BoxRec

Il Duce wrote:CBS did a lot of Broadcasting from Panama during those days......

This May 17, 1975 'date' was originally penciled in for Roberto Duran vs. Antonio Cervantes.

This would be the '3rd' fighter from the National Gym (Puerto Rico) that Antonio Cervantes would
face. (Esteban De Jesus - Victor Ortiz - Josue Marquez) all were trained by Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez.

BoxBuzz wrote:ONe of the most under rated fighters of all time. I genuinely admire Cervantes abilities.

Il Duce wrote:Agree,

A methodical break-down of the talented Esteban.

Antonio too technical for Esteban in this one, as 'Kid Pambele' fought controlled,
and was in magnificent physical condition.

Antonio was born anywhere between December 1941 and December 1945.

He was anywhere between the Ages of........33 1/2 and 29 1/2 for this Championship Bout.

Il Duce wrote:Colombian Sports Journaist - Adlaberto Contreras covered boxing in South America in the 1960's.

He claimed that Antonio started fighting in September 1961 as a 'skinny' 18 1/2 year-old - 5' 7" Bantamweight,
and he had a bunch of '4 and 6' Round bouts in Colombia between September 1961 and the end of 1963 which
were never recorded.

Up thru the end of 1963 - he had found the 21 year-old Antonio with a record of 19-2-0 (4 KO's), before growing
into the Featherweight Division in 1964.

And from - June 1964 thru October 1965 - he found another '15-Bouts' (13-1-1 with 3 KO's) with Antonio
competing in.

That gives Antonio another 32-3-1 record with (7 KO's) early career bouts.

Il Duce wrote:Adalberto Contreras put this artice together back in late-1974 when Antonio Cervantes
left Colombia and moved to Venezuela because of the violence in Colombia.

Antonio had become a 'target' for the 'Colombian Kidnappers', and nobody wanted to
go to Colombia to fight 'Kid Pambele' there.

The 'journalist' Contreras found that Antonio had fought many '4-Round' and '6-Round'
bouts in Northeast Colombia (Valledupar and Barranquilla) from September 1961
thru the end of 1973 - where the 21 year-old Antonio he made a little bit of name for
himself as a decent 'Preliminary Bout' Bantamweight at 19-2-0 (4 KO's).

Il Duce wrote:Note sure why it was never picked up or added to his record, because even Antonio Cervantes admitted
to having at least '125-bouts' under his belt in a {Press Interview} before fighting Aaron Pryor.


Thru 1963........19-2-0 (4 KO's) fighting at Bantamweight

Then recorded bouts from January 31, 1964 thru June 20, 1964......6-0-0 (1 KO's) fighting at 122 lbs.

That puts Antonio at 25-2-0 (5 KO's), at (Age; 21, 6 months)

Adalberto Contreras found another '15-Bouts' between July 15, 1964 thru September 15, 1965 where
Antonio went 13-1-1 (3 KO's), still fighting at 122 lbs.

That puts Antonio at 38-3-1 {8 KO's) at (Age; 22 years, 9 months)

Then recorded bouts from October 2, 1965 thru August 20, 1966.....13-0-1 (4 KO's) still fighting at 122 lbs.

That puts Antonio at 51-3-2 (12 KO's) at (Age; 23 years, 8 months)

On September 23, 1966 - Antonio was the #2 Colombian Featherweight - and he travelled to Medellin, Colombia
to fight Colombia Featherweight Champion- Cipriano 'Barbulito' Zuluga for the Colombia Featherweight Championship,
and he lost a 'hometown' 10-Round Decision.

The 'skinny' 5' 9" 125 lbs. - Antonio Cervantes was labeled as a 'Good Box, No Punch' fighter. {Bueno boxear, No punetazo}

Il Duce wrote:Round 13,

Antonio Cervantes opens up by trying to to take out Esteban who was 'dazed a bit' at the end of Round 12.

The Champion slams the Challenger with a few hard head punches, but Esteban holds on. Antonio
lands a few sharp left uppercuts, while driving Esteban backwards.

At the {1:00 Mark}, the Champion lands a good left-left-right that wobbles Esteban, and he looks 'woozy'.

But, the Challenger withstands the blows, and makes a minor effort in the second-half of the Round, but he has
nothing behind his punches.

Round 13......{10-9} Antonio Cervantes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In between Rounds, Roberto Duran who is at Ringside tries to encourage Esteban to put in one last attack.

Round 14,

Esteban comes out with a bit of a charge, and forces Antonio to back up while throwing quick right leads and
left hooks. Esteban is taking the lead, as the Champion is content to wait during the first half of Round.

But, at the mid-way point Esteban looks spent, and the Champion makes his forward move, by shooting out
straight left hands into Esteban's face. Cervantes slams the weary Challenger with a double left hook, and
De Jesus moves back to avoid any hard punches. A sharp left-right by Cervantes has Esteban in complete
'survival-mode', as he wraps his arms around the Champion while falling into him.

Round 14......{10-9} Antonio Cervantes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 15,

The Champion, knowing that he is way ahead in the bout, stays in control by keeping his hands in high-guard
while pressing forward. Esteban fights back by landing 'light' lefts and rights, but they have nothing behind them.

At the mid-way point, Antonio fires a quick 'one-two' to the head, as Esteban is 'running-on-fumes'. Esteban is
on 'shaky legs', but he hangs tough still looking for one more 'right hand bomb'. Cervantes keeps pressing,
and lands several 'medium punches' at the {2:25 Mark} while trying to set up Esteban for one more bomb.

At the {2:40 Mark}, Cervantes presses forward as Esteban moves back toward the ropes, and the Champion
fires a point-blank left uppercut that 'drops' Esteban at the {2:43 Mark}.

Esteban rises at the '3-Count' on 'rubbery-legs'. The fight resumes at the {2:51 Mark}, and Esteban moves in
to tie up Antonio, who then lands a short punch just before the Bell which has Esteban 'out-on-his-feet'.

Round 15.......{10-8} Antonio Cervantes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scorecards;
* Referee - Isidro Rodriguez (Venezuela).....148-135 {12-2-1 in Rounds}
* Judge - Rodolfo Hill (Panama)..................148-136 {11-2-2 in Rounds]
* Judge- Harmodio Cedeno (Panama)...........147-138 {9-3-3 in Rounds}

Il Duce wrote:Good Call at {147-135}

* I had it 147-137.
* I scored - Rounds 2, 3 and 4 for Esteban.
* And - Rounds 5 and 9 'Even'.
* Rounds - 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 for the Champion.
* Rounds 1, 12 and 15 {10-8}.

After the bout, Antonio Cervantes admitted that he was 'stunned' in Rounds 2 and 5 from
hard right hands from Esteban, and that he was not in in real good shape after the
5th Round despite his one-sided win.

Esteban admitted that Antonio was a much better boxer than he thought, and that
he took a great punch. Also, the high temperature and humidity started to take its toll
on him in Round 7, and he had to back off for a few rounds or he would have never
been able to finish.

Roberto Duran commented after the bout (at Ringside) that he could care less if he
fought Antonio Cervantes. They heard that 'Kid Pambele' was going to retire anyway
at the end of 1976, and Roberto had other plans 'first' before fighting Cervantes.

Gregorio Benitez (Esteban's Trainer), 'Too much heat here in Panama. Esteban was
weakened by Round 7, and Cervantes is just too big.'

Il Duce wrote:Mr. Rover,

When Antonio Cervantes fought Aaron Pryor in August 1980.

In the "Press Interview' 'Kid Pambele' claimed 120 wins, and stated that his career did start in September 1961,
in Northern Colombia, not January 1964 that is posted on his 'Record List'.

Alberto Contreras found '36-Bouts', where Antonio had posted a 32-3-1 {8 KO's} record in those previously
not recorded bouts. He listed the bouts.

Instead of 'Kid Pambele' at 87-10-2 {44 KO's} in August 1980, he was (according to Alberto Contreras) really
119-13-3 {52 KO's}.

Of course, if 'Kid Pambele' did start his career in September 1961, and if he was born in December 1945 - that would
make him (Age; 15 years, 9 months) when he turned Professional, and (Age; 34 years, 8 months) when he fought
Aaron Pryor.

If he was born in December 1942 like Alberto Contreras stated, you can add '3-years' to 'Kid Pambele's age.

Il Duce wrote:Actually,

It wasn't Antonio Cervantes who exaggerated his record.

Alberto Contreras found these bout took place when Antonio was fighting in small Northeastern
Colombia town of Valdepudar from 1961 thru 1963.

And then later, in Barranquilla.

Nobody had ever heard of these boxing venues.

Of course, the 'age question' is always brought up.

dnahar32 wrote:Thanks to all the data from Il Duce, I have added all of the fights to Cervantes's record. These bouts have dates, venues, and weights.

Record keeping is a fluid business. Bouts can be added at any time because many bouts in smaller locations were not picked up by the earlier records. But with newspaper archives and individual researchers, new bouts are being added constantly. The overriding goal is to get the most complete record possible.

BoxBuzz wrote:Cervantes was a great champion and a very classy fellow. I met him in Hawaii and was thoroughly impressed with his humble nature, and self confidence.

A very interesting person to have met.

Rover wrote:

BoxBuzz wrote:Cervantes was a great champion and a very classy fellow. I met him in Hawaii and was thoroughly impressed with his humble nature, and self confidence.

A very interesting person to have met.

Did he speak English?

BoxBuzz wrote:

Rover wrote:

BoxBuzz wrote:Cervantes was a great champion and a very classy fellow. I met him in Hawaii and was thoroughly impressed with his humble nature, and self confidence.

A very interesting person to have met.

Did he speak English?

About as well as I spoke Spanish lol. However he had a sidekick with him who spoke both, and we managed to communicate.

BoxBuzz wrote:I believe it was after his defense in Japan......not a mark on him.