El Tigre Colenense of Panama, World Lightweight Champion Ismael Laguna, Dies at 83
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Panama City, Panama (September 9th, 2026)– Former World Lightweight champion Ismael Laguna Meneses, El Tigre Colenense, has passed away in his native Panama City, Panama, at age 83.
Fighting between 1960 and 1971, Laguna compiled a professional record of 65-9-1 with 37 knockouts, and was never stopped in his entire 75-bout career. Laguna won and lost the undisputed lightweight title by 15-round decision to Carlos Ortiz, both bouts in 1965. Laguna then regained the undisputed world lightweight title by stopping Mando Ramos in the ninth round in Los Angeles in 1970, stopped Guts Ishimatsu in the ninth round to defend the world title in 1970, then lost it by 15-round split decision to Ken Buchanan in 1970. After losing a rematch by 15-round decision to Ken Buchanan in September 1971 at Madison Square Garden, Laguna retired for good.
Laguna was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1971. The Panamanian Sports Institute announced Laguna’s death at a Panamanian hospital on September 8, 2026.
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