“Tiger of Colón,” Ismael Laguna Passes
He was not on the list.
Panamanian and world boxing are in mourning following the passing of former WBC and WBA lightweight world champion Ismael Laguna Meneses, “Tiger of Colón,” on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the age of 83, after being hospitalized in Panama City.
Laguna was born in the province of Colón on June 28, 1943, and made his professional boxing debut in August 1960, facing opponents such as Fili Nava, Antonio Herrera, Angel Robinson Garcia, Vicente Saldivar, Carlos Ortiz, Nicolino Locche, Carlos Hernandez, Flash Elorde, Mando Ramos, Guts Ishimatsu, Ken Buchanan, and Chango Carmona, among others. He fought his last bout in July 1971 with a record of 65 wins (37 by knockout), 9 losses, and 1 draw. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, in 2001.
Laguna cemented his legendary status after defeating the Puerto Rican boxer Carlos Ortiz by unanimous decision for the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight world championships on April 10, 1965, at the iconic National Stadium. Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, and history records it as the first world championship fight held in Panama.
He was the idol who inspired Roberto “Hands of Stone” Durán to conquer the WBA lightweight world championship from the Scottish boxer Ken Buchanan, who had defeated Laguna. Durán then defeated Buchanan in June 1972 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Ismael Laguna will forever remain in the history of
Panamanian sports and world boxing after an extraordinary career in the rings
of Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, France, Mexico, the United States, Argentina,
Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Ecuador.
He was two-time Undisputed Lightweight Champion. He was
inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.
Known as "El Tigre Colonense", Laguna was the World Lightweight Champion in 1965 and later regained the belt in 1970, but he was stripped of his WBC title prior to losing the WBA Title to Ken Buchanan.
Laguna also lost 15 round decisions in two other bids to
regain his lightweight title, in 1967 against Carlos Ortiz, and in 1971 to Ken
Buchanan. He retired after the loss to Buchanan in 1971.
ickname El
Tigre Colonense
Born Ismael Laguna
Meneses
June 28, 1943
Colón, Panama
Died September 8,
2026 (aged 83)
Height 5 ft 9 in (175
cm)
Weight Lightweight
Boxing career
Reach 68 in (173 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 75
Wins 65
Win by KO 37
Losses 9
Draws 1
No comments:
Post a Comment