In 1976, a bunch of younger athletes journeyed to Montreal to struggle for his or her nation. There have been no nice expectations for the lads who populated the American Olympic boxing group. After they returned with no fewer than 5 gold medals, they have been welcomed again as heroes by an adoring public.
Very quickly, all 5 — Howard Davis Jr., Michael and Leon Spinks, Ray Leonard and Leo Randolph — had joined the professional ranks and by 1980, three of them had tasted world championship glory. However then, by the top of 1980, all three have been ex-champions. Leon Spinks had scored an enormous upset when he gained the heavyweight championship of the world from Muhammad Ali in 1978. Months later Ali gained the title again. In 1979, Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Wilfred Benitez to take the WBC model of the world welterweight title; lower than a yr later, Leonard defended in opposition to Roberto Duran, and misplaced.
The third gold medallist to assert a world title was Leo Randolph who gained the WBA tremendous bantamweight title on reside nationwide televsion, defeating Ricardo Cardona by dramatic, final round stoppage. Like the entire different Olympic heroes, Randolph was now in a wonderful place to win fame and fortune at a time when boxing was extra fashionable than ever. However, like Spinks and Leonard earlier than him, he was quickly an ex-champ.
After his big win over Cardona, Randolph was a boxing star, in fixed demand for public appearances, and the weeks following have been one massive celebration. Thus, correct preparation for his first title protection, held simply three months after his title-winning effort, didn’t obtain the main focus and a focus it deserved. Just like the Cardona struggle, his subsequent bout befell in his dwelling state of Washington and on nationwide tv, however his opponent, Sergio Victor Palma of Argentina, didn’t want to fret about exterior distractions. He arrived in Spokane able to rumble and on the first alternative let Randolph know all of the celebrating was about to come back to sudden halt.
“I wish to say that you’re a very good individual,” he advised Leo at a press convention, “however I’m sorry, as a result of I’m going to take the title away from you.”
“I fly 23 hours to win,” he then advised the press, “to not lose.”
Palma’s combating fashion proved simply as direct and to the purpose. The challenger answered the opening bell with an aggressive assault, throwing heavy punches and trying to ambush Randolph early. The end result was two knockdowns within the opening spherical.
“He got here out arduous,” stated Randolph afterwards. “I used to be anticipating him to be extra of a boxer. He caught me with a superb punch and I by no means did recuperate from it.”
Over the following few rounds the champion fought to outlive however might do little else. Palma was in command, chasing Randolph from one facet of the ring to the opposite and ready for an additional probability to assault. It got here within the fifth. A minute in a left-right mixture scored a 3rd knockdown and whereas Leo managed to beat the depend, he was glassy-eyed and hanging onto the ropes for assist. The referee had no alternative however to cease the match.
Similar to that, Leo Randolph’s championship trip was over. As was his boxing profession. Shortly after the loss the devoutly non secular younger man, who had been reluctant to show skilled after the Olympics, introduced his retirement. Whereas many on the time thought he would ultimately return to the ring, he by no means did.
“I’ve misplaced the need,” stated Randolph. “There are two issues a boxer must change into a champion: plenty of dedication and a killer intuition. A number of boxers can go on with the killer intuition alone, however I don’t assume I ever had that. And I don’t wish to maintain boxing only for the cash.”
Randolph quickly began working for the general public transit authority of Pierce County in Tacoma, Washington as a bus driver and supervisor. He has been employed there ever since, and has additionally been acknowledged for his volunteer work with at-risk youth and for the Tacoma Boys & Ladies Membership.
Palma held his world title for nearly two years, defending it 5 occasions earlier than surrendering it to Leonardo Cruz in June of 1982. — Robert Portis
