Ricardo Moreno vs. Alex Benitez

Ricardo Moreno 126 lbs lost to Alex Benitez 126 lbs by KO at 1:21 in round 3 of 12

• Date: 1967-02-09
• Location: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Dick Young

"Boxing saw the beginning of the end of one of its most colorful heroes Thursday night as the famed 'Little Bird' Pajarito Moreno, went down in a pitiful 3rd round knockout defeat to San Jose's Alex Benitez in their California featherweight title bout before 7,250 at the Olympic Auditorium. The feared Moreno was fat, slow and seemed bewildered before his sharp 22 year old opponent. In the 1st round a right-left-right combination on the button sent the Little Bird fluttering to the canvas for an eight-count. Moreno weathered the round but for the crowd it seemed all but over for them. Moreno practically walked into two more right hands as the 2nd opened, which stunned him into action, and for a moment he showed a shadow of his former self. Then, in the 3rd, Moreno landed two rights to the jaw that hurt Alex, but as Pajarito pursued, Benitez sneaked in a short left hook and right hand that sent Moreno tumbling to the canvas and it was all over at 1:21." -Long beach Press-Telegram