Boxing News Boxing News
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.
