Rolando Navarette Vs Chung-Il Choi: How controversial in your opinion?

[Flea Man]

Navarette was coming off a career best performance, destroying Cornelius Boza Edwards. Choi was an undefeated and energetic contender who was lighting Th Bad Boy From Dadiangas up with straight punches and combos.

The Choi camp protested afterwards, claiming Navarette was saved in the fifth round by an early bell.

[ame]***********.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6jQBkm5jCE[/ame]

Navarette went on to break Chung-Il's spirit as the bout went on, as Bazooka Limon would later. The Korean just couldn't take it to the body it seems.

Thoughts on the fight, the fifth round, and the two fighters in question?

[zadfrak]

That Choi was an "on top" fighter, like you alluded to. I thought he had maybe a great straight right hand. And I rarely use the word great. But that thing was straight as an arrow and a dart and I am not surprised he landed it clean so often. It must have been a nightmare fighting the guy knowing you probably couldn't even see that punch coming.

The problem was the division was so deep with guys that weren't "on top" fighters.Man, could those guys hang tough. It has to be so hard to batter guys and land your best shots and the opponent fight back hard like that.

He lost and he was another guy that are like 80% offensive skill and 20% everything else. When that % is altered to even 65%, they just seem to lose the fight. No adjustments or plan B and the other guy is becoming more formidable round by round.

As for the fight, saved by the bell claims I'm not convinced of. It was not going to be easy getting Rolando out of there. Hurt, yes. Stopped? Not convinced of that.

Terrific fight though and I think that division back then and all those tough matchups when everyone actually fought each other is my favorite alltime. Loser wanted to know when the rematch was and it was granted. How many other divisions could have used that mindset and matchmaking for we the fans?

[Flea Man]

It was an amazing time that consistently produced some of the most exciting fights ever filmed regardless of which combination of fighters you put together.

Señor Pepe should be able to give us more info' on these guys. I'm particularly interested in Navarette lower in weight, against the likes of Fernando Cabanela and Thanomchit Sukhothai.....

[stonehammerjack]

Originally Posted by Flea Man

Navarette was coming off a career best performance, destroying Cornelius Boza Edwards. Choi was an undefeated and energetic contender who was lighting Th Bad Boy From Dadiangas up with straight punches and combos.

The Choi camp protested afterwards, claiming Navarette was saved in the fifth round by an early bell.

[URL]***********.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6jQBkm5jCE[/URL]

Navarette went on to break Chung-Il's spirit as the bout went on, as Bazooka Limon would later. The Korean just couldn't take it to the body it seems.

Thoughts on the fight, the fifth round, and the two fighters in question?

I was just yesterday watching Limon vs. Arguello. Limon trades shot for shot w/ Arguello and is giving him BIG probs until the butt cuts him so bad. Limon was a lot better than people think/ I watched it because this weekend is the 30 years ago of Navaratte-Limon. A great fight and a continuation of a series that gets absolutely NO press in the mainstream and never did. Arguello/Limon/Chacon/Navarratte/Boza. Great series of fights. I saw Limon live many times in L.A. and one of them was the Choi fight. I thought Bazooka would win, due to the Navarratte fight against Choi where he just seemed to melt after the ninth round. I wonder if he had been in his country fighting Navarratte and Limon, if it would have embolstered him to tough it out more. Probably not. Navarratte had still to this day one of the best right hook-left cross power combo I have seen. Ganigan was great with it, but the left really was his meat and potatoes, but Rolando hit w/ remarkable affect. Of the fighters I went to see live in the 70s and 80s, Limon, along with Cuevas and Little Red Lopez were my favorite of them all. My favorite fight of Limon's though was his complete demolition and career ending vic over the built up Frankie Baltazar. A total victory of substance over flash. And also one the fights I wish to find, but noone has. (The others being Ted Sanders-Alex Ramos/ Bernardo Mercado-Tex Cobb/ All of Duran-Heier (a fight Howard Cosell called the worst beating he ever saw) ) A little off base, but I can't hear Navarratte and Choi w/out thinking of the others in their pugilistic orgy.

[Flea Man]

Thanks for the contribution.

That was a great combo of Navarette's. The way he blew away Boza is one of the most impressive showings of that era IMO.

Navarette looked one of the most talented of that group, but inside and outside the ring he could fall apart mentally. He just wasn't built for war like Schoolboy, Bazooka & Boza IMO.

Limon was a monster. Some of the early exchanges with Arguello take my breath away.

[zadfrak]

Limon was hit clean by big hitter's right hands more than any other fighter I ever saw. 2nd place isn't close. With that wide open style and he'd get beat to the punch by Arguello's right hand and take it. How? Or Chacon. Choi. Everyone hit him with their Sunday best. And he would not change and continue to slug.

Rolando has the best punch rarely seen--devastating right hook from a southpaw. What a rare punch and how can an opponent prepare for that?

What a tough time to have fought in that division and it was Alexis Arguello that fought them all and at the top, before moving up in weight.

Camacho came along a little later and took Limon's title and there is no way in the world they should have signed a contract for that guy. I thought Camacho was really something back then at that weight, and who knows--he may have bested Alexis and all those other tough hombres.

[stonehammerjack]

Originally Posted by Flea Man

Thanks for the contribution.

That was a great combo of Navarette's. The way he blew away Boza is one of the most impressive showings of that era IMO.

Navarette looked one of the most talented of that group, but inside and outside the ring he could fall apart mentally. He just wasn't built for war like Schoolboy, Bazooka & Boza IMO.

Limon was a monster. Some of the early exchanges with Arguello take my breath away.

Yeah, he was like marble to hit and his body punches crushed many a fighter. These guys were great to watch and spend hardearned moneyon to see live. I love the flawed exciting guys best. I have little opinion of all this p4p bullshit. Who cares! It is the exciting fighters people like I want to hear about. Whether it be a thrill a minute guy like Limon or a guy like Galindez, who I loved towatch but others may think him dreadfully dull. I like to hear about peoples favs to watch. P4p is imaginary and subjective in every case. Give me the opinions on your individual favs always for their strengths and weaknesses and why you like them.