Antonio Cervantes 'Early Career'

[BoxBuzz]

I met him in Hawaii, and read this with great interest. Thanks so much for this.

[Rover]

I met him in Hawaii, and read this with great interest. Thanks so much for this.

What was he like? Where is he now? What was he doing in Hawaii?

[Rover]

Surprised someone with that kind of power had so few knockouts.

[Rover]

Surprised someone with that kind of power had so few knockouts.

A 'skinny guy' in those early days.

Started to develop more leverage, after hooking up with Carmelo Prada in 1967 - who
guided Antonio from that point.

Early bad patterns of fighting with 'stiff-legs', created an 'arm-punching only pattern',
as Antonio relied primarily on left jabs and counter right hands.

Thru October 1968- '83-Bouts', and supposedly had never been 'knocked down' or
stopped either.
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'Big Fight in Caracas, Venezuela'

On Monday Night - November 25, 1968 - Antonio made his 'debut' in his new residence,
at the Nuevo Circo Stadium.

Fighting in front of nearly 9000 Venezuelan fans, Ramiro Machado put Antonio on a fight
card that included World-rated and former Light Welterweight Champion, the super popular -
Carlos Hernandez (Venezuela) and future Featherweight Star - Alfredo Marcano.

In the opening bout of the evening - Antonio was matched with - Orlando Ruiz {19-5-3}
a Venezuelan Lightweight who had been living in Miami, Florida.

The 'skinny' Antonio {129 lbs.} scored a sensational 'KO 1' over Orlando Ruiz {134 lbs.}

[Rover]

So when was Cervantes born?

[Rover]

So when was Cervantes born?

In the 'pre-fight' interview before Antonio Cervantes fought Aaron Pryor (August 2, 1980) -

Manager - Ramiro Machado said he had been the Manager-Advisor-Agent for 'Kid Pambele' since
late-1968 (12 years), and that Antonio had been boxing for over 18+ years, and that as far as
he knew, Antonio had been boxing 'professionally' since at least 1963, but he knew that Antonio
had been fighting earlier than that.

When asked about his fighters age, Ramiro never answered and just looked at Antonio - who
said, "I be sure '34'."

And when asked about his record with '92-Bouts' fought, 'Kid Pambele' boasted that he had been
in over '120-Bouts' for his career.

Of course, this was met with some {rolling eye's}, as Antonio admitted that it was his Uncle {Pablo Salgado}
that got him started in boxing while he was living in Valledupar, Colombia - which was during 1961 and 1962.

Nobody has been able to put a 'definite' year on his birth date. But Antonio was called the 'Ageless One' by
the Colombian and Venezuelan 'boxing press' during the late-1970's - when he came back after losing to
Wilfred Benitez in March 1976.

Why won't he tell us? Surely he knows.

[Rover]

Not sure,

He suffered from 'drug addiction' during the 1980's, and was hospitalized for awhile.

Not clear on his 'memory', but the man still looks pretty good for 68 or 71.

On the 'Kid Pambele' nickname. It was given to him by his Uncle - Pablo Salgado
when he was just starting to box in 1961. The 'original' Kid Pambele was a fairly
decent boxer from Nicaragua in the 1950's - that Uncle Pablo liked.

Ramiro Machado (Manager) started using that 'nickname' for Antonio in 1969 -
to get him some attention.

Did Cervantes wind up in prison? I thought I read he missed his HOF induction.

[Rover]

I don't think so,

I think that was another Antonio Cervantes.

'Kid Pambele' is still revered in Colombia.

The #1 Personality from 1972 thru 1980 - marketing Sanyo, Colombian Coffee,
'Kid Pambele' Sportswear, Speed Boats, Colombian Travel Agency, Ford Trucks
and Aqua-Velva.

He was so wealthy, he had to leave the country in 1974, in fear of getting 'kidnapped'
and being held ransom.

Did he blow all his money?

[Rover]

I'm sure he did blow it....... with 'BLOW'

He was a very intelligent guy,,,,,,,

[Rover]

Saturday Night - December 14, 1968

Palacio de Deportes - Caracas, Venezuela

Antonio Cervantes {128 lbs.} makes it '3' wins in a row in Venezuala, as the now just shy of Age 26
Featherweight scores an 'easy' '10-Round' Decision over Orlando Rivas {130 lbs.}

This puts Antonio at 74-8-4 {19 KO's}, and puts him in line for his 'most important' bout next,
in only 6-Days,

Fighting 6 days apart?
We don't see that much anymore especially after a 10 rounder.

[Rover]

Aggressive opportunity back then.

You had to jump quick.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
'BIG FIGHT NIGHT'

Friday Night - December 20, 1968

Nuevo Circo 'New Circus' - Caracas, Venezuela

Main Event = Carlos Hernandez (Venezuelan Country Hero) vs. Ray Adigun

Undercard
* Antonio 'Kid Pameble' Cervantes ~ 73-8-4 {19 KO's} ~ Age; 26 years, 0 months ~ Height; 5' 9" ~ Weight; 126 lbs.
vs.
* Cruz 'El Loco' Marcano ~ 17-0-2 {11 Ko's} ~ Age; 22 years, 9 months ~ Height; 5' 7" ~ Weight ~ 127 lbs.

Cruz Marcano is a local 'up-and-coming' and popular Venezuelan Featherweight, who is already ranked as the
#16 Featherweight in the World after just '19-Bouts'.

Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes is ranked as the #12 Featherweight in the World, and is ready to enter the Top 10.

It is a packed house (12,000 Attendance) on Friday Night at the Nuevo Circo 'New Circus'.

Shame Marcano died so young.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I didn't know that Cervantes fought Marcano.

[Esquire]

IMHO, Cervantes is one of the most under rated fighters of my life time.

He didn't have the amateur background which would have polished him enough to not have lost his early loses. He learned his craft as he went and he was always older than his opponents.

Kid Pambele couldn't lead worth a damn, but if you attacked him, and unless you were an all time great, you would get knocked out.

Smooth as silk he was so long as you came forward. If you made him lead he became awkward.
Top 100 fighter of all time.

[Esquire]

Good call Mr. Esquire,

Antonio Cervantes was an 'arm puncher' primarily, and usually did not get his legs into his punches.

Learned the 'old school way', by using the left jab and his excellent counter-punching skills.

Had a tremendous amount of bouts against 'Second-Rate' opponents.

Was an 'All Box, No Punch' fighter as a Bantamweight and Featherweight, and started to develop a
'KO Punch' when he moved up to Lightweight in 1970 when he finally got a World Ranking.

Was beaten by '3' excellent Venezuelan Featherweights; *Cruz Marcano , *Francisco Bolivar and * Antonio Gomez
in late-1968 and mid-1969 - which lead some to believe he got chased out of the 126 lb. Division.

Excellent post, Il Duce. Kid Pambele, learned as he grew, so to speak. If he was a classic American fighter, he would have had the amateur backround to avoid those losses due to having to learn the art of boxing. But he learned that art nonetheless. Unfortunately for him, he was shop worn and old by the time he became an all time great.

At 140 pounds he was nearly unbeatable but for the all time greats that he fought. The Benitez loss (and it was razor close) demonstrated his flaw when having to lead. Benitez made his opponents lead. Even so, he arguably held his own.

Against Prior, he was truly in in his element, but he ran into one of the best offensive fighters I've ever seen. And he as pushing 40 years old at that time regardless of what his team claimed his age to be. Watch that fight again and you will see that he lost because he wasn't young enough to fight at the pace Prior had set. If Cervantes was five years younger he would have made it a distance fight and he would have landed plenty of bombs while it lasted. He ran out of steam due to his advanced age.

A great fighter he was. He dropped Prior and landed plenty (like Arguello did) bit it didn't matter against a machine like Prior at that time. Prior was something special at that time and it was his time. I laugh at those that talk about Mayweather and others against (hypothetically) the prime Aaron Prior. He was a beast that would have given the greatest fighters of all time a very difficult time.

Viva Kid Pambele. He was special.

[Rover]

Good fighter, that nobody saw,,,,,

The 'first' fighter to floor Antonio Cervantes after '85-Bouts'.

Dropped 'Kid Pambele in Round 1 - with a left-hook and overhand right.

The Newspaper Account stated that a 'left-right-left' combination put 'Kid Pambele'
down-and-out at 1:34 of Round 4.

Followng this bout, Ring Magazine ranked Cruz Marcano as the #10 Featherweight.

Antonio Cervantes dropped out of the Top 20.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Venezuelan Fight Manager-Advisor - Ramiro Machado told Antonio Cervantes that he
'bit off more than he could handle', and was 'leaping too quick'. He advised Antonio
that he should go back to Colombia and improve upon his skills with Carmelo Prada
before taking on 'hard-punchers'.

Years later, Ramiro Machado said the he actually told Antonio before he accepted
the offer to fight Cruz Marcano on 6-days notice,,,,,,,, 'You're taking too big of a bite off the Apple.'

Left-Right-Left........Lights Out in Caracas.

Give him credit for trying, foolish though it was.

[Rover]

Cruz Marcano sent Antonio Cervantes back to Colombia at the end of 1968 -

Antonio returned back to Caracas in April 1969 for another go with Ramiro Machado.

Short stay in Colombia for him; why'd he come back so fast?

[Rover]

Friday Night - August 15, 1969

After scoring '4' relatively easy wins 4-0-0 {3 KO's} after the {Knockout Loss} to Cruz Marcano
on December 2, 1968 -

Antonio Cervantes was back in Caracas, Venezuela in August 1969.

Antonio would be fighting on the undercard of a bout between the 'two' best young Venezuelan Featherweights -
Cruz Marcano {23-0-2} vs. Alfredo Marcano {28-3-3}.

The 26 1/2 year-old - 'Kid Pambele' with a record of 78-9-4 {22 KO's} was back at the Nuevo Circo 'New Circus'
Stadium on another Friday Night card, again in front of nearly 12,000 Venezuelan boxing fans.

His opponent, veteran Venezuelan Super Featherweight - 31 year-old - Francisco Bolivar 46-9-1 {25 KO's}.

Again bitten by the 'Nuevo Circo' snake - Antonio {128 lbs.} was 'floored' in Round 3, and struggled over
the second half of the bout as he was staggered several times, while losing a 'one-sided' 10-Round Decision
to Francisco Bolivar {127 1/2 lbs.}.

Amazing he'd be a champ not even 3 years later.

[Rover]

By November 1969

The Colombian - Antonio Cervantes was competing in Venezuela, and despite his incredible success in
his home country (Colombia), Antonio was still not able crack the 'Top Venezuelan Featherweights'

World Featherweight Rankings

#3 - Cruz Marcano ~ 23-0-3 {12 KO's}
#4 - Antonio Gomez ~ 25-2-0 {11 KO's}
#5 - Alfredo Marcano ~ 29-3-3 {19 KO's}
#8 - Pedro Gomez ~ 23-4-2 {11 KO's}
#9 - Francisco Bolivar ~ 47-10-1 {25 KO's}

#20 - Antonio Cervantes ~ 79-10-4 {23 KO's}

With losses to Cruz Marcano {L KO 4, December 2, 1968} and Francisco Bolivar {L Dec 10, Francsico Bolivar},
Antonio could 'ill afford' another loss, and he needed a 'win' over a top name to surge ahead in the Featherweight
Division.

Fight Manager - Ramiro Machado, who represented every top Venezuelan Featherweight along with Antonio
Cervantes, matched the Colombian with the talented (and future World Featherweight Champion) Antonio Gomez
together in November 1969.

Monday Night - November 10, 1969
Nuevo Cicro 'New Circus' - Caracas, Venezuela

#4 - Antonio Gomez (Age; 25 years, 2 months) ~ Height; 5' 6 1/2" ~ Weight; 127 lbs.
vs.
#20 - Antonio Cervantes (Age; 26 years, 11 months) ~ Height; 5' 9" ~ Weight; 128 1/2 lbs.

The Fight;

Again, another Venezuelan who out-boxes and defeats Antonio Cervantes.

Antonio Gomez and Cervantes exchange left jabs for most of the bout, but the 'stronger' Gomez
controls Rounds 8, 9 and 10 - to win a well-boxed Unanimous 10-Round Decision.

Scorecards; 96-94 / 97-95 / 97-95