Willie Pastrano vs. Wayne Thornton (2nd meeting)
Willie Pastrano 176 lbs drew with Wayne Thornton 176 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1963-03-23
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Arthur Mercante 4-5
- Judge: Leo Birnbaum 5-5
- Judge: Bill Recht 5-5
From the Associated Press:
Willie Pastrano of Miami and body-banging Wayne Thornton fought to a draw last night in a rousing 10-round television fight at Madison Square Garden. Thornton, of Bakersfield, Calif., had drubbed Pastrano six weeks ago but the return was an action-packed battle all the way. The two judges had it a draw while Referee Art Mercante had Thornton in front, 5-4-1 in rounds. The Judges, Leo Birnbaum and Bill Recht, gave each fighter five rounds and five points. The AP card had Thornton in front, 6-4. The 23-year-old Californian, who made the top 10 rankings with his upset over Pastrano on Feb. 9, appeared to have the fight wrapped up by the end of the seventh round with his pressing attack and solid bombs to the body. He already had received five rounds each from Mercante and Recht and four from Birnbaum. But in the eighth round, the well-battered Pastrano opened up with all he had. The 28-year-old veteran rocked his strong rival in the eighth with a left hook to the jaw, danced around him in the ninth, and met him toe-to-toe in several lively trading sessions in the 10th.
From the United Press International:
Light heavyweight contender Willie Pastrano of Miami Beach and Wayne Thornton of Bakersfield, Calif., fought to a 10-round nationally televised draw Saturday night in their return bout at Madison Square Garden. Pastrano's stronger finish and the award of the fourth round to him on a foul by referee Arthur Mercante enabled dancing Willie to get an even break with blonde Thornton in the votes of the two judges, Bill Recht and Leo Birnbaum, each of whom gave five rounds and five points to each fighter. The referee disagreed. He voted for Thornton, who had won an upset decision over Pastrano in their previous fight at the Garden last Feb. 9. Referee Mercante Saturday night gave Thornton five rounds and Pastrano four. He called one even. But the majority vote cast by the two judges made the decision a draw. The United Press International gave each fighter five rounds but favored Thornton on points, 8-5, because of Thornton's big rounds in the second, fifth and seventh.