Pipino Cuevas Boxing Documentary - Mexico's Knockout Artist

Pepino Cuevas was not only one of the hardest hitting welterweight champions in the history of the division, but also the youngest to ever win the title at the age of 18. Sports writer Ron Borges once said of him, there is a fury which beats not beneath the surface in this young man, a fury which is more than evident when his cold stare lands upon you for the first time. It becomes clearer when Cuevas first begins to fight, sending hook after hook toward his opponent without the least bit of concern for his own well-being. Caution is not part of Pepino Cuevas' style, destruction is his business. Jose Pepino Cuevas grew up poor in the Colonia Panamerica section of Mexico City. He was a loner with no friends, often getting into street fights that he himself initiated. Neither he nor his family members could name the root cause for the hostility he had toward others, but his father was supporting 10 children on a butcher's salary and saw no alternative but to send his rebellious son to the local boxing gym in order to give him an outlet for his aggression. The 13-year-old Cuevas found solace among the other fighters and within a year had turned professional at the age of 14. He would be facing men more than twice his age and his inexperience and youth would lead to early career losses. The young Cuevas would be stopped in his pro debut and would lose five times in his first two years as a professional, but he started to show promise by 1975. As he would stop Jose Palacios for the Mexican welterweight title. In June of 1976, he would venture to Los Angeles where he would face top welterweight contender Andy the Hawk Price. Price was still too ring savvy for the young Cuevas and outpointed the wild swinging teenager. But Cuevas won by losing as then welterweight champion Ángel Espada was seated ringside looking for an easy mark for his own defense of his welterweight title. Espada saw how Price frustrated Cuevas and figured that the young Mexican would be an easy payday. Four years into a professional career, the still teenage Cuevas stepped into the ring as a heavy underdog against the vastly more experienced champion. In 110 degree heat in a Mexicali bullring, an unlikely legend was born with one left hook. Pepino Cuevas would become the youngest champion in the history of the welterweight division at only 18 years old. Cuevas followed the upset win with an unexpected championship reign of terror. His title defenses were studies and violence which included an upset win over Miguel Ángel Camponino who was on a 32 fight win streak. Experts predicted Camponino would finally win the title after toiling for years in obscurity. But Cuevas would destroy the heavy favorite in two rounds. The tough Canadian Clyde Gray was also expected by some critics to end Cuevas' reign as champion. Given his experience and known durability, Gray checked into the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium expecting to leave as champion. Instead, he left as another victim. Cuevas would rematch former champion Espada over a year after their first fight, but this go around. The fight would take place in Espada's native Puerto Rico. Espada vowed to regain his title and get revenge for the humiliating defeat. The former champion was knocked down in the second, but worked his way back into the fight appointing Cuevas until he was leading on the scorecards until Cuevas delivered a left hook which broke his jaw. Breaking his opponent's jaws soon became Cuevas' calling card as he would face longtime contender Harold Weston at the Olympic Auditorium. Cuevas would not only break Weston's jaw, but also a few ribs. Only two months later, Cuevas would face a former champion in Billy Bacchus who once upset Cuevas' own boxing hero in Jose Napules for the crown. Cuevas, however, did not break Bacchus' jaw. Instead, he fractured his eye socket and sent the 36-year-old into retirement. Cuevas would maintain a busy schedule, taking on Sacramento's favorite son Pete Ranzani. Only four months later, over 17,000 fans packed Hughes Stadium in Sacramento to cheer on the hometown Ranzani. Ranzani started well, but it was only the calm before the storm as in the second round Pepino Cuevas would land what he would describe as the hardest punch he would ever throw. After this bout, Cuevas became the most popular fighter in Mexico. There were calls for him to face WBC welterweight champion Carlos Palomino in a unification match, but the dream fight would never come to fruition. Cuevas would continue to ply his trade, taking on a youngster out of Florida named Scott Clark. But some chinks in the armor showed against the crafty Randy Shields as the knockout artist struggled to get a close decision victory. But the critics and fans alike chalked it up as nothing more than an off night against one of the more durable fighters in the business. Cuevas' popularity continued to rise. He didn't have the charisma of Ruben Olivares or Ricardo Pajarito Moreno, nor did he have the smooth boxing skills of Jose Napoles, but what he did have was devastating power. And that alone made him the number one draw with fans in Los Angeles. People would flock into the local gym to watch Cuevas train and he would oblige their curiosity, often knocking the speed bag off its moorings during training sessions. He had become one of the most feared fighters in boxing. His left hook was a wrecking ball. He had defensive liabilities, but seemed to have an impenetrable chin. And his kill-or-be-killed style always ended in his favor. I guess I fight the way I do because I want to end the fight as fast as possible, Cuevas said in a rare interview. Every time you step into the ring, you must respect the other fighter. He's dangerous or he wouldn't be there. I have to end it as soon as possible because I know he's trying to do the same thing to me. I always feel cool and calm before a fight. I come for a knockout whenever I fight, and I'm not afraid at all of who I fight or where I fight. I respect my opponents, but I know I am the best. A third fight with Espada would follow, but Cuevas' confidence and experience was now vastly improved. He gave Espada a prolonged beating before stopping him in the 10th round, once again breaking his jaw for a second time. His career surging, Pepino Cuevas was ready for a super fight. But against whom? His rival Carlos Palomino lost his title to Wilford Benitez, who then lost to Sugar Ray Leonard. Now the number one draw in the sport. First, have you actually signed to fight Pepino Cuevas? Well, tentatively we will sign hopefully sometime this week, Howard. And the bout will be May 16th. May 16th is the definite date. As far as location is concerned, I believe it's between Hartford and Las Vegas. But not settled yet? Not settled yet, no it's not. Alright, next question. What about threats of your losing your WBC crown if you fail to take on Duran first? Well, to my acknowledgement, the WBC claims that they will not sanction a bout unless it be Duran. But then again, I'm going against Pepino Cuevas, who is the WBA champion. So, I don't fear that at all. Harold Volbrecht of the Republic of South Africa to the right of your screen. Putting up a good scrap against Pepino Cuevas. Who began finally to take over in the fourth round with solid body blows. Wearing Volbrecht down. And Cuevas can sense it as he goes right to the tag. In trouble. If Volbrecht tries to slug with him, he'll pay the piper for it. This is the Cuevas we usually see. Now, Cuevas is right lead. As he sometimes switches from southpaw, from orthodox to southpaw and back himself. Volbrecht of course is southpaw and now Cuevas beats him to the punch. It's those body blows in the fourth round that slowed Volbrecht down. Shakes hands with Sugar Ray Leonard. And even before I talk to you Pepino, There's no question about it, it's going to be a dynamite fight. One punch, he punches like a heavyweight. I'm deeply impressed with Pepino. How are you going to fight him off what you saw? Well, mainly I think I can beat him with speed. I think I can outmaneuver. But then again, I got to be very careful at all times. But you're not awed by what you saw? No, not a bit. Okay. Now, what does Pepino think about Sugar Ray Leonard? You just heard Sugar Ray Leonard. Sugar Ray Leonard is a good fighter. And he respects Sugar Ray Leonard. But he wants to fight Sugar Ray Leonard. He thinks he can knock him out the same way? This man is always in top shape. And he knows when he fights Sugar Ray, he's going to have to have the same conditioning, the same training, and he's still going to beat him. Does he want to make a prediction? It would be a very, very hard fight. But the winner would be Pepino Cuevas. Okay, that's May 16th. And we look forward to seeing that fight. That should be a beauty. Alright, again, congratulations. Good luck to you. The crowd in the background. Pepino, Pepino, Pepino. We'll see you May 16th. But Pepino Cuevas would not get his dream match. Against Sugar Ray Leonard. Instead, he would face another rising knockout artist as a consolation prize. Thomas Hitman Hearns was devastating opposition in the same way Cuevas did. Except he did it with a pulverizing right cross. The two would meet in Hearns' native Detroit. And the question was, could Cuevas catch Hearns with his money punch, the left hook, before Hearns could land his big right. Hearns trying to measure his man again for that right hand. There it is. That's his Sunday punch. Everyone knows Cuevas has a rock for a joy. He takes a good punch. He has taken a lot of them so far. It's only round two. It's old Tommy Hearns. One minute to go. The loss devastated Cuevas. His kamikaze style finally catching up to him. And his reputation never recovered after the defeat. The power was still there. But his aura of invincibility was now shattered. Fighters were no longer afraid of him. As evidenced by his fight against Roger Stafford, a nondescript contender out of Philadelphia. Stafford was expected to be another Cuevas KO victim. But the light hitting contender would floor the once steel chin Cuevas in the second round and win a decision. In what Ring Magazine would declare as the upset of the year for 1981. So far Stafford has been able to keep at a safe distance from the firepower of Cuevas. Short right hand by Stafford but Cuevas scored with a short right. Left uppercut by Stafford and Cuevas went down. Padilla over him now. The count is six, seven. Up at seven and plenty of time for Roger Stafford here in the second round. He has decked Cuevas with a short left hook. And he's got to be careful here not to just wound his nostrils. As Stafford digs a right to the body. Stafford sensing here the chance of a lifetime. Pepino Cuevas is not clear yet and he doesn't know how to box. Cuevas will wade right in again so Stafford has the opportunity to put him down again if he can land another straight right hand. Of course they're exuberant in the corner of Roger Stafford. Over in Pepino Cuevas' corner you can see once again they're dabbing away at that cut on his left eyelid. There's a lot of concern in that corner. I think it's fairly obvious to everyone here and to you at home that Pepino needs a knockout to win this fight. Well that's the way we see it at this point and it looks that way. You never know what officials are thinking but I have to believe that's the case and if I was in Pepino Cuevas' corner I think that's what I'd be telling him. Three more minutes of action. Round 10, the final round. Stafford with a right hand and Pepino Cuevas is going to go for broke here. Left hand by Stafford and Cuevas holds on. Al, he was blinking. That caught him flush on the left eye and I think Pepino Cuevas is definitely stunned. I think Stafford has him in trouble. Right hand by Stafford. Cuevas has his guard down. He's bleeding from the nose again. Stafford is going for a knockout. He could cruise here but he wants to knock out Pepino. Well he's got to be careful. Cuevas still may be dangerous. Two left uppercuts by Stafford and Roger Stafford is going for the knockout. He's got the decision. He could cruise but he wants Pepino on the deck. Cuevas bleeding from the nose. Bleeding from the left eyelid. And Roger Stafford better be careful because Cuevas could still unload a left hook. He might do better boxing him at this point. Another left hook by Stafford. Just under two minutes to go. Roger Stafford's handler, Jimmy Montoya, his trainer, told him to take his time and relax but he's come out and he's chewing up Pepino Cuevas. He landed a heavy right hand at the beginning of that exchange. Now Cuevas is having difficulty breathing because blood's coming out of his nose. And that was a big right hand by Stafford and Pepino Cuevas has the look of a beaten fighter at this point. I just wonder if he's still got it in him to hurt Roger Stafford. For Stafford, all those hours of running in the dawn. All those hours in sweaty Philadelphia gyms. All the tricks of the trade for this one night to fight a man of tremendous reputation. He said he could hurt Pepino Cuevas. He said he could put him down. Some people doubted him but they don't doubt him anymore. He's put on a tremendous exhibition. We're in the final seconds of the fight. Right hand by Stafford and that rocks Pepino. Right hand by Stafford and Pepino is on his heels. He takes a body shot. Pepino takes a left hook. Stafford wants him down before the bell. Stafford wants a knockout. Right hand by Stafford. Cuevas cannot fight back. He can't fight back. He's in trouble. And Padilla will not stop this fight if he can avoid it but Cuevas is in big trouble now. Let's see if Padilla moves in. Pepino can't throw a punch. Blood streaming out of his nostrils. Blood coming from his left eyebrow. And Roger Stafford is punishing Cuevas as we await the final bell. And you can see how fatigued Stafford is as we wind down in this fight. And that's it. Cuevas would remain inactive for an entire year before answering the call to take on a comebacking Roberto Duran in January of 1983. The matchup would have been an epic super fight had it taken place only four years earlier. But now it resembled two aging veterans at the crossroads. Those of their former selves, the older Duran had mourned the tank using his victory over Cuevas to launch his own career rebirth. Cuevas, meanwhile, was now officially damaged goods. He moved up in weight and lost against second tier contenders. The man who once upon a time was the most feared fighter in boxing, producing highlight reel knockouts, now found himself on the opposite end, defeated and often unconscious. Cuevas would hang on for another six years in the sport after his knockout to Roberto Duran, finally calling it quits in September of 1989. But the anger of his youth was now long gone. Cuevas was able to adapt to life outside the ring. He would become a successful entrepreneur, running a restaurant and a security company in Mexico City. In 2002, Cuevas' achievements would once again be recognized as he would be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.