Puerto Rico not blinded by Cotto
by Ricardo Lois
July 22, 10:20 PM
Cotto will not have the blind support of all Puerto Ricans
I dare you to visit any region of the Philippines and ask 100 random individuals, "who will win between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto?" An overwhelming majority will respond Manny and I would be hard pressed to even imagine anyone picking his November 14 rival.
Why? Pacquiao is their idol, one of the few dominate global sport legends they have in their pantheon and he has aroused their souls through boxing exploits.
As for Miguel Cotto, while a legitimate top ten pound for pound fighter with a solid career, he has never truly captured the hearts and minds of his nation's fight fans. Cotto's ultra-cool personality has not drawn in Puerto Ricans, unlike many of the island's past greats such as Felix "Tito" Trinidad and Wilfredo Gomez - who are national heroes till this day. Something about Miguel has kept his people at a healthy distance.
Before today, if I had to predict the reaction of 100 Puerto Ricans to the question, "who will win Manny or Miguel," my guess would be a solid segment would pick Manny. Why? Because Puerto Ricans are some of the most knowledgeable fans and they are not hero-worshipping Cotto; he has not won them over like Manny owns the Philippines.
Puerto Rican fight scribe Carlos Gonzalez of Primera Hora did what I just proposed, video camera in hand, and hit the streets of San Juan to ask Puerto Ricans thoughts on the fight. The result? A split bag.
A handful selected Cotto, siting reasons such as, "Cotto has the speed to neutralize Pacquiao," or "Cotto has the experience and power." Yet many did give Pacquiao the nod with responses such as, "Pacquiao is much too fast," "Cotto has become soft," and "Cotto gets cut to easy."
There you have it fight fans, Puerto Rican boxing fans - among the best informed in the world and far from myopic regarding their own fighters.
ahh never mind I saw it in the other post...
Here are some facts on PR's first boxing champ.
Sixto Escobar (March 23, 1913 - November 17, 1979) was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Competing in the bantamweight division, he became Puerto Rico's first world champion. Escobar was born in Barceloneta and raised in San Juan. There he received his primary education and took interest in boxing. After gathering a record of 21-1-1 as an amateur, Escobar debuted as a professional in 1931 defeating Luis "Kid Dominican" Pérez by knockout. Early in his career, he moved to Venezuela due to the lack of opponents in his division. There he received an opportunity for the Venezuelan Bantamweight championship, but lost by points. Subsequently he moved to New York and began boxing in other states, eventually capturing the Montreal Athletic Commission World Bantamweight Title. In 1936, he defeated Tony Marino to unify this championship with the one recognized by the International Boxing Union, in the process becoming the third Latin American undisputed world boxing champion. After retiring, he worked as a spokesperson for beer companies in New York, before returning to Puerto Rico in the 1960s, where he resided until his death. He received several posthumous recognitions and his name was used in several sports venues and buildings. In 2002, Escobar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Escobar_sixto.jpgThanks for the info dude.
I don't know if Sixto became very popular in Puerto Rico during his time cause Pancho Villa, a flamboyant champion just like pacquiao was very popular during his time. A grand parade is conducted in manila everytime he comes home successful from a fight in the US. Unfortunately he died early in his early twenties after his fight against mclarin at flyweight due to tooth infection which led to complications, he had his tooth expracted 3 days before the fight . An interesting trivia is that mclarin eventually became a world welterweight champion.
Thats asking who they think would win. However if you ask them who they are rooting for its a unanimous decision for Cotto.
PRs are VERY VERY proud, just as much as filipinos. Although the problem with Cotto IS his personality since most PRs are outspoken and joyful. That feeling is primarily on the island alone.
New yoricans and Puerto ricans that do not reside in Puerto rico have grown to make Miguel Cotto thier representation of a true Puerto rican. A BUsiness man with a terminator like essence to him. HE does his talking in the ring.
Which is why I enjoy his performances and his attitude. He saves it for fight night.
yea...personally i don't need a fighter to be outspoken to become a fan of them. i prefer what they do in the ring. i respect cotto for his heart, and his willingness to put on a "show" for the fans, even when its to his own detriment. all that said, he'll probably lose nov. 14 tho.
1923 - Flyweight against Jimmy Wilde. Francisco "PANCHO" Villa. Although I don't know if he had in mind the 1st PR champion. I'm curios though. Who was it?
I wonder if Pancho was a contemporary of Sixto.....Man that was aloooooonnnng ggg time ago LOL
What year was that? and give a name?
ahh never mind I saw it in the other post...
Here are some facts on PR's first boxing champ.
Sixto Escobar (March 23, 1913 - November 17, 1979) was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Competing in the bantamweight division, he became Puerto Rico's first world champion. Escobar was born in Barceloneta and raised in San Juan. There he received his primary education and took interest in boxing. After gathering a record of 21-1-1 as an amateur, Escobar debuted as a professional in 1931 defeating Luis "Kid Dominican" Pérez by knockout. Early in his career, he moved to Venezuela due to the lack of opponents in his division. There he received an opportunity for the Venezuelan Bantamweight championship, but lost by points. Subsequently he moved to New York and began boxing in other states, eventually capturing the Montreal Athletic Commission World Bantamweight Title. In 1936, he defeated Tony Marino to unify this championship with the one recognized by the International Boxing Union, in the process becoming the third Latin American undisputed world boxing champion. After retiring, he worked as a spokesperson for beer companies in New York, before returning to Puerto Rico in the 1960s, where he resided until his death. He received several posthumous recognitions and his name was used in several sports venues and buildings. In 2002, Escobar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Escobar_sixto.jpg
1923 - Flyweight against Jimmy Wilde. Francisco "PANCHO Villa" Guilledo. Although I don't know if he had in mind the 1st PR champion. I'm curios though. Who was it?
Regardless to whatever fantasies the Philippine people may have about the rich history of Puerto Rican boxing, you or know one will ever TAKE away the facts that Puerto Rico has created more boxing (World Champions) than any other country in THE WORLD!!!
I like Manny and so do many other Puerto Ricans but we expect respect from countries that boxing isn't even there number one sport like it is in Puerto Rico (Panama being other one) and then have the nerve to say thay have a better history in the sport than we do, is just fukin crazy and it pisses me the fuk off!
Respect!!!
PRPP :boxing:I agree that Puerto Rico has produced more world champions than the Philippines although I don't have the exact statistics.
Look at my sig, there a pinoy champ there named flash elode, who was beaten by a puerto rican champ carlos ortiz twice by KO when he tried to conquer the 135 division. However, he beat a nuyorican by the name of harold gomes twice. I'm not sure but I think it was one of their fights in the 60's that caused a riot in madison square garden.
Regardless to whatever fantasies the Philippine people may have about the rich history of Puerto Rican boxing, you or know one will ever TAKE away the facts that Puerto Rico has created more boxing (World Champions) than any other country in THE WORLD!!!
I like Manny and so do many other Puerto Ricans but we expect respect from countries that boxing isn't even there number one sport like it is in Puerto Rico (Panama being other one) and then have the nerve to say thay have a better history in the sport than we do, is just fukin crazy and it pisses me the fuk off!
Respect!!!
PRPP :boxing:
Dude, we know Puerto Rico is a powerhouse in boxing today but the Philippines started way before Puerto Rico even had a champion. Pancho Villa was a champion in the early '20s and he defeated a lot of American champions during his time.
Don't get us wrong pinoys respect Puerto Rico as a producer of great boxers.
Peace
speechless...
try to know the facts before acting like a douche
Regardless to whatever fantasies the Philippine people may have about the rich history of Puerto Rican boxing, you or know one will ever TAKE away the facts that Puerto Rico has created more boxing (World Champions) than any other country in THE WORLD!!!
I like Manny and so do many other Puerto Ricans but we expect respect from countries that boxing isn't even there number one sport like it is in Puerto Rico (Panama being other one) and then have the nerve to say thay have a better history in the sport than we do, is just fukin crazy and it pisses me the fuk off!
Respect!!!
PRPP :boxing:
goddamn kids
Shut the f@ck up, you fetus!!!!
:lol1:
are you talking about pancho villa the mexican revolutionary hero?
No, I'm talking about a pinoy world champion in the 20's. Now go back to your mother's womb. LOL
:haha:
you always complete my day pareng kadyo... :D
are you talking about pancho villa the mexican revolutionary hero?No, I'm talking about a pinoy world champion in the 20's. Now go back to your mother's womb. LOL
:bs2:
:sigh1: I feel sorry for you guys, so I won't say anything..:nana:Ever heard of a 20's fighter named pancho villa? He beat the best flyweight of the last century by KO.