Art Hafey vs. Salvador Torres

Art Hafey 127 lbs beat Salvador Torres 127 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1975-08-30
• Location: Convention Center, Anaheim, California, USA
• Referee: John Thomas 5-4
• Judge: Lou Filippo 4-4
• Judge: Chuck Hassett 6-4

"One of the most spectacular 'toe-to-toe' battles for 10 rounds was put on by 'Irish' Art Hafey and Salvador Torres, the no. 1 featherweight of Mexico. The pair had the predominantly Mexican crowd of 4,940 on their feet from the opening bell. It was a highly partisan group for Torres. Hafey, taking a tremendous amount of punishment in order to get in solid blows on the longer-reaching Torres, was awarded a majority decision and then the place erupted. The first four rounds was almost all Torres as he used a stabbing left hand with effectiveness and landed many hard rights. In the 5th Hafey started getting through with some heavy artillery. Torres then began to wilt." -Santa Ana Register

• Unofficial Santa Ana Register scorecard - The Register did not disclose a point total, stating only that it scored the bout even, but if a winner had to be declared it would have been Hafey due to the harder and sharper blows he landed in the late rounds.
• The partisan Mexican fans immediately began to riot. Things calmed when featherweight champ Ruben Olivares climbed in the ring and quieted the fans.
• Olivares was scheduled for a three round exhibition, which did not materialize due to the rioting.
• This bout was on the undercard to the bantamweight championship contest between Alfonso Zamora and Thanomjit Sukothai.
• Gate - $62,300
• A proposed title fight between Olivares and Hafey did not take place as Olivares lost his WBC title 3 weeks later.

Post fight comments

• "I knew I had to win the last two rounds big if I was going to pull it out. I honestly feel I won the fight regardless of what the fans felt." -Art Hafey

• "No way! I have been promised a title shot against Ruben Olivares and I know I can beat him. I wasn't as sharp tonight because I am tired. I am going home to Nova Scotia and take a rest. My sights are now on Olivares and a vacation will do me good." -Art Hafey, when the promoter suggested a rematch.