Ismael Laguna
Titles: lightweight champion in 1965 and 1970
Record: 65-9-1 (37 K.O's)
Born: June 28, 1943 in Colon, Panama
Years active: 1961-1972
Nickname: None
Ismael Laguna was described by The Ring magazine as "a tall immaculate boxer,
carrying a knockdown punch in either hand". I agree 100% and would add that Laguna
also carried one of the best and most accurate jabs the division has ever seen.
Laguna was also tough to the core and could soak up the punishment as well as he
could dish it out when needed. While his title reigns at lightweight were very
short this Panamanian could box with the best when the mood struck him. Laguna
was a forerunner of Alexis Arguello outside of the ring, no one spoke ill of this
world class gentleman and boxer. Born in a small fishing village he was one of 10
children and began to fight as a pro at the age of 17. Within 4 years Laguna would
be crowned a world champion. Laguna first came to the attention of the boxing
world when he defeated fellow Panamanian Pedro Ortiz for the national featherweight
title in his 20th pro fight. The fight was a close affair early but saw the power
of Laguna gradually take over and wear Ortiz down for a 7th round stoppage win.
Perhaps Laguna looked to good in that bout as he was avoided by the world champions
for the next 3 years. It was another Ortiz who gave Laguna a shot at the title.
Hall of Famer Carlos Ortiz lost a 15 round split decision to Laguna in Panama City.
It could be that Ortiz overlooked the smaller Laguna who was moving up to the
lightweight division but he did not avoid his jabs that was for sure. Ortiz said
"He doesn't stick around to get hit, and I wasn't fast enough to catch him". In
what was to become a trade mark of sorts for Laguna he cut Ortiz early with his
stiff jab. Avoiding the late rush of Ortiz, Laguna was justly awarded a split
decision win. Seven months months later in 1965 a smarter Ortiz who had learned
from the previous fight took his title back in San Juan Puerto Rico on points.
Ortiz opened up earlier than in the previous bout and established his superior
strength. It was a close affair but Ortiz landed the cleaner of the punches nearly
stopping Laguna in the 12th and 13th rounds, and was awarded the decision. Laguna
avoided no man in search of another title shot and in february of that year took
on the bigger Carlos Hernandez the jr. welterweight champion in a non title bout
and scored a eighth round knockout win. Laguna also took on and had a draw with
the graceful Argentine Nicolino Loche and lost a decision to veteran Filipino
legend Flash Elorde in what was by all accounts a brutal fight. Maybe these fight
took too much from Laguna? His prime was spent fighting tough fighters in search
of another title, when the title came up again he could not win it. It was against
his rival Carlos Ortiz that he would get his next title shot. In that third and
worst meeting between the two Ortiz walked away with another points win in the
rubber match. Laguna spend too much time dancing away from the oncoming rushes of
Ortiz to win many rounds. Still Laguna was not yet done at the world class level
when others might have given up. Another 3 years passed in which Laguna won 14 of
his 15 fights before Laguna was to get another title shot. This time it was young
Mando Ramos who gave Laguna a title shot in front of 15,000 Ramos' fans in Los
Angeles. It was a stunning upset as Laguna showed pin point accuracy and stopped
Ramos in the 9th round of the title fight. Ramos could not continue as both of his
eyes were severely cut from the crisp jabs of Laguna. Ismael only made one title
defense against Guts Suzuki before running into another very underrated boxer in
Ken Buchanan. In the heat of San Juan Puerto Rico Ken Buchanan pulled away late
stunning Laguna in the 12th and gained a razor thin points victory. It was at the
time considered a upset, but Buchanan proved his worth in subsequent fights. A
rematch against Buchanan ended in a more lopsided loss in which Laguna tried to
brawl with Buchanan and Laguna bid farewell to the ring at the age of 28. Laguna
a intelligent man kept his money from boxing and lived well on the outskirts of
Panama City after his retirement and never made a comeback.
Ismael Laguna
Career Record: 65 W, 9 L, 1 D (37 K.O'S)
1961
Jan 8 Antonio Morgan Colon, Panama KO 2
Jan 22 Eduardo Frutos Colon, Panama W 4
Mar 5 Javier Valle Panama City W 4
Mar 26 Carlos Real Panama City W 4
Apr 16 Jose Pacheco Panama City KO 3
Apr 30 Ernest Campbell Panama City W 6
May 21 Battling Escudero Colon, Panama KO 2
Jun 4 Killer Solomon Colon, Panama KO 7
Jun 25 Claudio Martinez Colon, Panama KO 4
Aug 27 Enrique Hitchman Panama City W 10
Oct 15 Euro Partides Panama City KO 4
Dec 1 Hector Hicks Colon, Panama KO 5
1962
Jan 14 Eloy Sanchez Colon, Panama KO 3
Mar 2 Castor Castillo Maracaibo, Venezuela W 10
Apr 15 Nelson Estrada Panama City KO 7
Jun 3 Jorge Uzcategui Colon, Panama KO 2
Jun 10 Agustin Carmona Panama City KO 6
Jun 24 Carlos Celis Panama City KO 3
Jul 29 Jorge Salazar Panama City KO 6
Sep 16 Pedro Ortiz Panama City KO 7
Oct 28 Beresford Francis Colon, Panama KO 5
Nov 18 Enrique Hitchman Colon, Panama KO 2
Dec 16 Tony Herrera Panama City KO 2
1963
Jan 20 Bobby Gray Colon, Panama KO 9
Feb 22 Juan Ramirez Panama City W 10
Mar 17 Auburn Copeland Panama City W 10
May 21 Fili Nava Panama City KO 3
Jun 8 Antonio Herrera Bogota, Colombia L 10
Jul 21 Don Johnson Panama City KO 3
Aug 24 Lalo Guerrero Panama City W 10
Sep 15 Antonio Herrera Panama City KO 7
Nov 18 Rafiu King Paris W 10
1964
Jan 26 Pedro Miranda Colon, Panama KO 4
Feb 21 Orispo Dos Santos Sao Paulo, Brazil KO 7
Mar 9 Angel Robinson Garcia Paris W 10
Jun 1 Vicente Saldivar Tijuana, Mexico L 10
Jul 6 Kid Anahuac Los Angeles KO 8
Aug 2 Vicente Derado Panama City W 10
Oct 25 Percy Hayles Panama City KO 7
Dec 19 Sebastiao Nascimento Panama City W 10
1965
Apr 10 Carlos Ortiz Panama City W 15
(Wins World Lightweight Title)
Jun 20 Raul Soriano Panama City KO 8
Jul 17 Nicolino Loche Buenos Aires D 10
Nov 13 Carlos Ortiz San Juan L 15
(Loses World Lightweight Title)
1966
Feb 19 Carlos Hernandez Panama City KO 8
Mar 19 Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Manila L 10
Jul 28 Al Grant Los Angeles W 10
Oct 2 Percy Hayles Kingston, Jamaica KO 6
Dec 3 Daniel Guanin Panama City KO 8
1967
Mar 10 Frankie Narvaez New York W 10
Apr 2 Vicente Rivas Panama City KO 5
Jun 3 Alfredo Urbina Panama City W 10
Aug 16 Carlos Ortiz New York L 15
(For World Lightweight Title)
Oct 28 Paul Armstead Panama City W 10
1968
Feb 26 Ray Adigun Paris W 10
Apr 15 Bud Anderson Philadelphia KO 10
Apr 29 Frankie Narvaez San Juan W 10
Jul 17 Victor Melendez New York W 10
Aug 20 Lloyd Marshall New York KO 9
Oct 7 Gabe LaMarca Portland, ME KO 7
Oct 22 Grady Ponder Miami Beach W 10
Nov 15 Ramon Blanco New York W 10
1969
Mar 1 Curly Aguirre Panama City KO 4
Mar 31 Maurice Tavant Paris W 10
May 24 Eugenio Espinosa Quito, Ecuador L 10
Jul 5 Eugenio Espinosa Panama City W 10
Jul 14 Gennaro Soto New York W 10
1970
Jan 10 Jose Luis Vallejo Colon, Panama KO 3
Mar 3 Mando Ramos Los Angeles KO 9
(Regains World Lightweight Title)
Jun 6 Ishimatsu Suzuki Panama City KO 13
(Retains World Lightweight Title)
Sep 26 Ken Buchanan San Juan L 15
(Loses World Lightweight Title)
1971
Mar 6 Lloyd Marshall Panama City W 10
Apr 3 Chango Carmona Panama City W 10
Jun 22 Eddie Linder Miami Beach L 10
Sep 13 Ken Buchanan New York L 15
(For World Lightweight Title)