Gabriel Bernal

Gabriel Bernal (born 24 March 1956) in Guerrero, Mexico was a former WBC Flyweight Champion. Bernal would hold the title for 6 months in 1984

Bernal was a top-ten Flyweight contender when he went to Tokyo to face hometown favorite Kobi Kobayashi for the WBC Flyweight Championship. Bernal would destroy Kobayashi winning by second-round knockout. Two months later, Bernal successfully defended his title in Nimes, France, defeating Antoine Montero by an eleventh-round knockout. This was significant because the previous six WBC Flyweight Champions had all lost their title in their first defence.

Bernal is remembered for his series of fights with Thailand's Sot Chitalada. For Bernal's second defense, he went to Bangkok to face Chitalada. He lost a twelve-round decision on 8 October 1984. Eight months later, Bernal travelled back to Bangkok in an attempt to wrest the title from Chitalada. On 22 June 1985, Bernal fought Chitalada to a draw after twelve rounds, and Chitalada kept the title. Bernal had one more shot eighteen months later, travelling again to Bangkok, where on 10 December 1986 he lost another twelve-round decision to Chitalada. It was his final attempt to win the Flyweight title.

Bernal fought for another six years, but was never the same fighter. On 11 April 1992 he lost a 12-round decision to former WBC Bantamweight Champion, Miguel Lora. He fought once more before retiring, finishing his career with a record of 43-15-3 and 28 KOs.

External links

* [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/gbernal.htm The Cyber Boxing Zone - Gabriel Bernal]