by Cliff Rold
38-year old Omar Narvaez (42-1-2, 23 KO) of Cordoba, Argentina, earned himself a unique piece of history on Saturday night at home in the Anfiteatro Municipal, in Villa Maria, Cordoba, Argentina, with a fourth round knockout of 20-year old Antonio Garcia (13-2, 6 KO) of Jamay, Jalisco, Mexico. The victory marked Narvaez’s tenth consecutive title defense of the WBO 115 lb. title and marks Narvaez as the first fight in boxing history to make ten or more consecutive defenses of a major title in two different weight classes.
Narvaez previously held the WBO Flyweight title, defending sixteen consecutive times from 2002-09.
The referee was Celestino Ruiz.
Garcia began the fight in deep prayer in the corner, Narvaez playing to the crowd. At the bell, it was the veteran getting to work first, popping his southpaw right jab and finding a home for the left down the middle in spots. Garcia, a ball of nervous energy, started to sit down on his shots more as the round wore on. Garcia targeted the body well enough but kept him open to counter lefts from Narvaez off the ropes.
The action was steady if sometimes awkward in rounds two and three, Narvaez landing cleaner in frequent high volume exchanges. Garcia, as was the case in the first, was doing his best work when he could find the body. The younger man though, it seemed, was more uncomfortable with the pace.
That pace continued to wreak havoc as Narvaez bulled forward in the fourth, peppering Garcia with headshots. Garcia, ever giving ground, looked for a big right hand to ward the titlist off but was finding little success. With only seconds to go in the fourth, Narvaez caught Garcia with a vicious right to the body, a left to the temple and then another to the body. The first shot may have been the one that sent Garcia to the deck. The others did no favors.
His face a mask of pain, clutching at his guts, Garcia wouldn’t beat the count. Ruiz tolled the ten at 3:00 of round number four.
The card was broadcast in the US on TyC as part of its “Boxeo de Primera” series, promoted by O.R. Promotions.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene and a member of the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com