Angel 'Cholo' Espada

Scar Tissue,

Didn't the WBC (Mexico-based organization) mandate a 'rematch' with #1 WBC
Armando Muniz.

And the WBA had Angel Espada and Clyde Gray as #1 and #2, or vice-versa,
which demanded Jose Napoles sign to fight one or the other by May 1st, 1975.

 

Following the June 12, 1972 'Split-Decision' loss to #6 Dario Hidalgo.

Angel 'Cholo' Espada dropped to 20-6-4 (11 KO's), and to the #18 Welterweight.
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Then the following wins.

* October 24, 1972... (TKO 3) over Alfonso 'La Coneja' Aguirre... 26-7-1 (25 KO's)
Angel Espada travels to San Antonio, Texas to take on the local 'knockout artist'. 'Cholo' scores
'4' knockdowns over 3-Rounds, entroute to a TKO stoppage.

* December 12, 1972... (KO 9) over Luis Caracha... 13-1-3 (4 KO's)
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, 'the two Puerto Ricans' fight for the Island Welterweight Championship.
'Cholo' Espada takes control of this close bout in Round 6, and wears down his opponent, finally
stopping him by Knockout.

* January 16, 1973... (KO 2) over Roscoe Bell... 23-36-2 (12 KO's)
In a 'tune-up' bout in Miami, Florida. 'Cholo' Espada stops the local Light-Middleweight 'trial-horse' in 2-Rounds.

* February 15, 1973... (W Unan. Dec 10) over (#6 Welterweight) Dario 'Escalona' Hidalgo 44-5-1 (9 KO's)
In a 'rematch', and on the undercard of the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship bout between
Antonio Cervantes and Josue Marquez (Roberto Clemente Stadium). 'Cholo' Espada is the harder-hitter,
and outworks the 'slighty favored' (#5 Ranked) Hidalgo by scoring a close 10-Round Unanimous Decision.
Scorecards { 6-4-0 / 6-4-0 / 6-4-0 }

The '4' wins improved the 25 year-old Angel 'Cholo' Espada to 24-6-4 (14 KO's), and moves him up to the #8 Welterweight.

 

Tuesady Night - May 29, 1973 (Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland)

Angel 'Cholo' Espada...(Age 25)...24-6-4 (14 KO's)...#7 Welterweight
vs.
Jack Tillman...(Age 26)...41-4-1 (20 KO's)...#4 Welterweight

The 5' 9 1/2" - Angel 'Cholo' Espada travels to Baltimore, Maryland to take on the
'Hot' #4 Welterweight, Jack Tillman of Mobile, Alabama.

Jack Tillman is the 'WBA NABF Welterweight Champion', and has won '14-Straight' bouts,
including a 12-Round Decision over #2 Welterweight and Former World Champion -
Billy Backus in February 1973.

Though Jack Tillman is from Mobile, Alabama - he has fought '4' bouts in Baltimore, Maryland -
winning them all impressively, and has become a 'Civic Center Favorite'. The tall and skinny 5' 11"
147 pounder doesn't look like much, but he does possess a good right hand and is a 'scrappy' battler.

The Fight

Angle 'Cholo' Epada puts on a 'superlative' boxing performance, by scoring with quick left jabs, and
sharp crisp left-right combinations throughout. By 'mid-fight' 'Cholo' is pitching a shut-out, as Jack Tillman is
unable to match Espada's speed.

In Rounds 7 and 8, 'Cholo' puts on the brakes, and slows the pace to catch a rest. Tillman starts to land
on the more stationary Espada, and wins both rounds, as 'Cholo' stays more on the defensive.

In Rounds 9 and 10, Angel Espada returns to his quick-pace, and scores solidly with left jabs and right-hand leads
sweeping the last '2-Rounds', enroute to a one-sided 10-Round Decision victory.

Scorecards { 8-2-0 / 7-2-1 / 8-2-0 }

Angel 'Cholo' Espada improves to 25-6-4 (14 KO's), and moves up to the #5 Welterweight.

 

Scar T,

As of April 1973, the Welterweight rankings looked like this:

*** Jose Napoles
1)... Hedgemon Lewis
2)... Roger Menetrey
3)... Clyde Gray
4)... Jack Tillman
5)... Billy Backus
6)... Eddie Perkins
7)... Angel 'Cholo' Espada
8}... Ernie Lopez
9)... Dario 'Escalona' Hidalgo
10). Robert Gallois

In February 1973, Jack Tillman had 'upset' #2 Billy Backus.

Angel 'Cholo' Espada was #7, and moved up to #5 after winning a 10-Round Decision over #4 Jack Tillman on May 29, 1973.

 

Saturday Night - July 14, 1973

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Angel' Cholo' Espada starches (KO 2) Florida southpaw Al 'Soul Brother' Cook 12-8-1 (3 KO's).

The 5' 10 1/2" - 21 year-old Light-Middleweight is 'no match' for the quick-fisted
Puerto Rican World-ranked Welterweight Espada.

Espada opens up in Round 1, with a full two-fisted barrage, that staggers Al Cook all over the ring,
finally dropping him for a 6-Count. Cook just barely manages to make it through the 1st-Round.

In Round 2, 'Cholo' drops the 'Soul Brother' twice, the 2nd time for the 'full-count'.

Angel 'Cholo' Espada improves to 26-6-4 (15 KO's).

 

Saint Pat,

Sports Illustrated did an article on Jack Tillman in February 1973, just before he
'upset' Former Welterweight Champion, Billy Backus.

Jack was Ranked #7 at the time, and was one of those fighters that his opponents
always 'under-estimated'.

 

Saturday - September 8, 1973 (Gimnasio Nuevo Panama)

Angel 'Cholo' Espada is part of a 'Big Fight Extravaganza' in Panama.

The 25 1/2 year-old 'Cholo' now the #3 WBA Welterweight at 26-6-4 (15 KO's), will be fighting
for the 'WBA Federal-Latin Welterweight Championship'.

His opponent, will be Jacksonville, Florida (Welterweight), 'Prince' Jimmy Hamm. The 24 year-old
5' 9" 'Prince' is a 'hard-banger' with a 23-9-0 (16 KO's) record.

In a startling display of power, 'Cholo' Espada explodes in the 1st Round, and pummels the 'Prince'
with a 1-2 'power-assualt', driving the Florida Welterweight into the ropes.

There, 'Cholo' drives home a right upper-cut and left hook - dropping Hamm for a '7-Count'. Upon rising,
Hamm is met by a two-fisted assualt, as 'Cholo' drops him for the 'full-count' at 1:45 of the 1st Round.
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The Angel 'Cholo' Espada vs. 'Prince' Jimmy Hamm (WBA Federal-Latin Welterweight Championship) is part of the;

* Roberto Duran vs. Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki (WBA Lightweight Championship)
* Ernesto Marcel vs. Spider Nemoto (WBA Featherweight Championship)
* Esteban De Jesus vs. Radames Checo (WBA Federal-Latin Lightweight Championship)
* Alfonso Fraser vs, Jose Peterson (WBA Federal-Latin Light-Welterweight Championship)
* Andres Hernandez vs. Gilbert Illueca

 

Monday Night - November 19, 1973 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Angel 'Cholo' Espada......27-6-4 (16 KO's)....#2 WBA Welterweight
vs.
Mario Saurennann.........17-13-7 (4 KO's)

Mario Saurennann (North Philadelphia Welterweight)

A 5' 10" durable, quick-fisted 'cutie', who could give anybody a good '10-Round' work-out.

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The Fight

Angel 'Cholo' Espada scores with quick left jabs, and doesn't allow Mario Saurennann to slow the
pace. 'Cholo' keeps the fight going at a 'swift pace', where he can dominate with his faster and
harder punches.

By Round 5, the 'Philly Fighter' closes the gap, and keeps the fight in close, where he has better success.

But in Round 7, 'Cholo' moves back to fighting from long range, where he controls the bout with hard left jabs,
and counter right hands, enroute to winning a wide decision.

Scorecards ( 7-2-1 / 8-2-0 / 8-2-0 )

Fight Purses;
Angel 'Cholo' Espada....$4000
Mario Saurennann........$2000

The victory (Espada's 8th straight victory in a row) improves 'Cholo' to 28-6-4 (16 KO's), and by the end of 1973,
he is moved into the #1 WBA Welterweight position.

 

WBA Ratings (January 1974)

*** Jose Napoles
#1.. Angel Espada
#2.. Hedgemon Lewis
#3.. Clyde Gray
#4.. Roger Menetrey
#5.. Eddie Perkins
#6.. Dave Oropeza
#7.. Armando Muniz
#8.. Elisha Obed
#9.. Zovek Barajas
#10. Horacio Agustin Saldano
#11. Jack Tillman
#12. Johnny Gant
#13. David Oropeza
#14. Luis Acosta