Samuel Serrano vs Tae-Ho Kim 'November 19, 1977'

[Rover]

[Rover]

Scorecards?

[Rover]

Almost Forgot,

* Referee - Larry Rozadilla (USA)................86-86 (4-3-2 in Rounds for Samuel Serrano) - 'Even'
* Judge - Kim-Chae Duk (South Korea)........87-84 (5-3-1 in Rounds for Tae-Ho Kim) -Tae-Ho Kim
* Judge - Humberto Fiqueroa (Puerto Rico)...86-86 (4-3-2 in Rounds for Samuel Serrano) - 'Even'

All 'judges' scored Round 3 {10-8} for Tae-Ho Kim.

Humberto Figueroa's from Panama.

[Rover]

Almost Forgot,

* Referee - Larry Rozadilla (USA)................86-86 (4-3-2 in Rounds for Samuel Serrano) - 'Even'
* Judge - Kim-Chae Duk (South Korea)........87-84 (5-3-1 in Rounds for Tae-Ho Kim) -Tae-Ho Kim
* Judge - Roberto Ramirez Sr. (Puerto Rico)...86-86 (4-3-2 in Rounds for Samuel Serrano) - 'Even'

All 'judges' scored Round 3 {10-8} for Tae-Ho Kim.

Humberto Figueroa's from Panama.

My Error,,,,,

Roberto Ramirez Sr. (Puerto Rico)

I believe Humberto Rodriguez (Panama) was the 'neutral judge' for the Pipino Cuevas vs. Angel Espada bout.

You mean Humberto Figueroa?

[Rover]

Yea, one those guys..........


Pipino Cuevas vs Angel Espada

Referee - Jesus Celis (Venezuela)
Judge - Humberto Fiqueroa (Panama)
Judge - ??? (Puerto Rico)

No Mexican official? Not fair to Cuevas.

[Rover]

Yea, one those guys..........


Pipino Cuevas vs Angel Espada

Referee - Jesus Celis (Venezuela)
Judge - Humberto Fiqueroa (Panama)
Judge - ??? (Puerto Rico)

No Mexican official? Not fair to Cuevas.

Part of the 'Deal' to go to Puerto Rico for a bigger fight purse, plus a gentleman's agreement
for Pipino to defend against "El Cholo" in Puerto Rico.

Remember, Angel Espada went to Baja California to defend against Pipino in 1976.

I understand going to P.R., but I don't understand why the WBA wouldn't mandate balance in terms of the officials.

[Rover]

Pipino fought a couple of Title Bouts without the benifet of a Mexican Scoring Official.

And, Puerto Rico was notorius for demanding to select their own officials.

Well, he usually made sure scoring didn't become an issue.

[Rover]

Saturday Night - November 19, 1977

Roberto Clemente Stadium - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Attendance; (11,200)

WBA Super Featherweight Championship

* WBA - Samuel Serrano ~ 35-3-1 (11 KO's)
vs.
# 7 WBA ~ Tae-Ho Kim ~ 20-0-0 (9 KO's)

WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Samuel Serrano will make his '4th' Title Defense, on the undercard
of the WBA Welterweight Championship between Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas and Angel Espada.

Again, the Puerto Rican Super Featherweight Champion is making Alexis Arguello chase him, as Fight Promoter
Pepito Cordero and Salinas Promotions offer Alexis a 'mere pittance' as a fight purse.

The Challenger holds 'no' South Korean or Asian Title, but the 25 year-old 5' 9 1/2" Tae-Ho has a reputation as
a 'comer' who can deliver fairly hard punches in fast spurts. Tae-Ho will also be close in height to the lanky
Champion, which may present some problems for the Champion, who is used to facing shorter opponents.

The Fight,

Immediatley - the Champion has a problem with the Challenger, as Tae-Ho can equal Serrano in reach, and
has more power. The Challenger scores well in Round 1, and Serrano is somewhat surprised by his skills.

In Round 2, Serrano goes in close, and starts to exchange with Tae-Ho. But, the Challenger fires back with
hard left-right 1-2's at the (0:44 Mark) that shakes the Champion. Each time that Serrano attacks, he is met
with sharp punches that rock him. Serrano is clearly frustrated by the hard counters from Tae-Ho, and starts
applying dirty tactics of elbowing and rough-housing during the later part of the Round.

At the Bell ending Round 2, Serrano attacks Tae-Ho with several punches and 'House Referee' - Larry Rozadilla
'does nothing', as he gives no warning to the Champion.

In Round 3, the Challenger comes out with a determined look, and immediately whacks Serrano with hard
lefts-and-rights that drive him backwards. Serrano can't get 'untracked' as the suprisingly tough Challenger is
in total command. Midway through the Round at the (1:35 Mark) Serrano gets rocked by a hard left hook, and
seeks the ropes as Tae-Ho presses and fires a series of lefts-and rights on the dazed Champion. Serrano recovers,
and attempts a right uppercut to back of Tae-Ho, just as the Challenger lets go with a wicked left hook that crashes
on Serrano's chin.

The Champion goes to the canvas at the (2:17 Mark), but gets up at the 4-Count, as he takes the 'Mandatory 8-Count'.
Sensing that he has the Champion in big-trouble, Tae-Ho goes all-out with another series of lefts-and rights, but
Serrano holds on until the Bell ends Round 3.

Thru 3-Rounds, Tae-Ho Kim is ahead 30-26 on the Scorecards.

Round 4, the Champion comes out swinging 'wildy' in an attempt to slow down the Challenger. In several exchanges,
Serrano does get through, as Tae-Ho is out-hit for the first time in the bout. Late in Round, Serrano lands a good right
hand, and he opens a slight-nick over Tae-Ho's right eye. Again, Serrano fires punches after the Bell and Referee Rozadilla
'does nothing'.

Round 5, Serrano keeps up with the aggressive-and-wild style, as this pattern is working best for him. Tae-Ho is
out-sped during the Round, as he can't match the Champion in the hand-speed department.

Round 6, Serrano, thinking that he has the bout in control, reverts back to his old-style of jabbing-and-clincing. This works
for the first-half of the Round, but Tae-Ho will not allow Serrano to tie him up, and uses his strength to break-free, and
unloads with hard left-right combinations. At the (2:10 Mark) Tae-Ho rock's the Champion with a wicked left hook, and
Serrano does a 'dance' on wobbling legs. The Challenger pounces, and again sends in a series of head-punches that snap
Serrano's head. Serrano finally gets to to tie up the Challenger, and holds on to clear his head.

Serrano makes a small charge over the last 5-Seconds, but again continues to wildly swing after the Bell, and again
without a warning from Referee - Rozadilla.

Round 7, Tae-Ho Kim's corner instruct their fighter to go out and take the Champion out, as Serrano's legs look gone.
Tae-Ho follows his orders, and goes out bombing. Serrano, the smart cagey-boxer lays along the ropes and plays
defensive, and whenever he can he ties up the Challenger. Tae-Ho keeps winging, and lands several good left-right
combinations, but he is starting to lose power in his punches as the bell ends Round 7.

In Round 8, Serrano gets his offense going as Tae-Ho looks punched out. The Champion scores with good left jabs
and sneaky right hands when Tae-Ho drops his guard. Serrano starts to back up Tae-Ho for the first time in the bout,
and lands several good left-rights to the Challeger's body which bother him.

Round 9, Serrano keeps the pace-fast, and will not allow the Challenger to re-group. At the (1:03 Mark) Serrano
lands a good right hand to chin, and Tae-Ho moves back to the ropes stunned. There, Serrano unloads a wild arsenal
of punches as the Challenger reels along the ropes. Tae-Ho absorbs the punches and recovers, and is able to protect
himself, but is on the complete defensive until the Bell.

Round 10, Serrano is all-offense, and attacks early with several right-hand leads. A good flurry has the Challenger
in big trouble as he wobbles backwards at the (0:45 Mark). Seranno moves in and measures the Challenger for a
single hard punch. Tae-Ho starts to fight back at the (0:58 Mark), and scores with a decent left-right, but leaves himself
open and Serrano scores with a good right that stuns him. Serrano then unleashes a wild '30-Punch' flurry that has
Tae-Ho in all sorts of trouble, and the Champion caps it off by landing a tremendous right uppercut at the (1:40 Mark)
which drops Tae-Ho.

Tae-Ho gets up at the '8-Count', but he is no condition to continue where Referee -Larry Rozadilla calls a halt to the bout
at the 1:50 Mark of Round 10.

Fight Purses;
* Samuel Serrano.............$50,000
* Tae-Ho Kim...................$15,000 (Includes South Korean ancillary fee)

Why was Rozadilla called a "house referee"?

[Rover]

Larry Rozadilla was called a 'house referee' for the WBA.

When the promoters wanted to make sure that the right guy won, or at least had a
distinctive advantage........they called Mr. Rozadilla.

Larry switched from the WBC to the WBA.

See Samuel Serrano, 'Mr. Rozadilla' was the 'third man in the ring' in '6' of his Title Defenses..........

Christodoulou was in the ring for a lot of Pedroza's, too (Taylor, McGuigan, Lockridge I, Aba off the top of my head). He just was a good ref.
Pat Putnam pointed that out about Rozadilla with Serrano in a Sports Illustrated article he did but made no charges of impropriety.