Rolando Navarrete
Encyclopedia
Rolando Navarrete is a Filipino
ex-boxer who briefly held a junior lightweight (super featherweight) world title in the 80s.
but lost by TKO to the legendary champion. On August 29, 1981, he would win the WBC Super featherweight title by knocking out popular fellow southpaw Cornelius Boza Edwards
in the 5th round of a title match held in Italy. He later defended the title against unknown Choi Chung-Il of Korea
, stopping the gritty challenger in the 11th round of a controversial bout held in Manila in January 1982. In his second title defense four months later in Las Vegas, Nevada, Navarrete took on Rafael "Bazooka" Limón
. The champion led on all scorecards before getting knocked out by Limón in the 12th round. Thereafter, Navarrete's career went downhill and he would never again figure in big-money fights. Sometime in the mid-'80s, he was convicted of sexual assault and served three years in a Hawaiian prison.
After his release, Navarrete went back to the Philippines and embarked on several comeback fights. In one of those fights, he would exact revenge on his old tormentor Limón, winning by decision in a 10-round bout. A series of losses against local fighters and unranked contenders forced him to retire for good.
Troubles outside the ring left Navarrete with no money and the former world champion now sells fish that, according to him, earn him 800 pesos (about 16 dollars) a day. He still trains nowadays with a heavy bag in his home.
He spent three years in a US prison for rape. Navarrete was also recently involved in various police complaints for wife battery and drugs.
On February 14, 2008, Rolando Navarette, "The Bad Boy from Dadiangas" was pronounced out of danger, after being stabbed in the neck by Racman Saliling, tenant at the boarding house he owns in Bula, General Santos City
, using ice pick. Navarette was also involved in two previous attacks: in 2005, he was hit with a steel pipe by a female neighbor; in 2006, a security guard clubbed his leg with a shotgun at a fishport.
.
"Kamao", presented the sports of boxing and featured the story of the former world featherweight champion.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
ex-boxer who briefly held a junior lightweight (super featherweight) world title in the 80s.
Fighting style
A fine boxer, Navarrete had a good talent and was known for his hard-hitting punches.Professional career
He first fought for a world title in 1980 against Alexis ArgüelloAlexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello , also known by the stage name El Flaco Explosivo , was a Nicaraguan professional boxer and politician...
but lost by TKO to the legendary champion. On August 29, 1981, he would win the WBC Super featherweight title by knocking out popular fellow southpaw Cornelius Boza Edwards
Cornelius Boza Edwards
Cornelius Boza Edwards was a Ugandan boxer in the Light Welterweight division and the former WBC Super Featherweight Champion. Edwards emigrated from Uganda to England, where he lived for a long period of time...
in the 5th round of a title match held in Italy. He later defended the title against unknown Choi Chung-Il of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, stopping the gritty challenger in the 11th round of a controversial bout held in Manila in January 1982. In his second title defense four months later in Las Vegas, Nevada, Navarrete took on Rafael "Bazooka" Limón
Rafael Limon
Rafael Limón is a Mexican former boxer who was a world champion in the Super Featherweight /Jr. Lightweight division twice.He is better known as Bazooka Limón. Limón shares his nickname, Bazooka, with at least two other known world boxing champions: Puerto Rico's Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez and...
. The champion led on all scorecards before getting knocked out by Limón in the 12th round. Thereafter, Navarrete's career went downhill and he would never again figure in big-money fights. Sometime in the mid-'80s, he was convicted of sexual assault and served three years in a Hawaiian prison.
After his release, Navarrete went back to the Philippines and embarked on several comeback fights. In one of those fights, he would exact revenge on his old tormentor Limón, winning by decision in a 10-round bout. A series of losses against local fighters and unranked contenders forced him to retire for good.
After professional boxing
Navarrete currently lives in General Santos City. A series of failed relationships with different women gave him a total of seven children. One of his sons, Rolando Jr., is following his father's footsteps and training to be a professional boxer as well.Troubles outside the ring left Navarrete with no money and the former world champion now sells fish that, according to him, earn him 800 pesos (about 16 dollars) a day. He still trains nowadays with a heavy bag in his home.
He spent three years in a US prison for rape. Navarrete was also recently involved in various police complaints for wife battery and drugs.
On February 14, 2008, Rolando Navarette, "The Bad Boy from Dadiangas" was pronounced out of danger, after being stabbed in the neck by Racman Saliling, tenant at the boarding house he owns in Bula, General Santos City
General Santos City
The City of General Santos is the southernmost port city of the Philippines. Being a highly urbanized first class city, GenSan is one of the most populous urban centers in the country with a population of 679,588 as per census data of 2010...
, using ice pick. Navarette was also involved in two previous attacks: in 2005, he was hit with a steel pipe by a female neighbor; in 2006, a security guard clubbed his leg with a shotgun at a fishport.
Legacy
He is ranked the 9th best superfeatherweight champion in history, by the World Boxing CouncilWorld Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
.
Navarrete documentary
In 2007, Navarrete was included in "Kamao", an episode of award winning program Sine Totoo, which received the RP's first and only George Foster Peabody Award, the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize."Kamao", presented the sports of boxing and featured the story of the former world featherweight champion.