Rodolfo Gonzalez vs. Antonio Puddu

Antonio Puddu 134 lbs lost to Rodolfo Gonzalez 134 lbs by TKO in round 10 of 15

• Date: 1973-10-27
• Location: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: John Thomas
• Judge: Chuck Hassett

Pre-fight comment

• "I know little about Gonzalez, but I do expect him to be the best I've ever fought. Gonzalez is the champion of the world. When they talk about my division in Europe, they don't talk about Duran. They talk about Gonzalez. He's the only one for me." -Antonio Puddu

"It was a lopsided victory for the champ, his third in a row, that found Gonzalez winning every round of the fight on all the officials scorecards. The fight was stopped between rounds after Gonzalez' constant punches closed Puddu's left eye to a narrow slit, making it impossible for him to see out of it." -Pasadena Star-News

• Puddu was down in the 2nd round from a left hook for the only knockdown of the fight.
• Puddu was also cut over the right eye in the 7th round.
• Under California rules, the result is recorded as a 10th round knockout because the halt of the bout was called before the bell could start the 11th.
• Purses: Gonzalez - $63,000, Puddu - $20,000
• Attendance - 10,685
• Gate - $106,335

Post fight comments

• "This is the first fight I ever had to take a backward step." -Antonio Puddu
• "This fight is over. I want Roberto Duran to settle the lightweight picture once and for all." -Rodolfo Gonzalez
• "Rodolfo is one helluva fighter. Puddu had never been on the floor before and he wasn't the same fighter after Rodolfo dropped him. Puddu's manager told me after the fight that we didn't see the real Puddu. Well, I think Rodolfo had something to do with that." -Jackie McCoy, Gonzalez' manager