It was Leo Randolph’s flip. His compatriots from the 1976 Olympic Video games who, like him, had received gold medals and obtained the plaudits of the American public, had already fought on nationwide tv, gotten their share of the highlight for his or her skilled exploits. Leon Spinks had even defeated Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight championship of the world, whereas welterweight Sugar Ray Leonard had put collectively 25 straight wins in lower than three years earlier than taking Wilfred Benitez’s world title. Each fighters, together with Michael Spinks and Howard Davis Jr., had fought quite a few instances on nationwide tv, had loved the eye that comes with being an thrilling new star of boxing. Now Leo Randolph was getting his probability.
Ricardo Cardona was the WBA tremendous bantamweight champion of the world. He had received the title from Korea’s Soo-Hwan Hong in Might of 1978 and defended it 4 instances in opposition to Asian fighters whose managers sought to realize a world title at 122 kilos with out having to face the division’s true king, the devastating Wilfredo Gomez, who owned the WBC belt. However Cardona turned again these challenges, the Colombian exhibiting he was a fighter to be reckoned with, his peak and attain plus respectable energy making him a troublesome outing for anybody.
In actual fact, Randolph was seen because the underdog going into this match. In comparison with Cardona he was comparatively inexperienced with a document of 16-1 in comparison with the champion’s mark of 24-4-3. Cardona had confirmed he was world-class whereas Randolph had but to persuade many who he was able to take the large step as much as the elite stage. However the native of Tacoma, Washington loved the advantage of a hometown crowd, the match going down in close by Seattle, whereas Cardona was enticed by the large U.S. tv cash and an opportunity to lift his profile stateside.
The struggle received off to a quick begin with neither man holding again, Randolph trying to shut the gap and set up his sharp left jab and take away the champion’s attain benefit. His early success prompted him to choose up the tempo and be much more aggressive within the rounds that adopted, however that nearly led to catastrophe. In spherical 5 Cardona stepped in and cracked Randolph with a vicious straight proper that despatched the challenger to the canvas. For a second it appeared the hometown crowd may depart upset however Leo beat the depend and picked up the place he had left off, driving ahead and letting his fingers go, beating the taller man to the punch again and again.
It was a fierce battle by means of the center rounds however by the ninth Randolph appeared to have seized management. He was just too aggressive and relentless for Cardona. At instances the champion did catch Randolph coming in with uppercuts or left hooks, however the Olympian took Cardona’s finest punches and simply tore again in for extra, unloading his personal heavy pictures with each fingers.
Within the thirteenth Randolph damage the champion with a tough left. Cardona managed to again away and escape the challenger’s follow-up assault however it was clear he was weakening beneath the fixed strain. And within the fifteenth and closing spherical Randolph discovered the vitality to win with authority. He drove Cardona to the ropes and unleashed a seemingly limitless barrage of energy punches, pummeling the champion into helplessness. As the group roared the referee broke a clinch and the dazed Cardona didn’t budge from the ropes however stood there, seemingly resigned to taking extra punishment, Randolph touchdown blow after blow. Lastly, a helpless Cardona was rescued and Randolph and his followers rejoiced.
“I had by no means seen him struggle earlier than,” stated the brand new champion, “however that’s the way it was once I fought in [the amateurs]. It was my plan to carry the struggle to him and pressure him to go on the defensive. After two rounds, I knew it was working. Proper now I simply wish to have fun and be with my household. You realize, world champion — that’s an enormous factor!”
The victory put Randolph alongside the opposite ’76 gold medalists who had already achieved success within the execs and in a single day it made him a star and a celeb, however Leo’s time on the high could be transient. Simply three months later he would undergo an upset defeat to Argentina’s Sergio Palma who stopped Randolph in 5 rounds. To the shock of many, the younger Olympian promptly retired and by no means fought once more. The next 12 months Cardona would get an opportunity to regain his title however he too fell to Palma, the bout stopped in spherical twelve. — Neil Crane
