Antonio Cervantes - Underrated to this day?

Always appreciate your work, Russ .

Cervantes was a beast in his prime. Huge at the weight, he had an excellent left jab, great stamina and he was a very smart and tough fighter.

He was basically well past his absolute best vs Benitez and Pryor. Especially Pryor.

Cheers Mate.

 

Yeah even among the nerds and purists he is an unfashionable subject to praise or bring up.

Much the same as his countryman Rocky Valdéz. There wouldn't be as polished a sheen on Monzón's résumé without having beaten Rodrigo x2; ditto word for word re: Hugo Corro's. Four competitive points losses to a couple of Argentine greats, those were his only blemishes in the entire last decade of his career, '70-'80. And he's a lineal champ. And...

• went 3-0 (1) versus another Hall of Fame inductee (Briscoe)
  
• halted Gratien Tonna's momentum by curbing his 15-0 (10) run over 2 years (including avenging himself versus Fabio Bettini x2 in their rematch and rubber-match for the French MW title)
  
• outside the Argies, went 6-0 (4) in world title bouts.
• had underrated non-title victories over NY southpaw Irish Bobby Cassidy, previously unbeaten Bostonian defensive whiz Vinnie Curto, and Argentinian aversion ace Antonio Aguilar, and Canadian champ Joey Durelle (cousin of Yvon Durelle, who fought that FOTY with Archie Moore)
  
• fought the entire second half of his career, including all ten championship bouts after contracting hepatitis (in the ring no less)

Regardless, he just isn't that glamorous a name to drop in the hat for a mention in historical middleweight h2h threads, it seems.

 

Some people think "a moving up Roberto Duran" would have beaten Cervantes
Others think not. Though a Colombian, Cervantes fought a lot in Panama City.

I think prime Cervantes would have won a close decision over the "lightweight" Duran.

 

Yes. He's incredibly underrated. One of my all time favorite fighters.

Mid 70s Cervantes was one of the best junior welters who ever lived.

I'd pick Cervantes over Chavez, that's always been a controversial opinion.

 

Wtf? Your OP was fine!

(I mean, if we're splitting hairs you did skimp in a few names on the diacritics, which make up an important part of Latino fighters' heritage, but... )

 

Cervantes would have destroyed Hatton inside of 6.

 

"He neva beated a big name like a Zoo doe! "

 

Cervantes would have dismantled Tszyu also. Tszyu wasn't in Kid Pambele's class.

 

Hmm. I think he definitely wrecks Hatton but Tszyu could be more difficult for him (styles make fights). Would probably favor Kid Pambelé myself, but I wouldn't categorically say that he dismantles Tszyu just as easily as Hatton.

 

The WBA was based down in that area (Panama) and pushed Duran as their "main man". A large portion of Duran's early title fights were in Panama City, though to his credit, he did later in his title reign, fight in other cities more often. Cervantes fought all over Central America (including Panama City). On
December 17, 1970, in Los Angeles, he beat Rodolfo Gato González,. a very famous Mexican boxer of the time, by knockout in round eight. Afterwards he tangled with the best the Jr. Welterweight Division had in that timeframe. In reality, the heavies (Ali-Frazier-Foreman) dominated the boxing talk in the early-mid-70's, and Cervantes was from northern South America and didn't have the USA media behind him.

FYI:

1970-12-17 : Antonio Cervantes 135½ lbs beat Rodolfo Gonzalez 136½ lbs by TKO in round 8 of 10

• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Lee Grossman
• Judge: Abe Cohen
• Judge: Rudy Jordan

"Antonio Cervantes from Columbia ended the win streak of Rodolfo Gonzalez in an upset at the Olympic Auditorium. Referee Lee Grossman stopped the bout at the end of the 8th round with gore gushing out of a cut over Gonzalez' left eye.

"It was a free swinging affair with Gonzalez down in the first. Cervantes hit the deck in the 3rd, shortly after Rodolfo was cut.

"Two judges, Rudy Jordan and Abe Cohen had Rodolfo in front by one point at the finish. Grossman favored Cervantes by a similar margin." -Ring magazine, April, 1971 issue.

• Unofficial L.A. Times scorecard (after 8 completed rounds) 6-4 Gonzalez

Weights

• Gonzalez-136 1/2
• Cervantes-135 1/2

• Attendance-4000

 

Its criminal the way some fighter's are remembered.
Add Puerto Rican Alfredo Esalera to the list . He made 10 Title
defenses and is primarily remembered for losing twice to Alexis
Arguello. And it even more pathetic in a sign of boxing corruption
he is not enshrined in the Hall of Fame.