By: Jim Amato
He turned professional in 1958 and ten years and one day after his pro debut he became a world champion. Nevertheless it was a long road for Argentine defensive wizard Nicolino Locche. By the time he met Paul Fuji in Tokyo, Japan for the World Boxing Association Light Welterweight title, Locche had amassed over one hundred fights. He halted the pained and frustrated Fuji in the tenth round to capture the crown.
From the begininng Locche fought almost all his battles in his native Argentina. His early career had its ups and downs but he won far more times then he lost or drew. In 1963 he burst on to the international scene with a decision win over former world lightweight champion Joe ” Old Bones ” Brown. In 1965 Nicolino met newly crowned lightweight titlist, the slick Ismael Laguna. The non title, overweight affair was judged a draw. Laguna then lost the title back to the great Carlos Ortiz and in 1966 Locche met Ortiz in a non title affair. Again the crafty Nicolino had to settle for a draw.
Locche then set upon securing a world title shot for himself. In 1966 he won a non title ten round verdict over reigning world light welterweight champion Sandro Lopopolo. In 1967 he beat rugged L.C.Morgan and former champion Eddie Perkins. In 1968 he defeated Mexican Al Urbina. Then the shot came against Fuji who had defeated Lopopolo.
In 1969 Locche defended against former champion, the very dangerous Carlos Hernandez and the talented Joao Henrique. In 1970 he turned back the challenge of the able Adolph Pruitt. In 1971 he defeated Domingo Barrera Corpas and scored a masterful victory over Antonio ” Kid Pambele ” Cervantes. Finally in 1972 Nicolino was enticed to go to Panama where he met Alfonso ” Peppermint ” Frazier. The underdog Frazier out hustled the aging Locche to annex the crown. Nicolino would then put together a four fight win streak while Frazier lost the title to Cervantes. In 1973 Nicolino met Cervantes in Venezuela and was stopped in the beginning of the tenth round.
No longer a champion, the proud Locche reeled off seven straight victories in hopes of regaining his crown. Finally in 1976 it became apparent that a title shot was not going to materialize so Nicolino hung up the gloves for good. Locche ended up with an amazing 117-4-14 record. Although he was not a hard hitter as he scored only fourteen knockouts, Nicolino was a master boxer. He ranks right up there with the great Willie Pep as a defensive genius. He was not nicknamed ” El Intocable “, ( The Untouchable ) for nothing.
Nicolino was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2003. He passed away in 2005 leaving behind a true legacy of his tremendous talents