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FLASHBACK: BERT NABALATAN
By Jim Amato
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Jul 2008
This native of the Philippines did a lot of his fighting in Hawaii where he was a popular draw. He began his professional career in 1971 and won his first eight contests. Then in 1972 he was matched with former world's featherweight champion Kuniaki Shibata. This is the same Shibata who had dethroned the great Vincente Saldivar a few years earlier. Shibata then lost the title to the hard hitting Clemente Sanchez. This was Shibata's first fight since losing the title. It was a tall order for the novice Nabalatan and even though he lost, he took the former titleholder ten rounds.
Nabalatan rebounded to win his next seven before dropping a decision in 1973 to the slick boxing Leonel Hernandez. Bert then lost to another world ranked fighter in Salvador Torres. Nabalatan was still considered good enough to be ranked among the top ten junior lightweights by Ring magazine. In 1974 Nabalatan lost verdicts to Alfonso Perez and the rugged Royal Kobayashi. In 1975 Bert continued to meet world class opposition. He was outscored by the talented Tyrone Everett. Nabalatan then lost a duke to veteran contender Octavio Gomez.
There would be two more fights, both of which he won before Nabalatan retired. In all he participated in 29 bouts with a fine 22-7 record. He scored sixteen knockouts. To Bert's credit he was never stopped and his losses were all to top level competition.
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About the Author.
Jim Amato.
Jim Amato is a member of the Boxing Writers Association Of America (BWAA) and the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO), that was once directed by Hall Of Famer Ralph Citro. Boxing notables Hank Kaplan and Harold Lederman are among IBRO's members.
Amato is also on the Publicity Committee for the American Association For The Improvement Of Boxing (AAIB) that was co-founded by Steve Acunto and the late Rocky Marciano. He is also a member of the Ohio State Former Boxers And Associates and the Trumbull County Of Ohio Legends Of Leather, President Sal Marino. He was inducted into their Hall Of Fame in October of 2006 for boxing journalism.
You can contact Jim at jimsboxing@zoominternet.net
You may also visit Jim's blogsites at http://amatoboxingsite.multiply.com/ and http://boxinggreats.multiply.com/.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jim Amato.
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