Antonio Gómez’s Glorious Night – World Boxing Association

This piece was first written years in the past and initially printed in a Caracas newspaper. With some notable edits, we carry it again now for the followers of yesterday, however particularly for the brand new followers of the candy science—lots of whom know little or nothing about that memorable combat, one which carved its place not solely in boxing historical past, however within the very soul of Venezuelan boxing. On September 2, it can mark 54 years since that unforgettable night time.

Let’s make a journey down reminiscence lane to Tokyo’s Korakuen Gymnasium—also referred to as the Metropolitan Fitness center—the mecca of Japanese boxing through the Nineteen Seventies and 80s. The world was full of keen Japanese followers and a small band of Venezuelans, perhaps a dozen at most. Amongst them have been Delio Amado León, Carlitos González, Oswaldo “Gato” Sánchez, and Sixto Dorta—the one names I nonetheless recall. The primary three are now not with us.

Because the opening bell rang, we noticed in our thoughts’s eye the Venezuelan challenger from Cumaná, Antonio Gómez, crouched and firing his very first punch: an extended, explosive, pinpoint jab to the chin of the reigning featherweight world champion of the WBA, 24-year-old Shozo Saijo. The champion’s head snapped again from the impression.

It was simply previous 7:00 p.m. on a Thursday night time in Tokyo, and again residence in Venezuela, it was barely dawn.

After that stiff left hand, Gómez stepped to the aspect whereas Saijo stretched his arms and rolled his neck as if making an attempt to shake off the shock. From each corners got here the same old shouts of warning and encouragement. In Gómez’s nook, coach Hely Montes and supervisor Ramiro Machado urged calm, whereas the American technician Willie Ketchum—introduced in by Machado for the event—watched stone-faced. Seconds into the spherical, Gómez fired off his fast jab three, 4, 5 extra instances. Then, after a type of punches landed, the defending champion unexpectedly staggered and went down, boots pointing skyward.

The dozen Venezuelans within the crowd leapt with pleasure, although referee Alfredo Garzo—a Spaniard who had change into a Japanese nationwide—dominated it a slip. The bell rang quickly after, ending a spherical that already felt like an omen. To the Japanese crowd, these opening moments absolutely hinted at an undesirable and violent ending in favor of the customer from afar.

As for us, from the very first moments, there was not a single doubt that Gómez would notice his dream—and the dream of 1000’s of Venezuelan followers following from a distance of 1000’s of miles.

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A Lengthy Highway to Glory

For Saijo, this was his sixth protection of the belt he had received from Mexican-American Raúl Rojas three years earlier. A kind of defenses got here in opposition to Pedro Gómez—Antonio’s older brother—whom Saijo had outpointed in his very first title protection.

For Antonio Gómez, this was his first crack at a world title in a division that Venezuelan boxing had chased in useless for years. Nice names had pursued the featherweight crown, most with out ever getting the possibility. Amongst them: Simón Chávez, the beloved “Pollo de la Palmita,” a conqueror of champions and Venezuela’s first undisputed boxing idol within the Thirties and 40s; Oscar “Torpedo” Calles, a misplaced promise murdered in a mindless avenue combat close to the Palo Grande church in Caracas; and Víctor Adams, “Sonny León,” each liked and hated within the 50s and 60s, who years later died forgotten within the streets of Caracas, penniless and damaged.

Guided correctly by Machado, Gómez had left Venezuela a few years earlier, basing himself in Los Angeles and Tijuana as a launchpad for his profession. To earn his ticket to Tokyo, Gómez dismantled a lineup of robust Mexicans: Fernando Sotelo in 9 rounds, Julio Segura in 5, Ray Vega in seven, and Vicente García in only one. Solely “Centavito” Hernández and Puerto Rican Juan Collado lasted the space in opposition to him.

Realizing the hazard Gómez posed, Saijo prevented him for so long as attainable with excuse after excuse, till the WBA lastly ordered the protection. The date was set: September 2, 1971. Fifteen rounds for the world featherweight crown.

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The Proper Hand of Future

(Again to the Korakuen)

It could be dishonest to say I keep in mind each element of that combat. Time clouds reminiscence. For the remainder of the story, I flip to an previous AFP report that learn:

“Antonio Gómez’s thunderous proper hand introduced Venezuela a brand new world championship at present—the WBA featherweight crown—after almost 5 rounds of one of the crucial thrilling fights ever seen in Tokyo. The decisive blow got here within the fifth spherical, because the champion Shozo Saijo was relentlessly punished by the Venezuelan’s proper. The primary knockdown got here simply 30 seconds into the ultimate spherical. Saijo rose on the rely of eight, however Gómez swarmed him, chasing him across the ring and touchdown three extra crushing rights to finish it.”

What the AFP didn’t point out—however I do keep in mind—is that earlier than the referee might step in, Saijo’s nook threw within the towel. The Japanese warrior, simply 24 years previous, had fought like a wounded lion, however the night time belonged to Gómez.

Antonio Gómez, a modest 26-year-old from Cumaná, skilled by the legendary “maestro” Hely Montes, had reached the summit each fighter goals of. He was the perfect 126-pounder on the planet, the undisputed No. 1 featherweight. Even with Vicente Saldivar nonetheless holding the WBC model of the belt, specialists knew the Mexican was no match for the Venezuelan.

That night time, Gómez joined Vicente Paúl Rondón (gentle heavyweight) and fellow Cumanese Alfredo Marcano (tremendous featherweight) as Venezuelan world champions. A fourth, Betulio González, would be a part of the checklist simply months later.

For us who have been there, overlaying the combat for El Nacional, there was absolute certainty: simply as Hemingway as soon as wrote of Paris, on September 2, 1971, Venezuela was a celebration.