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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Panamanian boxing legend Ismael Laguna dies, inspiring ‘Manos de Piedra’ Durán

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Panamanian boxing lost Ismael Laguna, a two-time world lightweight champion and an influential figure for Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán.
  • Laguna won his first world title in 1965 and reclaimed it in 1970 before ending his professional career in 1971.
  • He finished with 65 wins, including 37 knockouts, nine losses and one draw, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Panamanian boxing has lost one of its defining figures. Ismael Laguna, known as “the Tiger of Colón,” died on Tuesday after becoming a symbol of the sport’s golden era and a role model for the generation that produced Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán.

Born in Colón province on June 28, 1943, Laguna built his reputation as a determined fighter and won two world lightweight titles. He claimed his first belt on April 10, 1965, beating Puerto Rico’s Carlos Ortiz by majority decision. The victory made him the second Panamanian world champion, after Alfonso “Panama” Al Brown, and put him on the international boxing map.

Ortiz regained the title in their rematch, but Laguna won it again on March 3, 1970. He stopped American Mando Ramos in Los Angeles to become champion once more. Laguna also developed a fierce rivalry with Scotland’s Ken Buchanan. After losing the belt to Buchanan, he faced him again at Madison Square Garden in New York on September 13, 1971. That rematch marked the end of his professional career.

Laguna retired with 65 victories, 37 by knockout, nine defeats and one draw. He was never knocked out. His speed, movement and accuracy earned him admiration among Panamanian fans, while specialist boxing media described him as “a fighter with great speed, precision and mobility in the ring.”

His influence extended to Durán, who consistently identified Laguna as one of his major idols. Both men belong to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. In 2025, at age 82, Laguna received a final tribute at his home from Panamanian trainers and boxers.

a fighter with great speed, precision and mobility in the ring

· Specialist boxing mediaThe description captures the qualities for which Laguna was admired.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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