Rafael 'El Brujo' Ortega 'The Panamanian Witch' The 5' 7" - slick-boxing Featherweight won the 'vacant' WBA Featherweight Championship on January 15, 1977 in Panama, by defeating Francisco Coronado. Of course, it did help being Panamanian, especially if you were fighting for a 'vacant' WBA (Panama-based) Championship. Rafael worked his way up to the #1 WBA Featherweight by mid-1976, with a record of 19-2-5 (6 KO's). This content is protected
Mr. Un,,,,,,,,,,,,You're the Best......:good Rafael 'El Brujo' Ortega was another one of those 'WBA-connected' fighters, who benefited greatly from the WBA being based in Panama. By December 1973, 'El Brujo' had brought his record to 14-0-4 (4 KO's), and had 'not suprisingly' entered the Top 10 of the WBA Featherweights.
Rafael 'El Brujo' Ortega was being groomed as future Challenger for the WBA Featherweight Championship, as Champion - Ernesto Marcel was planning on retiring in early-1974. But, on December 15, 1973 - he was out-classed (L Dec 12) by Rigoberto Riasco for the Panamanian Featherweight Championship. This knocked Rafael down a few notches.
