A month ago one of Boxing’s least known World Champions Omar “El Huracan” Narvaez 32-0-2(19) moved up to Super Flyweight and added the WBO title to his WBO Flyweight crown which he has held for nearly 8 years making 16 defences. Normally when a fighter has a achieved that sort of notoriety he’s zeroing in on a place at Canastota in the Hall of Fame. However for Narvaez who’s been a pro for 10 years that’s probably not the case as he continues look for his defining fight that will prove that the longevity and number’s he’s wracked up aren’t merely against also rans. It’s something Pongsaklek Wongjongkam achieved when he beat Koki Kameda while Joe Calzaghe finally got his respect when he beat Jeff Lacy others such as Sven Ottke were never able to achieve it though. Now into his 30’s which is old for the lighter weights Narvaez contacted 15rounds.com with the hope that people would see his name and he may get the attention his skills deserve thus garnering the Boxing publics interest, ultimately helping him get one of the bigger names around his weight class into the ring.
Hello Omar, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulations on becoming a two weight world champion. What can you tell us about your fight with Everth Briceno? What did it mean to you and how did it feel when they announced you had won?
Omar Narvaez – About the fight with Briceño I felt very comfortable and thought that I would need to require a little more and that he was more dangerous. At times I felt that I could have won before the limit but he stopped me with his infringements (Briceno was deducted three points during the fight). When I devoted super flyweight champion, I felt very happy and very proud. I never imagined in my life that would be able to achieve so much as a boxer.
Anson Wainwright – Though it is still early days what would you like to do next? When would you like to be back in action and who would you like to fight?
Omar Narvaez – I’d like to fight as soon as possible that because I am in good shape and a desire to do it. I’d like to fight with the best to show the world I’m the best.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter?
Omar Narvaez – My team is made by my brothers as coaches and physical coach named Roperto Riz and my manager is Osvaldo Rivera.
Anson Wainwright – You had a very good amateur career that saw you fight at the Olympics. Can you tell us what titles and tournaments you fought in as an amateur? What fighters who are now pro’s did you fight? Also what was your amateur record?
Omar Narvaez – I made 103 amateur fights of which I lost 25. I achieved four gold medals in national tournaments. 1998 ODESUR Games win gold in Ecuador. I won the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg in Canada, participate in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics beating Joan Guzman and lost the second match. I won gold in Cordoba Cardin, Cuba 1998, a bronze medal in world championship of Hungary, Budapest in 1997 and World Silver medal in Houston, Texas 1999, participated in the Goodwill Games in New York in 1998, participate in the World Cup bronze medal in Beijing, China 1998. I participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in which I lost in the second round with Wladimir Sidorenko. I beat several boxers who today are world champions in different categories. Joan Guzman, José Navarro, and several that at this moment I can’t remember their names.
Anson Wainwright – Your not very well known outside of your home country of Argentina what can you tell us about yourself? What do you like to do when your not Boxing?
Omar Narvaez – During the free time I like to ride motorcycles.
Anson Wainwright – You have been a world champion since 2002. Have you ever received offers to fight any of the other top guys at 112 or even up at 115? A few years ago in the press it said you had turned down a fight with Vic Darchinyan? Can you tell us what happened and why you didn’t fight him?
Omar Narvaez – About Darchinyan I never received a serious proposal, all it was a supposed fight but it never came up to nothing .
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years growing up in Trelew and how you first became involved in Boxing?
Omar Narvaez – As a child I loved playing football and I always played for clubs in my area and started boxing at age 17. My love for boxing began at 16, but never before I imagined I would become a fighter and less world champion.
Anson Wainwright – Some people don’t think you have tested yourself against the best fighters around and that you have fought several guys who weren’t a challenge to you. What are your thoughts on that and why you haven’t been able to as yet fight one of the big names?
Omar Narvaez – I never received offers to fight with the best and I hope I will fight with them one day.
Anson Wainwright – You will be 35 in July, which is thought of as old in the lower weights for a Boxer, however you still seem to close to your prime. How do you feel about that?
Omar Narvaez – Today at 34 years I feel very well and very eager. I feel I get increasingly better, and that the experience I have managed to get gives me a big edge over my rivals.
Anson Wainwright – What do you still hope to achieve in Boxing?
Omar Narvaez – Now I would like to continue in Super Flyweight and have tougher fights and fight the best in the category because I think I can beat them.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Boxing world and the Super Flyweight division?
Omar Narvaez – My message is that I want to fight with the best, because I feel capable, and I feel that with my boxing and my experience I am better than most. I know that they are not easy to beat, but I can solve many problems because I have a very intelligent Boxing, and when I have to, I can fight to, and be dangerous doing it.
Thanks for taking time to speak with us Omar.
Best Wishes
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
