Ismael Laguna vs. Frankie Narvaez (1st meeting)

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Ismael Laguna 134 lbs beat Frankie Narvaez 136 lbs by UD in round 12 of 12

"A senseless bottle-throwing riot Friday night at MSG did little to discredit the fact that Panamanian Ismael Laguna's slashing fists earned him an exciting 12 round decision over Frankie Narvaez of Puerto Rico and another shot at Carlos Ortiz' lightweight title. The enthusiasm that had been building from the time both fighters left their dressing rooms wound up in a melee that left 12 people injured. Narvaez, the 2nd ranked contender, gamely tried to stick with the shifty Laguna but he proved to be no match. After brief lapses in the 4th and 5th rounds when he was momentarily stalled by barrages of Narvaez punches, Laguna took charge. In the 8th, he opened a small nick over Narvaez' right eye, and the bout was never in doubt after that point as Laguna continually beat the Puerto Rican to the punch. Despite the one-sided licking he took, the stocky Narvaez contended that he won." -United Press International


  • William Verigan, the UPI writer covering this bout, was himself one of the 12 people injured. Verigan had a bottle hit him in the face and required five stitches on his right eye. And still turned in his report on the fight.
  • NY boxing commissioner Edwin Dooley, sensing the turmoil in the crowd, left the arena during the 10th round.
  • This was the second MSG riot involving a Frankie Narvaez bout. The first was his loss to Flash Elorde on Aug. 4, 1965 over 10 rounds.
  • Unofficial UPI scorecard - 9-2-1 Laguna
  • Unofficial AP scorecard - 9-3 Laguna


Post fight comments

  • "I wasn't scared going into the ring, but I was mighty scared coming out." -Ismael Laguna
  • "How can they blame my people for this? I have a big following but who can tell who made all the trouble." -Frankie Narvaez
  • "This was nothing compared to what happened at the Carlos Ortiz-Sugar Ramos fight in Mexico City. That was a real riot. This was a social tea party compared to the Mexican affair." -Hector Valdes, Jr., Laguna's manager
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