Friday, November 27, 2015

RANDY SHIELDS

   Randy Shields was one of the USA's top amateur stars of the early 1970's.  He went 88-3-1, winning 67 by knockout!  The 6 time California State Amateur Champion also has the honor of handing one of the few defeats to Sugar Ray Leonard in the amateur ranks.

   He turned professional on Jan. 17, 1974 with a 6 round unanimous decision victory over highly regarded Victor Abraham.  His first big test came in August of 1975 when he put his undefeated record (24-0, 14 ko's) on the line against world ranked contender Arturo "Turi" Pineda (25-5-1, 21 knockouts).  Shields boxed beautifully winning a unanimous 10 round decision at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.  He won the Los Angeles showdown on scores of 6-4, 8-2, and 9-0-1.  Shields had served notice to the boxing world that he was a serious threat to win a world title.

   2 fights later, Randy would taste defeat for the first time, at the hands of undefeated Vicente Mijares (7-0, 2 ko).  Shields was stopped on cuts and a rematch was ordered.  It was nearly 3 months later when Shields would get his shot at redemption, and this time it was an elimination match for a shot at the WBC World Title.  It was an all out war, but Mijares would again come out on top, this time via Unanimous Decision on scores of 6-4-2, 7-4-1, and 7-5 in rounds.

   Big wins over Ramiro Bolanos (51-10-2, 30 ko) and Ray Lampkin (34-5-1, 16 ko) would catapult Shields into his first shot at a major title belt.  It was Oct. 21, 1977 and Shields would have to travel to the Champs home town of Sacramento California where he would face NABF Welterweight Champion Pete Ranzany (35-1, 23 ko).  The bout ended in round 2 due to a clash of heads, and was recorded as a technical Draw.  The fight was just too promising to let things end this way, so a rematch took place just 3 months later at the same venue.  This time the champion - Ranzany stopped Shields at 1:54 of the 11th bloody and bruising round.

   Shields performance cemented his place as a ranked contender, and he faced mostly world class opposition after the battles with Ranzany.  He went 2-2 in his next four bouts, with the two losses coming to boxing legends Wilfred Benitez, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

   July 30, 1979 was the day Shields would finally get a crack at the World Title when he faced WBA Welterweight Champion Pipino Cuevas in Chicago.  It was a wild affair that went the entire 15 round distance.  Cuevas kept his World Title belt with a controversial unanimous decision on scores of 72-71, 72-71, and 73-67.

   Shields scored two more victories after the loss against Cuevas, and was rewarded with another chance at the NABF Welterweight title that had eluded him in his 2nd bout against Pete Ranzany.  This time it was for the Vacant Title, and Shields would overwhelm his opponent Jose Figueroa, completely outclassing him and stopping him via technical knockout in round 3.

   Randy Shields now held the NABF Title belt, and after scoring a big win over Luis Mateo (9-1, 6 ko) was given an easy tune-up where he scored a 4th round knockout over Ray Comayagua, and then was given one more shot at the world championship.  This time he would face legendary world champion Thomas Hearns (30-0, 28 by knockout).  The fight took place April 25th or 1981 in Phoenix, AZ.  Shields was all heart but just could not find an antidote to the punishing jab, and overwhelming firepower of "The Hitman" Hearns.  The bout, scheduled for 15 rounds, was stopped at the end of the 12th round with Hearns way ahead on all 3 of the judges scorecards.

   Shields would not fight for another title, but did face world champions Milton "Ice Man" McCrory, and Johnny "Bump City" Bumphus in non-title bouts.

   Randy fought his last pro bout on Sept. 25, 1990 at the Country Club in Reseda, CA.  going out on a winning note with a 10 round decision victory over Stewart Baynes.

   It was a long and successful campaign for Shields who proved himself a worthy and world class contender.  If you weren't a world class championship level fighter, you had no chance against him.  He became a favorite among Southern California boxing fans, and when it was all said and done, he finished his career with a record of 41-9-1, 21 ko's.

Click Here for Randy Shields Entire Pro Boxing Ledger

If you would like to see Randy Shields in action, I have the following bouts available on DVD:

WILFREDO BENITEZ                         [tko-by-6]
DAVID MADRID                                 [tko-4]
JOSE PALACIOS                                 [w-10]
JOSE "Pipino" CUEVAS                        [L-15] (WBA Welter Title)
THOMAS HEARNS                             [tko-by-12] (WBA Welter Title)
JEFF MORGAN                                   [w-10]
JOHNNY BUMPHUS                          [tko-by-8]



Contact me via e-mail at: Disneyguru@outlook.com

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

FRANKIE ARCHULETA

    New Mexico's Frankie Archuleta was a shining star in the amateur ranks, especially in New Mexico where boxing fans were anxiously waiting for him to turn professional.

 
   He turned Pro on Feb. 15, 1997 and started things off with a first round knockout over Pablo Ontiveros.  After running off a string of victories and going to 10-0, 7 by knockout, Frankie challenged heavy handed defending champion Juan Manuel Arellano (15-6, 13 ko) for the WBB Featherweight Title.  It was Archuleta's night as he pitched a near shutout on scores of 119-109, 119-110, and 120-110 to win his first Title.

  

   Two wins later, he made a move up in weight and took his 13-0, 8 ko record into another title challenge against Oscar Salas for the vacant WBB Jr. Lightweight Title.  In front of a packed Wilson Events Center in his home town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, Archuleta scored an impressive 4th round knockout to win his second title belt.

   After a complete shutout victory over 10 rounds against 95 fight veteran Javier "Suzuki" Diaz, Frankie challenged NABF Featherweight Champion Lewis Wood (20-1, 6 ko).  When the smoke cleared after 12 tough and tactical rounds of boxing, The judges declared a 3 way split on scores of 115-112 (Archuleta), 115-112 (Wood), and 114-114.  Frankie remained unbeaten, but Lewis Wood left Las Vegas, NM with the NABF title belt around his waist.

   A pair of victories over rugged Mexican contender Ivan Salazar, and a convincing win over rugged Marco "El Rojo" Badillo, landed Frankie (18-0-1, 11 ko) in a huge bout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada against former WBC, WBO and WBU Featherweight World Champion Kevin Kelley (50-4-2, 33 ko).  Archuleta suffered his first defeat that night, being stopped by the multi-time World Champion in the 9th round.



   Frankie bounced back with 2 impressive wins, a 1 round ko over Russell Mosley, and then an 8 round unanimous decision vicotry over former WBC Continental Americas Champion Osvaldo Guerrero.  Archuleta then traveled to the Fernwood Resort in Bushkill, PA to face undefeated Champion Emmanuel Lucero (19-0, 12 ko) for his WBC Continental Americas Jr. Featherweight Title.  He came up short dropping a 12 round unanimous decision to the Champion.  Meanwhile, Osvaldo Guerrero was clamoring for a rematch against Archuleta, and got his wish, this time for the vacant NABA Jr. Featherweight Title.  The old saying "Be careful what you wish for" was never more true than June 21, 2002 as Frankie Archuleta stopped Guerrero in 3 rounds to pick up another title belt.

   From here the level of competition stepped up big time, and Frankie found his self across the ring from some great contenders and world champions including...  Alejandro Barrera, Rocky Juarez, Johnny Tapia (Splitting a pair of decisions against the legendary champion), Martin Honorio (for the vacant IBA Jr. Lightweight World Title), John Molina, and Juan Carlos Burgos.

   Frankie fought his last pro bout on May 12, 2012, nearly 15 years after turning professional.  He faced undefeated former WBF Featherweight Champion Patrick Hyland (25-0, 11 ko's) being stopped in round 4.

   Frankie Archuleta finished his professional boxing campaign with an overall record of 27-10-1, 14 by knockout.  He made a huge mark on the New Mexico pro boxing scene, and delighted local crowds with some big victories.  Click here to see: Frankie Archuleta's entire Pro ledger.

If you would like to see Frankie Archuleta in ring action, I have the following bouts available on DVD:

1. PABLO ONTIVERROS                                [tko-1](Pro Debut)
2. JULIAN ROMERO                                       [w-6]
3. JOSE LINARES                                            [tko-1]
4. JOSE LUIS JUAREZ                                    [tko-1]
5. LORENZO ESTRADA                                 [tko-1]
6. AUREO DOMINGUEZ                                [tko-3]
7. MACK MCLIN                                            [w-8]
8. JUAN MANUEL ARRELLANO                  [w-12] {WBB Fth Title}
9. LEE CARGLE                                               [tko-1]
10. JAVIER "Suzuki" DIAZ                                [w-10]
11. OSCAR SALAS                                          [ko-4] {WBB JL Title}
12. LEWIS WOOD                                           [draw-12] {NABF Fth Title}
13. IVAN SALAZAR #2                                   [tko-5]
14. MARCOS "Rojo" BADILLO                       [w-dq-6]
15. IVAN SALAZAR #1                                   [ko-3]
16. KEVIN KELLEY                                        [ko-by-9]
17. EMMANUEL LUCERO                             [L-12]
18. ARTURO VALENZUELA                          [Tech-w-5]
19. ALEJANDRO BARRERA                          [L-12]
20. ROCKY JUAREZ                                       [tko-by-6]
21. JOHNNY TAPIA #1                                  [w-10]
22. JOHNNY TAPIA #2                                  [L-10]
23. JOHN MOLINA                                        [tko-by-2]
24. JUAN CARLOS BURGOS                        [tko-by-2]



CONTACT ME: Disneyguru@outlook.com

  

  

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

MAX GOMEZ

   Colorado's Max Gomez was a regional star in the amateurs who many felt would be a "can't miss" as a Pro.

 Gomez turned professional on March 7, 1989 at Bally's in Las Vegas, Nevada, opening his career with a 3rd round technical knockout over Phoenix, Arizona's Jesse Ortiz.

   He won his next fight, and then tasted his first defeat against unbeaten former Puerto Rican amateur standout - Luis Rolon (4-0, 3 ko) on the undercard of Julio Cesar Chavez/Meldrick Taylor #1 at the Las Vegas Hilton.  Gomez dropped a very close majority decision to Rolon in 4 rds.

   He was considered a worthy prospect, and this was cemented when he travled up to Detroit, Michigan and handed unbeaten Kronk Gym star Theotrice Chambers (5-0, 5 ko) his first defeat by unanimous decision.  3 fights later, Gomez would find his self in the ring facing former Olympic Gold medalist, and undefeated world ranked contender (and future World Champion) Kennedy "The King" McKinney (18-0-1, 12 ko), it was another hard fought battle, with Gomez getting the short end of the stick in an 8 round split decision loss.  This showing just raised his stock and he got his first shot at a title belt, facing Rudy Zavala for the USBA Jr. Featherweight Title at the Forum in Inglewood, CA.  That battle ended in a 12 round 3 way split Draw.

   In later bouts, Gomez challenged for the USBA, NABF, and NABO Jr. Featherweight Titles and lost via decisions all 3 times.  March 16, 1996 - 7 years after his professional debut, Max got a shot at the vacant WBU Jr. Featherweight Title.  This was his night, as he defeated Anton Gilmore (19-1-2, 5 ko) to win his first Title Belt.  He lost the title to Frankie Toledo in his first defense, it was a very close decision loss that ended in scores of 115-113 by all 3 judges.  Two fights later, he defeated Felipe Garcia (13-16-1, 8 ko) to pick up the IBC Jr. Featherweight World Title.

   In his next fight, he went after the IBA Featherweight title, dropping another hard fought split decision to "Diamond" David Santos (28-1, 19 ko) in Albuquerque, NM.  He continued his campaign, squaring off against pretty high level competiion and picking up the WBC Fecarbox Jr. Lightweight Title along the way.  

   Max fought his last professional fight on May 11, 2002 with a solid 8 round unanimous decision victory over Colorado rival Heriberto Velazquez in Colorado Springs, CO.

   Max Gomez finished his 13 year professional career with a final record of: 25-13-1, winning 13 by knockout.  Click here to see Max Gomez's complete pro ledger

   If you would like to see Max Gomez in action, I have the following bouts available on DVD:

1. TONY  MARTIN                                [tko-1]
2. THEOTRICE CHAMBERS                 [w-6] (Begins in Rd. 2)
3. JORGE MARTINEZ                            [ko-2]
4. POISON JUNIOR JONES                  [L-10]
5. RUDY ZAVALA                                 [Draw-12] {USBA Jr. Feather Title}
6. JESUS SALUD                                    [L-12] {NABF Jr. Feather Title}
7. JOSE LUIS VEGA-GIL                       [ko-5]
8. JESSE MAGANA                                [L-12] {Vacant NABO Jr. Feather Title}
9. FRANK TOLEDO                               [L-12] {WBU Jr. Feather Title}
10. DAVID SANTOS                              [L-12] {IBA Feather Title}
11. JUAN MANUEL ARELLANO         [w-10] (Rds. 3-10 of 10 Only)
12. ROBERTO VILLAREAL #2              [tko-5] {Fecarbox Jr. Light Title}
13. ANGEL VAZQUEZ                           [L-12] {NABA/USBA Feather Titles}

____________________________________________________________________   
AMATEUR BOUTS:

1. Johnny Tapia
2. Edward Martin