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puerto rico is a great place with a great boxing heritage, but its not a country.
it doesnt, so i dunno why some people are so upset about itWhy does it matter when we're talking boxing?
boriquas' have a weird legal status. lets just leave it at that.Do you think Puerto Ricans should be considered Americans?Comment
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cong**** and good post,
Puerto Rico are a brilliant boxing nationComment
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It's because they consider themselves to be an independent nation, even though they are technically a territory of the US. It's a pride thing. I respect their claim because even though they're not technically a country, they deserve inclusion when discussing countries in circumstances like this one. To dismiss their claim as the #1 P4P Boxing country by just saying they're not a country, is kind of being too technical. I know what you're saying but I think Puerto Rico is a special circumstance and I for one count them as a country when talking about boxing etc...Comment
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Good stuff, papa..
With a population of less than 4 Million People PR has produce numerous champions, in fact PR is the only Country who has produce a champ in each division. We have produce a numerous of multi division champs, and the first Latino HeavyWeight champ.
Our first Champ, was Sixto Escobar. Sixto Escobar became the first Puerto Rican to win a boxing World Championship.
According to the Oct. 25, 1934 Montreal Gazette, boxer Tony Rojas was Escobar's early manager. It was Rojas who had brought Escobar to the United States. Lou Brix was Escobar's manager on the continent. When Escobar came to Montreal, Rojas and Brix had a dispute over Escobar's management.
Once he won the world title, Escobar became a hero of Puerto Rico. In early December 1934 he went back to San Juan where Acting Governor Jose Padin ordered all schools closed, and government offices "opened one hour late so that all employees could go to the dock" to welcome Escobar. There was a parade around the entire city with "Escobar holding aloft the lone star flag of Puerto Rico. Newspapers and Nationalists warned against the display of the American flag." He also received a trophy given by the insular board of athletics. "Barceloneta, his home town, has declared a week of festive rejoicing in his honor." Dec. 9, 1934 New York Times
In 1935 a stadium in San Juan was named in his honor; the Sixto Escobar Stadium still exists to this day (2009).
Escobar was featured on the cover of the December 1936 The Ring magazine, (and co-featured on the October 1937 cover).
According to a Nov. 1, 1943 Tacoma News Tribune newspaper (Tacoma, WA, USA) wire report, Escobar was serving in the U. S. Army's Antilles Air Command Coast Artillery at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Escobar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002.
Notable fights include:
* Sixto Escobar vs. Rodolfo (Baby) Casanova
* Sixto Escobar vs. Pete Sanstol for World Bantamweight Title
* Sixto Escobar vs. Tony Olivera
Sixto is the most important PR boxer in PR History. he opened the door, for all the champions we have today. He has been a inspiration to puertorricans since the days he became champion.
Aftert Sixto Ecobar we have had many Champions, here are some of them:
* Wilfred Benitez
* Ivan Calderon
* Victor Callejas
* Hector Camacho
* Josue Camacho
* Kermit Cintron
* Miguel Angel Cotto
* Esteban De Jesús
* Jose De Jesus
* Carlos DeLeon
* Rafael Del Valle
* Nelson Dieppa
* Alfredo Escalera
* Sixto Escobar
* Angel Espada
* Orlando Fernandez
* Sammy Fuentes
* Wilfredo Gomez
* Daniel Jimenez
* Juan La Porte
* Juan Manuel López
* John John Molina
* Eric Morel
* Juan Nazario
* Ossie Ocasio
* Carlos Ortiz
* Carlos Quintana
* Antonio Rivera
* Jake Rodriguez
* Edwin Rosario
* Jose Ruiz
* Alex Sanchez
* Carlos Santos
* Daniel Santos
* Samuel Serrano
* Manny Siaca
* Julian Solis
* Jose Torres
* Felix Trinidad
* Wilfredo Vazquez
Most of this fighters are multidivision champs, like Wilfedo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, Felix Trinidad and most recently Miguel Cotto.
Out of those fighters also we the youngest champion ever in any division, Wilfred Benitez. Benitez is the youngest world champion in boxing history, capturing the WBA junior welterweight title at the age of 17 years and 5 months with a split decision over Antonio Cervantes. Benitez was known as an outstanding boxer, with outstanding defensive skills. Though he achieved great success at a young age, Benitez was also washed up as a fighter before he turned 25.
Also we have the fighter with most consecutive title defenses won by KO Wilfredo Gomez. He won 17 straight title defenses by KO, till he moved up to FeatherWeight and got dominated and KOd by Mexican Salvador Sanchez. It has been said that, that victory over Gomez, was what started the famous rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico
The rivalry has been going on for years, with numerous of exciting match ups, like Rosario vs Chavez, Trinidad vs Vargas, Trinidad vs De La Hoya and Cotto vs Margarito most recently. PR have more wins in championship fights, but Mexico have more wins in the real mega fights. This rivalry has been the best thing that have happend to Latin boxing.
Our most famous boxer was and is, Felix Trinidad, his charisma and shine and KO power, brought him to the top of the sport, and he is PRs most prolifer ticket seller in history. His power was unbelievable, and his desire to be great.
At first he was real unkown till he won his first title at the age of 20 against Maurice Blocker. After that it was hard for Tito to find good fights, because of problems with his promoter. After he settle his problems with DK, he inmediately got his first big match against ATG Pernell Whitaker, after that he went on to defend his title 15 times before unifing, with WBC champ and star Oscar De La Hoya. After he moved up in weight and capture the WBA SWW title from olimpic gold medalist David Reid, he also unified this division when after just his 2nd fight at the weight, he KOd former champ and Mexican great Fernando Vargas in a grueling fight. The he moved up in weight 1 more time, and he tried to become just the 2nd WW champion to become MW champion in his 1rst try. And he did KO WBA William Joppy afetr Joppy he tried to unified the division, but he failed, against ATG Bernard Hopkins. After Hopkins he had fought 4 times and he is 2-2 in those fights.
Our most recent champs are Miguel Cotto, Ivan Calderon and the future star WBO SBW champion Juan Manuel Lopez
Puerto Rico have had many boxing champions and have a rich boxing history and is consider the P4P land of champions!!!!!!
Viva Puerto Rico!!!!!!!!!!!!!Comment
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