Just because it's uncharted territory doesn't mean it's terrain too tough to navigate.
Fighting 12 rounds for the first time in his career, Jose Navarro successfully defended his International Boxing Assn. Continental Americas super-flyweight championship with a unanimous decision over Jorge Luis Gonzalez before 4,056 at the Olympic Auditorium on Thursday night.
All three judges scored the bout, 118-110, as did The Times.
"I learned a lot out there," said the 115-pounder from South Los Angeles, who fought in the 2000 Olympics. "It feels great. It gives me confidence. I got a little tired in [the middle rounds] but once I got my second wind, I came back stronger."
Utilizing an impressive array of combinations, from both outside and inside, the left-handed Navarro (17-0) picked apart his opponent in the early rounds and used his more composed style to hold off the often flailing but game Gonzalez (15-3).
