Ben Villaflor

[Rover]

Thursday Night - November 14, 1974

Cow Palace (Daly City, California)
Promoter; Babe Griffin
Capacity 14,000 {Attendance; 12,000}

'CHAMP VILLAFLOR AND LUNNY III BATTLE TO DRAW'

In one of the largest attended bouts here at the Cow Palace, and largest 'Live Gate'
WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Filipno Ben Villaflor (Hawaii) and local favorite
Ray Lunny III battled to a 6-Round Technical-Draw in a 'non-title' Lightweight bout
Thursday Night.

The southpaw Villaflor came out looking to land his powerful left hand on the 5' 8" Lunny,
but the fleet-footed Californian circled fast and tossed out left jabs while staying away from
the stalking 5' 6" Filipino.

What were the rules in this era? Did they have technical decisions, or was the bout declared a draw if stopped due to an accidental butt, etc?

[Rover]

Mr Rover,,,,,,

Scroll back up, I didn't finish the post.....

Do you mean Judge Henry Elespuru?

[Rover]

Here is Pacific Stars and Stripes (recap) November 17, 1974

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... kmvRlMekbg

[Rover]

The 'gash' over Ben Villaflor's left eye, put him on the shelf for a 'few months'.

Ray Lunny III, who was a Lightweight, decided to drop down to Super Featherweight
and the plan was to set-up a rematch as soon as Ben Villaflor's eye-cut was healed.

Joe Gagliardi (Northern California Fight Promoter) wanted to set up the bout at a much
bigger venue than the Cow Palace in Daly City, as a World Championship bout with
Ben Villaflor vs. Ray Lunny III could draw a bigger crowd.

The plan was an April/May 1975 bout at the Oakland/Alameda County Arena with
a capacity of 17,000 for Boxing Events.

The offer of $100,000 (plus a portion of the Live Gate) was put out there for Manager -
Larry Inchonise for a Spring 1975 date, including a National Television broadcast...

Why didn't it happen?

[Rover]

I think Larry Inchonise didn't want to risk the Championship in Northern California,
in Ray Lunny III's back yard.

Ray was 'big time popular', and drew big crowds. Was the United States
Top Amateur Boxer in 1970, and was loved by San Franciscan's and
surrounding area.

It would have been a good bout. Ray was a 'scrappy' 5' 8" boxer who
could move pretty good. And when 'nailed', would come back hard.
Kind of like,,,,,,,,Johnny Lira.

Ray was ranked as the #8 WBA Lightweight in November 1974, but
when he dropped down to 130 lbs. (Super Featherweight) in January 1975,
amazingy he wasn't ranked by the WBA.

Go figure that one out..........????

Bizarre.

[Rover]

Did some digging,

After Ben Villaflor fought Ray Lunny III on November 14, 1974 - (Techinical Draw 6) -
Fight -Promoter Babe Griffin tried to get a rematch for the WBA Super Featherweight bout for
early-1975.

But, Larry Inchonise had signed an agreement to have Ben defend his Championship in
Manila the Philippines in early-1975.

Larry Inchonise and Babe Griffin had a 'verbal agreement' to fight in April/May 1975,
after Ben Villaflor satisfied his committment in The Philippines (lucrative fight purse).

The WBA 'put-a-hold' on that, and said Ray Lunny III must first defeat a Top 10
WBA-ranked Super Featherweight first, before they would sanction a 'per se'
Title bout between Villaflor and Lunny III.

Didn't Villaflor also injure his hand, keeping him out for the rest of the year anyway?

[Rover]

Injured his right hand,,,,,

But suffered a bad eye injury (right eye) in his bout in Manila (March 1975) with
Kim Hyun-Chil.

5-days after the bout, he lost vision (went blind) in the eye. He required emergency
surgery to restore vision, which put off the Villaflor - Lunny III bout schedeuled
for May 1975 off.

In April 1975 - Larry Inchonise and Harry Kabakoff had discussions of putting together
a Ben Villaflor vs. Danny 'Little Red' Lopez for August 1975 at 'The Olympic'.

"BIG MONEY FIGHT"

WOW !!!!!........Never knew that.

Neither did I. Didn't know about the blindness, either. Wow.

[Rover]

Trying to research the Thursday Night (March 13, 1975) bout at Araneta Coliseum in The Philippines.

* WBA Champion - Ben Villaflor ~ 53-5-5 (30 KO's)
vs.
#7 WBA Challenger - Hyun-Chi Kim ~ 23-0-0 (9 KO's)

Hyun-Chi Kim was the OPBF Super Featherweight Champion, and the 26 year-old was supposed
to have lightning-fast hands, but he had no true 'KO Power'.

Trying to find 'where' in the bout that Ben could have had his right eye damaged.

The bout was 'Even-Steven' thru 8-Rounds {37-37} = 3-3-2 in Rounds.

In Round 9, Ben dropped Hyun-Chi with a devastating left upper-cut. He dropped
Hyun-Chi 'twice' more with short powerful left-hands to the chin. The 3-Knockdown
Rule was waived, and Hyun-Chi just barely survived.

In Round 10, Hyun-Chi came out 'groggy', and the Champion battered him all over the
Ring, and the 'Referee - Herbert Minn' nearly stopped the bout as the Korean Challenger
looked for cover against a relenteless Champion who was pounding him with hard lefts
from his southpaw stance.

At the end of Round 10, Villaflor had a 'split' left glove. The bout was then stopped, and
held up for several minutes while a replacement glove could be located and put on the
Champion's left hand.

This break in between Rounds 10 and 11, gave Hyun-Chi much needed time to recover.

In Round 11, an 'amazing turn-around', as Hyun-Chi went all-out, and stunned Villaflor
with a tremendous right hand that opened a cut over the Champion's left eye. As
Villaflor backed up hurt, Hyun-Chi was all over the 'dazed' Champion and raked him
with stinging left hooks and stiff straight right hands throughout the Round.

In Round 12, Hyun-Chi continued with his 'two-fisted' attack, as the Champion was still
a bit shaken from the previous battering in Round 11. The Challenger continued to fire
away, but by the end of Round, Villaflor had cleared the 'cob-webs' in his head, and
Hyun-Chi had punched himself out.

Nice research.

[Rover]

Thanks Mr. 'R',

Still taking a look at the last few rounds,,,,,,

UPI had it 'Even' after 8-Rounds,,,,,,,,on the 5-Point 'scoring system' they had it {37-37} 3-3-2 in Rounds.

UPI scored 'Round 9' {5-2} for Ben Villaflor. I guess with '3' knockdowns, that was the 'rule' in a 5-Point
scporing system.

Puts Ben up {42-39} after '9-Rounds'. And he won the '10th-Round' also, giving him a 4-Point edge {47-43}
after '10-Rounds'.

Scoring Officals
* Hawaii
* Philippine
* South Korea

The Associated Press (AP) reported that Ben Villaflor badly damaged his left wrist in Round 9, and could not
follow up on his advantage on a 'groggy' Kyun-Chi Kim as he staggered about in Round 10.

The Champion's left wrist went 'numb' after scoring the '3rd-Knockdown' in Round 9.

As a note,,,,,,,Hyun-Chi Kim was the #10 WBA-ranked Super Featherweight in December 1974, but somehow
leap-frogged up to #1 in the 'February 1975' WBA Ratings......... :??

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... J_g1bvgexQ

Yeah, quite a leap there.

[Rover]

Ben Villaflor vs. Hyun-Chi Kim

In Round 13, the young {22 year-old} Champion re-grouped, and started using his right-jab as his
offensive weapon on the arm-weary Challenger. Several sharp jabs opened a cut over Kim's left eye
at the {1:44 Mark}, and the South Korean started to retreat, as Villaflor stalked and whacked away
with glancing right hooks the body.

In Round 14, Villaflor moved forward, unabated by the Challenger's weak counters. With the 26 year-old
Challenger in retreat, Villaflor put in one more 'hard-flurry' using his injured left hand. A crushing left
hook to the jaw staggered Hyun-Chi at the {1:37 Mark} as he wobbled at Center-Ring. The Champion
opened up with a '7-Punch' barrage that sent Hyun-Chi reeling into the ropes as the 15,000 Filipino fans
inside Araneta Coliseum erupt in cheering for the Filipino WBA Champion.

Hyun-Chi covered up on the ropes, as Villaflor pot-shotted the stunned Challenger with short powerful
punches until the Bell sounded.

Sounds like he clearly won.

[Rover]

Correct,

Round 15, with the bout well in hand, Champion Ben Villaflor stayed on the outside and did
not force the action. Fighting cautiously to protect the cut over his left eye, a reddened right
eye and hurting left hand, Villaflor kept his guard high, and offered up sharp right jabs into
the Challenger's bruised and swollen face.

The Challenger - Hyun-Chi Kim did score with a handful of light-punches, but they
had little effect on the well-built Champion who was cruising until the Final Bell.

Scorecards;
* Referee - Walter Minn (Hawaii).........71-67 (Ben Villaflor)
* Judge - Alfedo Quiazon (Philippines)..71-67 (Ben Villaflor)
* Judge - Roy Kim (Korea)..................71-70 (Hyun-Chi Kim)

* UPI................................................70-66 (Ben Villaflor)

Ben Villaflor..........5 - 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 ..... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 ........4 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 = {70}
Hyun-Chi Kim........4 - 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 ..... 4 - 5 - 5 - 2 - 4 ....... 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 5 = {66}

Fight Purses,
* Ben Villaflor.........$75,000
* Hyun-Chi Kim.......$25,000

[Rover]

In an article,

Larry Inchonise (Ben's Manager) stated that, Ben caught a thumb to the right eye in Round 11, from a
Hyun-Chi Kin wild left hook.

The punch didn't hurt him, but he saw flashes in his right eye and panicked, thinking that he was
blinded in the right eye. For the 11th and 12th Rounds, he could not see out of the right eye.
It started the clear up in Round 13, but his vision was blurred. With blood in his left eye from
a cut that occured later in Round 11, Ben was fighting nearly blind for '2' Rounds.

'Five' days after this bout (March 18, 1975) Ben required an 'emergency' 5-Hour surgery to restore
vision in the right eye. This injury to the eye would hamper his vision, and effect his performance
in the ring from that point on.

This put the 'hopeful Ben Villaflor - Ray Lunny III Championship Bout - tentatively schdeduled for
May 1975,,,,,,on hold indefinitely.

Five hour surgery? Damn.

[Rover]

Ray Lunny III and Sammy Goss fought a couple days later at the Cow Palace in Daly City
on March 1975 for the 'vacant' NABF Super Featherweight Championship, and the right
to face Ben Villaflor.

Ray Lunny III won by a TKO 8, but one of the most highly anticipated bouts in California
for 1975 was not to be. No Villaflor vs Lunny III.

In a shocker announced on April 26, 1975...........

Larry Inchonise (Fight Manager for WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Ben Villaflor) and
Harry Kabakoff (Los Angeles Fight Promoter) discuss plans to stage a Ben Villaflor vs
Danny 'Little Red' Lopez Championship Bout for August or September 1975 at The Olympic.

Harry Kabakoff has the backing of a National Television Network, and this could be the 'biggest'
blockbuster ever seen at The Olympic.

Lopez at super feather? Don't know how much power he'd have brought up there with him.

[Rover]

True,

Danny Lopez was coming off '3' losses (Bobby Chacon, Shig Fukuyama and Octavio Gomez) all at Featherweight,
and had just gotten off the 'snide' by crushing (KO 2) former Bantamweight Champion - Chucko Castillo in April 1975.

Seems, the Olympic had some 'open dates' to fill in August and September 1975, and Harry Kabakoff was going
to promote one more bout for Danny Lopez in July 1975, and then set up Villaflor - Lopez for late-August
or September 13, 1975.

Would have been a disaster for Danny.......

In May 1975, the Eye Doctor told Ben Villaflor (no sparring) for 3-months. That was the end of Villaflor - Lopez, and
a still possible Villaflor - Lunny III bout.

Chucko Castillo?

[Rover]

Mr. Rover,,,,,,,

That is pretty funny,,,,,,,,,,,,Chucko The Clown......

I just cracked up at Chucko" Castillo.

[Rover]

May 30, 1975

'WBA' Super Featherweight Rankings

** WBA Champion - Ben Villaflor
** WBC Champion - Kuniaki Shibata

#1.. Samuel Serrano
#2.. Sven-Erik Paulsen
#3.. Rigoberto Riasco
#4.. Tyrone Everett
#5.. Hugo Barazza
#6.. Ray Lunny III
#7.. Antonio Puddo
#8.. Ramiro Bolanos
#9.. Ould Makloufi
#10 Alfredo Escalera

Why was Riasco ranked at super feather?

[Rover]

WBA (Panama Based)

Remember, Luis Spada (Manager) for Rigoberto Riasco - did the WBA a favor by fighting
Alexis in Nicaragua when they couldn't get any other fighters to agree to challenge
'El Flacco' in his home country for the WBA Featherweight Championship.

These ratings were before the May 31, 1975 bout between Alexis Arguello - Rigoberto Riasco
took place.

I think Rigoberto was ranked back in the WBA Featherweight Division afer the Alexis Arguello bout.

Odd, he was the Panamanian Featherweight Champion at the time, but the WBA had him ranked
in the 130 lb. Division..... :>

It would've made sense to rank him at feather, but the WBA...whatever.

[Rover]

May 1975 WBA Ratings

** WBA Champion - Alexis Arguello
** WBA Champion - Bobby Chacon

#1.. David Kotey (Ghana)
#2.. Ruben Olivares (Mexico)
#3.. Vicente Blanco (Nicaragua)
#4.. Royal Kobayashi (Japan)
#5.. Antonio Gomez (Venezuela)
#6.. Art Hafey (Nova Scotia)
#7.. Elio Cotena (Italy)
#8.. Leonel Hernandez (Venezuela)
#9.. Fel Clemente (Philippines)
#10 Sanjo (Japan)

As you could see, nobody wanted to go into Nicaragua to be slain,,,,,,,,,,,

#1 - David Kotey was waiting for the WBC Title Challenge, getting the winner of the
* WBC Champion Bobby Chacon - #2 Ruben Olivares Championship Bout.

#3 - Vicente Blanco was from Nicaragua, so that wouldn't work.
#4 - Royal Kobayasi would only fight Alexis in Japan, where the big 'Yen' money was
#5 - Antonio Gomez wasn't interested in fighting Alexis, and passed up the Title offer.
#6 - Art Hafey wasn't going back to Nicaragua for another beating
#7 - The EBU wouldn't allow Elio Cotena to fight Alexis in Nicaragua
#8 - Leonel Hernandez was already stopped by Alexis in his first title defense
#9 - Fel Clemente just started out, and though he was the OPBF Champion, his Manager said 'No Thanks'
#10 - Sanjo from Japan, another who only wanted the bout in Japan.

There was a fighter just named Sanjo?

If Riasco was rated in a higher division, I guess he was acceptable.

[Rover]

I believe 'Sanjo' was Shigefumi Fukuyama.........

When Ben Villaflor was ready to resume training in August 1975,

Larry Inchonise signed Ben Villaflor to fight former 'Two-Time' Champion Kuniaki Shibata for
a 'third time', and in Japan.

They signed contracts on August 29, 1975 - and with a provision that the winner would have to
face #1 WBA-ranked Samuel Serrano within 60-Days after the proposed October 16, 1975 bout.

Kuniaki Shibata had just been knocked out (L KO 2) by Alfredo Escalera, losing his WBC
Super Featherweight Championship in Japan, on

Things looked like a 'go', but on September 24, 1975 - Kuniaki Shibata 'pulled out' claiming
he wasn't in shape, and would require more time to get ready. The October 16, 1975
bout was cancelled.

Why wasn't it rescheduled? Villaflor wound up fighting a nobody.

[Rover]

What happened, is Kuniaki Shibaa wanted more time,,,,,

But the Japanese Promotion Team (Noguchi Promotions) had the date all set for broadcast, and
also they were offering Ben Villaflor a large fight purse ($100,000 plus).

They moved the date back to November 3, 1975 - but Kuniaki Shibata was having problems with
his Manager (Kenji Yonekura), and stalled for more time while his managerial contract expired.

As a replacement, Morito Kashiwaba was installed, with a new date set for November 20, 1975.

While this was happening, Larry Inchonise was negotiating with Jose 'Pepito' Cordero in Puerto Rico
to bring Ben Villaflor there for a November 29, 1976 bout, against #1 WBA-ranked Samuel Serrano.

On November 16, 1975 - Ben Villaflor pulled out of the Puerto Rico bout, citing 'eye problems', which
led Jose 'Pepito' Cordero to say that, "Ben Villaflor may never fight again, he has a reoccuring eye
problem, and may never pass a Boxing Commission eye test."

Yes, Ben Villaflor had a serious eye problem in the right 'view finder'.

Don't you mean November 29, 1975?

[Rover]

Yes,,,,,,,

Seems that 'Pepito Cordero' was dumping alot of money on Ben Villaflor to get him
to Puerto Rico in November 1975.

But, Larry Inchonise was looking for 'one more' easy payday for his Champion.

That is when the Japanese Money came in, for the early 1976 bout with
Morito Kashiwaba (Noguchi Promotions had a lot of 'YEN')

In the meantime, Ray Lunny III and Tyrone Everett were set to battle in an
Elimination bout, in an effort to make a play for the WBA Championship as well.

Samuel Serrano, despite being the #1 WBA Super Featherweight and having a
well-connected Fight Promoter had to wait patiently.

Well, Villaflor got the easy payday.

[Rover]

The contract was finally sealed on December 29, 1975

Larry Inchonise got $125,000 for Ben Villaflor to fight Morito Kashiwaba on January 12, 1976
at the Korakeun Hall in Japan.

That is Roberto Duran-type money back then.

Morito Kashiwaba, the OPBF Lightweight Champion, and a decent Asian fighter, who went 6-Rounds
with WBC Super Featherweight Champion - Ricardo Arrendondo back in July 1971.

The WBA 'mandated' the winner fight Samuel Serrano within 90-Days.

Serrano accepted ($25,000) step-aside money from the Japanese Promoters...... DD

Serrano should've demanded that the bout be in Puerto Rico.

[Rover]

Monday Night - January 12, 1976

Korakeun Hall - Japan
Capacity 2000 (Attendance; 2005)

WBA Super Featherweight Championship

*WBA Champion - Ben Villaflor ~ 54-5-5 (31 KO's) ~ Age; 23 years, 2 months ~ Weight; 128 lbs.
vs.
#8 WBA Challenger - Morito Kashiwaba ~ 23-4-1 (16 KO's) ~ Age; 24 years, 7 months ~ Weight; 130 lbs.

(AP Report)

'VILLAFLOR KO'S JAPANS KASHIWABA IN 13TH'

WBA Super Featherweight Champion - Ben Villaflor a Filipino living in Hawaii successfully defended
his Championship a '4th-Time' by scoring a TKO 13 over Japanese Challenger - Morito Kashiwaba.

The southpaw Champion wasted little time early, as he floored the Challenger in Round 2 with punishing
rights and lefts to the head. Villaflor kept up his attack in Round 3, and again dropped Kashiwaba with
a series of punches.

But, the Challenger remained tough - despite getting pounded with hard punches from the Champion
throughout the middle Rounds. The Champion scored with repeated right jabs to the face of Kashiwaba,
as he had injured his powerful left hand during a hard attack.

In Round 13, the Champion landed several hard punches that had the Challenger reeling along the ropes,
and several short left uppercuts had Kashiwana defenselss. Referee - Carlos Padilla saved the Japanese
Challenger from further punishment at {1:29} of Round 13.

Scorecards;
* Carlos Padilla....
* Takeo Ugo
* Leslie Nakashima

You didn't list the scores, but Boxrec has them.

[Rover]

Yes I did,,,,

You,re moving to fast,,,,,,,,scroll back 1 post,,,,,,,, :>

I see now, but they weren't there yet when I replied. You've gotta edit faster.:)

[Rover]

Ben Villaflor vs. Samuel Serrano I,

Was supposed to be in Puerto Rico, but it was changed back to the Hawaii venue.

The 'skinny' was that Ben had a vision problem in his right eye, and his left hand
was 'giving him problems'.

There were rumblings about a possible Roberto Duran vs. Ben Villaflor bout, but
those discussions went nowhere.

The bout with Samuel Serrano was scheduled for April 13, 1976 - and Larry Inchonise
said that it would be Ben's last fight. He was only 23 years, 5 months old...

Should've kept that plan.