BoxRec

The World Boxing Association (WBA) mourns the death of former WBA featherweight champion and Panamanian boxing legend Ernesto “Nato” Marcel on Monday in Panama City, at the age of 72.

Several Panamanian media confirmed the death of Marcel, who had been battling various health conditions for several months.

Marcel was born in 1948 and made his professional boxing debut in 1966 at the age of 18. He lived a life linked to sports; he played basketball during his childhood and adolescence, until he discovered his talent for boxing in 1964 after he was not selected for a basketball team that would tour San Andres.

On August 19th, 1972, he won the WBA featherweight title after defeating Venezuelan Antonio Gómez by a majority decision in Maracay, Venezuela. The “Nato” made four defenses of his championship and retired as a champion. Among his outstanding performances were the rematch with Gómez and, of course, the last fight of his career when he defeated Alexis Argüello by unanimous decision.

In the ring, he was a tough boxer who fell by knockout only once against a young Roberto “Manos de piedra” Durán. He defeated some of the greatest figures at the time and left his record at 49 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws and 23 knockouts.

Boxing Scene

Had an 8 year career and retired at 25.

RIP Ernesto. Fought 2 legends, was somewhat one himself.

RIP champ. THink he would've been even better had he fought 3-5 more years.

R. I. P. Champ.

Probably one of the most underrated fighters of all time. Every bit as good as his countryman Ismael Laguna, in my opinion. The Duran stoppage was an incredibly odd one, too. He was nowhere close to being knocked out. The ref seemed to stop the fight because he was fed up with Marcel seemingly coasting in the final round. Admittedly, it was strange that he was doing so, as it was a close fight that he by no means had sewn up.

R.I.P, champ! You was a very underrated champion that fought the very best of your time.

He retired undefeated champion.

RIP Champ who fought two great fighters in "The Explosive Thin Man" Alexis Arguello and his fellow countryman in "The Hands of Stone" Roberto Duran.