Nov. 30, 1964 - The world light-heavyweight champion, Willie Pastrano of Miami, retained his title tonight by stopping Terry Downes of London in the 11th round of a 15‐rounder.
The 29-year‐old American dropped the 28-year‐old Briton twice in the 11th round and won on a technical knockout.
Until the 11th, the aggressive Briton had given the champion a rugged battle.
“After the first round, I felt certain I would easily retain the title, but Terry certainly roughed me up after that, and I knew I was in a fight,” said Pastrano.
It was Pastrano’s second defense of the 175-pound division crown and his second straight technical knockout.
Pastrano won the title 18 months ago on a 15-round upset decision over Harold Johnson at Las Vegas, Nev. In his first defense, Pastrano had stopped Gregório Peralta of Argentina on cuts in the sixth round at New Orleans on April 10.
Downes, a partner in a string of betting shops, had won seven straight bouts since he lost his share of the world middleweight title to Paul Pender in Boston in 1962.
Pastrano weighed 174¾ pounds to Downes’s 171.
Pressed through most of the fight by the swarming Briton, Pastrano brought the sellout crowd of 6,000 in the Belle Vue Stadium to its feet when he opened up in the 11th with a barrage of punches.
He dropped Downes for an 8-count with a hard right after an opening flurry. Moments after Downes arose, Pastrano tore after him. He let loose with another series of combinations and Downes hit the canvas again.
Once again it was a right that did the damage. Referee Andy Smyth of Ireland then stepped in and halted the fight at 1:17 of the 11th.
The Associated Press scorecard had Downes leading in rounds, 5-3, with two even. The referee’s card was not disclosed, according to British custom. He was the only official.
Downes swarmed all over the American for several rounds and refused to allow Pastrano to exploit his superior boxing ability.
The American opened a slight nick over Downes’s right eye in the first round, but that trouble was immediately cleared and Downes continued to press the fight, attacking the body fiercely and several times hurting the American.
“Terry is a game, tough boy,” said Pastrano after his victory. “He deserves a return fight.”
Manager Angelo Dundee nodded agreement and said he would like the fight to be staged in Miami.
“I knew I was behind on points at the start of the 11th,” said Pastrano. I could tell Downes was tired when I looked into his eyes at the start of the round, and I decided to attack him. That right was flush on the jaw, and I knew the title was mine.”
Downes was in tears in his dressing room and said: “It is rough when you lose the one you should have won. Everyone makes mistakes. I was coasting along not even bothered, then bang I was beaten by experience. I was caught by a punch that should never have hit me. The title was in my hands, and I threw it away.”
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