Ismael Laguna- Discussion

I don't think he should be much lower than Buchanan. Lower, yes, but not by much of a distance imo. I don't have anything like a top 20 at 135, but I'm struggling to think of 20 others I would put over him at the moment.

As McGrain says, his jab, speed, and footwork were his best assests.

 

At school now so it's nothing detailed, I'd have to watch them again to give any in-depth views on the fights anyway

Comfortable win for Laguna in the first, I think had it a bit wider than most for my score. ortiz had him figured out better for the other fights and didnt subject himself to fighting laguna's fight.

 

I prefer Laguna to Buchanan any day of the week, though I like both.

 

Laguna was a very talented, troubling fighter, but tended to come off second best against the very top echelon of fighters. He has a legit win over Carlos Ortiz, which is probably his defining moment, but was beaten in both return bouts, and also lost to Saldivar (very decisively) and Elorde. Outside of Ortiz, his best win was over the red hot prospect Mando Ramos, who he probably ruined. After that he lost two more times to Buchanan, though to be fair, he was past his peak by then, and gave him very close, hard fights each time.

Off the top of my head, I believe his record was 1-6 against fellow HOFers.

 

To be fair that says more about the talent around at the time than Laguna being a knotch below the best kind of fighter.You can say that for a lot of fighters from this period though.

I think Laguna had as much ability as Rodriguez, who he was very similar in style to at times.

I liked Laguna's performance against Suzuki btw.Guts wasn't great but he had a way of beating excellent fighters if they weren't 100% and Laguna just totally outclassed him.

 

Ive always been a big fan of those athletically gifted, defensively brilliant Panamanians.

Laguna, Pedroza, Brown, And more recently Ive got to have a look at more of Marcel.

I make no secret of my admiration for Duran, my fav fighter, though he isnt like these guys you can see some of that defensive style.

Ismael is a fighter I highly regard, in my favorite alltime division...I dont know if I like him more then Kenny but he is a fighter I put at that level quite easily..I would probably prefer watching Ismael if pushed to make a distinction.

 

Buchanan makes my top 10 LW's. At no.8/9 if I remember correctly.

Laguna definitely makes the top 20, very good boxer/stylist.

 

I thought he was Puerto Rican? You learn somethin new every day