56 years ago

Date: 15th February 1969

Venue: Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines

Title: vacant WBC World Super-featherweight Title

Rene Barrientos
( 26 - 4 - 6 )
Weight: 129½ lbs

Ruben Navarro
( 14 - 1 - 2 )
Weight: 129½ lbs

On February 15, 1969, Rene Barrientos and Ruben Navarro faced off at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, for the vacant WBC World Super-featherweight Title. This bout marked Barrientos' second attempt at claiming a world championship, following a majority draw against Hiroshi Kobayashi in March 1968. Despite vomiting an hour before the fight, Barrientos dominated Navarro, securing a unanimous decision victory to become the new champion. The judges' scores reflected his convincing performance, though the exact numbers are not detailed in available reports.

Rene Barrientos' path to this title fight was marked by perseverance. His career, spanning from 1962 to 1978, included a notable loss to Flash Elorde in February 1965. This bout showcased Barrientos' world-level skillset despite the defeat. The crowd's reaction during that fight proved they sided with Barrientos despite the official outcome, highlighting his popularity. Before facing Navarro, Barrientos had built a strong record, with his only recent setback being the draw with Kobayashi. Navarro, on the other hand, was making his first attempt at a world title, coming off a loss and a draw in his previous two fights.

The victory over Navarro was a significant milestone for Barrientos, but his reign as champion was short-lived. In his first title defence, he faced Yoshiaki Numata in Tokyo on April 3, 1970, and lost via a split decision. The rematch in January 1971 also ended in a split decision loss, with Barrientos expressing dissatisfaction over what he perceived as a hometown decision. Despite these setbacks, Barrientos continued to fight, eventually retiring after defeating Jong Satherigym in May 1978. His career was marked by 39 wins and a notable achievement of never being knocked down or floored in his entire professional career.

Ruben Navarro's career trajectory after the loss to Barrientos included a challenge for the WBC and WBA world lightweight title against Ken Buchanan in February 1971. However, Navarro's attempt at moving up in weight and challenging for another title did not yield the desired result. The fight against Barrientos was pivotal for both fighters, as it marked a turning point in their careers. For Barrientos, it was a moment of triumph. At the same time, for Navarro, it was a setback he would attempt to overcome in future bouts.