Nicolino Loche
Titles: Jr. Welterweight Champion 1962-1964
Record: 117-4-14
Born: September 2, 1939 in Tunuyan, Argentina
Years active: 1953-1970
Nickname: "The Untouchable"
Loche was basically a less flamboyant and if possible, a lighter hitting version
of Pernell Whitaker. In 135 fights as a pro Loche was only able to put 14 men out
for the count. While he would not showboat as much as Pernell he was still quite
a attraction because of his defensive skills and the variety of punches he would
throw with breathtaking speed. His tactical skills were exceptional as he would
dominate his foes through movement and not power or even punches, his opponents
seemed eternally off balance. His style was not that of a runner however, it was
pressure that got the job done. Loche would slither his way inside avoiding the
blows of his opponent and peck away at him. Loche began to box at the age of 19
in his native Argentina and began his career with a bang scoring a 2nd round
knockout. There were very few knockouts to follow but the wins were pilling up.
In only his third fight Nicolino was fighting 10 round fights. Within three years
he had battled his way to the top of the lightweight division, in the same year
he also won the South American lightweight title. For the next 7 years he would
battle any contender willing to be frustrated in the ring by him. Just as he would
frustrate opponents Loche found it frustrating not getting a title shot at light-
weight, so he took the first opportunity he had at a title at the jr. welterweight
level in Japan against Paul Fujii. The closest Loche came to a lightweight title
shot was when he and champ Ismael Laguna battled to a 10 round non title bout
draw. Loche probably only got the title fight against Fujii because it was believed
he had slowed down and in his last fight came away with a 8 round draw against
ordinary Anibal DiLella. It was still a bit of a surprise that he won the jr.
welterweight title at this stage of his career. Even though Loche had only lost
2 fights in 11 years leading up to the title fight he was a slower but wiser
version of his old self. The surprise was that he made Fujii quit, at the end of
the ninth round with beautiful conter punching. Fujii a Hawaiian born ex U.S Marine
was plenty tough enough but was just so frustrated that he had finally reached his
limit. At the end of the 4th round Fujii's right eye was closed, Loche was standing
in front of him only moving when he had to and the rest of time bobbed and weaved
away from the powerful shots of Fujii. Consider that Loche was past his prime when
he finally won a title having already fought 105 times, not to mention it was
Loche's first fight outside of Argentina. Five title defenses followed, the first
of which was against the very tough ex-champ Carlos Hernandez who managed to floor
Loche before going down himself and losing a 15 round decision. Other than tough
fighters Adolph Pruitt and the rising star Antonio Cervantes his non-title
challengers were ordinary. Beating Cervantes was a shock to some who saw Cervantes
as much to powerful and fast opponent for Loche, Cervantes had been crashing through
all other South American boxers. But like many others he found Loche to be like
a fly, pesky and impossible to hit with a closed fist. For 15 rounds Cervantes
chased but could not catch up or cut of the ring as Loche dipped low to avoid the
tall challengers blows. Loche was also given a really tough fight by Domingo Barrea
in his previous title fight which reinforced many thoughts that Cervantes would
roll over Loche. Nicolino was finally beaten when traveled to Panama to fight
Alfonzo "Pepermint" Frazer in the challengers hometown, the points loss was close
but by all accounts fair. Loche would get one last chance to win a title but lost
that when he was knocked out by a Antonio Cervantes who was reaching his prime.
Unlike their earlier bout in which Loche had won a decision with relative ease,
Loche found Cervantes had learned from past mistakes. In this bout Cervantes did
not come straight but cut of the ring well, most importantly Cervantes went to
Loche's body in a much more consistent fashion. It worked and slowed Loche down for
the Cervantes power shots in the later rounds. Now 33 years old it was obvious
Loche would not be a viable contender anymore, the knock out loss to Cervantes
would be his only inside the distance stoppage. For the next three years Loche
would fight on in Argentina winning his last 7 bouts before hanging up his gloves.
Nicolino Loche
Career Record: 117 W, 4 L, 14 D (14 K.O's)
1958
Dec 11 Luis Garcia Mendoza, Argentina KO 2
1959
Jan 9 Rodolfo Catalini Mendoza, Argentina W 8
Jan 30 Eduardo Zalazar Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Feb 27 Leandro Ahumada Mendoza, Argentina NC 9
Mar 6 Rodolfo Catalini Mendoza, Argentina KO 4
Apr 3 Leandro Ahumada Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jul 29 Juan C. Ramirez Buenos Aires W 8
Aug 8 Pedro Videla Buenos Aires W 8
Oct 16 Juan Campos Mendoza, Argentina D 10
Nov 6 Vicente Derado Mendoza, Argentina L 10
Dec 11 Ricardo Jofre Mendoza, Argentina D 10
1960
Jan 8 Hector Tula Mendoza, Argentina KO 5
Jan 22 Vicente Derado Mendoza, Argentina D 10
Feb 26 Jaime Gine Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Mar 25 Juan Campos Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jun 11 Jaime Gine Buenos Aires D 10
Jul 30 Pedro Beneli Buenos Aires W 10
Sep 17 Manuel Alvarez Buenos Aires D 10
Nov 4 Rogelio Andre Mendoza, Argentina W 10
1961
Jan 20 Vicente Derado Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jan 27 Juan Campos Cordoba, Argentina D 10
Mar 10 Antonio Repollo Mendoza, Argentina W 10
May 12 Julio Catalini Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jun 9 Guillermo Cano Mendoza, Argentina W 12
Sep 1 Juan Carlos Flores Mendoza, Argentina KO 5
Sep 29 Ubaldino Escobar Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Oct 10 Ubaldino Escobar Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Nov 4 Jaime Gine Buenos Aires W 12
(Wins Argentinan Lightweight Title)
Dec 1 Pedro Beneli Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Dec 16 Vicente Derado Buenos Aires W 10
1962
Jan 25 Nuncio Canistra Palmira, Argentina KO 9
Mar 30 Fernando Azocar Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Apr 24 Abelardo Sire Mendoza, Argentina W 10
May 16 Horacio Rivero Mendoza, Argentina KO 2
Jun 5 Eulogio Caballero Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jul 6 Humberto Barbato Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Aug 24 Hugo Juarez Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Sep 29 Pedro Beneli Buenos Aires W 10
Oct 20 Manuel Alvarez Buenos Aires W 12
Dec 14 Tristan Falfan Cordoba, Argentina KO 6
Dec 28 Tony Padron Mendoza, Argentina W 10
1963
Feb 1 Pedro Beneli Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Feb 22 Gregorio Cinta Salta, Argentina D 10
Mar 23 Javier Gomez Buenos Aires W 10
Apr 26 Rodolfo Catalini Mendoza, Argentina W 10
May 24 Gregorio Cinta Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jun 8 Eulogio Caballero Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jun 29 Sebastio Nascimento Buenos Aires W 15
Jul 20 Rodolfo Espinosa Mar del Plata, Arg. W 10
Aug 10 Joe Brown Buenos Aires W 10
Sep 13 Adan Gomez Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Sep 27 Carlos Cappela Tucuman, Argentina D 10
Oct 11 Tristan Falfan Cordoba, Argentina D 10
Dec 14 Raul Villalba Buenos Aires W 10
1964
Jan 31 Pedro Beneli Concepcion, Argentina W 10
Feb 14 Roberto Palavcino Mar del Plata, Arg. D 10
Mar 6 Raul Villalba Mar del Plata, Arg. W 10
Apr 18 Roberto Palavecino Buenos Aires W 10
Jun 19 Carlos Cappella Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Jul 10 Carlos Clemente Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Aug 8 Abel Laudonio Buenos Aires W 10
Aug 21 Diolido Sosa Rosario, Argentina W 10
Sep 4 Roberto Palavecino Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Sep 19 Gualberto Gutierrez Montevideo, Uruguay D 10
Oct 9 Humberto Barbatto Bahia Blanca, Argentina W 10
Nov 14 Abel Laudonio Buenos Aires L 12
Dec 18 Pedro Beneli Cordoba, Argentina W 10
1965
Jan 26 Adan Gomez Santa Fe, Argentina W 10
Mar 23 Hugo Rambaldi Buenos Aires W 10
Apr 10 Abel Laudonio Buenos Aires W 12
Apr 30 Juan Salinas Rio Cuarto, Argentina KO 8
Jul 17 Ismael Laguna Buenos Aires D 10
Aug 6 Leonardo Peralta Resistencia, Argentina W 10
Sep 16 Raul Villalba Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Dec 18 Hugo Rambaldi Buenos Aires W 12
1966
Jan 22 Omar Gottifredi Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Apr 7 Carlos Ortiz Buenos Aires D 10
Aug 19 Omar Salvo Rio Gallegos, Argentina W 10
Sep 10 Sandro Lopopolo Buenos Aires W 10
Oct 7 Omar Gottifredi Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Dec 30 Omar Salvo Mendoza, Argentina W 10
1967
Jan 13 Everaldo Costa Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Apr 7 Ubaldino Escobar Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Apr 21 Ruben Loayza Mendoza, Argentina W 10
May 13 Langston C. Morgan Buenos Aires W 10
Jun 2 Adan Gomez Bahia Blanca, Argentina W 10
Jul 10 Jose Acha Paz Mendoza, Argentina KO 6
Jul 19 Carlos Clemente Tandil, Argentina W 10
Aug 4 Osvaldo Piazza Cipolleti, Argentina W 10
Aug 19 Eddie Perkins Buenos Aires W 10
Sep 10 Ramon Gomez Buenos Aires KO 10
Sep 24 Osvaldo Piazza Cordoba, Argentina W 10
Oct 4 Abel Cachazu Buenos Aires W 10
Oct 18 Leonardo Peralta San Rafael, Argentina W 10
Nov 8 Abel Cachazu Menodza, Argentina W 10
Nov 24 Adan Gomez San Juan, Argentina W 10
Dec 2 Vicente Derado Buenos Aires KO 6
1968
Apr 10 Alfredo Urbina Buenos Aires W 10
Apr 20 Juan Gomez Mar del Plata, Arg. W 10
May 11 Alfredo Urbina Buenos Aires W 10
Jun 8 Abel Cachazu Buenos Aires W 10
Jul 14 Juan Aranda Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Aug 2 Tito Del Barco Cordoba, Argentina W 10
Aug 16 Hilario Suarez San Francisco, Arg. W 10
Sep 13 Orlando Riberio Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Oct 12 Anibal DiLella Mar del Plata, Arg. D 8
Dec 12 Paul Fuji Tokyo KO 10
(Wins WBA and World Jr. Welterweight Titles)
1969
Apr 3 Manuel Hernandez Mendoza, Argentina W 10
May 4 Carlos Hernandez Buenos Aires W 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Aug 2 German Gastelbondo Buenos Aires W 10
Aug 22 Angel Roman Cordoba, Argentina W 10
Oct 11 Joao Henrique Buenos Aires W 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
1970
Apr 3 Martin Juarez Rosario, Argentina W 10
Apr 18 Marcelino Acevedo Tandil, Argentina KO 9
May 17 Adolph Pruitt Buenos Aires W 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
1971
Feb 14 Carlos Peralta Tucuman, Argentina W 10
Mar 10 Adan Gomez La Falda, Argentina W 10
Apr 3 Domingo Barrera Corpas Buenos Aires W 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Oct 29 Angel Romasn Salta, Argentina W 10
Nov 13 Antonio Ortiz Buenos Aires W 10
Dec 11 Antonio Cervantes Buenos Aires W 15
(Retains World Jr. Welterweight Title)
1972
Feb 4 Carlos Peralta San Juan, Argentina W 10
Feb 16 Nicolas Arkuszyn Cruz del Eje, Argentina W 10
Mar 10 Alfonso Frazer Panama City L 15
(Loses World Jr. Welterweight Title)
Nov 18 Gerardo Ferrat Buenos Aires W 10
Dec 16 Rey Mercado Buenos Aires W 10
1973
Jan 25 Pedro Adigue Buenos Aires W 10
Feb 9 Benny Huertas Mendoza, Argentina W 10
Mar 17 Antonio Cervantes Maracay, Colombia KO by 9
(For World Jr. Welterweight Title)
1974
Inactive
1975
Aug 9 Javier Ayala Buenos Aires W 10
Sep 10 Jimmy Heair Buenos Aires W 10
Sep 13 Omar Zarza Venado Tuerto, Arg. W 10
Dec 19 Rogelio Zarza Rio Cuarto, Argentina W 10
1976
Jan 17 Emiliano Villa Buenos Aires W 10
May 8 Lorenzo Trujillo Buenos Aires W 10
Aug 7 Ricardo Molina Bariloche, Argentina W 10