Ben Villaflor

[Rover]

'Tale of the Tape'

*WBA Champion - Ben Villaflor ~ 55-5-5 (32 KO's) ~ Age; 23 years, 5 months ~ Height; 5' 6" ~ Reach; 67"
vs.
#1 WBA Challenger - Samuel Serrano ~ 29-3-0 (7 KO's) ~ Age; 23 years, 5 months ~ Height; 5' 10" ~ Reach; 74"

Ben Villaflor is placed as 'heavy' Betting-Favorite at {3-1} over the 'tall and lanky' boxer from Puerto Rico, in
his '5th' Title Defense.

But, the Champion has been suffering from constant pain in his left hand, and a re-occuring vision problem
with his right eye. This could be the last time he enters the Ring. This will be the 'tallest' and most clever
opponent that the Champion has ever faced.

Serrano, who has been the #1 WBA-ranked Challenger since early-1975, finally gets his chance after several
delays and postponements. The 'slick' boxing Serrano has a 'long and quick' left jab, and an elusive style
which can pester even the best aggressive fighters like the Champion. With his height, he also likes to whip
in right uppercuts from long range when his opponent has slowed down. Far from a 'power-puncher',
Serrano is at his best when he scores with multiple left jabs, and then clinches and holds when his opponent
charges in close.

Samuel, who goes by the nickname of 'El Torbellino', and as a 6-Year Professional, has scored Decisions
over Top-Rated fighters including; - Diego Alcala - Lorenzo Trujillo - Ezequiel Sanchez - Victor Echegaray.
And he fought and lost a 'highly questionable' Split-Decision to the 'Great' - Ernesto Marcel in Panama back in
1973.

I've always wondered about that Marcel fight.

[Rover]

Tuesady Night - April 13, 1976

Blaisdell Center - Honolulu, Hawaii

'VILLAFLOR HAS TITLE BY A DRAW'
'TITLE FIGHT ENDS IN DRAW'
'VILLAFLOR CHASES CHALLENGER, BOUT ENDS IN DRAW'

WBA Super Featherweight Champion put together a strong rally in the last '3-Rounds'
to save his Championship by a 'Split-Decision Draw'.

After suffering a cut eye in Round 13, the powerfully built Champion put together a
strong charge, by landing powerful rights and lefts on a fleeing Challenger - Samuel
Serrano in Rounds 13, 14 and 15.

The 'whispy looking' Serrano, built up an early lead by using 'hit-and-run' tactics which
befuddled the southpaw Champion. The 23 year-old Challenger fought a smart fight,
and was guided by Trainer - Angelo Dundee who was brought to the fight by Serrano's
Manager - Jose Cordero.

In the middle Rounds, the stocky Filipino stalked and chased, while the Challenger from
Puerto Rico stayed with jabbing-and-dancing. The Champion's Trainer - Tony Rodrigues
instructed the Champion that he was behind after 12-Rounds, and that he needed all
'3' remaining Rounds to save the Championship. The Champion Villaflor obliged, and
fought at his best after suffering a cut over his right-eye early in Round 13.

In Rounds 14 and 15, the Champion battered the Challenger with rights and lefts while,
Serrano tried to dance away in an attempt to protect his earler-built lead.

Scorecards;
* Referee - Walter Minn.........70-70 (5-5-5 in Rounds) 'Even'
* Judge - Walter Cho.............73-69 (6-2-7 in Rounds) Ben Villaflor
* Judge - Tamatus Tomihara...72-67 (8-3-4 in Rounds) Samuel Serrano

Tony Rodrigues; 'The guy ran all day. All he did was hit and run. Tap-tap and run. That is
no way to fight. He must not be very popular in Puerto Rico.'

Larry Inchonise, 'Ben was cut over the right eye in the 13th Round. That eye was
repaired for a detached retina last year. Ben said he was not affected by the cut,
and that his only problem was that Serrano would not stand and fight. He said he
was going to fight like Muhammad Ali by dancing and jabbing. Well he did, but
he was terrible to watch.'

Angelo Dundee, 'I have no idea of what Walter Cho was looking at. He must have had 'one-eye'
closed and the other 'eye' on Villaflor. Sammy fought a smart fight, and one-day he will be a
Champion. These are the breaks.'

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... 6oOuNausrQ

Cho's card sounds bad.

[Rover]

As much as I am a Ben Villaflor fan,,,,,,,,,,

Walter Cho had no idea of how to score that bout, and he should have been
suspended from every officiating in a World Championship Bout again.

Samuel Serrano did get off to a 'brisk' start and pecked away, as Ben stalked
but threw and landed very few punches.

Serrano did his best imitation of a Muhammad Ali 'dance-and jab' routine during
Rounds 4 thru 7.

Ben was pressing, and trying to throw one-punch straight lands, but to no
avail.

The pace got a little slow in Rounds 8 thru 10, as Serrano refused to get
in close, and would not trade with the powerful Champion.

Ben started to close the gap in Rounds 11 and 12, and did slam a few body
punches at Serrano's skinny body. But, Serrano still jabbed and danced out
of harms way.

In Round 13, Ben tried to attack, and got caught by a slashing left hand that
opend up a over his right eye. This seemed to spur Villaflor on, and he made
his charge by rushing in close, and trapping Serrano. There, he unloaded
some good left uppercuts on the taller Challenger.

In Rounds 14 and 15, Ben attacked like an 'Hawaiian Express', and raked
Serrano with a barrage of rights-and-lefts - pounding Serrano's body with
battering-rams.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard bout to score, as Serrano went into a 'four-corner-stall' in Rounds 8, 9
and 10 - and did 'zero' punching. Ben stalked, but could not land any effective
punches as Serrano stayed at a safe distance.

Rounds 11 and 12, Serrano landed a few more punches, but they had 'zero'
zip behind them. Villaflor did land a handful of good body punches in these
Rounds, but nothing that damaged Serrano.

Media scores?

[Rover]

The Honolulu Register posted the 'round-by-round' scores a few days later.
when there was a 'back-lash' about the scorecards.

Referee - Walter Minn
Ben Viilaflor.............. 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 4 ..... 4 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 ..... 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 == {70}
Samuel Serrano........ 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 ..... 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 ..... 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 == {70}

Judge - Walter Cho
Ben Villaflor..............5 - 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 ..... 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 .......5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 == {73}
Samuel Serrano........ 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 ..... 5 - 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 ...... 4 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 4 == {69}

Judge - Tamatsu Tomihara
Ben Villaflor.............. 5 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 .... 4 - 4 - 4 - 5 - 5 ....... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 == {67}
Samuel Serrano......... 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 ... 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 ........ 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 4 == {72}

[Rover]

The Honolulu Register,

Did rip Walter Cho for an 'inappropriate scorecard', and failed to award the Challenger
Samuel Serrano points for 'skillful' boxing in Rounds 3, 6 and 7.

Also debated were Rounds 9 and 10 - as the Champion pressed, but did not land any
effective punhces as the Puerto Rican Challenger circled the ring while flicking jabs
and moving. These should have been scored 'Even' Rounds.

Any media scorecards?

[Rover]

Mr. R.

Scroll back up, I posted the UPI and Honolulu Register results.

In May 1976, the WBA Championship Committee reviewed the bout, and determined
that there was an 'obvious' biased scoring by Judge - Walter Cho.

The Committee came to a conclusion that it was a 'Bad Decision'.

WBA President 'mandated' a rematch within 60-Days - to be set by July 30, 1976 -
and on a 'neutral-site.

Purse Bids were accepted, with the Champion to receive {75%} and the Challenger {25%}.

Larry Inchonise asked the WBA if Ben Villaflor could make a 'Title Defense' against Ray Lunny III
first (June 1976), because there was alot of money being thrown at them ($125,000) from
the Northern California Promoter (Joe Gagliardi).

Ah, an edit again.:)
So why did the rematch occur later and not on a neutral site?

[Rover]

As the per the Honolulu Register,,,,,

Samuel Serrano and his Camp wanted $25,000 (step aside money), to allow Ben Villaflor fight Ray Lunny III
in mid-1976 - but with a clause that the 'winner' must fight Serrano within 60-Days 'and' in Puerto Rico.

Larry Inchonise agreed to the terms.

But, WBA President 'Bill Brennan' stipulated the following terms;

A) First - Ray Lunny III (who lost his previous bout) - had to defeat a ranked Super Featherweight, before
the WBA would sanction a Championship Title bout with Ben Villaflor.

B) Ray Lunny III would have to agree to defend the WBA Super Featherweight Championship in Puerto Rico
if he did defeat Ben Villaflor.

C) If none of these terms were agreed to, the WBA would vacate the Super Featherweight Championship,
and #1 WBA - Samuel Serrano would face the next available WBA ranked contender for the 'vacant'
Championship.

So no Lunny rematch, yet the Serrano fight occurred in PR and not a neutral territory.

[Rover]

Boxing Politics,,,,,,,,,,

There was no WBA Top 10 Super Featherweight 'readily available' to fight Ray Lunny III in June 1976 -

So - Las Vegas 'Strip Fighter', and capable Lightweight - Rogelio Castaneda 18-2-1 {6 KO's) who also
just happened to be the #10 WBA Lightweight - was offered the role to go out to Northern California
to be the opponent for Ray Lunny III on June 17, 1976

But, Rogelio Castaneda 'failed to read the script', and gave Ray Lunny III a hell-of-a-fight in his
own backyard in San Carlos, California.

Ray Lunny III won a 'highly unpopular' 10-Round Spilt-Decision, but the win got him ranked in both
the WBA and WBC Super Featherweight Division, despite the bout being fought as at Lightweight.

Following that bout, Promoter Joe Gagliardi was supposed to put up a $125,000 'guaranteee' as the
fight purse for the Ben Villaflor vs. Ray Lunny III bout - which was to be scheduled for August 1976.
Also, $25,000 was supposed to be put in an 'Escrow Account' for Samuel Serrano.

So did he get the 25 grand?

[Rover]

No,,,,,,,,,,

Joe Gagliardi couldn't come up with the $125,000 'guarantee',

But he didn't have to, as in late-July {1976} - Ray Lunny III was offered a bout with WBC Super Featherweight
Champion - Alfredo Escalera in Puerto Rico - to take place on September 18, 1976.

This ended the proposed August 1976 bout between Ben Villaflor and Ray Lunny III.

Should've just retired, it seems. The rematch was decisive for Serrano; I have the fight, which was televised on the Benitez/Petronelli undercard.

[Rover]

ABC-TV offered Jose Cordero and Samuel Serrano the Saturday - August 14, 1976 date -
and in Northern California - but they turned it down, citing that they were not in training and
could not get prepared in 3-Weeks.

So that went that.

In the meantime - Ben Villaflor took on the 'young Mexican scrapper' Rogelio Castaneda 19-3-1 {7 KO's}
on Tuesday Night - August 31, 1976 in Honolulu as his 'tune-up' fight.

Newpaper Account (UPI)

'VILLAFLOR WINS IN 10'

Ben Villaflor {134 14 /bs.} scored a 10-Round Unanimous Decision over #10 World-ranked
Lightweight Rogelio Castenada {133 lbs.} - Tuesday Night at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu,
Hawaii - in his 'final tune-up' before facing #1 WBA Challeger - Samuel Serrano in October 1976.

The WBA Super Featherweight Champion, fighting above the 130 lb. Division level, scored
with repeated straight left hands on his over-matched Mexican opponent from Los Angeles,
enroute to a 10-Round Decision victory.

After an 'Even' first '2-Rounds', Villaflor took control in the 'Round 3', and kept
the 'scrappy' Castaneda on the ropes thru the 7th-Round, by maintaining a steady
attack with an assortment of straight rights and lefts to the body and head.

Villaflor suffered a slight abrasion under his right-eye early in Round 8, as Rogelio
scored with a wide left hook. The Mexican visitor put in a brief charge to take
Rounds 8 and 9, to make the bout look closer on the scorecards than it really was.

Villaflor took back control in Round 10, and landed several hard left hands to the
chin of Castaneda, who went to the canvas 'twice', before the Bell sounded ending
the out.

Scorecards;
Referee - Walter Cho.....48-44
Judge - Louis Race........47-45
Judge - Edward Higa.....47-45

UPI Scorecard..............47-44

Larry Inchonise; 'The Referee Walter Cho missed both those knockdowns in Round 10.
Each time Ben landed a hard left hand on Rogelio's chin, he fell. Then while on the
canvas he claimed he was pushed. Anyone could see that they were knockdowns
from a hard punch.'

Ben Villaflor, 'I wanted to go '10' hard rounds as a tune-up. We knew Castaneda was
good, and in his last fight he really did beat Ray Lunny III. He's a good fighter.'

So Castaneda would've gotten a draw had he won the tenth? Interesting.
Also, Cho sounds like a bad ref as well as judge.

[Rover]

Technically speaking,,,,,

It could have been a 10-Round Draw, based upon the Scorecards.
But, the Newspaper account stated that Ben Villaflor had his way with
the out-matched Mexican from Yucatan.

Going by the article, Ben swept Rounds 3 thru 7 - giving him a minimum
of 5 Rounds heading into the 8th.

Apparently, Round 10 was scored for Rogelio Castaneda, despte the 'two'
'not registered' knockdowns.

I figure the scoring must have been this by the 'two' Judges.

Ben Villaflor.............. 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 .... 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 4 == {47}
Rogelio Castaneda..... 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 4 .... 4 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 == {45}

I guess Larry Inchonise was 'upset' about the 10th Round, because of the
'questionable' non-knockdown calls.

Which didn't matter anyway.

[Rover]

Saturday Night - October 16, 1976

Hiram Bithorn Stadium - Puerto Rico

Capacity 20,000 (Attendance; 12,000)

* WBA Wilfred Benitez - vs - {#2 WBA} Tony Petronelli.......{WBA Light Welterweight Championship}
* WBA Ben Villaflor - vs - {#1 WBA} Samuel Serrano.........{WBA Super Featherweight Championship}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*WBA Champion - Ben Villaflor - 56-5-6 {31 KO's} ~ Height; 5' 6" ~ Weight; 129 1/ 4 lbs.
vs.
#1 WBA Challenger - Samuel Serrano ~ 31-3-1 {8 KO's) ~ Height; 5' 10" ~ Weight; 130 lbs.

Ben Villaflor will be attemting to retain his Championship in his '6th-Defense'.
Samuel Serrano, who has been the #1 WBA Challenger since May 1975, will be
getting his 'second opportunity'.

http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7l9x ... 3fid=13284

Surprised there wasn't a sell-out.

[Rover]

Hiram Bithorn Stadium, a Baseball Stadium.

12,000 was an excellent attendance turn-out for this Fight Card in San Juan.

The weather was 72* Degree's, and it was a perfect night.

Martin Montalvo was the Fight Promoter along with 'Caribbean Promotions'. Though it was a
Closed Circuit Broadcast in the majority of the outlets, this fight card was available on regular
Televison Broadcast in selected regions.

* Boston, Massachusetts (Tony Petronelli's home base)
* Upstate New York (Syracuse Region)
* Hartford, Connecticut
* Hawaii
* The Philippines (Theater Broadcast)

[Rover]

The Fight,

Samuel Serrano used his long arms to take command immediately, and had no
problem with Ben Villaflor, as the Champion just could not get close to Sammy.

By Round 8, it was obvious that the Challenger had a perfect fight plan devised,
as every time that the southpaw Champion moved in to unload his powerful
left hand, Serrano would side-step to his left and circle around the Champion,
and then catch the Champion off-balance with a quick left-right.

Though Serrano's punches had no power, he was scoring and the Champion
was not.

Ben Villaflor was able to do a little better in Rounds 10, 11 and 12 - as
Serrano slowed down and fought defensively while trying to protect his
lead. The Champion focused on the body, in an effort to slow the
speedy Challenger down.

In Round 13, a frustrated Champion forgot about working his way inside,
and swung from the outside with long left hands that the Challenger easily
avoided.

Ben Villaflor put on a 'gallant' effort in the last 2-Rounds, but his timing
was off, and he couldn't put back-to-back hard punches on the elusive
Serrano.

Scorecards;
* Referee - Stanley Christodoulou........147-141 (9-2-4 in Rounds]
* Judge - .........................................149-147 (3-1-11 in Rounds)
* Judge - .........................................146-142 (8-4-3 in Rounds)

* Associated Press.............................148-137 (13-2-0 in Rounds)

147-141=9-3-3 in rounds.