[Rocco Del Sesto]

01/09/67 Monday
Worchester, MA, USA
Bob Hazelton – HW (0-1-0) vs. Pedro Agosto – HW (8-0-0)

Bob Hazelton - USA Rating 1
Heavyweight 1966-80

20 wins / 11 losses / 0 draw / 18 KO

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Hazelton's career interestingly showed a lack of success in it's early first couple of years. He was only 4-9-0 starting out. He recorded 2 KO's in his 4 wins, but was KO'd in all 9 losses. On December 6th, 1969 he was part of an uncard match for a show staring his South Philadelphia neighbor, Sonny Liston. That match took place at the Las Vegas Hilton. Before Liston was defeated by Philadelphia journeyman Leotis Martin, Hazelton was stopped at 2:56 of round 1 of his fight by a shot that caused extensive damage to the interior of his mouth. Blood was everywhere. The winner of that fight and sender of that devestating shot to Hazelton's mouth, "a menacing Liston disciple named George Foreman." Foreman was 10-0 in his early professional career.

Hazelton did not fight for two years after that. He lost 2 of his next 3 fights before winning 16 of his last 18 career bouts. All 16 of those victories were by KO. He could obviously pack a pack attested by the 18 career KO's in 20 wins, but all 11 of his losses were by KO. Interesting to note that of his 31 career fights only 2 went beyond the 5th round. He lost by KO in the 7th round to a Ray White (32-14-4) in 1972 and his lost by KO in the 10th round in 1977 to Bob Foster.

Other noteable fights included his first 2 career fights against young fighers, Jack O'Halloran and Pedro Agosto in Jan. 1967. He lost also to Jose Luis Garcia in 1975, defeated Manuel Ramos by 2nd round TKO in 1977 just before his fight with Foster. He KO'd Carl Baker in 1 round and came back in 1978 and defeated Bob Foster, stopping him in the 2nd round. He lost in the 3rd round to Lucien Rodriguez in his next to last fight.

Hazelton's career was ruined and his health ruined by steriod use, the story of which is documented in an article that you can read from the web link included. Interesting article that might be good for some of today's athletes to read.


Pedro Agosto - Puerto Rico Rating 1
Heavyweight 1966-79

I used the game's Agosto. The file I've attached only adds the bio info here.
27 wins / 14 losses / 1 draw / 21 KO

Alias: (Schoolboy) Agosto Ortiz
Hometown: Washington Township, NJ
Trainer: Lee Black
Manager: Bill Daly/Cain Young

Started out with an 18-0 record with the biggest fights being a 3rd round KO over Bob Hazelton and a 12th round KO over Jose (King) Roman in November 1969. After that great start Pedro then lost 4 of 6 fights including losses to Chuck Wepner and Floyd Patterson.He managed an 8 round decision win over a Bob Felstein (16-14-1). He won 5 straight fights in late 1972 and 1973 including a 10 round decision over Charley Polite but he then finished his career 2-10-1. One win was for the Puerto Rican HW Title in 1973 against Jose Roman, a 12 round decision.

During that late span of his career other fights included a 9th round TKO loss to Randy Neumann, 10 round decision losses to Bunny Johnson and Rodney Bobick. In January 1977 he fought George Foreman. Agosto was knocked down twice in the 3rd and 3 times in the 4th round, which forces an automatic stoppage.That was the first of 7 consecutive losses to finish Pedro's career. There were losses also to a young Leon Spinks(3-0-0 at the time), Boone Kirkman, Duane Bobick, Grady DAniels(8-18-0), Calvin CRoss(8-0-1) and Bill Connell(12-4-1).

The Fight.....

Not sure the scheduled length of this bout, but were going to go with a scheduled 6 rounder being this early in both careers. Back in 1967, Pedro had little problem with Hazelton, as he KO’d Bob in the 3rd round. The replay, well it wasn’t much of a replay. It starts out with Hazelton picking off a jab by Agosto then lands a couple little shots to Pedro’s chest and neck area when Agosto then counters with shot to Hazelton’s ribcage and Bob crumples to the canvas. He makes it to his knees but can’t make it back up and is counted out in 10! A 1st round KO for Agosto at the 0:42 mark!!