Pedro Adigue Jr. vs. Adolph Pruitt 'vacant' WBC Championship

[Rover]

So the WBC was pulling its usual crap before Sulaiman.

[Rover]

Absolutely,

The WBC (Justiniano Montana) positioned Los Angeles-based - Adolph Pruitt as the 'most available challenger'
over both Bruno Arcari and Eddie Perkins.

Adolph who was Managed by Henry Armstrong, was a 28 year-old veteran. Another 5' 7" muscular-type,
with a record fo 27-7-2 {18 KO's). But, Adolph could punch, and had a good right hand to go along
with his physical 'slam-bang style'.

After starting his career by going 5-4-1, Adolph turned it around under the guidance of Henry Armstrong,
and since October 1962 (6-Years), Adolph had gone 22-3-1 - with his only losses to Eddie Perkins (2x) and
Jose 'Mantequilla' Napoles.

Adolph was clearly the better fighter here, as he had been in with and defeated higher rated fighters than
the Filipino had. Entering this bout, Ring Magazine had ranked Adolph as their #4 Light-Welterweight.

One of the advantages that Adolph had over the other higher ranked fighters, was that he had been campaigning
in Honolulu, Hawaii - which presented him as the most available Challenger for a bout in The Philippines.

Needless to say, the bout for the 'vacant' WBC Light Welterweight Championship was set for Saturday Night -
December 14, 1968 (Two-days after the Paul 'Takeshiki' Fuji vs Nicolino Locche WBA Championship Bout).

Bet Fuji wished he'd have fought the WBC-mandated opponent rather than Locche.

[Rover]

Paul Fuji thought he was 'safe' in Tokyo,,,,,but Nicolino was too much.......

Back to The Philippines,,,,,,,,

The 'skinny' going around was that WBC President - Justiniano Montana set up everything so
that Pedro Adigue Jr. would be assured of a victory.

With 16,500 Filipino's watching at the Araneta Coliseum - Adolph Pruitt was supposed to play the
non-threatening opponent, for the guarantee of getting the Championship Bout, and a 'return' match
guarantee in Honolulu, Hawaii within 90-Days.

Both Pedro Adigue Jr. and Adolph Pruitt each were to receive a fight purse of $55,000 - and with a
'silent contract' to face off again in February 1969.

The Fight,

What was reported was that both fighters had trouble making the 140 lbs. weight limit, but 'cooler heads'
prevailed, and the bout went on as scheduled.

Round 1, it was Pruitt who showed off his solid left jab, and controlled the Round.

But in Rounds 2 and 3, Adolph put his jab to sleep, and allowed Pedro to get inside and utilize his strength
to maul, hold and hit.

In Round 4, the Filipino took over with the 16,500 Filipino fans cheering, and Pedro scored with heavy
lefts and rights to the head and body, while Adolph surprisingly was not fighting back. This pattern followed
in Rounds 5 and 6.

Adolph finally made an aggressive attack in Rounds 7, 8 and 9 - as he used his harder punches to rattle Pedro
a few times. Suddenly Adolph used his wide left hooks to slow down the Filipino's inside attack.

But that was it for Adolph, as Pedro opened up and poured it on in Rounds 10 thru 13, by landing the sharper
punches. Now it was Pedroo who was tossing the harder leather, and Adolph did little to thwart the attack.

Hopelessly behind heading into Round 14, Adolph opened up by trying to land a 'Home Run Punch', and stalked
Pedro who was now cruising to the finish with a big points lead.

Both fighters went at it in the last round, with each landing good punches, in what was an excellent finish to
a well fought bout.

Scorecards;
* Referee - Nicholas Pope......72-69 (6-3-6 in Rounds) Pedro Adigue Jr.
* Judge...............................70-68 (7-5-3 in Rounds) Pedro Adigue Jr.
* Judge...............................71-66 (9-4-2 in Rounds) Pedro Adigue Jr.

Note; It was Pedro Adigue Jr's. finest performance in the ring.

Note; Some questioned Adoplh Pruitt's lackadasical effort in Rounds 2 thu 6 - where he let the Filipno dictate
the bout. And though Adolph was the harder puncher, he did not unload his hard right hand until very
late in the bout. Some in the press questioned his fight plan, in a bout he should have at least controlled, if not
dominated.

[Rover]

Mr. Rover,

Justiniano Montana (Philippines) was the WBC President from October 1, 1968 thru June 25, 1971.

His 'first' order of business was to 'strip' Paul 'Takeshiki' Fuji of his title for facing Nicolino Locche
instead of, you guessed it - Filipino - Pedro Adigue Jr.

He was ousted, when a 'rift' developed between the Mexican Contingent and Asian Contingent.

Ramon G. Velazquez (Mexico) took over, and remained as President until,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,'

'Mr. Good Intentions'.........Jose Sulaiman took over on December 5, 1975.

At least Mr. Montama made good on his word, and got Pedro Adigue Jr. a WBC Championship.

Even though the WBC enforced its mandatory, Adigue wasn't a deserving one.

[Rover]

Correct,

After winning the WBC Light Welterweight Championship on December 14, 1968 -

Pedro Adigue Jr. and Adolph Pruitt did it again 2-months later in Honolulu, Hawaii,
on Tuesday Night - February 18, 1969.

The bout was supposed to be a rematch for the WBC Championship - but
Pedro purposely came in heavy at (143 lbs.) so he didn't make the 140 lb. limit.

The bout still went on, but as a 'non-title' bout.

Adolph Pruitt destroyed the Filipino in a one-sided bout, and battered him for
4-Rounds. In the 5th-Roud, Pruitt dropped Pedro with a brutal body attack of
lefts and rights for a 5-Count.

Then, Adolph unloaded a 3-Punch combination, followed by a vicious right uppercut
the floored Pedro again. Pedro got up at at the 8-Count, but Referee - Wilbert Minn
halted the bout as the Filipino was in no condition to continue.

Following the bout, Pedro Adigue Jr, experienced severe stomach pain, and was rushed
to the hospital where he suffered from appendicitis.

The WBC President - Justiniano Montana permitted the Champion (his countryman) time to
recover from the appendicitis, and nearly 1-Year passed before he defended his Championship again.

What should have happened;

The WBC should have vacated the Championship, and have Adolph Pruitt and the next highest rated
Challenger (Bruno Arcari) fight for the vacant Championship. Pedro Adigue could have been moved into
the 'next-up' Challenger when he recovered, and was able to fight.

The WBC should've stripped him when he missed weight in a title fight.