Boxing In Argentina: Narvaez Retains WBO Crown In Buenos Aires

Argentina’s top boxer was in action last evening as Omar Andres Narvaez retained his WBO flyweight title for the 16th consecutive time by crushing opponent Omar Soto in the 11th round at Buenos Aires’ famed Luna Park Stadium.

Mexico City man Soto had come into the bout riding a three fight win streak and the former Mexican minimumweight titlist was confident of his chances of ending the seven year reign of Narvaez but reality proved to be something much different.

It was the razor-sharp skills of “El Huracan” that separated the boxers from the first bell as the Cordoba southpaw worked like an effiecient machine behind a piston-like jab that tore big holes through the defense of Mexican visitor Soto.

The champion exercised every weapon in his formidable arsenal round after round but it was the left cross that was particularly damaging to the challenger and it was that punch that effectively ended matters in the 11th frame.

As Soto tried a last ditch effort to get to Narvaez, the challenger was canvassed hard by a perfect counter left hand, prompting a stoppage by referee Roberto Ramirez, Jr late in the round.

Narvaez improves to 30-0-2 (19) after making a strong case for his being the top flyweight in the world while Soto drops to 17-5-1 (11).

The undercard at Luna Park featured Sebastian Daniel Rodriguez, 9-1 (3), stopping Santos Marimon, 12-11-1 (8), in the ninth round for the Interim WBO Latino bantamweight title.