Wilfred Benitez vs. Nicolino Locche 'June 6, 1976'

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Senor Pepe', Aug 23, 2012.


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  1. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Tito Lecture, the great Argentinian Promoter, offered Gregorio Benitez
    a large sum of money, to have the new WBA Light-Welterweight Champion
    'Wunderkind' fight the 'great' Nicolino Locche.

    Nicolino Locche, the 36 1/2 year Argentinian, and former WBA Light-Welterweight
    Champion was seeking one more chance at the 140 lb. Championship.

    Posting a record of 115-4-14 (14 KO's), the defensive wizard felt that his style
    would befuddle the young Puerto Rican.

    The 17 year-old 'Wunderkind' was still 3-months shy of age 18. The quick as lightning
    Wilfred Benitez 26-0-0 (20 KO's), was coming off his 'upset' win as a 4-1 Underdog, by
    defeating the Columbian - Antonio Kid Pambele' Cervantes on March 6, 1976.

    How would that bout turn out ?
     
    Senor Pepe', Aug 23, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Aug 23, 2012
    #1
  2. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    This isn't fair Senor Pepe...not fair at all. One of the most difficult fights to call that I can imagine. I have to think hard about this.
     
    red cobra, Aug 23, 2012
    red cobra, Aug 23, 2012
    #2
  3. Lord Tywin

    Lord Tywin Guest

    Potentially the most boring fight ever. I'll go with Benitez on activity and aggression especially considering Locche was way past his best in 76. Anywhere else in the world except Argentina Benitez would be an easy favorite. Locche, as much as I love him, got some serious home cooking in Argentina. Benitez might get robbed there.
     
    Lord Tywin, Aug 23, 2012
    Lord Tywin, Aug 23, 2012
    #3
  4. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah, like Red said this is one of the most difficult fights to call......I would bet on Locche though.....
     
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Aug 23, 2012
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Aug 23, 2012
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  5. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    A little information;

    Following Nicolino Locche's 'loss' (TKO 10) to Antonio Cervantes on March 17, 1973
    he retired, at age 33 1/2.

    He did come back in August 1975, and won '6' straight, all by 10-Round Decision.

    August 9, 1975.........W Dec 10 - Javier Ayala - 21-14-1
    September 13, 1975...W Dec 10 - Omar Zarza - 8-11-5
    October 13, 1975......W Dec 10 - Jimmy Heair - 42-6-0
    December 19, 1975...W Dec 10 - Obdulio Zarza - 12-9-4
    January 17, 1976......W Dec 10 - Emiliano Villa - 24-1-1
    May 8, 1976............W Dec 10 - Lorenzo Trujillo - 32-13-4

    The victory over highly regarded Columbian and #4 WBA ranked
    Emiliano Villa was supposed to be a South American 'eliminator'.

    The 36 1/2 year-old 'El Intocable', was still capable of some tricks.
    Though he had no punch left, he could still box with the young guys.

    Tito Lecture had $100,000 'plus' on the table, for Gregorio Benitez
    to bring the 'Wunderkind' to Buenos Aires in June 1976.
     
    Senor Pepe', Aug 23, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Aug 23, 2012
    #5
  6. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Apparently you've actually seen some of these fights were he just mocked the fight knowing he'd get a draw/decision win. Care to elaborate further?
     
    Flea Man, Aug 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Aug 23, 2012
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  7. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    At that point Locche had nothing to offer Benitez, it would be an awkward styles clash though would undoubtedly provide an interesting clash.
     
    Flea Man, Aug 23, 2012
    Flea Man, Aug 23, 2012
    #7
  8. ripcity

    ripcity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    At 17 Benitez was already a vetren of 25 profesoinal boxing matches. I don't think he was going to be easy to take advantage of as most 17 or 18 year olds would be.
     
    ripcity, Aug 23, 2012
    ripcity, Aug 23, 2012
    #8
  9. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    I wouldn't discount 'El Intocable', especially in Buenos Aires at Estadio Luna Park.

    Nicolino Locche did defeat the 'southpaw' Columbian - Emiliano Villa 4-months before Wilfred Benitez did.

    With $100,000 'plus' on the table to go to Argentina, Gregorio Benitez opted to take on #4 WBA-ranked
    Emiliano Villa (25-2-1) at home in Puerto Rico on May 31, 1976.

    Wilfred received $60,000 and Emilaino Villa received $60,000, in a non-exciting 'technical bout' over 15-Rounds.

    Tito Lecture after witnessing that bout said, 'That kid couldn't beat Nicolino anywhere, but in Puerto Rico.'
     
    Senor Pepe', Aug 24, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Aug 24, 2012
    #9
  10. Lord Tywin

    Lord Tywin Guest

    Yes, what would you like to know.

    In general terms Locche would spend much a fight showing his dazzling defense but offering almost zero offense.

    Its easy to make a guy look bad and spoil a fight when you arent willing to engage.

    The fans in Argentina loved him and his ability to make guys miss but in my opinion you cant score a fight entirely on defense and thats exactly what happened many times down there. At some point you have to say "this is supposed to be a fight and only one guy is fighting."
     
    Lord Tywin, Aug 24, 2012
    Lord Tywin, Aug 24, 2012
    #10
  11. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    That's what I suspected I mean, even in his best performances his offence was limited to that Benvenuti-esque left hook. How many of those bouts exist and how would one go about viewing 'em? Cheers.
     
    Flea Man, Aug 24, 2012
    Flea Man, Aug 24, 2012
    #11
  12. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Nicolino Locche,

    Won an impressive but 'close' Unanimous 10-Round Decision over 'highly regarded'
    23 year-old - Columbian - Emiliano Villa 24-1-1 (12 KO's) in January 1976.

    Emiliano Villa (a 1972 Olympic Light-Welterweight participant) was a stable-mate
    of Antonio Cervantes, and also managed by Ramiro Machado.

    Based upon both performances by Locche (over Villa) and Benitez (over Villa),
    I would say this bout would lean towards whoever had the home-country site
    advantage.

    WBA Rankings (May 1976)

    *** Wilfred Benitez
    #1 - Antonio Cervantes
    #2 - Hector Thompson
    #3 - Nicolino Locche
    #4 - Emiliano Villa

    This content is protected
     
    Senor Pepe', Aug 24, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Aug 24, 2012
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  13. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Locche was an ancient 37 years old by then, and he didn't exactly keep himself in great shape.

    While it is true that later on in his career Locche became more limited to dazzling the crowd and the hometown judges with his defensive moves, he did put in a solid amount of work to capture deserved decision wins during his prime.

    By 1976 though, it would be Benitez putting in too much work to go unnoticed, while having enough savvy to not walk into Locche's eye-catching counters.
     
    TheGreatA, Aug 24, 2012
    TheGreatA, Aug 24, 2012
    #13
  14. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Speaking of Locche, here is supposed footage of a very young Locche in 1963:

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmsP01m1p4M[/ame]


    His style appeared similar enough even by then, if a bit more unrefined. Can't confirm whether it was truly filmed in 1963 or not though.
     
    TheGreatA, Aug 24, 2012
    TheGreatA, Aug 24, 2012
    #14
  15. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Appears pretty similar, still all about the left hand offensively and appears well on the way being the defensive savant he would become.

    As to the true age of the footage, his hairline is certainly more prominent than it was in the footage we have of him from his title reign :D
     
    Flea Man, Aug 24, 2012
    Flea Man, Aug 24, 2012
    #15
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