Lorenzo Parra

Biography

Lorenzo "Lencho" Parra, born on August 19, 1978, in Machiques, Venezuela, rose to prominence in the flyweight division with a style that combined technical acumen, toughness, and relentless work ethic. Fighting out of an orthodox stance and standing at 5 feet 5 inches with a 66.1-inch reach, Parra achieved significant success during his professional career, including a reign as the WBA World Flyweight Champion.

Parra made his professional debut on March 13, 1999, in Los Teques, Venezuela, stopping Andres Medina in the third round. His early career saw him dominate the local scene with a series of impressive victories, quickly establishing himself as one of Venezuela's top prospects in the lighter-weight classes. By December 2003, with an undefeated record, Parra earned his first shot at world glory.

On December 6, 2003, Parra travelled to Bayamón, Puerto Rico, to face Eric Morel for the WBA World Flyweight Title. Parra outboxed the champion over 12 rounds despite being the underdog, earning a unanimous decision and capturing the title. This victory marked the beginning of a dominant reign as Parra proved himself against a series of formidable challengers.

In his first defence, Parra faced Japan's Takefumi Sakata at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo on June 4, 2004. The battle was closely contested, but Parra edged out a majority decision to retain his belt. He followed this with a dominant unanimous decision win over South Korea's Yo Sam Choi at the Changchung Gymnasium in Seoul.

On January 3, 2005, Parra returned to the Ariake Colosseum to defend his title against Trash Nakanuma. Over 12 rounds, Parra showcased his versatility, using superior movement and combinations to secure a unanimous decision. Later that year, on September 19, Parra met Sakata in a rematch at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, again winning by majority decision in another closely fought encounter. His fifth successful title defence came on December 5, 2005, in Paris, France, where he outpointed Brahim Asloum in a unanimous decision.

Parra's reign as WBA Flyweight Champion ended on March 19, 2007, in a trilogy bout with Sakata. In a shocking outcome, Parra was stopped in the third round, losing his title at what marked a turning point in his career. Following this defeat, Parra moved up in weight to challenge for titles in heavier divisions, but his success was limited.

In September 2010, Parra faced Jorge Arce in Culiacán in a WBO super bantamweight title eliminator, which ended in a split draw. He would meet Arce again in February 2012 in Mexicali, where Parra was stopped in the fifth round. Another significant challenge came against Anselmo Moreno on June 17, 2011, for the WBA Super World Bantamweight Title in Panama City. Parra retired in the eighth round, unable to find answers to Moreno's skill and precision.

After several years of fluctuating results, Parra fought his final bout on April 13, 2019, in Braga, Portugal. He lost a four-round points decision to Jorge Guedes. This marked the conclusion of a career spanning two decades, during which Parra compiled a professional record of 32 wins (19 by knockout), 9 losses, and 1 draw.