Last night at the Hotel Convencion in Madrid, Pablo "Hurricane" Navascues went to war with domestic archrival Miguel Angel Pena and came out ten rounds later with a split decision win, the Spanish Light Middleweight title and what is sure to be a lock on challenging for the European belt.
Pena, 25-12-4 (9), hadn't seen the inside of a ring since a failed European Union bid at welter against Antonio Lauri two years ago, which may have accounted for his high pressure attack in the early rounds but Navascues, 25-1 (18), was content to let the older marry carry the action and countered Pena beautifully.
By the sixth frame Navascues had an exhausted Pena reeling but the Man from Madrid was unable to stop his highly decorated rival. Pena, a former Spanish champ at lightweight, light welter and welterweight, regrouped and once again had Navascues on the defensive.
The later rounds saw both men spent and punching only intermittently, slouching through the tenth and final round with Navascues taking the scorecards on a split decision, 97-93, 97-94 and 95-96.
The 31 year old Navascues adds Pena's name to a resume that already includes the scalps of Christian Bladt and Andrei Pestriaev.
With 15 consecutive victories under his belt, the Madrid native is nearing a European title bid.
Pena, 25-12-4 (9), has tangled with good competition in the past inculding Michele Piccirillo, Giovanni Parisi, Wilson Rodriguez, Thomas Damgaard, Valery Kayumba, Jose Manuel Berdonce and others. But at 33 years of age and a pro since 1992, the Zaragoza man may be at the end of the line with this defeat.
Click to read more boxing articles by Ricky Jones
Discuss in Boxing Forum
Related Boxing Articles...
New York has brought out its biggest hitter so far in the campaign for the 2012 Olympics. Boxing great Muhammad Ali will be part of the U.S. delegation in Singapore >
In Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto extended his WBO Light Welterweight Championship reign by taking apart a solid challenger in Italy's Gianluca Branco. The Puerto Rican superstar was dominant from >
Undefeated lightweight prospect Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios returns to Chicago for his second straight Solo Boxeo televised co-main event on Friday, April 13 as part of "Resurrection", another evening of >
Chris Sanigar's West Country Boxing sponsors an evening with the one and only Rubin "Hurricane" Carter which will then run into an exciting night at the fights featuring Leigh Alliss, >
On a shared promotions tonight at Cicero Stadium in Chicago, IL, 8 Count and Top Rank present "Resurrection". Doors Open 5:30pm, First bell 6:30pm. Tickets/Information 312-226-5800
Cristobal Cruz, 129.5 vs. >
Reigning IWBF world lightweight champion Jaime Clampitt was able to raise $1,320 for victims of Hurricane Katrina, both human and animal. Clampitt sold the trunks she wore in her first >
Chris Sanigar's West Country Boxing Promotions presents a stellar night at the fights this Thursday at the Dolman Exhibition Hall in Bristol, England as an evening with American boxing legend >
Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing today announced the long over due American debut of Moroccan sensation Ali "The Hurricane" Oubaali (19-3, 16 KO's). Oubaali came to the states 20 months ago >
The next "CES' Prime Time Fights" show presented by Classic Sports & Entertainment & Sports, Inc (CES), originally scheduled for August 12, has been changed to Aug. 26 in Down >
Longtime British boxing fixture Glyn Rhodes promotes a night of quality fights at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, England on Friday, September 12, 2008.
It's an evening jam-packed with Sheffield's >
