October 16, 1976 One of those WBA Title Fights, that kind of went un-noticed. WBA Light-Middleweight Champion '18 year-old Wunderkind' Wilfred Benitez defends his title in Puerto Rico, versus Brockton, Massachussets - Tony Petronelli. Benitez 27-0-0 (20 KO's) was making the '2nd Defense' of his 140 lb. Light-Welterweight Championship. The 'rumblings' coming out of Puerto Rico, were that Wilfred was having trouble getting down to 140 lbs., and that in several gym-sparring sessions he had been floored, and in one instance 'knocked-out' by '2-bout Professional' Domingo Ayala. There were doubts about whether this Championship Bout would come off as scheduled, due to questions about the overall condition of Wilfred (ie; weight, conditioning and mental focus).
Tony Petronelli I'm guessing was one of the brothers who trained Hagler? I'm pretty sure I read that in Four Kings. Keep up these posts Senor Pepe, most entertaining
Tony Petronelli was the son of Pat Petronelli, and nephew of Goody Petronelli. Tony, built up his record in the New England area (Boston Garden, Boston Arena and Brockton). He was a 'Boston Televsion TV-Fighter'. A 5' 9", well-schooled 'boxer/puncher', with a good amateur back-ground. Got to 35-1-1 (20 KO's), and along the way won the USA New England Light-Welterweight Championship. As well as winning and defending the 'American Light-Welterweight Championship' versus; * July 1974............ Hector Matta..(22-7-2) * November 1974.... Benny Huertas * December 1974.... Johnny Copeland * May 1975............ Benny Huertas * December 1975.... Luis Davila Pretty much, the 'club-fighter' circuit, except for Hector Matta, who was a pretty good Puerto Rican Lightweight, who had defeated Saoul Mamby (2x), and went the distance with Ken Buchanan and Robert Duran in 'non-title' bouts. He scored 'two big wins' in 1976, first by stopping (TKO 12) Canadian 'knockout-artist' Gaetan Hart for the NABF Light-Welterweight Championship, and then by defending his title by defeating (W Spit-Dec 12) 'undefeated' and #5 WBA-ranked - Dale Heranadez (28-0-0). Those wins, pushed the 24 year-old up to the #2 WBA Light-Welterweight. Many thought that Tony was 'at-the-right-place' and 'at-the-right-time' to capture the Light-Welterweight Championship. He was strong in sparring sessions, and looked extremely sharp. More of a boxer, than a puncher (despite '20' knockouts), his real strength was good hand-speed, and swift footwork. His faults, he tended to get into 'slugfests' with his opponents, when it was not neccessary. This content is protected
R/T Tony Petronelli was actually ranked as the #2 WBA Welterweight in September 1975. At 30-1-1 (17 KO's). He was supposed to fight #1 WBA Welterweight, Angel Espada on October 11, 1975 and in Puerto Rico for the 'vacant' WBA Welterweight Championship. But he pulled out, due to an injury. Johnny Gant, the #3 WBA Welterweight was brought in as a replacement. It took Tony Petronelli 'one' full year to get back to a World Championship, and that at Light-Welterweight.
