Pipino Cuevas versus Angel Espada 1, 2 and 3

[goose 5]

Probably the most one-sided trilogy in title fight history. Was Espada brave or deluded to take the third bout ? Or, just desperate for the money ?

[scartissue]

Goose, I would disagree that they were one-sided. To begin with their first fight - let's face it, Cuevas did not deserve a title shot. He was 15-6 and had lost his last fight to Andy 'The Hawk' Price. I recall reading about this at the time. Espada and his manager Yamil Chade went to watch this fight (I think it was at the Olympic but I could be wrong) and Espada was telling Chade, "Him, I want him!" And Chade said, "Oh, you want to defend the title against Price?" And Espada told him, "No, I want to fight Cuevas." It was sort of comical, but Espada seemed to want an easy match. I'm sure he took Cuevas for granted and paid the price in 2 rounds. The rematch was tight and was dead even on the officials cards after 11 rounds, with Espada retiring with a broken jaw. I saw the fight, and although I had Cuevas further ahead than the officials, Espada's counters would have taken out most welters. He deserved the third fight after the tussle he put up. After a number of wins Espada wanted another crack at his old title and the Puerto Rican friendly WBA was only too happy to oblige. Again, it was said to be a tough one, but Cuevas prevailed in the 10th. So, one easy blowout but Cuevas had to work himself into the ground for fights 2 and 3. I remember Espada so well back in the day. Beautiful boxer with explosive counters. He seems to be lost in the ether these days but a damn good fighter.

[dagosd2000]

Goose, I would disagree that they were one-sided. To begin with their first fight - let's face it, Cuevas did not deserve a title shot. He was 15-6 and had lost his last fight to Andy 'The Hawk' Price. I recall reading about this at the time. Espada and his manager Yamil Chade went to watch this fight (I think it was at the Olympic but I could be wrong) and Espada was telling Chade, "Him, I want him!" And Chade said, "Oh, you want to defend the title against Price?" And Espada told him, "No, I want to fight Cuevas." It was sort of comical, but Espada seemed to want an easy match. I'm sure he took Cuevas for granted and paid the price in 2 rounds. The rematch was tight and was dead even on the officials cards after 11 rounds, with Espada retiring with a broken jaw. I saw the fight, and although I had Cuevas further ahead than the officials, Espada's counters would have taken out most welters. He deserved the third fight after the tussle he put up. After a number of wins Espada wanted another crack at his old title and the Puerto Rican friendly WBA was only too happy to oblige. Again, it was said to be a tough one, but Cuevas prevailed in the 10th. So, one easy blowout but Cuevas had to work himself into the ground for fights 2 and 3. I remember Espada so well back in the day. Beautiful boxer with explosive counters. He seems to be lost in the ether these days but a damn good fighter.

Goose and Dan
They wanted Jose Napoles to defend his title in 1975 against Espada in Puerto Rico,but Jose wanted something "softer" so he opted to fight Armando Muniz in Acapulco. What can you say about that one?

[scartissue]

Goose, I would disagree that they were one-sided. To begin with their first fight - let's face it, Cuevas did not deserve a title shot. He was 15-6 and had lost his last fight to Andy 'The Hawk' Price. I recall reading about this at the time. Espada and his manager Yamil Chade went to watch this fight (I think it was at the Olympic but I could be wrong) and Espada was telling Chade, "Him, I want him!" And Chade said, "Oh, you want to defend the title against Price?" And Espada told him, "No, I want to fight Cuevas." It was sort of comical, but Espada seemed to want an easy match. I'm sure he took Cuevas for granted and paid the price in 2 rounds. The rematch was tight and was dead even on the officials cards after 11 rounds, with Espada retiring with a broken jaw. I saw the fight, and although I had Cuevas further ahead than the officials, Espada's counters would have taken out most welters. He deserved the third fight after the tussle he put up. After a number of wins Espada wanted another crack at his old title and the Puerto Rican friendly WBA was only too happy to oblige. Again, it was said to be a tough one, but Cuevas prevailed in the 10th. So, one easy blowout but Cuevas had to work himself into the ground for fights 2 and 3. I remember Espada so well back in the day. Beautiful boxer with explosive counters. He seems to be lost in the ether these days but a damn good fighter.

Goose and Dan
They wanted Jose Napoles to defend his title in 1975 against Espada in Puerto Rico,but Jose wanted something "softer" so he opted to fight Armando Muniz in Acapulco. What can you say about that one?

I know what you mean, man. Talk about the Brinks robbery!

[goose 5]

Espada would have beat Napoles at that point. I think the judges were way off the mark in the second Cuevas-Espada bout. Espada won-in my opinion- 3 rounds.

[goose 5]

I did a little digging and found that Cuevas called his second fight with Espada the toughest of his career and revealed that he suffered 3 fractures of his jaw and 2 fractured ribs in that bout. Source: "The Hands of Stone."

[goose 5]

Another research update : August 11, 1980 Sports Illustrated: Cuevas told Pat Putnam that he thought his jaw was broken in the second Espada bout, but that it was only badly bruised and that for the 3 weeks following the fight he ate his meals through a straw.

[Nile4000]

Give Pipino the credit for fighting him an additional 2 times.

[giacomino]

Given Cuevas' style and lack of speed I can see how Espada thought he would be an easy mark ... until he felt his power. I remember seeing either the second or third fight and it was competitive

[Ambling Alp II]

Give Pipino the credit for fighting him an additional 2 times.

On the other hand, it would have been nice for someone else to have got shot instead of beating the same guy three times. Of course better yet, taking on Palomino.

[elmersalsa]

Pipino Cuevas vs Angel Espada was another example of " It does not matter how many times I fight this guy, I can't beat him!"

[Nile4000]

Give Pipino the credit for fighting him an additional 2 times.

On the other hand, it would have been nice for someone else to have got shot instead of beating the same guy three times. Of course better yet, taking on Palomino.

I can understand that.

[goose 5]

My point in starting this thread was to discuss Espada's mindset going into the third fight with Cuevas. He was destroyed in the first fight and the second bout ended brutally for him.

[Ambling Alp II]

Guessing that he saw it as a payday. He really wasn't a contender anymore.