Fighting Back

Jose Navarro heard the hype, saw the television spots and read the newspaper clips.

He was sure he was about to join the likes of fellow Los Angeles natives Paul Gonzales and Oscar De La Hoya as an Olympic gold medalist. He would return home as the toast of the town, a conquering hero.

But a not-so-funny thing happened to the 5-foot-5, 112-pounder on his way to glory--Navarro lost in Australia and came back empty-handed and without fanfare.

“Maybe L.A. was waiting for a gold medal,” Navarro said. “It didn’t happen.

“But I’m working hard and I’m not going to let [not winning an Olympic medal] stop me. I have other plans now and I’m going to reach those goals.”

While the Southland has mostly forgotten about him, Navarro, who grew up in South Central L.A., is hoping to rekindle some lost momentum when he makes his Southern California debut tonight in the semi-main event of a six-bout card at the Pond. He will face Jesus Valadez (2-0), also of Los Angeles, in a scheduled six-round junior bantamweight fight.

Navarro, 20, has won all six of his fights--one by knockout--since moving up to 115 pounds and turning professional in January.

“It feels great to fight close to home, in front of friends and family,” Navarro said. “I’m ready to show people that I’m a hard hitter and a good fighter.”

His pedigree seems solid enough. Two of his brothers, Carlos, 25, and Ignacio, 24, have fought professionally. Carlos has held a fringe world title as a super bantamweight.

But it was Jose who had the sterling amateur record, winning 13 national titles and two junior international championships in 130 amateur fights. Navarro’s hardware was filling his parents’ crowded house--he’s second-youngest of 12 children--while he was accumulating a 3.8 grade-point average at Manual Arts High.

That type of self-discipline is what attracted De La Hoya and DiBella Entertainment CEO Lou DiBella to Navarro. De La Hoya is Navarro’s manager and Navarro joined DiBella’s stable of fighters, which includes undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Olympic medalists Ricardo Williams, Jermain Taylor and Clarence Vinson.

“He’s quite a kid, a good, good kid, almost like a choirboy,” DiBella said. “Whether he becomes a world champion or not, which I think he will, he’s going to make something of his life.

“In a sport where you’ve got a lot of guys that are just a mess, Jose is balanced as a person. He’s very low maintenance.”

Navarro has a goal of winning belts at 115, 118, 122, 126 and 130 pounds, which some might consider to be overly ambitious. But the southpaw says his patient and relaxed style is suited to the professional game.

“[As a pro] there’s no gear, smaller gloves and the punches hurt a little more,” he said with a smile. “I feel strong, though the KOs are not there. With experience, the KOs will come.

“In the amateurs, with the point system, you had to rush if you were behind. That’s what happened at the Olympics.”

After beating Hermensen Ballo of Indonesia and Hickem Mesbahi of Morocco, a panicked Navarro fell behind early against Jerome Thomas of France in a quarterfinal. Trying to score points in bunches, Navarro began flailing at the Frenchman, who, in turn, picked Navarro apart with rights to the head and left with a 23-12 victory.

“I’m more of a patient fighter, more like Bernard Hopkins,” Navarro said. “I try to use my hands like Bernard, shield and counter, keeping my hands up.”

Frank Rivera, Navarro’s trainer, said the fighter’s patience is a virtue that will serve him well in the long run.

“He’s already proved he’s the best in the U.S. representing his country at the Olympics,” Rivera said. “He knows, within two years, he’ll be the best in the world.”

Navarro doesn’t see himself hanging on past his prime. He has other plans. The youngest son of immigrants from Michoacan, Mexico, plans to study to become an attorney after he hangs up his gloves.

But first, Navarro is anxious to reclaim the buzz that surrounded him when he boarded that plane for Australia last summer. “I’ve just got to bounce back and get the hype back,” he said.

Notes: The main event tonight will be Max Heyman (13-3, eight KOs) of Albuquerque against Jonathan Young (8-2, four KOs) of Las Vegas in a light-heavyweight fight. There are four undercard bouts. First bout is at 7:30 and tickets, priced from $15 to $90, can be purchased at the Pond or by calling (714) 740-2000.