Tweet
By The Boxing Times Staff
#1. Felix "Tito" Trinidad (42-1, 35 KO's) Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico (1990-2004). Future Hall of Famer and former IBF welterweight, WBA junior middleweight and WBA middleweight champion. Devastating puncher with wicked left hook. Won first world championship at 20, when he KO'd Maurice Blocker in two-rounds, in 1993. Holds victories over, Hector Camacho, Yori Boy Campas, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, William Joppy and Ricardo Mayorga.
#2. Wilfredo "El Radar" Benitez (53-8-1, 31 KO's) San Juan, Puerto Rico (1973-1990). Benitez became the youngest fighter to win a world title at the age of 17, when he defeated Antonio Cervantes, to capture the WBA junior welterweight crown in 1976. Tremendous boxer-puncher and Hall of Famer, who went on to win the WBA welterweight and junior middleweight titles. Victories over Bruce Curry, Carlos Palomino, Randy Shields and Roberto Duran. Stayed too long at the party.
#3. Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (44-3-1, 42 KO's) Las Monjas, Puerto Rico (1974-1989). A weapon from 122 to130 pounds. Devastating puncher and crowd pleaser. First captured the WBA super bantamweight crown with a 12 rd. TKO of Dong-Kyun Yum, in 1977 and successfully defended his title 13 times. Gomez later recaptured the WBA belt with a 6th rd. TKO over Juan Meza, then won the WBA featherweight belt and WBA super featherweight crowns. Holds wins over Carlos Zarate, Ruben Valdez, Derrik Holmes, Juan Antonio Lopez, Robert Rubaldino, Lupe Pintor, Juan LaPorte and Rocky Lockridge.
#4. Carlos Ortiz (60-7-1, 29 KO's) Ponce, Puerto Rico (1955-1972). Outstanding junior lightweight and WBC & WBA lightweight champion. Hall of Famer and class act of the 135-pound division. An excellent boxer/puncher throughout the 1950 and 1960's. Holds wins over Kenny Lane, Battling Torres, Joe Brown, Doug Valiant, Flash Elorde, Ishmael Laguna, and Sugar Ramos.
#5. Edwin "El Chappo" Rosario (47 -6, 41 KO's) Toa Baja, Puerto Rico (1979-1997. Talented slugger and three time world champion; WBC and WBA lightweight titleholder, WBA junior welterweight king. Captured the vacant WBC 135-pound crown with win over Jose Luis Ramirez, lost crown in 1984 "Fight of the Year" to Ramirez 19 months later. Recaptured title with brutal 2nd rd. KO of Livingston Bramble. His outstanding record shows wins over Edwin Viruet, Howard Davis Jr., Frankie Randall, Anthony Jones, and a stunning third round TKO over WBA 140-pound champion Loreto Garza, after dropping the titleholder twice in the 1st and twice in the 3rd.
#6. Sammy "El Torbellino" Serrano (52-4-1, 17 KO's) Toa Alto, Puerto Rico (1969-1997. Classic boxer mover, who could sting you with either hand. Captured the WBA super featherweight belt by outpointing Ben Vilaflor, in 1976 and defended the belt 10 times. Won the same title back by outpointing Yasutsune Uehara and defended it two more times. Holds wins over Apollo Yoshio, Young-Ho Oh, Julio Valdez, Nkosana "Happy Boy" Mgxaji, Battlehawk Kazama and Benedicto Vilablanca.
#7. Jose "Chegui" Torres (41-3-1, 29 KO's) Playa Ponce, Puerto Rico (1958-1969). Former outstanding middleweight who moved up to 175 and captured the WBA & WBC light heavyweight belts by scoring a ninth round TKO over Willie Pastrano, in 1965. A Hall of Famer, who defended his titles three times, Torres remains one of boxing's most elegant spokesmen. Wins over Jose Gonzalez, Gomeo Brennan, Carl "Bobo" Olson, Wayne Thorton, Eddie Cotton and Chic Calderwood.
#8. Estaban De Jesus (57-5, 32 KO's) Carolina, Puerto Rico (1969-1980). Gifted boxer puncher, who was the first man to defeat Roberto Duran. Captured the WBC lightweight title by scoring a 15-rd. win over Guts Ishimatsu, in 1976. Defended title three times and holds lifetime wins over Duran, Ray Lampkin, Johnny Gant, Hector Julio Medina, Buzzsaw Yamabe, Vincente Saldivar and Edwin Viruet.
#9. John John Molina (52-7, 33 KO's) Fajardo, Puerto Rico (1986-2001). Former three-time world champion. Captured the vacant WBO super featherweight belt by scoring a 12-rd. win over Juan LaPorte, in 1989. Six months later, Molina won the IBF 130-pound crown by scoring a 10th rd. TKO over Tony "Tiger" Lopez. Molina holds victories over Lupe Suarez, Jackie Gunguluza, Fernando Caicedo, Francisco Segura, Manuel Medina, Bernard Taylor and Goyo Vargas.
#10. Wilfredo "Pride of Puerto Rico" Vazquez (56-9-2, 41 KO's) Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (1981-2002). Explosive fighter and holder of three different world championships in three different divisions. Former WBA bantamweight, WBA super bantamweight and WBA featherweight titleholder. Captured his first world title by scoring a 10th rd. TKO over Chan-Yong Park in 1987. Vazquez went on to win the WBA 122-pound crown with a 3rd rd. TKO over Raul Perez in 1992, and the WBA featherweight title by scoring a 11th rd. TKO over Eloy Rojas. Holds victories over Juan Carazo, Thierry Jacob, Luis Enrique Mendoza, Hiroaki Yokota, Yuichi Kasai, Jae-Won Choi, Bernardo Manuel Mendoza, Yuji Watanabe, Roque Cassiani and Genaro Rios.
#11. Alfredo "El Salsero" Escalera (53-14-3, 31 KO's) Carolina, Puerto Rico (1970-1983). Tremendous boxer, puncher, performer, who won the WBA super featherweight title by scoring a second round KO over Kuniaki Shibata in 1975. Escalera would go on to defend his crown nine times. "El Salsero" holds victories over Frankie Otero, Svein Erik Paulsen, Buzzsaw Yambe, Ray Luny III, Tyrone Everett, Ronnie McGarvey, Carlos Becerril and Sigfredo Rodriguez.
#12 Hector Camacho (78-5-2, 38 KO's) Bayamón, Puerto Rico (1980-2004)-Captured the vacant WBC Super Featherweight Title, when he KO'd Rafael "Bazooka" Limon at 2:52 of the fifth round, in 1983, then in 1985, he won the WBC lightweight crown, by scoring a 12 rd. unanimous decision over Jose Luis Ramirez. In 1989, Camacho would go on to claim the vacant WBO junior welterweight belt by scoring a 12 rd. split decision over Ray Mancini. Camacho won 39 straight fights until he was upset by Greg Haugen and lost a 12 round split decision. In that bout, Camacho had a point deducted at the start of the final round because he hit his opponent rather than shake hands. Camacho would go on to win a variety of fringe titles and keep fighting for a number of years. Camacho holds win over, Edwin Rosario, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Howard Davis, Jr., Vinny Pazienza, Tony Baltazar, Greg Haugen, Luis Maysonet, Gary Kirkland, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tony Menefee, and Roberto Duran.
#13. Miguel Cotto (22-0, 18 KO's) Caguas, Puerto Rico (2001-2004). Tremendously talented and gifted 24-year-old junior welterweight, Cotto won the vacant WBO 140-pound belt by scoring a scalding 6th rd. TKO over Kelson Pinto. Cotto has a lethal left hook to the head and body that can crack marble. Pinto was down in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th. If he stays healthy and continues to focus on his craft, Cotto has the ability to be remembered as among the very best Puerto Rican boxers. Holds wins over, Justin Juuko, Cesar Bazan, Joel Perez, Demetrio Ceballos, Victor Sosa, Lovemore N'Dou and Randall Bailey.
#14. Pedro Montanez (81-7-5, 50 KO's) Cayey, Puerto Rico (1931-1940). Although Montanez never won a world championship he had a great career as a lightweight, jr. welter and welterweight contender throughout the 1930's. Lost a majority 15 rd. dec. to Lou Ambers for the 135-pound title in 1937 & TKO'd in 9 by Henry Armstrong for the welterweight crown in 1940. Holds wins over Lou Ambers, Red Cochrane, Lew Massey, Jackie "Kid" Berg, Young Peter Jackson, lost controversial decision to Davey Day on cuts in Madison Square Garden.
#15. Juan La Porte (40-17, 22 KO's) Guaymas, Puerto Rico (1977-1999). The former WBC featherweight champion is best remembered as an outstanding competitor who always gave his best when he climbed inside the ropes. LaPorte captured the WBC 126-pound belt by scoring a 10th rd. TKO over Mario Miranda, in 1982. LaPorte would defend the title two more times but remain for a number of years, as one of the top contenders from 130-to-140-pounds. LaPorte holds wins over Rocky Lockridge, Ruben Castillo, Johnny De La Rosa, Vinnie Costello, Lupe Miranda and Marco Antonio Lizarraga.
#1. Felix "Tito" Trinidad (42-1, 35 KO's) Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico (1990-2004). Future Hall of Famer and former IBF welterweight, WBA junior middleweight and WBA middleweight champion. Devastating puncher with wicked left hook. Won first world championship at 20, when he KO'd Maurice Blocker in two-rounds, in 1993. Holds victories over, Hector Camacho, Yori Boy Campas, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, William Joppy and Ricardo Mayorga.
#2. Wilfredo "El Radar" Benitez (53-8-1, 31 KO's) San Juan, Puerto Rico (1973-1990). Benitez became the youngest fighter to win a world title at the age of 17, when he defeated Antonio Cervantes, to capture the WBA junior welterweight crown in 1976. Tremendous boxer-puncher and Hall of Famer, who went on to win the WBA welterweight and junior middleweight titles. Victories over Bruce Curry, Carlos Palomino, Randy Shields and Roberto Duran. Stayed too long at the party.
#3. Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (44-3-1, 42 KO's) Las Monjas, Puerto Rico (1974-1989). A weapon from 122 to130 pounds. Devastating puncher and crowd pleaser. First captured the WBA super bantamweight crown with a 12 rd. TKO of Dong-Kyun Yum, in 1977 and successfully defended his title 13 times. Gomez later recaptured the WBA belt with a 6th rd. TKO over Juan Meza, then won the WBA featherweight belt and WBA super featherweight crowns. Holds wins over Carlos Zarate, Ruben Valdez, Derrik Holmes, Juan Antonio Lopez, Robert Rubaldino, Lupe Pintor, Juan LaPorte and Rocky Lockridge.
#4. Carlos Ortiz (60-7-1, 29 KO's) Ponce, Puerto Rico (1955-1972). Outstanding junior lightweight and WBC & WBA lightweight champion. Hall of Famer and class act of the 135-pound division. An excellent boxer/puncher throughout the 1950 and 1960's. Holds wins over Kenny Lane, Battling Torres, Joe Brown, Doug Valiant, Flash Elorde, Ishmael Laguna, and Sugar Ramos.
#5. Edwin "El Chappo" Rosario (47 -6, 41 KO's) Toa Baja, Puerto Rico (1979-1997. Talented slugger and three time world champion; WBC and WBA lightweight titleholder, WBA junior welterweight king. Captured the vacant WBC 135-pound crown with win over Jose Luis Ramirez, lost crown in 1984 "Fight of the Year" to Ramirez 19 months later. Recaptured title with brutal 2nd rd. KO of Livingston Bramble. His outstanding record shows wins over Edwin Viruet, Howard Davis Jr., Frankie Randall, Anthony Jones, and a stunning third round TKO over WBA 140-pound champion Loreto Garza, after dropping the titleholder twice in the 1st and twice in the 3rd.
#6. Sammy "El Torbellino" Serrano (52-4-1, 17 KO's) Toa Alto, Puerto Rico (1969-1997. Classic boxer mover, who could sting you with either hand. Captured the WBA super featherweight belt by outpointing Ben Vilaflor, in 1976 and defended the belt 10 times. Won the same title back by outpointing Yasutsune Uehara and defended it two more times. Holds wins over Apollo Yoshio, Young-Ho Oh, Julio Valdez, Nkosana "Happy Boy" Mgxaji, Battlehawk Kazama and Benedicto Vilablanca.
#7. Jose "Chegui" Torres (41-3-1, 29 KO's) Playa Ponce, Puerto Rico (1958-1969). Former outstanding middleweight who moved up to 175 and captured the WBA & WBC light heavyweight belts by scoring a ninth round TKO over Willie Pastrano, in 1965. A Hall of Famer, who defended his titles three times, Torres remains one of boxing's most elegant spokesmen. Wins over Jose Gonzalez, Gomeo Brennan, Carl "Bobo" Olson, Wayne Thorton, Eddie Cotton and Chic Calderwood.
#8. Estaban De Jesus (57-5, 32 KO's) Carolina, Puerto Rico (1969-1980). Gifted boxer puncher, who was the first man to defeat Roberto Duran. Captured the WBC lightweight title by scoring a 15-rd. win over Guts Ishimatsu, in 1976. Defended title three times and holds lifetime wins over Duran, Ray Lampkin, Johnny Gant, Hector Julio Medina, Buzzsaw Yamabe, Vincente Saldivar and Edwin Viruet.
#9. John John Molina (52-7, 33 KO's) Fajardo, Puerto Rico (1986-2001). Former three-time world champion. Captured the vacant WBO super featherweight belt by scoring a 12-rd. win over Juan LaPorte, in 1989. Six months later, Molina won the IBF 130-pound crown by scoring a 10th rd. TKO over Tony "Tiger" Lopez. Molina holds victories over Lupe Suarez, Jackie Gunguluza, Fernando Caicedo, Francisco Segura, Manuel Medina, Bernard Taylor and Goyo Vargas.
#10. Wilfredo "Pride of Puerto Rico" Vazquez (56-9-2, 41 KO's) Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (1981-2002). Explosive fighter and holder of three different world championships in three different divisions. Former WBA bantamweight, WBA super bantamweight and WBA featherweight titleholder. Captured his first world title by scoring a 10th rd. TKO over Chan-Yong Park in 1987. Vazquez went on to win the WBA 122-pound crown with a 3rd rd. TKO over Raul Perez in 1992, and the WBA featherweight title by scoring a 11th rd. TKO over Eloy Rojas. Holds victories over Juan Carazo, Thierry Jacob, Luis Enrique Mendoza, Hiroaki Yokota, Yuichi Kasai, Jae-Won Choi, Bernardo Manuel Mendoza, Yuji Watanabe, Roque Cassiani and Genaro Rios.
#11. Alfredo "El Salsero" Escalera (53-14-3, 31 KO's) Carolina, Puerto Rico (1970-1983). Tremendous boxer, puncher, performer, who won the WBA super featherweight title by scoring a second round KO over Kuniaki Shibata in 1975. Escalera would go on to defend his crown nine times. "El Salsero" holds victories over Frankie Otero, Svein Erik Paulsen, Buzzsaw Yambe, Ray Luny III, Tyrone Everett, Ronnie McGarvey, Carlos Becerril and Sigfredo Rodriguez.
#12 Hector Camacho (78-5-2, 38 KO's) Bayamón, Puerto Rico (1980-2004)-Captured the vacant WBC Super Featherweight Title, when he KO'd Rafael "Bazooka" Limon at 2:52 of the fifth round, in 1983, then in 1985, he won the WBC lightweight crown, by scoring a 12 rd. unanimous decision over Jose Luis Ramirez. In 1989, Camacho would go on to claim the vacant WBO junior welterweight belt by scoring a 12 rd. split decision over Ray Mancini. Camacho won 39 straight fights until he was upset by Greg Haugen and lost a 12 round split decision. In that bout, Camacho had a point deducted at the start of the final round because he hit his opponent rather than shake hands. Camacho would go on to win a variety of fringe titles and keep fighting for a number of years. Camacho holds win over, Edwin Rosario, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Howard Davis, Jr., Vinny Pazienza, Tony Baltazar, Greg Haugen, Luis Maysonet, Gary Kirkland, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tony Menefee, and Roberto Duran.
#13. Miguel Cotto (22-0, 18 KO's) Caguas, Puerto Rico (2001-2004). Tremendously talented and gifted 24-year-old junior welterweight, Cotto won the vacant WBO 140-pound belt by scoring a scalding 6th rd. TKO over Kelson Pinto. Cotto has a lethal left hook to the head and body that can crack marble. Pinto was down in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th. If he stays healthy and continues to focus on his craft, Cotto has the ability to be remembered as among the very best Puerto Rican boxers. Holds wins over, Justin Juuko, Cesar Bazan, Joel Perez, Demetrio Ceballos, Victor Sosa, Lovemore N'Dou and Randall Bailey.
#14. Pedro Montanez (81-7-5, 50 KO's) Cayey, Puerto Rico (1931-1940). Although Montanez never won a world championship he had a great career as a lightweight, jr. welter and welterweight contender throughout the 1930's. Lost a majority 15 rd. dec. to Lou Ambers for the 135-pound title in 1937 & TKO'd in 9 by Henry Armstrong for the welterweight crown in 1940. Holds wins over Lou Ambers, Red Cochrane, Lew Massey, Jackie "Kid" Berg, Young Peter Jackson, lost controversial decision to Davey Day on cuts in Madison Square Garden.
#15. Juan La Porte (40-17, 22 KO's) Guaymas, Puerto Rico (1977-1999). The former WBC featherweight champion is best remembered as an outstanding competitor who always gave his best when he climbed inside the ropes. LaPorte captured the WBC 126-pound belt by scoring a 10th rd. TKO over Mario Miranda, in 1982. LaPorte would defend the title two more times but remain for a number of years, as one of the top contenders from 130-to-140-pounds. LaPorte holds wins over Rocky Lockridge, Ruben Castillo, Johnny De La Rosa, Vinnie Costello, Lupe Miranda and Marco Antonio Lizarraga.
Comment