Former featherweight champion Ernesto “Nato” Marcel, who once beat the great Alexis Arguello, has died, according to multiple reports in his native Panama.
Marcel reportedly died Monday in Panama City after suffering from multiple health issues over the past few months. He was 72.
Marcel (40-4-2, 23 KOs) fought for less than eight years, from 1966 to 1974, but left his mark on boxing.
He lost a split 15-round decision to WBC featherweight champion Kuniaki Shibata in November 1971 in Japan but took Antonio Gomez’s WBA 126-pound title by a majority 15-round decision in August 1972 in Gomez’s native Venezuela.
He was one of four Panamanians who held major titles simultaneously, along with Roberto Duran, Alfonso Frazer and Enrique Pinder.
Marcel successfully defended his title four times (including a rematch with Gomez) and then retired as champion at only 25 years old. The last defense was against Arguello in February 1974. He won by scores of 146-140, 146-42, 146-140.
The Associated Press reported: “Panama’s Ernesto Marcel retained his WBA featherweight title Saturday by a unanimous decision over challenger Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua. In the early and late rounds Arguello moved forward with his longer reach while Marcel dealt left and right hooks that sent the Nicaraguan’s long hair flying.
“Arguello took so many punches in the 7th round that Referee Sergio Tulio Lay went to his corner after the round and asked him if he wanted to continue.”
Marcel’s only knockout loss came at the hands of Duran, who stopped him in the 10th and final round in May 1970. Duran was only 18 years old and 16-0 at the time.