Hi Classic Forum. Please school me on these two Argentine boxers, with whom Omar Andres Narvaez was associated and lumped into the same historical ranks with by TYC Sports commentators when they brought up graphics of both and expounded for several minutes after his win for Jorge Arce's vacated belt. The gist seemed to be that he joins them after this latest victory as the third of his countrymen to win professional world titles in major organizations at both flyweight and super flyweight (he won WBO version of both, and made 16 defenses at flyweight). It appears Laciar in the 1980's held the WBA at peso mosca, and WBC at super mosca; and Salaza in the 90's held the IBF superfly and then the WBO flyweight title for an overlapping period. Upon inspection, Salazar held an undefeated Marco Antonio Barrera to a MD, and Sung-Kil Moon to a SD. He can't have been too shabby. Laciar's opposition is no less impressive, with a win over Hilario Zapata, 1-1-1 against Gilberto Roman, and a points loss to Sugar Baby Rojas. What else can the historians and old-timers share about this pair that have piqued my interest? Is Narvaez the same class of fighter as they were and worthy of sharing a footnote with them, or just the lucky beneficiary of weaker divisions with championships coming much easier than they used to?
So, not as good, you say, Flea - but up there, closer than anyone from Argentina since in the fly range? Kind of like how Moon, for instance, is probably S. Korea's third best in the fly range although nobody would ever say he was as good as Wuh or Chang. That square away with you? I feel like El Huracán doesn't get much respect now, but might be remembered a bit more kindly in a few generations' time. (especially if some of the flies and super flies he beat go on to do some nice stuff, which I think a few of them will)
I never noticed this thread till now. At present, I'd rate Narvaez below Laciar, but perhaps a bit above Salazar in terms of relevance. Salazar fought the better opposition, but I don't think he did all that much to distance himself from the likes of countryman (and conqueror) Hugo Soto. Narvaez, meanwhile, has faced and dispensed with a few credible opponents- and has produced some impressive numbers. That tilts the balance in his favor, imo.
Laciar is superb, a skilled pressure fighter that hooks and discombobulates. Capable of chasing down anybody, decent pop, and very measured in that Galindez stocky Argentine way. A hooker by preference.
