Former two-time Lightweight World Champion, Ismael Laguna of Colon City, Panama, dies. He was 83.
Laguna was one of the all-time greatest lightweights and had his greatest win in boxing on April 10, 1965 in Panama City beating Hall of Fame boxer Carlos Ortiz of Puerto Rico on points in 15 rounds.
Laguna that night became Panama's only second world boxing champion since the great Panama Al Brown became the isthmus first world King at Bantamweight in 1929.
Among other great wins by Laguna: WTKO9 Mando Ramos, WTKO13 Guts Ishimatsu, W10 Rafiu King, WTKO8 Carlos "Morocho" Hernandez, W10 Angel Robinson Garcia, and W10 Frankie Narvaez.
Laguna also had a draw with the great Nicolino Locche of Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Laguna was also the great Roberto Duran's idol.
So long, champ. You will be forever missed. You was a class act inside and outside the ring.
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 08 Sep 2026, 18:36
by elmersalsa
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 08 Sep 2026, 18:38
by elmersalsa
Ismael Laguna was known as The Colon City Tiger. A fast and complete boxer, was never knocked out in his 75 professional fights. He also retired young, at the age of 28 in 1971.
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 08 Sep 2026, 19:39
by goose 5
Condolences to the loved ones of a Great fighter.
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 09 Sep 2026, 06:59
by scorpio83
RIP Champ or Duran's idol
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 09 Sep 2026, 10:16
by elmersalsa
Ismael Laguna fought Ken Buchanan twice losing the World Lightweight Crown in San Juan, Puerto Rico by decision.
Laguna and Buchanan were born in the same day, but in different years. Laguna and Buchanan were born in June 28. But, Laguna was born in 1943. Buchanan was born in 1945.
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 09 Sep 2026, 18:05
by elmersalsa
As part of the 1960s decade of boxing, Ismael Laguna was arguably one of the pound per pound best. This is the Dynamite Dozen of that era:
1. Muhammad Ali (USA)
2. Eder Jofre (Brazil)
3. Emile Griffith (US Virgin Islands)
4. Dick Tiger (Nigeria)
5. Fighting Harada (Japan)
6. Carlos Ortiz (Puerto Rico)
7. Vicente Saldivar (Mexico)
8. Flash Elorde (Philippines)
9. Bob Foster (USA)
10. Nino Benvenutti (Italy)
11. Ismael Laguna (Panama)
12. Nicolino Locche (Argentina)
Honorary Mention:
Joe Frazier (USA)
Jose Mantequilla Napoles (Cuba/Mexico)
Ruben Olivares (Mexico)
Professional boxing in the 1960s decade was getting internationally abroad.
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 09 Sep 2026, 18:38
by elmersalsa
Ismael Laguna
Career: 1960-71
Record: 65-9-1 with 37KOs
57% KO pct.
World Titles: World Lightweight Champion: (1965) and (1970).
(
Highlights: Two-time World Lightweight Champion....Won his first 27 bouts....... Won 13 of his next 15 fights, including the World Lightweight Crown (Record: 13-1-1 with 7KOs) from July 1963 to July 1965.....Only lost 2 of his first 40 fights when he challenged for the lightweight crown.......From Oct 1967 to March 1969, won 11 fights in a row. (Rec
ord: 11-0, 4KOs).......Beat 5 out of 9 world champions. (Record vs world champs is 5-6-1, with 2KOs)........Beat 1 out of 5 Hall of Famers. (Record is 1-6-1, with 0KOs).......Was never stopped in 75 professional fights.......Was also Panamanian Featherweight Champion.
Historical Impact: One of the best lightweights in boxing history.
Defining Fight: W15 Carlos Ortiz.......April 10, 1965....."Gave hall of famer a master class boxing lesson to become Panama's second world boxing champion in history"
Other Defining Fights:L10 Vicente Saldivar, L15 Carlos Ortiz (II),, WTKO8 Carlos "Morocho" Hernandez, WTKO9 Mando Ramos , D10 Nicolino Locche and L15 Ken Buchanan
Other great wins:
W10 Rafiu King
WTKO7 Percy Hayles
W10 Angel Robinson Garcia
W10 Frankie Narvaez
W10 Alfredo Urbina
WTKO13 Ishimatsu Suzuki
W10 Chango Carmona
This guy had a pretty good resume.
Is he a pound per pound all time great? No, but very close.
A hall of famer? No doubt about it. Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999 in Canastota, NY.
Re: Ismael Laguna: 1943-2026
Posted: 10 Sep 2026, 06:51
by scorpio83
elmersalsa wrote: ↑09 Sep 2026, 18:38Ismael Laguna
Career: 1960-71
Record: 65-9-1 with 37KOs
57% KO pct.
World Titles: World Lightweight Champion: (1965) and (1970).
(
Highlights: Two-time World Lightweight Champion....Won his first 27 bouts....... Won 13 of his next 15 fights, including the World Lightweight Crown (Record: 13-1-1 with 7KOs) from July 1963 to July 1965.....Only lost 2 of his first 40 fights when he challenged for the lightweight crown.......From Oct 1967 to March 1969, won 11 fights in a row. (Rec
ord: 11-0, 4KOs).......Beat 5 out of 9 world champions. (Record vs world champs is 5-6-1, with 2KOs)........Beat 1 out of 5 Hall of Famers. (Record is 1-6-1, with 0KOs).......Was never stopped in 75 professional fights.......Was also Panamanian Featherweight Champion.
Historical Impact: One of the best lightweights in boxing history.
Defining Fight: W15 Carlos Ortiz.......April 10, 1965....."Gave hall of famer a master class boxing lesson to become Panama's second world boxing champion in history"
Other Defining Fights:L10 Vicente Saldivar, L15 Carlos Ortiz (II),, WTKO8 Carlos "Morocho" Hernandez, WTKO9 Mando Ramos , D10 Nicolino Locche and L15 Ken Buchanan
Other great wins:
W10 Rafiu King
WTKO7 Percy Hayles
W10 Angel Robinson Garcia
W10 Frankie Narvaez
W10 Alfredo Urbina
WTKO13 Ishimatsu Suzuki
W10 Chango Carmona
This guy had a pretty good resume.
Is he a pound per pound all time great? No, but very close.
A hall of famer? No doubt about it. Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999 in Canastota, NY.
Actually Elmer, Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001 not 2 years earlier because in 1999 my fellow countryman Khaosai Galaxy was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with Eusebio Pedroza, Vincente Saldivar, Lew Jenkins, Lew Tendler, Freddie Steele, Jimmy Bivins and Sam McVey which was one of the great classes. Do you agreed?
There was another fact, both former Featherweight Champion Jose Legra of Cuba and former Lightweight Champion Ismael Laguna of Panama were both in 1943 and passed away this year in 2026 together both at the aged of 83.
elmersalsa wrote: ↑09 Sep 2026, 18:38Ismael Laguna
Career: 1960-71
Record: 65-9-1 with 37KOs
57% KO pct.
World Titles: World Lightweight Champion: (1965) and (1970).
(
Highlights: Two-time World Lightweight Champion....Won his first 27 bouts....... Won 13 of his next 15 fights, including the World Lightweight Crown (Record: 13-1-1 with 7KOs) from July 1963 to July 1965.....Only lost 2 of his first 40 fights when he challenged for the lightweight crown.......From Oct 1967 to March 1969, won 11 fights in a row. (Rec
ord: 11-0, 4KOs).......Beat 5 out of 9 world champions. (Record vs world champs is 5-6-1, with 2KOs)........Beat 1 out of 5 Hall of Famers. (Record is 1-6-1, with 0KOs).......Was never stopped in 75 professional fights.......Was also Panamanian Featherweight Champion.
Historical Impact: One of the best lightweights in boxing history.
Defining Fight: W15 Carlos Ortiz.......April 10, 1965....."Gave hall of famer a master class boxing lesson to become Panama's second world boxing champion in history"
Other Defining Fights:L10 Vicente Saldivar, L15 Carlos Ortiz (II),, WTKO8 Carlos "Morocho" Hernandez, WTKO9 Mando Ramos , D10 Nicolino Locche and L15 Ken Buchanan
Other great wins:
W10 Rafiu King
WTKO7 Percy Hayles
W10 Angel Robinson Garcia
W10 Frankie Narvaez
W10 Alfredo Urbina
WTKO13 Ishimatsu Suzuki
W10 Chango Carmona
This guy had a pretty good resume.
Is he a pound per pound all time great? No, but very close.
A hall of famer? No doubt about it. Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999 in Canastota, NY.
Actually Elmer, Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001 not 2 years earlier because in 1999 my fellow countryman Khaosai Galaxy was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with Eusebio Pedroza, Vincente Saldivar, Lew Jenkins, Lew Tendler, Freddie Steele, Jimmy Bivins and Sam McVey which was one of the great classes. Do you agreed?
There was another fact, both former Featherweight Champion Jose Legra of Cuba and former Lightweight Champion Ismael Laguna of Panama were both in 1943 and passed away this year in 2026 together both at the aged of 83.
I stand corrected, my man. Ismael Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the year 2001, and not in 1999.
