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 News from Around Banderas Bay | August 2005 
Saturday Night Fights In El Pitillal
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
| | A minute into the main event, Fernando "El Guero" Candelero was awarded a 1st round TKO. |
El Pitillal - Going to the Saturday night fights was not what I had planned to do, a little air conditioning and mindless television in mid-August would have suited me fine, but when I was told about a boxing match earlier in the day, my Saturday night plans had changed. Typical in Puerto Vallarta, for some unknown reason, the bouts were hardly advertised and the only place they were announced was on some obscure telephone poles and not in the tourist districts.
The fights were held in the Arena Coliseo Demonio Blanco in El Pitillal. The auditorium when full could hold 1000 people, surprising as one can drive around and around and until you ask, it wouldn't be found. And the Coliseo is hot! To drive there this time of year, one needs to expect potholes and flooded streets and I was not disappointed, as I could have used an off road vehicle instead of my red Pontiac so often seen parked outside sporting venues. Prior to arriving "my source" told me there would be an ex-world champion boxing in the main event. So, the heck with the pay-per-views in the comfortable air conditioned sports bars; I was off to see some live action.
As I arrived sporting my press pass, I avoided the ticket price of 120 pesos, and began searching for a program. Finally I was given a poster that came off one of the telephone poles and was informed many of the slated bouts were changed. There were six fights on the card; the first five were amateur and the final fight professional.
Jorge Vaca, ex-champion of the world in the super welterweight division, fighting out of Guadalajara was the featured bout, fighting a six round contest against Fernando "El Guero" Candelero from Tepic. I had heard of the name, but it wasn't until I got home and did some research that I found the information about the ex-champ Vaca. I was given his record at ringside, 66 wins and 24 losses, with 52 of the wins coming by way of knockouts. Out came a man that looked every bit of 40+ and fighting in Puerto Vallarta was proof enough that most of those losses had come in recent years.
Vaca never even got an opportunity to throw a punch as Candelero connected with a straight right hand that sent Vaca to the canvas. He did manage to get up, but was helpless and couldn't defend himself and a minute into the fight "El Guero" was awarded the 1st round TKO. It was an abrupt ending to a three hour night that had the crowd anticipating much more.
After returning home and searching the internet, did I find that Vaca was 46 years old, fighting his first match in 1978, winning his first 26 fights by knockout, all in Mexico, with no venues listed. His first big fight was in Mexicali in 1984 and later that year fought and won in Los Angeles. He won his next 22 fights in venues in Tijuana, Guadalajara and Los Angeles when he was invited to fight for the undisputed welterweight championship in London, England against Lloyd Honeyghan in October of 1987, nine years after his first professional debut. Vaca was crowned champion after a ten round victory. A rematch was in order and he lost the crown the following March, again in England.
Vaca's next bout was for the championship again, but he was knocked out in the third round by Simon Brown and he lost again to Terry Norris in a Tijuana bout. Vaca was not quite the journeyman fighter yet and put together a string of victories and faced Roy Jones in New York in January of 1992 and was promptly knock out in the first round. After that most of his fights were back in Mexico and he faced Hector Camacho and Cory Spinks in 1999 and 2000, losing both. Vaca never left the small rings of Mexico since, compiling an 18-25 record since he lost the championship match in 1987.
Things are no different in Mexico than they are in the United States, with ex-champions coming out of retirement at 40 and older. The most recent was 46 year old Thomas Hearns, who won his comeback fight, but will most likely be embarrassed soon. Same with Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson - among so many others that boxed way past their competitive days. Something seems to happen to the male body nearing age 40 in almost all sports. Reflexes change and the mind and body are not in synch anymore, as they once were. There are a few baseball players that reach 40 and still perform well, but that is the only contact sport where it is true. Football and basketball players rarely see 35 anymore and tennis players are extremely lucky to compete at 30.
Not many people saw the sad ending, but hopefully this will end Vaca's career, as the next punch he takes could kill him. Hopefully he can live out his life finding other means of financial support, still a legend as an ex-welterweight champ. |
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