Review by AllTheBestFights.com: 1968-12-12, the fight between Nicolino Locche and Takeshi Fuji was requested by our top commenter ‘tango2042’ who wrote this: “I know it is very old but it is really a good memoir from the past that will help to ours friends to fully appreciate the meaning of defensive boxing and its techniques when punching power almost doesn’t exist. I fully believe that the best boxer to depict the above, in the whole boxing world history, is Nicolino Locche because he has to evolve as a defensive boxer due to his notorious lack of power who in spite of that became a world champion with an excellent boxing record before retirement.” Unfortunately compared to nowadays fights, the pace of Nicolino Locche vs Takeshi Fuji was not so high and we appreciate just some good exchanges in the last part of the bout, so it gets two stars.“The Untouchable” (El Intocable) Nicolino Locche entered this fight with a professional boxing record of 89-2-14 (13 knockouts) while his opponent, Takeshi Fuji, had an official record of 31-2-0 (26 KOs=84%). Locche vs Fuji was valid for the WBA World super lightweight title. Watch the video and rate this fight!
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Date: 1968-12-12
Where: Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan
Division: light welterweight (140 lbs, 63.5 kg)
Title: WBA World super lightweight title
Result: Click here to show the fight’s result
Nicolino Locche def. Takeshi Fuji (Retirement at 0:05, round 10)
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Video: (Free embeddable video hosted on Youtube and not uploaded by AllTheBestFights, to report it please visit this link where the video is hosted)
I give it 4 stars for the incredible defensive mastery of Locche. He really was untouchable. Very enjoyable fight, if you are willing to really concentrate on what hits Locche (not a lot!) Thanks Tango for making me discover this great boxer, one of a kind and different.
Thank you Matt for all your support regarding Locche. He really deserves his site in the hall of the fame and recognition like this one from ourselves and our excellent host.
You Matt are always welcome.
well I mean it! I very rarely watch a fight twice, I enjoyed it :)
Dear Host thank you very much for taking care of my request which was gracefully supported by our friend Matt. I really fully appreciate your kindness.
It was a different time, different way of boxing but what it is notorious here is the defense exhibited by Locche which still nobody, as far as i know, was able to beat. Closer one, in my opinion of course, was Willie Pep but he has a reasonable power punching so wasn’t as effective as Locche was because the support of his other excellent tool.
As Matt did, I will suggest to give this fight four starts but never less than 3 because we should agree here that such defensive techniques are still actual but very few chosen are able to use them in full as Locche did. This is why a 4 Starts will make justice in this particular case.
THANK YOU again
find it amazing how he controls the tempo. also domesticates this guy that wants to brawl that i a major skill imposing your will.
lovely jb and smothering at the right time . allowed him to put in a performance that i would call NEAT. what else do you see that made him impose the way he wants the fight to go?
Lagos, I’m very glad to see your comment here which is extremely valuable because the work you do in boxing and your practical experience in the ring. I’m very grateful that our host was so kind posting here this fight from the very past of boxing history. However, with the help of Matt, we are requesting our host to reconsider the rate that was giving to this fight changing it to 4 starts. Reason is, that it should be analyzed and qualified under different optic than the present ones. In my opinion, this fight is just an incomparable master piece of defensive boxing with extremely low probabilities that another fight like this take place again. It was almost just ” a one-man fight” who was able to fully control the match, from beginning to the end, connecting punches and combinations at his will until his opponent was obliged to quit.
The total number of punches connected by Fuji were negligible in spite of all the efforts he displayed. This fight clearly portrait the extremely high defensive capabilities of Locche and his excellent offensive as well but without power. He was called “the untouchable” with very good reasons. Since you have the experience and know very well what boxing means I hope you will support our request for 4 starts
We are going to reconsider this fight as soon as we rate all the fights of 1968 ;-)
Host you are great. Thank you very much again and again :-)
Deserves 3 stars for the defensive prowess of Locche I believe. Maybe even 4 stars. This fight is one-of a kind.
Alguien sabria como puedo traducir al español estos comentarios(si es posible claro)Gracias y saludos.
Hola eldiariero. Que necesitas saber, indicalo aqui y tratare de ayudarte con ello y la traduccion si es necesario.
Tambien podes copiar cada uno de los textos de aqui y luego hacer paste en google translation y los va a pasar al castellano
Saludos
This guy is an artist.
Dabs you are quite right!!!. Locche, in my opinion, was the best technically defensive boxer inducted in the hall of the fame on the whole boxing history. Such recognition was long due because it came in 2003 after 27 years of his retirement making justice to a very successful career because he sustained 136 matches loosing only 4 fights. At least his induction to the hall was carried out 2 years before he die.
Floyd Mayweather is up there too!
Sorry but I have to disagree on your comment above. The “Untouchable” Locche’s defensive techniques are second to none and cannot be compared with any of the current existing boxers and Floyd isn’t the exception. The only guy that may be got similar but no better defensive techniques was Willie Pep.
Firstly, Floyd is not “current” anymore. Secondly, the sport has evolved since those days and Floyd was dodging much faster punches from stronger guys and athletes. Name the greats that this guy pacified and then compare it to the legends that Floyd has completely whitewashed? No comparison. Floyd also went a career unbeaten, granted he had way less fights, before you bring up that point…
Dabs, I apologize because my delay in replying your comment above. I was too busy solving a break-in problem related to my e-mail account.
However, here is my answer:
Firstly: Please read from the link I attached below a very interesting article from a boxing expert that precisely analysed the competence of Floyd and Nicolino in terms of defensive capabilities. This article, if properly interpreted, may end abruptly our actual discussion regarding the best defensive technician in the whole boxing history.
http://www.thesweetscience.com/article-archive/2005/2159-nicolino-locche-the-best-140-pound-technician-in-history
Secondly: Using now mathematics, we should agree also that an excellent indicator of a boxer defensive capability is the ratio between the total fights carried out and the total losses suffered during his/her whole career. So a lower ratio indicates better defensive capabilities.
But wait a minute, we should be also fair since Floyd, as a professional, retired undefeated . Therefore, the amateur and professional careers of both boxers shall be used for this evaluation which is carried out below:
Floyd-Amateur: 84 fights with 6 losses, Professional: 49 fights with no losses. Total fights 133, total losses 6 then the ratio is 4.5112 %
Nicolino: Amateur: 117 fights with 5 losses, Professional: 136 fights with 4 losses. Total fights 253, total losses 9 then the ratio is 3.5573 %
Conclusion, as per above, Nicolino was better in this field.
Floyd cut his professional career too short compared with Nicolino’s one. Therefore, there is a big gap between his 49 fights and the 136 carried out by Nicolino. Inside of such a big gap who knows how many fights could had been lost by Floyd if he continuing his boxing career to that very end.
Thirdly: To know about the greats that Nicolino fought and defeated in his time please go to the related websites. If a I made some names here, I’m assuming you are a young guy, they will mean nothing to you. But don’t get confused his competitors were very though too and the best at that time as Floyd did during his career. As a champion your mandate is fight the best competition or quit.
And last: I spoke about current boxers including Floyd. Probably I didn’t use the correct word in my comment which I change now to “nowadays”. However, Floyd in my opinion is just a “pseudo” retiree. As soon as a good opportunity arise for making good money without risking his undefeated condition he will be back immediately. Mr. Money attitude will not allow him to lose such a sort of opportunities.
I appreciate the statistics. Also, no need to apologise for the delayed response my friend. I am sure you could name the guys and I would know them if indeed they were “greats”. The likes of Pacquiao, Moseley, Cotto, De La Hoya are all killers and hall of famers. Name the hall of famers that this guy beat?
Dabs, did you read the article i provided you? You will find the true there. Please let me know.
To be honest with you I cannot understand which is the point we are discussing here because according to your last comment I’m interpreting that for you “great” and a hall of the fame inductee are synonymous. Is this is the case, I have bad news for you because Locche was inducted in the international hall of the fame but Floyd still isn’t there. So it doesn’t make sense your question about naming the hall of farmers that Locche beat to determine who of these two guys is the undisputed best defensive technician in the whole boxing history. So case is close because in accordance with your concept the only “Great” due to his induction is Locche therefore we cannot compare him with a low level boxer.
On the other hand, the lack of power of Locche was notorious (only 14 knock outs in a very long career) therefore his defense was is best offensive. It was a must for him to evolve as a master technician in order to survive in boxing. Floyd is a completely different case since he has power in his hands. Therefore, in spite of having very good defensive techniques for Floyd this was never a major concern and this is the main reason that his defensive capabilities aren’t as relevant as the ones that Locche has. If you still want to compare both please observe that Locche is dodging punches most of time in the same place right in front of his opponent but Floyd is most of the time running. So I will sustain for ever than Locche is second to none.
To clear the situation let’s separate now “Great” from a hall of the fame inductee. To be considered a “Great” boxer, you don’t need at all to be inducted in the International boxing hall of the fame. A “Great” boxer is a guy who excels in boxing because his qualities and because his performance is fully recognized by the public opinion and the people who is fully involved in this sport. However, as soon as a boxer is inducted in the hall of the fame became ” Officially Great”. Otherwise, you cannot call Floyd anymore “Great”.
Anyhow, going back to your question and as far as I know Locche fought only with one hall of the fame boxer, Antonio Cervantes (called Kid Pambele) and other “Greats ” of that time. On the other hand, for your information Floyd fought only with two hall of the fame boxers, Oscar de la Hoya and Arturo Gatty. Pacquiao, Moseley, and Cotto are all killers and “Great” (in my opinion too) but not hall of the fame as you mentioned. So please check your listing again.
You get in the hall of fame once you have retired. Floyd only just retired and not only will he be in the hall of fame, he will be remembered as the greatest ever, probably.
You sound like a pactard for saying he is “running”?! That is completely untrue. He pivots or shells up on the ropes in front of the opponent which is harder than slipping the odd jab from a bum like Locche did. Pacquiao let off a twenty punch salvo and Mayweather simply laughed and stuck out his tongue at the little munchkin and asked him to continue. Is that what you call running? I wouldn’t be surprised if you picked Manny to win or if you thought he won that fight! Hahahahaa.
You have also named one hall of famer that your guy beat and Floyd has beaten at least TWO?! You are solidifying my argument. Leave the confirmation bias and open your heart to the truth. Stop romanticising things with your warped ideologies about people taking unnecessary punishment.
You really hate Pacquiao’s fans that much? We’re all getting along great here, no need to be rude to tango or anyone.
Dabs, bad news for you Locche fought against two hall of the fame boxers. As I said before Antonio Cervantes and also with Carlos Ortiz (Puerto Rico) so right now we have a draw. However, as I said before, this info about hall of the fame boxers doesn’t probe at all that Mr Money was better than Locche. Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that I’m discussing this topic with a very obstinate Floyd’s fan that as usual is for all of them the preference is close the eyes to reality. READ THE ARTICLE and I will back to the discussion. Most likely you already did but since is quite solid you are no going to admit it because it makes your reasoning looks like being too weak.
in your comment above are you talking about a fight or the FARCE than Pacquiao and Floyd sustained? Please give me a break and read the comment I placed already there in this regard about these two boxers (or I should say businessmen) who should be retired long time ago for the benefit of this sport. Lately, I don’t like Floyd because he is a runner and too arrogant for my taste. What he did in his fight with V. Ortiz was disgusting. Since then no more Floyd for me. I don’t understand how you still like him.
And last , I really like your very sarcastic last paragraph of above comment. You should dedicated some of your time pursuing writing, you have a nice style, but be careful, just write about facts as they really are, don’t invent, don’t create, don’t distort, don’t assume like you have done naming boxers that still have not been yet inducted in the hall of the fame. I agree with you they are good but they are not yet there. I have no doubts that the first one to be inducted would be Floyd and very very soon since in addition of being good (no lately) he has good money and excellent contacts.
To be honest with you, you were quite right when you called LOCCHE an ARTIST. I keep that for me and closing this non-sense discussion unless you want to talk about the ARTICLE included in my second comment
Some Internet conversations lead to nothing Tango. If someone gets under your skin, it’s better to let it go in a lot of cases.
Matt you are quite right this was my last unless he reads the article I recommended him and agree to discuss it.
I realize that you changed your name now, no more 81. It was something wrong with the accounting of your comments, the 301 got frozen in time.
No, I deleted that comment thinking I was feeding the controversy, but then realized it was pertinent so I wrote another one to defend you. As you may see mattsnow81 is buried, but be assured I’m the same guy. Big week-end of boxing ahead, will you be watching DeGale – Bute or Klitschko – Fury? I’ll go with the Bute fight since he is an idol here, but I’m not optimistic… DeGale is very dangerous.
Be a good Canadian go for Bute but honestly I’m a bit worry too because Bute lost confidence in himself after his loss with Froch. Not sure if he is recovered yet and DeGale is good. Regarding Klitschko with Fury most likely it would be for the Ukrainian.
Fury for me is a clown never fought real competition and believe he is the best.
Thanks for your defense very appreciated.
I’m still waiting the input from our HOST to make justice to this fight increasing the number of starts.
well whatever happens, I think the number of stars given by the viewers speak for itself. Go Bute :)
Oh! The predictions for tonight’s fights are here but I posted mine on Alvarez-Cotto fight page! :(
I’m a “bad canadian” then… because I never liked Lucian Bute. He’s a fine gentleman, has always been nice with the press and his opponents, but I always thought he (or his management team) was avoiding fighting the real top fighters of the division. And that was until he got destroyed by Froch. He’s just not fierce enough for boxing. Everytime a fight gets rough and tough, he looks scared. His only true weapon is the liver blow, but once his opponent gets that, nothing else is dangerous. His jab is ok, but he doesn’t use it as often as he should. I don’t see how a new coach like Howard Grant (who’s very defense oriented) can help him. DeGale will win has he predicted it himself by KO.
I look foward to the Alavrez-Chilemba fight. This should be a very intense fight!
I still believe that one fact doesn’t exclude the other. I just discovered Nico, thanks to you, and I must agree that I never saw anything like this. To compare him with Mayweather is like comparing apples and oranges though. Dabs might me right about difference between boxing at the time Nico fought and the present time. Fighters are now faster. But nowadays, they can also have access to videotapes and prepare in a much more elaborated fashion. To me, there is no doubt that Mayweather will be introduced probably very soon to the boxing hall of fame, for different reasons than Nico I suppose, and I agree with that. You might disagree, but that’s okay! Mayweather’s defense was close to flawless and also his landing/thrown %age is (I believe) one of the highest of all time. All that being said, it does not take anything away from Nicolino’s accomplishments. As I already said: one fact doesn’t exclude the other. Peace on ATBF!
Olivier, I fully appreaciate your comment and support in this issue.
Please don’t get me wrong regarding Floyd because i agree also that he fully deserves to be inducted in the hall of the fame, if he isn’t who other? The fact that I don’t like him lately is because his always present arrongance and because for him, in all his latest fights, dealing with boxing was just pure busyness. I also agree with you and Dabs that this sport evolved a lot and Locche’s times are quite different than current ones. Therefore, regarding to compare apple with orange you may be right. However, Dabs and I are not the only ones doing that. Since you are a good boxing researcher i attached here the link of an article that discuss and compare performances between Floyd and Locche.
http://www.thesweetscience.com/columnists/joe-rein/2159-nicolino-locche-the-best-140-pound-technician-in-history
Please read it if you have time. I hope you would like and find it interesting.
I recommended it to Dabs too but being him a good Floyd’s fan he didn’t look at it to avoid the possibility of finding facts that may erode his believes.
I read the article and he found it very interesting! No doubt he was special. I found though there was no real comparison between Mayweather and him. And like Dabs, I am a big fan of Floyd Mayweather (the fighter, not the man) and I can still live with the fact that both Locche and him are amongst the best of all time, but not only in the 140lbs, but in boxing in general.
Olivier, thanks for your interest and your time. Your comment is very kind and make sense so I can leave with it also. As you said before peace on ATBF!
ATBFans!
I can’t understand why you demean Pacman’s fans, Dabs. Like one boxer is the ultimate god and all others s*ck. Also, please remain respectful. We have a nice group here.
I am not demeaning his fans, I am just demeaning their knowledge of boxing if they thought he was the better fighter and he was going to win. I did not say that other boxers s*ck either?! Please paraphrase what I said?? I am being respectful, maybe my bluntness is effecting those that are sensitive…
Dabs, You know what? Doing additional research about Locche I found he fought also with Ismael Laguna another hall of the fame boxer. So he fought 3 and Floyd just 2. Therefore, if you still believe that this fact is a direct indication of who is the best pound-for pound defensive boxer in whole boxing history you have not other choice than Locche. You made my point. Regards
PD:READ THE ARTICLE I PROVIDED IT IS THERE ALSO.