Eddie Gazo '1977 Ring Magazine Progress Fighter of the Year'

Drew 101,

Your Compliment,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Is Much Appreciated,,,,,

More on Eddie Jose Gazo Roa,

The 29 year-old Eddie Gazo started his comeback in Nicaragua, in October 1979, and won
a 10-Round Decison (W Dec 10) over non-entity Pedro Cisneros (No record available).

It was Gazo's first win in 22-months, and brought his record to 39-5-2 (20 KO's)

Eddie Gazo stayed busy, and won 4-straight bouts (3 by Knock-Out), but again over
a bunch of non-entity fighters, improving to 43-5-2 (23 KO's)

Amazingly, he got a World Ranking, as the #8 WBA Light-Middleweight, and was hoping for a shot
at Ayub Kalule, the undefeated WBA Light-Middleweight Champion, for sometime in the late-Spring of 1980.

When no offer came from the WBA, Eddie Gazo accepted a bout with Top-Ranked WBA Welterweight,
Thomas Hearns 25-0-0 (23 KO's) for May 3, 1980, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, for $25,000.

Eddie Gazo's Manager, Ramiro Machado, stated, 'That Thomas Hearns will be in big
trouble, as he has never faced anyone as strong, or anyone that could hit as hard as Eddie.'

No one knows for sure just who thought that Eddie Gazo would beat Thomas Hearns,
but the bout lasted just 2:41 of the 1st Round, with Eddie Gazo getting blasted out.

What made matters worse, was Eddie Gazo's inept performance was 'broadcast' on National Television,
leading the boxing pundits to question the legitimacy of the WBA.

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All True,,,,,,,,,,About the Mid and Late 1970's Light-Middleweights or Super-Welterweights,,,,,,,,,

How About Eddie Gazo's 'second title defense' of his WBA Light-Middleweight Title.

His opponent for his September 13, 1977 Defense.

Kenji Shibata of Japan......with a record of 19-4-2 (10 KO's)
His claim to fame,,,,,,the Japanese, and Orient & Pacific Light-Middleweight Champion.

Kenji Shibata had earned the #8 WBA-ranking, by defeating #10 WBA-ranked Tarzan Tobaru 12-0-0 (9 KO's),
by Decision (Split-Dec 10) in June 1977, in a WBA-Elimination Bout.

Top Light-Middleweights 1977;
* Maurice Hope
* Rocky Mattioli
* Eddie Gazo
* Eckard Dagge
* Gert Steyn
* Ayub Kalule
* Elisha Obed

The 'Best Americans',,,,,,,,,Edgar 'Mad Dog' Ross,, Alvin Anderson,, Sugar Ray Phillips,,,,,,,,,,,,'A Forgetful Trio'

 

The Particulars;

Tuesday, September 13, 1977

WBA Light Middlweight Championship

* Eddie Gazo (Nicaragua) 36-4-2 (20 KO's)
vs
#8 Kenji Shibata (Japan) 19-4-2 (10 KO's)

Location: Nihon Budokan, Tokyo

Betting Line:....Eddie Gazo 3-1 Favorite

The 27 year-old WBA Champion Eddie Gazo is making the '2nd' defense of his Championship, and again at
the Nihon Budokan Arena.

Kenji Shibata, the 24 1/2 year from Japan, is the Japanese, and Orient & Pacific Light-Middleweight Champion,
and will be fighting in his home country. The 5' 11" southpaw, is the #8 WBA Light-Middleweight, and has
good punching power with his left-hand, and utilizes his height and reach very well.

The Fight;

Kenji Shibata comes out fast in Round 1, and goes right after the typical slow-starting Champion.
The Challenger has the 11,000+ Nihon Budokan fans cheering, as Shibata rocks Eddie Gazo with a
straight left and right hook.

Rounds 2 thru 4, the Champion keeps Kenji Shibata at bay with short left jabs, and uses his strength
to maul the taller Challenger.

Round 5, the fight takes a slow-pace, as neither combatant wants to initiate any offensive charge,
as both fighters appear to be afraid of getting hit.

This pattern, follows from Rounds 6 thru 12, with little action taking place, other than a slow
punch here and there from the plodding Eddie Gazo.

Sensing he is behind, Kenji Sibata opens up in Round 13. It is his 'first charge' since the 1st-Round.
A looping left-hand catches Gazo, and he reels backwards, but Shibata doesn't follow-up effectively, and
the Champion escapes.

The last 'two rounds, the Champion fights defensively and wards off any big punches from the southpaw Challenger.
Shibata scores, but cannot land any telling blows, as he waited too long to make his late-charge.

Scorecards;
Referee, Carlos Beccoral (Panama)............S E G G E....G G G E G....E E S S S...= 6-4-5 = Eddie Gazo (71-69 in Points)
Judge; Enrique Portocamero (Nicaragua).....S E G G E....G E G E E....E E S S E....= 4-3-8 = Eddie Gazo (72-71 in Points)
Judge; Masakura Uchida (Japan)...............S E G G E....G E G E E....E E S E E.....= 4-2-9 = Eddie Gazo (73-71 in Points)

Attendance; 11,650

Fight Purses in U.S. Dollars
Eddie Gazo........$75,000
Kenji Shibata.....$35,000

Ring Magazine;
The Champion Eddie Gazo did very little, and the Challenger Kenji Shibata did even less. Gazo took
control of the fight, if that is what you want to call it, in Round 2 and utilized a slow steady one-punch at a time
offense to build up a commanding lead.

The Challenger, realizing he was hopelessly behind, mounted a weak offensive charge in Round 11 and attempted
to score with minimally effective punches, except for good left hand in Round 13.

The slow and plodding Champion, is effective with his clumsy style, but his performances in the ring will
keep him in non-Television obscurity.

 

It has always been quietly stated,,,,,

That in the Mid and Late 1970's,

The WBA Light-Middleweight Division was reserved for 154 lb. fighters from;
Japan
South Korea
Central America
South America

The WBA Committe and Boxing Promoters (from the Orient) made sure
they had that division 'locked up'.

With Champions;....... Koichi Wajima, Jae-Do Yuh, Masashi Kudo and later Tadashi Mihara.

And a host of mediocre Challengers;.....Masahiro Misako, Kenji Shibata, Jae-Keum Lim and Ho Joo

Anybody know these guys...????