Nicolino Locche
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicolino Locche (September 2, 1939 – September 7, 2005) was an Argentine boxer born in Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina. He died in Mendoza. Known as "El Intocable" (“The Untouchable”), Locche became Jr. Welterweight World Champion in Tokyo on December 12, 1968, defeating Paul Takeshi Fuji by technical knockout in ten rounds. Fuji refused to start the 10th round out of frustration because of exhaustion and his inability to connect punches on "The Untouchable," according to the Argentinean boxing commentators' recount of the bout (Dotora, 2004).
Locche became an idol in Argentina and routinely sold out the Luna Park, Buenos Aires every time he fought at the well known boxing arena. His boxing style made him a legend, with a defense that dodged the opponent’s punches, making them pass as close as possible, but without touching him.
Locche defended his title 6 times, against Carlos Hernandez, Joao Henrique, Adolph Pruitt, Antonio Cervantes and Domingo Barrera Corpas, to lose it in Panama to Alfonso Frazier on March 10, 1972. Locche failed to regain the World Champion belt in a rematch with Cervantes (a.k.a., Kid Pambelé) and retired in 1975.
He was champion of Mendoza, Argentina, and South American lightweight and Jr. welterweight. He debuted at the age of 9, and his amateur record was 117-5-0. Locche turned professional at the age of 19 and amassed a record of 117-2-14 (14 KOs). He was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Notes:
- Las Heras is a small town in distrito de Tunuyán (Mendoza).
- Locche is the correct spelling; other spellings used are Locce, and Loche.
[edit] External links
In English: (records and fights)
In Spanish:
Articles from Argentina: Diario Clarin_1
and Diario Clarin_2
Article from Uruguay El Observador
Book:
Dotora, Adrián (2004) “Nicolino Locche, la Leyenda del intocable”, Zeta Editores, 1 Era dic., Mendoza.
