John Natividad Photos:
In this first photo you will find many of Sports Karate’s headliners including Steve Sanders, Ralph Alegria, Al Dacascos, Cecil Peoples, John Natividad, Darnel Garcia and Bob Burbidge, Steve Fisher, Benny Urquidez, Mike Stone and Howard Jackson. This photo was taken as the mainland team members arrived in Hawaii for competition.
Below: Benny Urquidez (black jacket) vs John Natividad (white jacket) , at the Internationals in Long Beach, California in 1973. More information about the fight below the photos.
In August 1973 John Natividad and Benny Urquidez squared off at Ed Parker’s Internationals Karate Championships in Long Beach, California. Benny Urquidez received the same premium as the winner, $2,500. This battle is considered the best ever fight in point karate sparring. John Natividad, a native of Hawaii, practices Tang Soo Do and is a student of Chuck Norris. Natividad had already won numerous tournaments before this victory.
Benny Urquidez beat Kraig Smith by 3-0 and wins the lightweights title. John Natividad defeated Choo Choo Mayes for the light-heavyweights title. For the Grand Champion title, Natividad beats Ralph Algegria by 2-0 and Benny Urquidez defeats Bob Burbidge, by 3-2. In the finals, John Natividad wins the first round against Benny Urquidez by 3-2. In the second round, John Natividad received a penalty for a reverse punch, with face contact. Urquidez leads by 6-4 at the end of the 2nd round. In the 3rd round, a spinning back kick ? from Benny Urquidez struck Natividad squarely in the jaw. Urquidez is penalized. At the end of the 3rd round, the fighters are at 12-12. During the overtime, Natividad gives a reverse punch and wins the match by 13-12. Information taken from the December 1973 Black Belt issue.