BoxRec

Il Duce wrote: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.

Il Duce wrote: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.'

Il Duce wrote: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.

Il Duce wrote: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

Il Duce wrote: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)

Il Duce wrote: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)