Vicente Saldivar vs Howard Winstone 3

The first boxing programme staged at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca ended with the third meeting of Vicente Saldivar and Howard Winstone on 14 October 1967. The Welsh challenger had taken the world featherweight champion the full 15 rounds in London in 1965 and again at Cardiff’s Ninian Park four months earlier. This time he had to meet Saldívar in Mexico, with the WBA and WBC titles again at stake.

Winstone set about the champion with the jab and the careful movement that had troubled him in their earlier contests. He boxed effectively through much of the first ten rounds, seeking room for his straight punches before Saldivar could get close. The Mexican southpaw kept advancing, however, and his harder punches to the body made Winstone work for every escape. The seventh round supplied the first clear break in the challenger’s resistance when Saldívar put him down. Winstone rose and continued to box, but the champion’s pressure did not slacken.

As the rounds passed, Winstone found it harder to keep the fight at his preferred distance. He still landed and remained capable of avoiding Saldivar for stretches, yet the champion’s repeated attacks forced more exchanges and gave the Welshman less time to recover between them. By the twelfth, the two earlier 15-round defeats had a harsher sequel in prospect. Saldivar put Winstone down again and followed with further punches after he regained his feet.

Winstone’s manager, Eddie Thomas, threw in the towel, and referee Ramon Berumen stopped the contest at 2 minutes 10 seconds of the twelfth round. Saldivar had won all three meetings: two by decision and the last by stoppage. He announced his retirement shortly afterwards. Winstone’s pursuit of the title continued, and in January 1968 he won the vacant WBC featherweight crown by stopping Mitsunori Seki.

I’ve always thought Winstone’s first two fights with Saldivar showed how talented he was. His jab and footwork could keep the Mexican guessing, and the close defeat in Cardiff gave Welsh fans good reason to hope. But fifteen rounds against Saldivar demanded more than an early lead.

In Mexico City, Winstone boxed well again, yet Saldivar kept closing the distance and working his body. The knockdown in the seventh told me the pressure was taking effect. By the twelfth Winstone was down again, and Eddie Thomas was right to throw in the towel. Winstone had the skill to trouble him; Saldivar had the strength and stamina to take that skill away.