. His opponent, 16 year-old Alfredo Castro, who had a record of 5-1-0 (3 KO's). Castro's previous bout, he was 'stopped' by a (L TKO 3) to future prospect Zovek Barajas 3-0-0 (1 KO's) just 4-weeks earlier, on October 14, 1971. From the news-letter account, Pipino was over-whelmed in Round 2, and was beaten into a defenseless posture, before the Referee stopped the bout. Not a great start for a youngster, but Pipino was not even of the age of 14.
They start them young down in Mexico. Alfredo Castro, who fought Pipino, at age 16, retired 2 years later at age 18. Compiled a record of 7-4-0 (5 KO's). ------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'second fighter' to defeat Pipino Cuevas, who was now 1-1-0 (1 KO). March 4, 1972 Pipino was now 14 years, 3 months - when he faced 17 year-old Mario Roman, in another 135 lb. Lightweight bout. Mario Roman, who was making his professional debut, won a 'clear-cut' 6-Round Unanimous Decision. Very little details, other than Mario out-classed the 14 year-old, and completely dominated Pipino over the last 3-Rounds. The loss dropped Pipino 1-2-0 (1 KO). Mario, just 3-months later fought a 10-Round Draw with Japan's Buzzsaw Yamabe (10-2-0) at The Olympic. Mario Roman could fight, and by the end January 1973 was 10-0-1 (5 KO's). But, a few losses during his 1973 and 1974 campaign put him at 17-3-1 (11 KO's). On November 5, 1974, Mario was 'blasted out' (L TKO 3) by World-Rated Super-Featherweight - Buzzsaw Yamabe in a rematch. But, in a 'major upset' on December 14, 1974 and in Mexico, Mario scored a 'knockout' (KO 2) over #1 WBC-ranked Super-Featherweight Alfredo Escalera. The victory moved Mario Roman to 18-4-1 (12 KO's), and earned him a #8 WBC ranking at Super-Featherweight. But, in the rematch with Alfredo Escalera in February 1975, Mario was 'sliced up' and stopped by (L TKO 3). Mario fought until April 1977, and retired with a record of 21-6-1 (13 KO's).
Mr. Francis,,,,,,, Excellent call. Jose' Joe Medel....El Huitlacoche' If the photo is from 1972 (with a 14 year-old Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas). That would be a 34 year-old Joe Medel. Pipino could have easily been a 5' 3" Lightweight at that age. Joe Medel, also managed by Lupe Sanchez. [url] This content is protected [/url]
August 19, 1972 Campeche, Mexico A 14 1/2 year old, 5' 3" 135 lb. - Pipino Cuevas - with a record of 3-2-0 (3 KO's) is matched with 17 year-old - Juan Pablo Oropeza 8-2-1 (4 KO's). Oropeza is coming off a 'knockout loss' (L KO 6) to Mario Roman (who also defeated Pipino Cuevas). In a scheduled 8-Rounder, Oropeza is the much stronger fighter, and lands the better punches in most of the rounds. The young Pipino was left-hook happy, and by the 4th-Round, was getting out-boxed by the older Oropeza. The only scorecard found, had it (78-76) or 4-2-2 in Rounds for Juan Pablo Oropeza. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juan Pablo Oropeza, was an obvious decent Lightweight, as after the bout with Pipino Cuevas, he went 16-0-0 (7 KO's) over the next 2 1/2 years (up through June 1975) to reach a record of 25-2-1 (11 KO's), including an April 1975 Decision win over World-rated Raul Mora. But Oropeza was stopped (L KO 5) by highly regarded Lightweight Jesus 'Chucho' Alonso in June 1975, and was 'Decisioned ( L Dec 10) by Rafael 'Bazooka' Limon in November 1975. Juan Pablo scored a good win in March 1976 by (W Dec 10) over World-rated Leonico Ortiz. Ortiz had just gone 15-Rounds (L KO 15) with Roberto Duran for the Lightweight Championship in December 1975. That win put the 21 year-old - Oropeza into the #9 WBA Lightweight position, with a record of 27-4-1. Juan Pablo won his next '5-bouts', including defeating (W Dec 10) German Cuello in June 1976. By the end of 1976, Oropeza had a record of 33-4-1 (14 KO's), and was ranked as the #5 WBA Lightweight, and had an outside shot of Challenging WBA Lightweight Champion - Roberto Duran. But, 'back-to-back' Decision losses in early-1977 dropped him to 32-6-1 (14 KO's). He retired in May 1977.
Sunday - May 13, 1973 Mexico City The 15 1/2 year-old, 5' 5" 135 lb. Joe 'Pipino' Cuevas with a record of 5-3-0 (5 KO's) is put in as opponent for highly regarded 5' 7" Super-Featherweight prospect, 18 year-old Guillermo 'Memo' Cruz 15-0-0 (10 KO's). The bout is the 'Main Event' that Sunday. It is supposed to be an 'easy' fight for 'Memo' Cruz. And the for the first 3-Rounds it is, as the well-skilled Cruz out-boxed a raw wide-swinging Pipino. But, in Round 4, Pipino floors Cruz 'twice', with well-placed left hooks to the chin. Pipino goes left-hook happy, and stuns 'Memo' again in Round 5, but Pipino cannot find the finisher. By the end of Round 7, the 15 1/2 year-old Pipino is exhausted. 'Memo' picks up the pace and takes control in Round 8, and has to sweep the last '3-Rounds' to win a suprisingly difficult and 'close' 10-Round Unanimous Decision. News-Letter account scorecard {95-94} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A year and half later, By September 1974, 19 1/2 year-old 'Memo' Cruz is 25-0-0 (16 KO's), and is ranked as the #8 WBC Super-Featherweight, and is on the verge of getting a World Title shot against the WBC Super-Featherweight Champion Japan's - Kuniaki Shibata. But, on September 18, 1974, 'Memo' Cruz is flattened (L KO 1) by veteran Mexican - Ney Gordillo. But, one-month later, on October 28, 1974 - Cruz 'upsets' (W Dec 10) #5 WBC Super-Featherweight and future WBC Champion - Alfredo Escalera in Mexico. Just 17-days later - on November 15, 1974 and in Puerto Rico, 'Memo' lost a Decision (L Dec 10) to #9 WBA Super-Featherweight and future WBA Champion - Samuel Serrano Over the next year, 'Memo' Cruz wins '7-straight', and the 20 1/2 year-old improves to 33-2-0 (21 KO's), while regaining a position in the Top 10 of both the WBA and WBC Super-Featherweights. On November 15, 1975, in a 'WBC Elimination Bout', 'Memo' is stopped (L KO 7) by Top 10 ranked Colombian - Hugo Barraza. Guillermo 'Memo' Cruz retired following that loss, but did come back for one more bout in August 1978 versus World-rated Light-Welterweight - Miguel Montilla and lost ((L KO 4). 'Memo' Cruz retired with a record of 33-4-0 (21 KO's).
Saturday - November 24, 1973 10-Round Lightweight Bout Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas 7-4-0 (7 KO's) Pipino Cuevas - 15 years, 11 months at 5' 6" 135 lbs. Opponent, 21 year-old - 5' 5" 133 lb. - Eleazor Delgado 12-5-0 (5 KO's). Eleazer Delgado had been campaigning as a 126 lb. Featherweight, one year earlier. The Fight, No detailed reports, other than Delgado won a Unanimous Decision.
Thanks Senor Pepe for all the informative posts. Always bugged me the way most American fans only knew Cuevas from two fights. The losses to Hearns and Duran, and look at his record as being less than perfect. When in reality he was a tough fighter with very heavy hands who routinely broke other fighters with his power.
Hard to even knock the losses on a pre-16 year-old Pipino Cuevas. Three of the fighters, A) Mario Roman, B) Guillermo 'Memo'' Cruz' and C) Juan Pablo Oropeza All went on to pretty good careers as a 130 lb. Super-Featherweight and/or 135 lb. Lightweight, with each reaching a Top 10 ranking. In January 1973, a 15 year-old Pipino started working with Lupe Sanchez at the Arce Public Gym in Mexico City, where he was still a 5' 6" 135 lb. Lightweight. When Lupe Sanchez first saw Pipino, he said, "Pipino was a 'project' with raw power".
After the 'loss' to Eleazor Delgado in November 1973 - The 15 year, 11 month old Pipino Cuevas was 7-5-0 (7 KO's), and was a 5" 6" 135 lb. Lightweight. 6-months later, he returned as 16 1/2 year old 5' 8" 143 lb. 'mini-machine, thanks to a growth spurt and regular training. His performance results; ------------------------- May 11, 1974.........(KO 1).......Salvador Ruvalcaba...13-3-0 (8 KO's) Note; Pipino (143 lbs.) scores a knockout (KO 1) in 1:22, over 18 year-old 143 lb. Ruvalcaba. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ June 12, 1974.........(KO 1).......Sugar Sanders..........11-5-0 (6 KO's) Note; Pipino (144 lbs.) scores a '2-punch' 17-second knockout (KO 1) over 22 year-old 145 lb. Sugar Sanders. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 21, 1974......(KO 1)......Jose Lus Pena...........16-1-1 (13 KO's) Note; Pipino (144 lbs.) scores a knockout (KO 1) in 2:33, over 19 year-old 145 lb. Jose Luis Pena, the #2 rated Jalisco State Welterweight. Pipino was now 10-5-0 (10 KO's), at age 16 years, 8 months.
Here is early Pipino Cuevas. Saturday Night - October 26, 1974 Arena Coliseo - Mexico City (Federal District) Attendance; 4800 (Capacity 7000) - The Arena Coliseo was built in 1956. The 'Main Event' features highly regarded Mexican Featherweight - Jose Torres vs Benjamin Ortiz, a durable Featherweight 'trial-horse' from Puerto Rico. The main undercard; Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas, at age 16 years, 10 months. The now 5' 8" 143 lb. Pipino, with a record of 10-5-0 (10 KO's). Pipino is being touted as a 'future' challenger for the Mexican Welterweight Championship by Manager - Lupe Sanchez. His opponent, 21 year-old 'Mexican' Sammy Garcia, at 5' 6 1/2" - 143 lbs. - who is a busy, but light-punching - 'club-fighting banger', with a record of 16-4-0 (6 KO's). The Fight; As you will see, Pipino had 'raw power', but could be hit with straight counter-punches down the middle. In Round 1, Pipino tries to measure Garcia for his 3-punch assaults. In one-exchange, while he pounded the 'light-punching' Sammy Garcia into the coner, Garcia counters nicely with 'two' sharp right-hands to Pipino's chin, which drives him back trying to re-group. From there, the Round is evenly contested, until late at the 2:48 Mark when Pipino lands a hard left and right that shakes Garcia. Pipino then forced Garcia itno his own corner with another hard left and right, where Pipino then flailed away with a 5-punch - 'left-right-left-left-right' flurry, until the bell ended Round 1. In Round 2, it is the light-punching Garcia who is the aggressor for the first 1-minute, as he forces the action while he backs up Pipino. It is Pipino, who looks a bit confused on how to attack Garcia who is directly in front of him. Pipino then opens up, and slugs away with about a dozen punches, but Garcia takes them and comes back on a slighty arm-weary Pipino. Late in the round, with his back on the ropes, Pipino does land some wicked punches on Garcia's head, as both fighters trade in a wild exchange. In Round 3, Sammy Garcia opens up as the aggressor, trying to take it to Pipino. While Pipino moves backwards along the ropes to try to get some punching room. Suddenly, with Pipino on the ropes, both fighters get into a fast exchange, and Pipino catches Garcia with a left hook to the chin at the 0:46 Mark. The punch stuns Sammy Garcia, and he wobbles a moment, before falling to the canvas. Garcia gets up at '4', and takes the 'mandatory '8-Count'. He appears to be shaken, but ready to continue. Pipino goes 'all-out' with a '6-punch barrage', that drives Garcia into the ropes where he his almost defenseless, while sitting on the bottom strand. The Referee, does a good job of halting the action, to allow Garcia to get back up. Pipino resumes to his 'all-out blitz' on his over-matched opponent, and tears into Garcia with a vicious 20-punch assault while keeping Garcia pinned along the ropes. Then at the 1:36 Mark, Pipino lands a tremendous overhand right to Garcia's jaw that dropped him, where he was counted out at 1:46 of Round 3. Sammy Garcia lay prone on the canvas for 10-minutes. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYHrGEkPrA&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]
