Ernesto Marcel facts for kids

Ernesto Marcel (born May 23, 1948 – died June 29, 2020) was a famous Panamanian boxer. He was known for his amazing skills in the ring. Ernesto Marcel was a professional boxer from 1966 to 1974. He held the WBA featherweight championship from 1972 to 1974. He also fought for the WBC featherweight title in 1971.

Boxing Career

Ernesto Marcel started his professional boxing career in 1966 when he was a teenager. He quickly built an impressive record. He won many fights, showing his talent early on.

One of his notable wins was a knockout against Bernardo Caraballo. Caraballo had previously fought for world titles. Marcel also faced a young Roberto Durán, who was a very tough opponent. Marcel lost to Durán by a technical knockout. This was the only time Marcel was stopped in his entire career.

Championship Fights

On November 11, 1971, Marcel fought Kuniaki Shibata for the WBC featherweight championship. The fight ended in a draw, which meant Shibata kept his title.

Less than a year later, Marcel got another chance at a world title. He defeated Antonio Gómez to win the WBA featherweight championship. This was a huge moment in his career.

Defending the Title

After winning the WBA title, Ernesto Marcel successfully defended it three times. He showed he was a true champion. His fourth and final defense was against Alexis Argüello on February 16, 1974. Marcel won this fight by a unanimous decision after fifteen rounds. This means all the judges agreed he was the winner.

Retirement as Champion

After his victory over Alexis Argüello, Ernesto Marcel made a big decision. With a record of 40 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws, he announced his retirement from boxing. What makes this special is that he retired as a reigning world champion. Only a few boxers in history have done this. It means he left the sport at the very top of his game.

See also

In Spanish: Ernesto Marcel (boxeador) para niños