Little Poison, Ex-WBC Super Bantam Champ Rigoberto Riasco, Dies at 69 in Panama
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Panama City, Panama (August 31, 2022)– Former lineal and World Boxing Council Super Bantamweight World champion Rigoberto “Little Poison” Riasco, who dominated the lower weights in the 1970s, has died in his native Panama City, Panama at age 69.
Riasco fought between 1968 and 1976, and again between 1981 and 1982. Riasco fought in four world title bouts. After losing his WBC title to Royal Kobayashi in 1976, Riasco retired for five years. In 1981, Riasco won two comeback bouts, then lost his next three pro bouts and retired for good. His final record was 19-9-4 with 13 knockouts.
Riasco earned his place in the history books rather uniquely. After losing to Alexis Arguello in his first attempt for a world title, the World Boxing Association World Featherweight title, in May 1975, in Grenada, Spain, Riasco won the Panamanian Featherweight title by decisioning Luis Avila in Panama City in August 1975 over 12 rounds. In November 1976, at Panama Gymnasium in Panama City, Panama, Riasco, fighting in the lower super bantamweight weight class, won the inaugural World Boxing Council World Super Bantamweight title in April 1976 with an eighth round stoppage of Waruinge Nakayama. Riasco then defended his WBC belt in 1976, before losing his WBC belt to Kobayashi, with all world four title bouts taking place in 1976.
COMMENTS
English