It is my intention to give my viewers a historic short biography of every fighter in Bone Daddy’s library of some 600 fights that he has in his video library…..as I don’t want people to forget just how great the fighters were during what I consider the golden age of boxing….from mid-1960’s to mid-1990’s….as Rolando Navarette and Cornelius Boza-Edwards weren’t part of the super greats….but they surely were part of the greats during this era of boxing.
Rolando Navarrete is a Filipino ex-boxer who briefly held a junior lightweight (super featherweight) world title in the 1980’s….who was better than just good…..embodying great talent and a hard-hitting slugger….and one of the greatest Filipino knockout artists….who first fought for a world title in 1980 against Alexis Argüello….loing by TKO to the legendary champion. On August 29, 1981, he would win the WBC Super featherweight title by knocking out popular fellow southpaw Cornelius Boza-Edwards in the 5th round of a title match held in Italy. He later defended the title against unknown Choi Chung-Il of Korea….stopping the gritty challenger in the 11th round of a controversial bout held in Manila in January 1982. In his second title defense four months later in Las Vegas, NV….Navarrete took on Rafael “Bazooka” Limón…..as the champion led on all scorecards before getting knocked out by Limón in the 12th round….that’s why they called him Bazooka. Thereafter, Navarrete’s career went downhill and he would never again figure in big-money fights. He is ranked the 9th best super featherweight champion in history by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Cornelius Boza-Edwards won the WBC world super featherweight title from “Bazooka” Limón….with a fifteen round decision in 1981 at Stockton, California….coming after Limón, a Mexican, had made his infamous “you know what happens to British boxers when they face Mexicans” comment….in a reference to the fight between Lupe Pintor and Johnny Owen….after which Owen died. Boza-Edwards defeated Bobby Chacon by technical knockout in the fourteenth round in his first defense….but then, he lost the title to Rolando Navarrete, by knockout in round five on Aug 29, 1981. Boza-Edwards also fought with….and lost against….other world champions such as his rematch with Chacon….his fight with legendary Alexis Argüello by knockout in eight…then came his outstanding fight with Héctor “Macho” Camacho and losing by decision in twelve….then came a decision in 10 by Rocky Lockridge…..followed by a knockout by José Luis Ramírez….as each of these fighters mentioned herewith…..were not just good fighters….they were great fighters….with some being legendary. Cornelius Boza-Edwards is now a co-trainer of Light Welterweight Contender, Mexican Jesse Vargas.
