The incomparable Animal by Ron Jackson 14 January 2014, 13:48 https://www.supersport.com/boxing/features/news/140114/The_incomparable_Animal About 130 000 spectators saw Victor Galindez fight in four unforgettable bouts in South Africa. Young sports enthusiasts may find it hard to believe but that was the pulling power of the man boxing writers called The Animal. Galindez was an all-action Argentinian light-heavyweight, courageous, merciless, strong, super-fit and handsome in a way. When he fought Pierre Fourie at the Ellis Park rugby stadium in April 1975, more than 40,000 spectators turned up. Their rematch, only five months later, drew 45 000 spectators to the nearby Rand Stadium. And in May 1976 about 30 000 streamed through the Rand Stadium gates to see him fight an American, Richie Kates, in one of the most memorable fights in South African history. Galindez returned to the same venue in October that year to fight Kosie Smith in front of 15 000 spectators. There was no live television coverage those days, but the attendances were remarkable. Galindez had his last fight in 1980 and retired with a record of 63 victories, 9 defeats, 5 draws and 41 wins inside the distance. It was no wonder that he was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He first came to South Africa in April 1975 to defend his WBA light-heavyweight title against Fourie, who had a huge following after taking WBC champion Bob Forster to the full distance in two title challenges. The more than 40,000 spectators got double their money’s worth, and more, even though Fourie’s dreams of a “world” title were shattered Again when Galindez won on points over 15 rounds. It was Fourie’s 53rd professional fight and his third attempt to win a title, but despite a masterful exhibition of skill and speed he failed against the brute strength of “The Animal”. At the end of the 11th round Fourie appeared to be slightly ahead, but the Argentinian hammered away at the tiring South African to win, narrowly, on points. Many of the spectators felt Fourie had done enough to win and did not cheer the champion after the result was announced. THE REMATCH Then, on 13 September 1975, a record crowd of 45 000 saw Galindez pull off another desperation finish to defeat Fourie over 15 rounds. Galindez started faster this time, but Fourie cut out most of the energy-sapping footwork that had been one of the reasons for his fading in the first fight. The result was announced as a split decision, but there was no doubt that Galindez was a worthy winner. Making his third visit to South Africa, Galindez retained his title in a sensational fight when he knocked out Kates with a left hook to the jaw moments before the end of the final round. The fight almost ended in the third round when Kates’s head split open the right eye of the champion. Galindez screamed in agony as blood gushed out of the cut. The fight was interrupted while he received attention. The referee, South African Stan Christodoulou, could have disqualified the challenger for head-butting, but he let the battle continue after the champion had recovered. Galindez showed tremendous courage as he fought back, despite the bleeding. He kept wiping the blood on Christodoulou’s shirt as he tried to hunt down the challenger. After the fight there was a dispute about whether the cut had been caused by a right from Kates or a deliberate butt. The Kates camp felt the challenger should have won by technical knockout the third round. Fourie also fought Kates at the Rand Stadium and lost on points at the end of 1975. Christodoulou handled the non-title bout. DAZED BY A BIG LEFT FROM KOSIE Returning to South Africa for another fight, on 5 October 1976, Galindez enhanced his reputation when he once again proved his strength and durability by beating off the challenge of the brave Kosie Smith, a local fighter with tremendous knockout power. Galindez won on points over 15 rounds. Smith, after lunging and missing in the opening rounds, managed to get on the inside in the fourth round and landed a left hook to the champion’s chin. Galindez was dazed and Smith threw more than 100 punches in the next two minutes in an effort to knock out the Argentinian. But he punched himself out and Galindez recovered and won comfortably. Galindez made another four defences of his WBA title before losing the belt to Mike Rossman on a 13th-round stoppage. He regained the title from Rossman but lost it to Marvin Johnson on an 11th-round technical knockout in November 1979. Galindez died tragically only seven days before his 32nd birthday when he took part in a motorcar race in De Mayo, Argentina,. His vehicle stalled and he was walking back to the pits when he was hit by another car.
Agree Red, great thread! After reading this yesterday, I went to youtube and watched Victor's 1st fight with Kates and his fight with Kosie Smith. Had only seen the final couple of rounds against Kates and had never seen the Smith fight, in particular their 4th round. Had never seen the head butt in the 3rd in the Kates fight which tore Victor open. Wow, they stopped the proceedings for (at least) five minutes; I think Kates thought he had it won but...not to be. Watch Victor when the fight resumes; he comes out in full aggression on the attack, perhaps fearing that eye might get worse. Finally laid out Richie in the final round for the count. Kosie Smith was an interesting one. Knew he was known for his power but his opponents prior weren't exactly world beaters; also interesting that he and Fourie never fought. IMO Pierre by wide UD if it had happened. Back to Victor-Kosie...wow, notice how that big LH Kosie landed in the fourth 'froze' Galindez! He then goes all out in the next minute in an all out effort to end it. IMO he was terribly amateurish in trying to do so; perhaps if he had stayed in more of a Yaqui 'controlled attack' that he showed against Matthew in the 8th round of their 2nd fight, thinks might have been a little different but I doubt it. Lastly, I'd forgotten that, despite Victor's "I'm mean and I'm 'bad a s s' aura, he was always, basically, a clean and decent fighter always wanting to touch gloves after any misunderstanding or questionable blow during his fights before resuming.