Ayub Kalule vs Emiliano Villa

Emiliano Villa,

With a tentative contract in hand to fight Carlos Palomino in December 1977,
Emiliano takes a 10-Round tune-up bout on September 16, 1977.

His opponent, his old foe Adalberto Vanegas 28-7-1 (10 KO's), a Columbian Welterweight fighter
he has fought 4-times before, and beaten easy all 4-times.

Things don't start off well, as Emiliano falls behind early after 4-Rounds. In Round 5,
during a clinch, the Referee calls 'break', and Emiliano shoots a left hand right on
the button of a relaxed Vanegas, who falls down.

Adaberto Vanegas cannot continue, and the foul is ruled accidental. The officials
go to the Scorecards and rule a Technical Decision Loss (L TD 4) for Emiliano Villa, as he
is behind on the Judges Scorecards.

A re-match is scheduled for late-October, and with it, Villa's shot at the WBC Welterweight Title
versus Carlos Palomino in December.

 

October 28, 1977

'Emiliano Villa Loses Title Shot Versus Carlos Palomino'

In a rematch with Adalberto Vanegas 29-7-1 (10 KO's), Emiliano Villa is held to a 10-Round Draw
by the unranked Columbian Welterweight.

Emiliano Villa, the #9 WBC-ranked Welterweight was unimpressive in this bout. Villa was knocked down
in Rounds 2 and 3, and had to mount a strong-rally over the last 4-Rounds to earn a 'disputed' Draw.

A WBC representative was on hand to witness the performance of Emiliano Villa, to
determine if the southpaw Columbian Welterweight Champion would be worthy of
a bout with WBC Champion Carlos Palomino. The WBC representative was not impressed
with the ranked fighter, and will not recommend the Columbian as a challenger for the
December WBC Championship bout.

Emiliano Villa now has a record of 31-5-2, and will most likely fall out of the WBC Top 10
Welterweight ratings following this ring performance.

 

Deecember 15, 1977

Emiliano Villa, the #10 WBA Welterweight defended his Columbian Welterweight
Title by battling to a 12-Round Draw with toughman Bernardo Prada.

Emiliano used his boxer-style to control most of the early rounds, and held off the
strong Prada by keeping his right jab working overtime. Prada made a strong rally
in rounds 7 thru 9 to pull even. Both fighters fought in neutral over the last
3 rounds, as the action was limited.

No knockdowns were registered in the evenly fought bout.

Villa who at one time was considered a challenger for the World Welterweight
Championship, has not registered a win in his last 3-bouts.

Emiliano Villa is now 31-5-3, and Bernardo Prada is 17-5-3.

 

February 24, 1978

Emiliano Villa scores 12-Round Decision over 'rival' Bernardo Prada.

Emiliano Villa the #10 WBA Welterweight retained his Columbian Welterweight
Title with a Unanimous Decision over toughman Bernardo Prada.

The 25 year-old boxer, used his sharp right jab and straight left hands to keep
the bull-rush style of Bernardo Prada at a distance. Villa built up a solid lead over the
first 8-rounds, and boxed smartly over the last 4-rounds.
Scoring of the fight was 8-3-1 in Rounds for Emiliano Villa.

Villa and Prada have now fought 4-times, with the slick boxing southpaw earning
his 2nd victory over Bernardo, with the other 2-bouts as Draws.

Emiliano improves to 32-5-3, while Prada drops to 18-6-3. Villa, will now move up to
154 lbs. to compete in the Light-Welterweight Division, and hopes to challenge
WBA Champion Eddie Gazo in June 1978.

 

Exactly, a Palomino vs. Villa bout in 1978 would have been a good bout.

Even a Cuevas vs. Villa bout too, but not enough 'dinero' for Emiliano.

Ramiro Machado, Villa's manager had a 'political connection' with the
WBA, thats why they went after the Light-Middleweight Championship.

They were scheduled to fight Eddie Gazo in June 1978, in Costa Rica.
Eddie Gazo to get $75,000 and Emiliano Villa $25,000.

But Gazo pulled out, due to an injury (or so they say). A few months later Eddie Gazo
was fighting 'unheralded' Masashi Kudo in Japan for more $$$$ ($150,000)

 

Good Information Mr. Francis,,,,,,

* 1970/1971......He must have been a 'rail' at 132 lbs, where he fought mostly as an amateur.

* 1972......Looks like weight issues forced him into the 139 lb. Division at the 1972 Olympics.

* 1973... Starts off career as a 135 lb. Lightweight

* 1974 thru 1976.....Emiliano Villa looked very good at Light-Welterweight in the professional ranks.

* 1976.....And, really a mistake taking on Wilfred Benitez in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he
would have 'no chance' in getting a decision.

* 1976.......No harm in getting blasted in '7' by Roberto Duran.

* 1977 thru 1978.....Moves up to Welterweight,,,,,He was kind of like,,,Johnny 'Bump City' Bumphus.

* 1979,,,,,,Moves up to 154 lbs. Light-Middlweight,,, where he has a better chance of winning a Title than at
147 lbs. Welterweight.

* 1980....Not enough 'guns' for Ayub Kalule, though he was 'moderately competitive'
for '6' Rounds, before suffering a TKO in 11. (Not allowed out for the 12th Round).

 

Emiliano Villa,

In April 1978, Emiliano Villa is ranked as the #10 WBA Light-Middleweight.

In June 1978, the WBA Championship title bout in Costa Rica with Eddie Gazo falls through.

On August 4, 1978,, Emiliano Villa retunrs to the ring, and he scores an easy Knock-out
(KO 7) over 'perennial loser', Ezequiel Obando.

With a record of 33-5-3 (16 KO's), he the takes 7-Months off, while waiting for a
possible WBA Light-MIddlweight title shot versus the new WBA Champion,
Masashi Kudo of Japan.

When the title shot doesn't come through, Emiliano returns to the ring to stay sharp.

On March 30, 1979,, he wins by Knock-out (KO 6) over non-entity, Johnny Davis 7-6-1 (2 KO's)

On June 28, 1979 Emiliano follows that up with an impressive 10-Round Decision
(W Dec 10) over 'highly-regarded' Dominican Light-Middleweight, #18 WBA Mario 'El Buey' Ramos 20-4-2 (12 KO's).

Emiliano Villa improves to 35-5-3 (17 KO's), and earns a #8 WBA Light-Middleweight ranking.

On August 18, 1979,, Emiliano stays sharp, with another Knock-out win (KO 3) over
Ezequiel Obando.

On September 14, 1979,, Emiliano has one-more tune-up fight, and Knocks-out (KO 3)
'cannon-fodder' Angelo Castro 10-18-2 (6 KO's).

Emiliano Villa is now in-line for a possible WBA Championshiop bout versus Msashi Kudo,,,,,,,,,but,,,,,,,

 

In mid-September 1979,,,,,,

Ramiro Machado, the Manager for Emiliano Villa, and the guy with the WBA connections,
gets his fighter a shot at the WBA Light-Middleweight Champion Masashi Kudo.

The bout is to take place in Japan on October 24, 1979.

The Japanese Boxing-promoter, Munekatsu Kawaragi signs up Emiliano for $50,000
to come to Japan.

Though Emiliano Villa is only rated #8 WBA-ranked, he 'leap-frogs' over the #1 WBA
ranked Ayub Kalule (who has been the #1 WBA-ranked fighter since November 1977).

All hell breaks loose, as Ayub Kalule and his manager Moegens Palle scream 'foul'.

Danish Boxing Commissioner, Spang Thomsen then contacts the WBA, and threatens the
Association, by informing them that it if Ayub Kalule (the #1 WBA-ranked Light-Middleweight) does not
get his rightful opportunity immediately, he will ban the WBA from having any Championship Bouts
in Northern Europe in the future.

After negotiations with the WBA officials, Ramiro Machado and his fighter Emiliano Villa
agree to back-off the Title fight, when they get 'step-aside money' {$25,000} by Ayub Kalule,
who then goes on to fight and defeat Masashi Kudo for the WBA Light-Middleweight Crown.

Ramiro Machado, also smartly gets Ayub Kalule to agree to give Emiliano Villa a
'title fight within 120-days', in the event that Ayub Kalule defeats Masashi Kudo.

On December 15, 1979, Emiliano Villa takes a 'tune-up' bout, and flattens 'perennial-loser' (KO 3) Jose Papa Melendez 4-19-0 (3 KO's).

As planned, on April 17, 1980 - Emiliano Villa gets a shot at the Ayub Kalule, and his WBA
Light-Middleweight Championship in Denmark.