Philippines, 28 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Cornelius Boza-Edwards pays Rolando Navarrete his due respect


PhilBoxing.com





August 29, 2022 (San Leandro, California)

“If you are here to talk about boxing, you’ve come to the right place,” stated the man with the British lilt as he offered his hand while glancing at my expired press credential and Team Pacquiao jacket.

His face, his voice, and his demeanor seemed familiar, but I just could not place him.

“I see you’ve already met Mr. Edwards. He is the big chief around here,” began Morris East who arranged for my impromptu visit at the famed TMT gym, home base of Floyd Mayweather, Sr., and his son.

Memories suddenly came rushing back to me.

This was the same gent my late father Hermie Rivera and the inimitable Smokin’ Joe Cantada were talking about as they rehearsed, San Miguel beer on hand, for their upcoming delayed telecast, in 1981.

Cornelius Boza-Edwards, once of Kampala, Uganda, then London, England and now Las Vegas Nevada, was one of the best boxer-punchers in the junior-lightweight (130 lb.) and lightweight (135 lb.) divisions from the late 1970’s up to the mid-1980’s.
Despite having an amateur record of 82-2, he could not fight for his new-found country in the 1976 Montreal Olympics because he was not an English national.

He changed his name to Boza-Edwards in honor of his adopted father Jack Edwards.

Five years after his professional debut in December 1976, he fought and lost to the great Alexis Arguello before facing Rafael ‘Bazooka Limon.

On March 8, 1981, Boza-Edwards dropped Limon in the fifth-round enroute to a 15-round decision winning WBC 130-pound title.
He defended the title via a 13th round knock-out of Bobby Chacon, on May 30, 1981.

Boza-Edwards was set for a rematch with Limon when the latter fell ill.



On August 29, 1981, in Citta dei Pini (The City of Pines) in Viareggio, Italy, Cornelius Boza-Edwards faced the late, unknown substitute Rolando Navarrete.

After a spirited battle of attrition, Navarrete announced himself to the boxing world by knocking down Boza-Edwards twice in Round 4, then a third and final time in the Round 5 with a left straight to the chest followed by a booming right hook to the chin.

Forty-one years have passed since his fateful fight with “The Bad Boy from Dadiangas”, and the classy Cornelius Boza-Edwards have nothing but praise for conqueror and the people of the Philippines.

We are honored to have Mr. Cornelius Boza-Edwards share with us his reminiscence (as recorded back in July 22, 2019, two days after Manny Pacquiao beat Keith “One Time” Thurman for the WBA 147-pound super-duper crown).



“My name is Cornelius Boza-Edwards. I’ve had some great fights including Rolando Navarrete who actually knocked me out for the WBC super-featherweight championship of the world. Apparently, Rolando Navarrete was brought in one week before the fight. And everybody says he was not prepared; he was not ready. Obviously, he walked away with the biggest trophy of them all and he became the super-featherweight champion of the world. I love Filipino people. Manny Pacquiao, specifically, has done wonders for all the followers and the little kids trying to be just like Manny Pacquiao. Great to look forward to the future, Manny being the ambassador of the fight game and I know we are going to get more from the Philippines. Thank you.”




Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
    , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 27 Apr 2025
  • Home Teams Rule the Day
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Rafael Espinoza: “I’m Going To Steal The Show On May 4!”
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • CO-PROMOTER OF TONIGHT'S ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ SAYS FIRST EVENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • “H2O” SYLVE RETURNS AS THE MAIN EVENT AMADO VARGAS AS CO-MAIN IN ACTION PACKED APRIL 26 FIGHT CARD
    , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • Gallegos, CPC captures IIEE Western Visayas Regional elimination chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 26 Apr 2025
  • A Seat at the Table of Antonio Lopez Aldeguer: A Reminiscence
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • LA Clippers Rout Denver, 117-83 But Detroit, Memphis Fall Short
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Filipino David Ray Sarmiento finishes 2nd in Germany chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Verano stops Sohsit of Thailand in Clash of Nations
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Land of the Rising Star: WBO Welter Champ Brian Norman Jr. Defends Crown June 19 Against Jin Sasaki in Tokyo; Araneta vs Simsri for IBF Title in Co-Feature
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Filipino trainer scores big win
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • Abalos, Reyes, Manalo to grace billiardfest on May 4
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 25 Apr 2025
  • EUBANK JR VS. BENN + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 25 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.