By Carlos Irusta
IF YOU ARE AN OLDTIMER, perhaps you remember a movie, “A king and four queens”, with Clark Gable. In Argentine boxing, you can say something similar at this very interesting moment of the sport.
LADIES FIRST, so we can mention Marcela Acuña, WIBA champion in the super featherweight (well… you know, is female boxing…). The other three champs are Omar Narváez (fly), Rodrigo Barrios (super feather) and Carlos Baldomir (welter).
Narvaez and Barrios are WBO champions while Baldomir has two belts from WBC and WBA. Narvaez obtained his crown at Luna Park. Barrios and Baldomir in the United States, defeating Mike Anchondo and Zab Judah.
THE FIRST WORLD champion from Argentina was Pascual Pérez (1954). During the 80s, Argentina has had three world champions at the same time, all of them recognized by the WBA: Sergio Palma (1980-1982, super batam), Santos Laciar (March 28 to June 6, 1981, and the 1982-1985) and Gustavo Ballas (super fly). Ballas was champion between September 12, 1981, to December 5, 1981: only 70 days.
IT WAS NOT THE ONLY time. In the 90s, Julio Cesar Vasquez (1991-1995), Juan Coggi (welter junior, 1993-1994), Nestor Giovannini (cruiser, 1993-1994) and Jorge Castro (middle, 1994-1995). Except WBO champion Giovannini, all of them were WBA champions. Between 1995 and 1998, there were champions Marcelo Dominguez (cruiser WBC), Carlos Salazar (super fly, IBF and fly WBO), Vasquez and Coggi (second reigns).
NARVAEZ is world champion since July 13, 2002, and has defended his crown in 7 bouts. In number of defenses category, Carlos Monzon is the number one (14), followed by Victor Galindez (11), Julio Cesar Vasquez (12) and Pascual Perez (10). The 30th Argentinean to obtained a world crown, counting two WBU champions (Walter Matteoni and Rodrigo Barrios); Baldomir conquered the IBC belt in 1999.
THREE CHAMPIONS AT THE SAME time sounded very difficult in the Argentine boxing scene, but it’s true. Three world champions is very good news for the country of Argentina. So, why not to print the good, instead of the bad news?
