Perico Fernandez 'I Got KO'd By A 2-Bout Pro'

The Skinny

Saensak Muangsurin had won many Muay-Thai Tournaments, and was
a National Champion.

When he was 2-0-0 (2 KO's) and challenged Perico Fernandez for the
WBC Light-Welterweight Championship on July 15, 1975 - Saensak
was 24 1/2 years of age (a month shy of 25).

By all accounts, he had over 160 Muay-Thai victories.

 

July 26, 1975

WBC President - Ramon G. Velazquez of Mexico, returned from Bangkok today and criticized
ex-Champion Perico Fernandez of Spain for 'irresponsible behavior'', for only showing up 3-days
before his bout with Saensak Muangsurin.

Perico was not adjusted to the heat level in Bangkok, and he was not prepared for a
long and hard fight.

Mr. Velazquez stated that, Perico was not in top physical condition, and the WBC
was not happy with his performance in the ring.

 

'The Big Fight'

That how the Saensak Muangsurin vs Perico Fernandez II (Championship Bout was promoted).

On Thursday Night (June 16, 1977) at the press conference.

La Presna Hotel, Madrid, Spain
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The #1 WBC ranked Challenger and former Champion - Perico Fernandez showed some
'swagger' as he predicted a victory over 'The Shadow of the Devil' Saensak Muangsurin.

Perico stated, that Saensak has not progressed as a boxer since winning the Championship.
He is still inexperienced and does not have good footwork. But I will say that he has power
in his offensive attack. He is a good fighter, but does not cover up well in trying to block punches.

I will use an accumulative attack this time, with an effective defense. This time I will
keep the pace slow, not like last time where the faster pace was more to his liking.
You will see this time, I will be the victor after 15-Rounds.

The Champion - Saensak Muangsurin said that his opponent Perico is a respectable
boxer, but I have more power and I am a much better fighter. I predict that I will
stop him by a 9th Round Knockout.

The Champion also stated, that he prefers to fight outside of his home country of
Thailand, because he can make twice as much money (fight purse) fighting in
the Challengers home country.

WBC Representative - Demetrius Fenced, has announced that American Referee -
Jay Edson, will be in control of the ring. Italian Judge Marcello Bertini and Mexican
Omar Juarez will be the scoring judges at ringside.

Perico Fernandez is the #1 WBC ranked Challenger, and this bout will be a 'mandatory
defense' for the Champion - Saensak Muangsurin.

 

Correct Mr. Flea -

Rudy 'Mr. Upset' Barro at 24-10-0 (9 KO's) was 'in-line' for a Championship Title fight versus newly crowned
WBC Light-Welterweight Champion - Perico Fernandez for January 1975 in Madrid.

Rudy was ranked as the #4 WBC Light-Welterweight, and was one of the 'hottest' fighters around at that time.

Rudy took the bout with (November 16, 1974) Saensak because of a large fight purse tossed his way, and
he the thought of an easy pay-day over a fighter making his professional debut.

What A Mistake............'Kaboom'

 

Friday Night -June 17, 1977

Palacio de Deportes - Madrid, Spain

Attendance: 11,000

Promoter: Luis Martin Berrocal

WBC Light-Welterweight Championship.

WBC Champion - Saensak Muangsurin (Thailand) (140 lbs.) defended his Championship Title
tonight with a 'slightly' disputed 15-Round Unanimous Decision over former Champions
and #1 WBC Challenger - Perico Fernandez (Spain) (135 lbs.)

After the 'decison' was announced that the Referee and '2' scoring judges scored the
15-Round bout for the Champion, the 'disheartened' Spanish fans littered the ring with
seat cushions and beer in disgust.

Many of the Madrid fans complained, that Perico was the recipient of 'bad scoring', as
well as constant 'elbow fouling' from the Champion.

As for the fight, the 24 1/2 year-old Spaniard who entered the ring as the #1 WBC
Light-Welterweight with a 40-4-10 (22 KO's) record, as well as owning the European
Lightweight Championship, weighed in light at 135 lbs., but was 'solid' and in 'condition'.

The Champion -Saensak Muangsurin 'The Shadow of the Devil', the 26 1/2 year-old
southpaw from Thailand, carried a record of 8-1-0 (7 KO's) into the ring, while
making the '3rd Defense' of his WBC Championship, in his 'second reign' as Champion.

The WBC Champion weighed-in right at the 140 lb. limit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a 'surprise' performance, it was 'Little Perico' who carried the fight to the Champion over
the first '3-Rounds', by landing quick left hands to the face of Saensak, and straight right
hands to the body.

The Champion had a good session in Round 4, by finding the mark with stiff right hands
to the head of the Challenger, and an occassional long left.

In Round 5, Saensak stepped up the pressure, as Perico was content to back to the ropes,
and try to counter the Champion's long range punches.

In Round 6, it was now Perico who put on the pressure, and scored with his hard right hand
The Champion picked up the 'slow pace' in Round 6, as he was finally able to get through
with his 'Hard Left Fist', by lan

Saensak scored with the better punches in Round 7, as he applied some speed to go along
with his 'left stick', as well as showing some good defense.

In Round 8, Perico Fernandez resumed with the sharp punching that he had in the early rounds,
and was able to break through Saensak's defense, while scoring with 'snappy punches'. In
frustration, the Champion, unable to get any offense going started to elbow the Spaniard.

Saensak was warned several times, by the American Referee Jimmy Dunn.

In Round 9, both fighters 'exhibited' their best defensive posture, as each blocked and countered
each others offensive attacks.

In Round 10, the Champion was able to get back on track, with a busier punch total over the
'defensive minded' Spaniard.

In Rounds 11 and 12 - both fighters had 'good moments', but Saensak landed the more effective
blows, while Perico landed a few more punches.

After 12-Rounds, Saensak was ahead by 3, 3 and 4 points on the Scorecards.

Over the last 3-Rounds, Perico did attempt a rally.

In Round 15, Perico landed his best punch of the fight, his 'Bilboa Bomb', but Saesnak just
smiled and laughed.

After the Decison was announced, the WBC Representative - Demetrius Fenced said that both
fighters were 'noble in their effort', and that despite the one bad moment in the 8th Round,
it was a clean fight. The decision could have gone either way, thats how close it was.

Perico Fernandez, said after the bout, 'I hit him with some terrifyng punches, and he just stood
their and smiled at me. He tried to hypnotize me with those Chinese Eyes, and I had to try to
not look at him.

 

Before Perico Fernandez got a rematch with Saensak Muangsurin, he had a several
'prep' bouts.

February 27, 1976 (Madrid, Spain)

23 year-old - Perico Fernandez 35-4-10 (20 KO's) took on 'compatriot' 26 year-old -
Jose Luis 'Dum Dum' Pacheco 31-14-6 (21 KO's) in a Light-Welterweight bout.

In a 'strange-bout', 'Little Perico' and the tough 'Dum Dum' Pacheco did little effort
during their bout. Round after round went by, with each fighter doing nothing
more than light jabbing, and pawing.

Several times throughout the bout, the Referee warned each fighter to pick up
the action, or he would penalize each fighter for 'non-performance'.

During the 10-Round bout, it was apparent that some agreement had been discussed
between the fighters, as the non-action was all too obvious.

At the end of 10-Rounds, the Spain Boxing Commissioner at ringside called the bout a
'No Contest' and immediately suspended both fighters for 90-Days.

Both fighters fight purse was held up, pending an investigation.
Perico Fernandez.......1,000,000 Pesetas ($15,000 U.S. Dollars)
Jose Luis Pacheco........500,000 Pesetas ($7500 U.S. Dollars)

 

The 'classic' Saensak move -

If you hit him with a good shot, he would just take 'one-step' backwards, put his
hands on his hips, and mock you.

There almost was a Carlos Palomino vs. Saensak Muangsurin bout in 1978.

 

Saturday - June 12, 1976

Plaze de Zaragoza - Zaragoza, Spain

El Mundo Deportivo

'Little Perico' Fernandez, former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion returned
from a 90-day suspension from the Spanish Boxing Commission and scored an
'easy' 8-Round Unanimous Decison over Carlos Foldes in a Light-Welterweight
bout.

'Little Perico' improves to 36-4-9, and remains a Top-rated World contender.
Fernandez who won every round in the 8-Round bout, was in complete
control from the opening bell.

Carlos Foldes, a Venezuelan living in France, was no match for the former
WBC Light-Welterweight Champion, falls to 9-7-4 (3 KO's).

Martin Miranada, Perico's Manager, stated that his fighter will go after the
'vacant' European Lightweight Championship in July 1976, while waiting
for a World Title shot.

 

Flea Man,

I dug it up.

Report on the Saensak Muangsurin vs. Perico Fernandez II bout
at the Sports Palace - Mdadrid, Spain.

An overview by Alfredo Relano.

Though the 'verdict' infuriated the Madrid Sports Palace fans, it was just.

Saensak employed an 'average right hand', while looking to snap the left hand.
Based on the enormous power of his 'hard left fist', Saensak must plant his feet,
to get leverage.

This style, requires him to have his feet 'nailed' to the canvas. Saensak's defense
was adequate, but he was vulnerable when coming off the ropes, as Perico
was able to land punches to his waist (mid-section).

The Champion entertained Perico, by dropping his hands to his side many times,
and 'mocked' the Challenger to hit him, much like in their 'first bout' in July 1975.

Perico was ineffective with punches, as he lacked both speed and precision. He was
also unable to break through the Champion's inside guard.

By the 12th Round, the Challenger's left eye and cheekbone were red, from the
stiff punches earlier.

After 12-Rounds, the scorecards had Saensak up by 3-points on the Italian Judges
card, 3-points up on the Mexican German Judges card, and 4-points up on the
Referee's card.

Saensak's corner, which understood Spanish, informed their fighter that he
was comfortably ahead after the 12th Round, and guided him with a tactical
fight plan for the last 3-Rounds.

Sensing he was behind, Perico 'Pierrot' tried to rally by throwing his thunderous
right hands over the last 3-Rounds, but to no avail.

The aggressive rally by Perico over the last 3-Rounds, gave the Sports Palace fans
an encouraging rush, thinking that their country hero had won the bout.

When the decision was announced, the Sport Palace fans erupted, and tossed
Beer and seat cushions into the ring.

Saensak Muangsurin, and his handlers after hearing the verdict, raised the Thailand
Flag in triumph, when suddently several Sports Palace fans rushed into the ring, and
grabbed the Flag and threw it out of the ring.

The Second Secretary of the Embassy of Thailand, Mr. Ruangfrin, stated that he would file a complaint
with Madriid representatives, and criticized the unruly behavior of the Sports Palace fans.

To further add to the bizarre behavior, Perico Fernandez drank a full beer before submitting
to the post-fight drug test.

This content is protected

 

June 18, 1977

El Pais (Newspaper)

Luis Martin Beccoral, fight promoter.

Perico Fernandez has nothing to be ashamed off. He hit the Champion with
the hardest right hands that I ever seen, and Muangsurin just laughed them off.

Nobody, not Antonio Cervantes, Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez or Esteban De Jesus
could have taken those punches without falling. I want Perico to fight one of those
fighters next, to prove just how tough Perico is.

None of those Latin fighters would be able to stand up to 'Sombra del Diablo' (Saensak Muangsurin).
Those 'pollos' (chickens) hide in Central America or Puerto Rico, and fight weaklings.

I will put up the 'Pesetas' to get Esteban De Jesus (WBC Lightweight Champion) here,
then we will go after Duran or Cervantes.

 

Friday Night - July 9, 1976

Plaza de Toros (Bull Ring) de Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain

Attendance: 9000

European Lightweight Championship

European Lightweight Champion - Belgium's Fernand Roelands 25-1-1 (8 KO's)
comes to Spain, to take on former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion - Spain's
Perico 'The Parakeet' Fernandez 36-4-10 (20 KO's).

The 29 year-old, 5' 7" Fernand Roelands is a slick-boxer, and durable fighter.
As the European Lightweight Champion, Fernand is ranked as the #8 WBC and #9 WBA
Lightweight, and is seeking a World Title shot.

Perico Fernandez, the 23 1/2 year-old former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion is now
campaigning as a 135 lb. Lightweight.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In front of his 'hometown fans', Perico wastes no time in going after Fernand Roelands
with his famous right-hand 'Bilboa Bomb', and floors the European Champion at only
the 0:37 Mark of the opening round.

Fernand gets up on shaky 'Belgian Bones', and is met with another Perico assault,
who then floors Fernand with another right hand at the 1:04 Mark.

Fernand rises, but Perico goes 'full-force, by pounding the Belgian into the ropes,
where the bout is stopped by the Referee at 1:45 of Round 1.

Perico 'wins' the European Lightweight Championship, improving to 37-4-10 (21 KO's).

Afterwards, Martin Miranda offers a challenge to both of the Lightweight Champions
to take on Perico.

Fight Purses;
Perico Fernandez......1,000,000 Pesetas ($15,000 in U.S. Dollars)
Fernad Roelands.........670,000 Pesetas ($10,000 in U.S. Dollars)

 

June 20, 1977

Following the 'fiasco' after the bout in Madrid, Spain between
Saensak Muangsurin and Perico Fernandez.

Perico's fight promoter, Lupe Martin Beccoral offered Saensak Muangsurin
$150,000 to come back and give Perico a 'rematch' in October 1977.

Saensak's manager - Tiembonn Intrabutra said he would not come back to Spain,
after the treatment by the Spanish fans at the Sports Palace, where the Thailand
Flag was torn apart, and a Thai official was kicked in the groin.

Even the American Referee Jay Edson was hit in the head by a beer bottle, and
pole-axed to the canvas by the Thailand flag-pole.

We will permit a return bout in Mexico, in front of all the WBC officials, or a neutral
site only. As for now, we will ask for the WBC to suspend any WBC Championship bouts
from being sanctioned in Spain for 90-Days.

The Secretary of the Thailand Embassy, Suchindra Ruengsri, who attended the bout
was attacked by 'Spanish Head-Banders' after the decison was announced. Mr. Ruengsri
was then kicked and then had the Thailand Flag ripped from his hands.

No matter how much money they offer my fighter, we will not return to Spain.

 

Perico Fernandez wanted a 'third shot' at Saensak Muangsurin, and at the end of
1977, Perico was ranked as the #3 WBC Light-Welterweight, while bouncing
back-and-forth between 135 lbs. and 140 lbs.

If Perico 'The Parakeet' stayed in the gym, he was a 'formidable foe' for anyone.

The Spain boxing community even started calling Perico Fernandez 'Duran East' and
the 'Hands of Stone of Spain'.

Contracts were signed for Perico to fight WBC Light-Welterweight Champion again,
this time in Manila, Philippines - for February 1978.

But Saensak was 'too' banged up from his 'grueling' bout with Jo Kimpuani on December 30, 1977
- that he requested an additional 60-day 'rest period'.

While that bout was pushed off, Spain 'fight promoter' Luis Martin Berrocal offered to
put together a Light-Welterweight bout between 'Perico' and Roberto Duran in Spain.

Mr. Berrocal had $150,000 on the table for Roberto, to come to Madrid.