BoxRec

Sad to say that Rolando Navarette, the colorful and powerful Filipino who destroyed Cornelius Boza-Edwards in five rounds for the WBC super-featherweight title, is in a bad way.

Navarette enjoyed national fame when he knocked out Boza in 1981 in Italy, coming in as a late sub.

A native of Manila, Navarette defended the title in front of President Marcos with a thrilling win over Korea's Chung-Il Choi, but his wayward ways caught up with him and, ahead on points, he ran out of gas and was stopped by Rafael "Bazooka" Limon in the 12th of a scheduled 15-rounder in Las Vegas.

His misfortune did not end there. He was abandoned by his first wife and lost whatever savings he had while he was still a feared fighter.

He was later convicted for rape and sent to prison in Hawaii several years. When he was released, he resumed his boxing career. But he never recovered his lost glory.

After spending some time as a journeyman, he settled back in the city, doing some errands while being employed by the city government.

Sometime in the 80's, he turned alcoholic and found himself in several troubles.

He once cheated death when he was stabbed by a drinking companion in one of the city's beaches. That episode never changed his wayward behavior.

When his job at city hall was not renewed, he started to harass city hall employees, often pushing, sometimes punching, whoever he thought had displeased him.

At the age of 46, the former world-boxing champ is a mere shadow of his old self. While he still maintains a well-chiselled body, his faculties are gone. He now walks with a gait and his speech is slurred.

It's sad to read this about Navarette, who was one hell of a fighter.... but it's all too familiar unfortunately... many fighters seem to be at their most vulnerble outside the ring. Where did you get this information Bennie?...
....dod you have any idea of how Bazooka Limon is these days?...

silkov wrote:It's sad to read this about Navarette, who was one hell of a fighter.... but it's all too familiar unfortunately... many fighters seem to be at their most vulnerble outside the ring. Where did you get this information Bennie?...
....dod you have any idea of how Bazooka Limon is these days?...

If I remember correctly, Silkov, I came across the story on Maxboxing.com. It is very sad. Navarette was a very dangerous southpaw and one of the last world champions produced by the legendary Hawaiian manager, "Sad" Sam Ichinose. He really destroyed Boza as a late sub for Bazooka Limon, so it was one helluva performance from the Filipino that balmy summer's night in 1981 in Italy. I remember it well.
Have no idea how Bazooka Limon is faring. He, like Navarette, carried on way too long (he was fighting guys like Sharmba Mitchell in the early 90's). I would like to think Limon may have slipped the net as Jake LaMotta did in terms of emerging from countless wars unscathed, but it would be a bit of a miracle. I mean, his fight with Bobby Chacon in December 1982 was hell on earth.

Yeah, Chacon vs Limon 4 has to be one of the best Fights I ve seen... but it's one of those fights that make you feel a little bit guilty for enjoying it.... especially in light of Chacons problems today. Yet these guys were at the peak of their lives in the ring and what ever happens to them out of it, they'll never be forgotten as the warriors they were. The Junior Lightweight division of the early 80s was probably the most exciting division ever in terms of classic fights occuring in such a short space of time. All those guys were great warriors. Perhaps the difference between getting out ok and not so good is how long a fighter stays after he is 'washed up'. Boza Edwards got out before he was badly past his peak and seems to be doing well in America and to be healthy (from what Ive heard a while back) I think Micky Ward got out just at the right time.... I worry about Evander Holifield... especially now that he says he will fight on.