Cecilio Lastra

Career

He fought 54 times between 1975 and 1982. Winning 39 (24 by knockout), losing 13 and drawing 2. Lastra made his professional debut at the age of 24, with a six round points victory against Juan Barros in December 1975.

As with the majority of his early fights, the bout took place in his hometown of Santander.

He suffered his first knockout defeat in August 1977, losing in the eleventh round against Roberto Castanon in his first title defence. In December 1977 Lastra challenged Rafael Ortega for the WBA featherweight title in front of an estimated crowd of 6,300 in Santander.

At the end of the contest the scorecards revealed a split decision in Lastra"s favour. Foreign the first defence of his title Lastra travelled to Panama City to fight Eusebio Pedroza in April 1978.

The 22-year-old challenger knocked Lastra down three times en route to a thirteenth-round technical knockout victory.

Although Lastra never fought for a world title again, he twice challenged Roberto Castanon for the EBU title. Losing the first fight on points and the second by a fourth round technical knockout. After four losses in a row, including two Spanish title fights, Lastra fought for a final time in July 1982, losing in the fifth round against Amalio Galan.

Achievements

• The highlight of Lastra"s career came in 1977 when he won the WBA world featherweight title against Rafael Ortega. During his career he also became the Spanish champion and twice challenged for the EBU title. Lastra won the first twelve fights of his career, including six first round knockouts, before losing for the first time, in September 1976, against Carlos Hernandez. Following this defeat, Lastra won eight successive fights in Santander, before beating Isidoro Cabeza for the Spanish featherweight title. Ortega, a Panamanian who had won the title earlier in the year, was knocked down in the second round after a left jab to the nose. The champion rose from the canvas at the count of eight and lasted the full fifteen rounds.