Ernesto Marcel - The Original Matrix

He’s possible the best ever H2H featherweight. Beat an excellent boxer, an excellent counter puncher, and an excellent boxer-puncher.

The Arguello fight reminds me a bit of RJJ-Hopkins, in that whilst the loser was not the technical force he would become, he was likely better suited to getting the job done by throwing caution to the wind a bit anyway.

Marcel was incredible. Gave Duran a decent enough go as well and was thrown out for trying to run out the last three minutes to me, which is weird but is what it is.

Was due to defend against Olivares. Retired due to the wishes of his mother.

One fight I really wanna’ get my hands on is Marcel vs. Spider Nemoto. I believe it was televised on the undercard of Duran-Thompson. If anyone knows anyone who has it, or who has ever even mentioned it in passing please let me know!

 

Also, that highlight is only of the Shibata fight (lineal title, horrendous robbery) whereas I think Marcel’s very best work captured on film was in the first Gomez fight.

I’d love to see the rematch. Marcel stopped him.

 

I can have a look. I’ve got two collectors lists but they are downloaded to my computer at work.

One of them even has Buchanan vs. Laguna I which I didn’t even know was out there. He may have it.

 

Better than Laguna and especially Pedroza imo, though you could strongly argue Laguna being greater due to his longevity and weight-jumping. Great fighter, Marcel, even with his truncated career. Like Flea says, possibly the greatest of h2h forces at the weight. I think I might only favour Armstrong over him, but even then Ernesto held own more or less against the young Duran when only a youngster himself, so you'd have to think that Hank would be seriously, seriously tested. I think I'd favour him over Saldivar slightly and even over Pep.

He was cat-like smooth and slick, Marcel, quick and lithe as an eel with superb technical ability, good power, awesome footwork and a hard edge to him; he could fight as well as box. Lovely bounce and rhythm to his style.

Flea, do you know if the Hernandez loss was on the level? I've never looked into it really but with it being in Venezuela iirc, it makes you wonder.

 

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Thanks, this will be useful for others.

 

Any thread that mentions Marcel n Laguna is a pleasure to read.

Both seem to have disappeared from the lexicon to a large extent and its a shame as both were truly beautiful boxers to watch. That kind of boxing seems to be a lost art. Love Marcel's use of the pivot, his shifts, his feinting and the use of the lead right followed by the straight left combo from long range. One VERY few fighters master.

Cheers Red.

 

Watching the above highlight film of Marcel, he kinda reminded me a little
of prime Jose Napoles.

Arquello was 31-3, Marcel was 39-4-2 in their FW title fight.
1974-02-16 : Alexis Arguello 122¼ lbs lost to Ernesto Marcel 125¾ lbs by UD in round 15 of 15

• Location: Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
• Referee: Servio Tulio Lay 140-146
• Judge: Harmodio Cedeno 142-146
• Judge: Juan Carlos Tapia 140-146

"Panama's Ernesto Marcel retained his WBA featherweight title Saturday by a unanimous decision over challenger Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua. In the early and late rounds Arguello moved forward with his longer reach while Marcel dealt left and right hooks that sent the Nicaraguan's long hair flying. Arguello took so many punches in the 7th round that Referee Sergio Tulio Lay went to his corner after the round and asked him if he wanted to continue." -Associated Press

• As he promised before the fight, Marcel retired immediately after this bout.

Weights

• Marcel - 125 3/4
• Arguello - 122 3/4

Post fight comments

"Arguello has a strong punch and is a good boxer. Someday he will be champion." -Ernesto Marcel

 

Hiya JC, you're right about Marcel shifting and pivoting all the time, he could feint with his feet and change direction in the blink of an eye. The inverted right-left combo was great too, Laguna used it quite often also to great effect.

 

Flea, I actually saw this bout back in '73. The co-feature was actually Duran v Suzuki. But re: the card, it really reflected the WBA politics of the time. The WBA has had a long history of over-indulging fighters from Japan, South Korea, Venezuela, Panama, Argentina and South Africa. And Spider Nemoto really benefitted by this partnership. He didn't deserve either of his title shots (Marcel and Pedroza) but he gave it a go. He had no chance against Marcel and made Ernesto look like a million bucks. In the 9th round (remember, it is a 45 year old memory) with Nemoto bent at the waist, trying to cover up, Marcel fires dizzying rapid-fire left uppercuts while dancing around the inert Nemoto before he goes down. I was enthralled at finally seeing him in action and was so impressed. But of course, I didn't know then the actual talent level of the fighter he was up against. But still, I saw enough. Brilliant.

 

See, this is why I NEED to see this fight!

Maybe not as much as Borkorsor vs. Betulio Gonzalez, but still ;-)

 

I’m sure (not 100% certain) that I’ve seen a pic of Marcel halfway out of the ring against Hernandez. Need to do more research into it though.

 

Bump

 

It's amazing Duran beat this guy when Roberto was soooo, young. Marcel was excellent.