List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions

Last updated

A statue of Sixto Escobar, found in the Estadio Sixto Escobar venue Escobar Statue.jpg
A statue of Sixto Escobar, found in the Estadio Sixto Escobar venue

In Puerto Rico, boxing is considered a major sport, having produced more amateur and professional world champions than any other sport in its history. [1] Puerto Rico ranks 5th worldwide between countries with most boxing world champions in history (only behind USA, Mexico, UK and Japan). [2] Also, in year 2004, became the first country to have had, at least, one world champion in every single one of the 17 current boxing weight divisions throughout the history (Provided that John Ruiz is considered as Puerto Rican and not counting Bridgerweight division). [3] [4] Puerto Rico ranks first in champions per capita with an astonishing 16 in every one million people. [3] February 9, 2008 was the first time that boxers from Puerto Rico had held three of the four major welterweights titles (World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization) when Carlos Quintana defeated Paul Williams to join Miguel Cotto, and Kermit Cintron as champions in the division. [5]

Contents

Individually, Puerto Rican world champions have earned numerous achievements. These include, Wilfredo Gómez's record for most defenses in the super bantamweight division and for most successive knockouts by a titleholder. On March 6, 1976, at age 17, Wilfred Benítez became the youngest world champion in the history of the sport. On September 3, 1994, Daniel Jiménez established a world record for the quickest knockout in a championship fight, defeating Harald Geier in 17 seconds (currently the second fastest). [6] Juan Manuel López is sixth in this category, having defeated César Figueroa in 47 seconds during his first defense. [6] Ossie Ocasio was the first World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight champion, winning it on February 13, 1982. This accomplishment was mimicked in other organizations: José de Jesús, José Ruíz Matos, John John Molina and Héctor Camacho did it in their respective divisions in the World Boxing Organization (WBO). On June 7, 2014, Miguel Cotto made history by becoming Puerto Rico's first four-division world champion. [7] In women's boxing, Amanda Serrano was the first IBF super featherweight champion and the first Puerto Rican boxer (male or female) to win major world titles in seven different weight classes (Camacho made it first, but four of his titles were considered minor world titles). Also, in 2023, Serrano was the first Puerto Rican to be Undisputed world champion in a single division (featherweight), having won the four belts on each of the major boxing organizations (WBO,WBC,IBF and later WBA). [8]

Boxing in Puerto Rico

Boxing was introduced and practiced in a clandestine manner in Puerto Rico while the archipelago was still a Spanish colony. [9] Fights were organized in haciendas among the workers of the sugar and coffee plantations, and the objective was to determine the best fighter among the employees. Following the culmination of the Puerto Rican Campaign and Spanish–American War, American soldiers who were stationed in the main island practiced the sport. During World War I, a championship known as Campeonato Las Casas was held as training for military personnel. [9] Nero Chen, the first Puerto Rican boxer to gain recognition, began his career in these tournaments. The Combat Maneuver Training Center followed this example and organized boxing activities, which they named Los Campeones del Campamento. These were received with enthusiasm by the young recruits. Most of these events were celebrated without restriction due to military jurisdictional limits, although prohibitions were put in place for the civilian population. [9] Illegal matches were organized on the rooftops of residences in Old San Juan, empty terrain's in El Condado and in hippodromes. [9]

Outside of the island, legendary opera tenor Antonio Paoli, fell on economic hardship due to the closing of European opera houses during the first world war. He decided to change careers and entered a period of training making his boxing debut in London in 1916. Paoli won his first 5 fights but injured his wrist in his 6th bout, deciding to retire. The fact that a celebrity of his stature, who had been bestowed honors for his musical prowess by the pope, the Spanish monarchs and the Russian czar, would so quickly choose boxing as an alternate career shows how popular and deeply embedded in the culture of the island boxing was, even during its clandestine era.

By 1924, several young men were being taught to box by Gregario Rosa, a boxer who had won the featherweight championship of the Atlantic Fleet while serving in the Navy. [9] Rosa established "Jack Dempsey Physical Culture and Boxing Club", a gym where he continued instructing more pugilists; however, the local police department would go in and arrest any boxer that participated in a card (organized boxing match). At times they were surprised to discover that several members of the law enforcement agencies and government were involved. In one case they discovered a group of police officers, including a colonel, two members of the governor's cabinet, numerous legislators and a judge at an event. [9] The charges were archived; the decision was justified with a statement that said: "How will we have a boxing world champion if we don't let the boys learn how to box?" [9]

Carlos Ortiz is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time Carlos Ortiz 1966.jpg
Carlos Ortíz is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time

In 1926, a boxing venue was opened in a military facility known as Cuartel de Ballajá ; a fight card was organized weekly. Legislator Lorenzo Coballes Gandía redacted a proposal to legalize boxing, which was signed by governor Horace Mann Towner in May 1927. [10] Consequently, the Primera Comisión Atlética de Boxeo (The First Athletic Boxing Commission) was created; this became the first organization dedicated to sanctioned boxing in Puerto Rico. [10] Estadio Universal (Universal Stadium) became the first venue to organize legal boxing cards. The first event featured a fight between Enrique Chaffardet and Al Clemens as the main event, which was declared a draw by the judges. [10] New stadiums were built in Bayamón, Caguas, Mayagüez, Ponce, Aguadilla and San Juan. [10] The first Puerto Rican to win a world championship was Sixto Escobar, who won it on June 26, 1934. During the 1960s and 1970s, there was an increase in the number of pugilists who achieved this recognition. [11] Including Wilfred Benítez who on March 6, 1976, became the youngest world champion in history at 17 years old. This tendency continued during the following two decades, reaching its peak between the 1980s and 1990s. There was a slight decline in the 1990s. Félix Trinidad was Puerto Rico's most notable champion during this period. [12] The 2000s brought another increase, as over a dozen boxers won world championships.

Héctor García, Dommys Delgado Berty, Francisco Varcárcel and José Peñagaricano have served as presidents of the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission. This organization gained more prominence in 1985 when it received full control as the sanctioning body in any professional fight organized in Puerto Rico. [13] In 2000, the commission's regulation was revised to exclude professional wrestling, which up to that point had been under its scope. This was Peñagaricano's first proposal on taking office, since he considered professional wrestling "a spectacle instead of a sport like boxing". [13] During the following decades, the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission became the first governing body to have a female president when Delgado Berty served from 1986 to 1988. [14] It became the first commission to require pre-fight weigh-ins, a measure that was at first criticized, but was later adopted by other boxing organizations. [15] In 2007, David Bernier, then Secretary of Recreation and Sports, approved a new rule in the boxing organization's regulation that prohibited the signing of any pugilist younger than 18 years old as a professional. [16] In 2011, women's boxing saw an increase in popularity, gaining mainstream attention. This was fueled by the championships won by Ada Veléz and Amanda Serrano, as well as Kiria Tapia becoming the first Pan American champion in her division.

List of male world champions

Note: Interim World champions are included with an asterisk mark (*), waiting for Commission's and media recognition. Minor titles are excluded.

NumberNameDate of first title winDivisionsSuccessful defensesReferences
1 Sixto Escobar June 6, 1934 Bantamweight ( U & L 2)5 [I] [17]
2 Carlos Ortiz June 12, 1959 Light welterweight ( U & L 2) and Lightweight ( U & L 2)2 and 9 [II] [18]
3 José Torres March 30, 1965 Light heavyweight ( U , M , M & L )3 [III] [19]
4 Ángel Espada June 28, 1975Welterweight ( M )1 [IV] [20]
5 Alfredo Escalera July 5, 1975 Super featherweight ( M )10 [V] [21]
6 Wilfred Benítez March 6, 1976Light welterweight ( M & L ), welterweight ( M & L ) and light middleweight ( M )2, 1 and 2 [VI] [22]
7 Esteban De Jesús May 8, 1976Lightweight ( M )3 [VII] [23]
8 Samuel Serrano October 16, 1976Super featherweight ( M 2 & L 2)14 [VIII] [24]
9 Wilfredo Gómez May 21, 1977 Super bantamweight ( M & L ), featherweight ( M ) and super featherweight ( M )17, 0 and 0 [IX] [25]
10 Julian Solís August 29, 1980Bantamweight ( M & L )0 [X] [26]
11 Carlos De León November 25, 1980 Cruiserweight ( M 4 & L 2)8 [XI] [27]
12 Ossie Ocasio February 13, 1982Cruiserweight ( M )3 [XII] [28]
13 Juan Laporte September 15, 1982Featherweight ( M )2 [XIII] [29]
14 Edwin Rosario May 1, 1983Lightweight ( M & M 2) and light welterweight ( M )3 and 0 [XIV] [30]
15 Héctor Camacho August 7, 1983Super featherweight ( M ), lightweight ( M ), light welterweight ( M 2)1, 2 and 2 [XV] [31]
16 Mark Medal March 11, 1984Light middleweight ( M )0 [XVI] [32]
17 Harry Arroyo April 15, 1984Lightweight ( M )2 [XVII] [33]
18 Victor Callejas May 26, 1984Super bantamweight ( M )2 [XVIII] [34]
19 Carlos Santos November 2, 1984Light middleweight ( M )1 [XIX] [35]
20 Antonio Rivera August 30, 1986Featherweight ( M )0 [XX] [36]
21 Wilfredo Vázquez October 4, 1987Bantamweight ( M ), super bantamweight ( M ) and featherweight ( M )1, 9 and 4 [XXI] [37]
22 José Ruíz Matos April 29, 1989 Super flyweight ( M )4 [XXII] [38]
23 John John Molina April 29, 1989Super featherweight ( M & M 2)7 and 0 [XXIII] [39]
24 José de Jesús May 19, 1989 Light flyweight ( M )3 [XXIV] [40]
25 Juan Nazario April 4, 1990Lightweight ( M )0 [XXV] [41]
26 Orlando Fernandez May 12, 1990Super bantamweight ( M )1 [XXVI] [41]
27 Rafael del Valle May 13, 1992Bantamweight ( M )2 [XXVII] [41]
28 Josué Camacho July 31, 1992Light flyweight ( M )1 [XXVIII] [41]
29 Daniel Jiménez June 9, 1993Bantamweight ( M ) and super bantamweight ( M )4 and 0 [XXIX] [41]
30 Félix Trinidad June 19, 1993Welterweight ( M , M ) and ( L ) light middleweight ( M & M ) and middleweight ( M )17, 2 and 0 [XXX] [42]
31 Kevin Kelley December 4, 1993Featherweight ( M )7 [XXXI] [43]
32 Alex Sánchez December 22, 1993Minimumweight ( M )6 [XXXII] [41]
33 Jake Rodríguez February 13, 1994Light welterweight ( M )2 [XXXIII] [41]
34 Sammy Fuentes June 10, 1995Light welterweight ( M )2 [XXXIV] [41]
35 Lou Del Valle September 20, 1997Light heavyweight ( M )0 [XXXV] [41]
36 Daniel Santos May 6, 2000Welterweight ( M ), light middleweight ( M & M )2 and 4 [XXXVI] [41]
37 Nelson Dieppa July 22, 2000Light flyweight ( M )5 [XXXVII] [44]
38 Eric Morel August 5, 2000Flyweight ( M )5 [XXXVIII] [41]
39 John Ruiz March 3, 2001Heavyweight ( M 2)4 [XXXIX] [41]
40 Frank Toledo April 6, 2001Featherweight ( M )0 [XL] [41]
41 Iván Calderón May 3, 2003Mini flyweight ( M ) and light flyweight ( M & L )12 and 6 [XLI] [45] [46]
42 José Antonio Rivera September 13, 2003Welterweight M ) and light middleweight ( M )0 [XLII] [41]
43 Manny Siaca May 5, 2004Super middleweight ( M )0 [XLIII] [47]
44 Miguel Cotto September 11, 2004Light welterweight ( M ), welterweight ( M & M ) light middleweight ( M , M & M ) & Middleweight ( M & L )5, 5, 2 and 1 [XLIV] [48] [49]
45 Luis Collazo April 2, 2005Welterweight ( M )1 [XLV] [50]
46 Kermit Cintrón October 28, 2006Welterweight ( M )2 [XLVI] [51]
47 Carlos Quintana February 9, 2008Welterweight ( M )0 [XLVII] [52]
48 Juan Manuel López June 7, 2008Super bantamweight ( M ) and featherweight ( M )5 and 2 [XLVIII] [53]
49 Román Martínez March 14, 2009Super featherweight ( M 3)5 [XLIX] [54]
50 José López March 28, 2009Super flyweight ( M )0 [L] [55]
51 Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr. February 27, 2010Super bantamweight ( M )2 [LI] [56]
52 Danny García July 30, 2010Light welterweight ( M , M & L ) and welterweight ( M )5 and 0 [LII] [57]
53 Rico Ramos July 9, 2011Super bantamweight ( M )0 [LIII] [58] [59]
54 José Pedraza March 22, 2014Super featherweight ( M ) and lightweight ( M )2 and 0 [LIV] [60]
55 McJoe Arroyo July 18, 2015Super flyweight ( M )0 [LV] [61]
56 Jason Sosa June 24, 2016Super featherweight ( M )1 [LVI] [62]
57 Jesús Rojas September 15, 2017Featherweight ( M )0 [LVII]
58 Alberto Machado October 21, 2017Super featherweight ( M )2 [LVIII] [63]
59 Ángel Acosta December 2, 2017Light flyweight ( M )3 [LIX] [64]
60 Emmanuel Rodríguez May 5, 2018Bantamweight ( M 2)1 [LX]
61 Wilfredo Méndez August 24, 2019Mini flyweight ( M )2 [LXI]
(*) McWilliams Arroyo February 27, 2021Flyweight ( IM )0 [LXIII]
62 Jonathan Gonzalez October 16, 2021Light flyweight ( M )2 [LXIV]
63 Subriel Matías February 25, 2023Junior welterweight ( M )1 [LXV]
64 Oscar Collazo May 27, 2023Mini flyweight ( M )1 [LXVI]
(*) René Santiago October 27, 2023Light flyweight ( IM )0 [LXVII]

List of female world champions

NumberNameDate of first title winDivisionsSuccessful defensesReferences
1 Melissa Del Valle September 12, 1998Super featherweight ( M ) and super bantamweight ( M )3, 0 and 0 [A] [65]
2 Ada Vélez January 19, 2001Bantamweight ( M 2) and super bantamweight ( M 2 & M )1 and 1 [B] [66]
3 Melissa Hernández November 4, 2006Super bantamweight (M) & M), super featherweight (M) and featherweight (M)0, 0, 0 and 0 [C] [67]
4 Amanda Serrano September 10, 2011Super featherweight ( M ), lightweight (M), featherweight (M), junior featherweight (M), bantamweight (M), junior welterweight (M) and junior bantamweight (M)0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0 and 2 [D] [68]
5 Cindy Serrano December 10, 2016Featherweight ( M )1

Current titleholders

World champions

Men

NameOrganizationDivisionDate wonRecordDefenses
Oscar Collazo World Boxing Organization Mini flyweight May 27, 202310–0 (7 KO)3

Women

NameOrganizationDivisionDate wonRecordDefenses
Amanda Serrano WBO/IBF/WBA Featherweight September 13, 201946–2–1 (30 KO)6

International Boxing Hall of Fame

Flag of Puerto Rico.svg

Puerto Ricans in the International Boxing Hall of Fame
NumberNameYear inductedNotes
1 Carlos Ortíz 1991World Jr. Welterweight Champion 1959 June 12- 1960, September 1, WBA Lightweight Champion 1962 Apr 21 – 1965 Apr 10, WBC Lightweight Champion 1963 Apr 7 – 1965 Apr 10, WBC Lightweight Champion 1965 Nov 13 – 1968 Jun 29.
2 Wilfred Benítez 1994The youngest world champion in boxing history. WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1976 Mar 6 – 1977, WBC Welterweight Champion 1979 Jan 14 – 1979 Nov 30, WBC Light Middleweight Champion.
3 Wilfredo Gómez 1995WBC Super Bantamweight Champion 1977 May 21 – 1983, WBC Featherweight Champion 1984 Mar 31 – 1984 Dec 8, WBA Super Featherweight Champion 1985 May 19 – 1986 May 24.
4 José "Chegui" Torres 1997Won a silver medal in the junior middleweight at the 1956 Olympic Games. Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion 1965 Mar 30 – 1966 Dec 16
5 Sixto Escobar 2002Puerto Rico's first boxing champion. World Bantamweight Champion 15 Nov 1935– 23 Sep 1937, World Bantamweight Champion 20 Feb 1938– Oct 1939
6 Edwin Rosario 2006Ranks #36 on the list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time." according to Ring Magazine. WBC Lightweight Champion 1983 May 1 – 1984 Nov 3, WBA Lightweight Champion 1986 Sep 26 – 1987 Nov 21, WBA Lightweight Champion 199 Jul 9 – 1990 Apr 4, WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1991 Jun 14 – 1992 Apr 10.
7 Pedro Montañez 200792 wins out of 103 fights. Never held a title.
8 Joe Cortez 2011The first Puerto Rican boxing referee to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame
9 Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick 2012Member of boxing's "Black Murderers' Row". World Colored Welterweight Championship - June 11, 1937 to August 22, 1938; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 11, 1940 until the title went extinct in the 1940s; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 15, 1943 until the title went extinct in the 1940s
10 Félix "Tito" Trinidad 2014Captured the IBF welterweight crown in his 20th pro bout. Won the WBA light middleweight title from David Reid in March 2000 and later that year unified titles with a 12th-round knockout against IBF champ Fernando Vargas. In 2001 became a three-division champion.
11 Héctor "Macho" Camacho 2016First boxer to be recognized as a septuple champion in history (counting championships from minor sanctioning bodies). WBC Super Featherweight Championship - August 7, 1983 – 1984, WBC Lightweight Championship - August 10, 1985 – 1987, WBO Light Welterweight Champion - March 6, 1989 – February 23, 1991, WBO Light Welterweight Champion - May 18, 1991–1992.
12 Mario Rivera Martino 2019First Puerto Rican boxing sports writer to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He served Puerto Rican boxing for more than 50 years as a writer and eventual commissioner.
13 Miguel Cotto 2022He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes, from light welterweight to middleweight. In 2007 and 2009,

  = Indicates the person is no longer alive

See also

Notes

Men's titlists

I ^ :Boxing record for Sixto Escobar from BoxRec (registration required)
II ^ :Boxing record for Carlos Ortiz from BoxRec (registration required)
III ^ :Boxing record for Jose Torres from BoxRec (registration required)
IV ^ :Boxing record for Angel Espada from BoxRec (registration required)
V ^ :Boxing record for Alfredo Escalera from BoxRec (registration required)
VI ^ :Boxing record for Wilfred Benitez from BoxRec (registration required)
VII ^ :Boxing record for Esteban De Jesus from BoxRec (registration required)
VIII ^ :Boxing record for Samuel Serrano from BoxRec (registration required)
IX ^ :Boxing record for Wilfredo Gomez from BoxRec (registration required)
X ^ :Boxing record for Julian Solis from BoxRec (registration required)
XI ^ :Boxing record for Carlos De Leon from BoxRec (registration required)
XII ^ :Boxing record for Ossie Ocasio from BoxRec (registration required)
XIII ^ :Boxing record for Juan La Porte from BoxRec (registration required)
XIV ^ :Boxing record for Edwin Rosario from BoxRec (registration required)
XV ^ :Boxing record for Hector Camacho from BoxRec (registration required)
XVI ^ :Boxing record for Mark Medal from BoxRec (registration required)
XVII ^ :Boxing record for Harry Arroyo from BoxRec (registration required)
XVIII ^ :Boxing record for Victor Callejas from BoxRec (registration required)
XIX ^ :Boxing record for Carlos Santos from BoxRec (registration required)
XX ^ :Boxing record for Antonio Rivera from BoxRec (registration required)
XXI ^ :Boxing record for Wilfredo Vazquez from BoxRec (registration required)
XXII ^ :Boxing record for Jose Ruiz from BoxRec (registration required)
XXIII ^ :Boxing record for John John Molina from BoxRec (registration required)
XXIV ^ :Boxing record for Jose De Jesus from BoxRec (registration required)
XXV ^ :Boxing record for Juan Nazario from BoxRec (registration required)
XXVI ^ :Boxing record for Orlando Fernandez from BoxRec (registration required)
XXVII ^ :Boxing record for Rafael Del Valle from BoxRec (registration required)
XXVIII ^ :Boxing record for Josue Camacho from BoxRec (registration required)
XXIX ^ :Boxing record for Daniel Jimenez from BoxRec (registration required)
XXX ^ :Boxing record for Felix Trinidad from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXI ^ :Boxing record for Kevin Kelley from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXII ^ :Boxing record for Alex Sanchez from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXIII ^ :Boxing record for Jake Rodriguez from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXIV ^ :Boxing record for Sammy Fuentes from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXV ^ :Boxing record for Lou Del Valle from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXVI ^ :Boxing record for Daniel Santos from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXVII ^ :Boxing record for Nelson Dieppa from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXVIII ^ :Boxing record for Eric Morel from BoxRec (registration required)
XXXIX ^ :Boxing record for John Ruiz from BoxRec (registration required)
XL ^ :Boxing record for Frank Toledo from BoxRec (registration required)
XLI ^ :Boxing record for Ivan Calderon from BoxRec (registration required)
XLII ^ :Boxing record for Jose Antonio Rivera from BoxRec (registration required)
XLIII ^ :Boxing record for Manny Siaca from BoxRec (registration required)
XLIV ^ :Boxing record for Miguel Cotto from BoxRec (registration required)
XLV ^ :Boxing record for Luis Collazo from BoxRec (registration required)
XLVI ^ :Boxing record for Kermit Cintron from BoxRec (registration required)
XLVII ^ :Boxing record for Carlos Quintana from BoxRec (registration required)
XLVIII ^ :Boxing record for Juan Manuel Lopez from BoxRec (registration required)
XLIX ^ :Boxing record for Roman Martinez from BoxRec (registration required)
L ^ :Boxing record for Jose Lopez from BoxRec (registration required)
LI ^ :Boxing record for Wilfredo Vazquez Jr from BoxRec (registration required)
LII ^ :Boxing record for Danny Garcia from BoxRec (registration required)
LIII ^ :Boxing record for Rico Ramos from BoxRec (registration required)
LIV ^ :Boxing record for Jose Pedraza from BoxRec (registration required)
LV ^ :Boxing record for McJoe Arroyo from BoxRec (registration required)
LVI ^ :Boxing record for Jason Sosa from BoxRec (registration required)
LVII ^ :Boxing record for Jesus Rojas from BoxRec (registration required)
LVIII ^ :Boxing record for Alberto Machado from BoxRec (registration required)
LIX ^ :Boxing record for Angel Acosta from BoxRec (registration required)
LX ^ :Boxing record for Emmanuel Rodriguez from BoxRec (registration required)
LXI ^ :Boxing record for Wilfredo Mendez from BoxRec (registration required)
LXII ^ :Boxing record for Shakur Stevenson from BoxRec (registration required)
LXIII ^ :Boxing record for McWilliams Arroyo from BoxRec (registration required)
LXIV ^ :Boxing record for Jonathan Gonzalez from BoxRec (registration required)

Women's titlists

A ^ :Boxing record for Melissa Del Valle from BoxRec (registration required)
B ^ :Boxing record for Ada Velez from BoxRec (registration required)
C ^ :Boxing record for Melissa Hernandez from BoxRec (registration required)
D ^ :Boxing record for Amanda Serrano from BoxRec (registration required)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfredo Gómez</span> Puerto Rican boxer (born 1956)

Wilfredo Gómez Rivera, sometimes referred to as Bazooka Gómez, is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer and three weight world champion. He is frequently mentioned among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts, along with Félix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Wilfred Benítez, Esteban De Jesús, Edwin Rosario, and Carlos Ortíz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfred Benítez</span> Puerto Rican boxer (born 1958)

Wilfred "Wilfredo" Benítez is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of seventeen, he is best remembered as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities, along with his fights with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixto Escobar</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Sixto Escobar was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Competing in the bantamweight division, he became Puerto Rico's first world champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Ortiz (boxer)</span> Puerto Rican boxer (1936–2022)

Carlos Ortiz was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He held world titles in lightweight and light welterweight weight divisions. Along with Félix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Wilfredo Gómez, Héctor Camacho, José Torres, Edwin Rosario and Wilfred Benítez, Ortiz is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts. As of January 2018, Ortiz holds the record for the most wins in unified lightweight title bouts in boxing history at 10.

Juan Carazo Serrano is a former boxer from Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Wilfredo Vázquez Olivera is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 2002. He held world championships in three weight classes, including the WBA bantamweight title from 1987 to 1988, the WBA super bantamweight title from 1992 to 1995, and the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1996 to 1998. His son, Wilfredo Vázquez Jr., is also a former boxer and world champion.

José Miguel Cotto Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer and a four-time regional level champion. He is the brother of six-time world boxing champion Miguel Cotto and the cousin of lightweight contender Abner Cotto.

Alexander Sánchez Sepúlveda is a former Puerto Rican professional boxer. He held the WBO minimumweight title from 1993 to 1997.

Joseph Serrano is a Puerto Rican who was an amateur boxing star.

José "Cheíto" Ruíz Matos was a Puerto Rican boxer. Born and raised in the municipality of Trujillo Alto, he was signed as a professional when he was 17 years old. Ruíz made his debut July 13, 1984, competing in the super flyweight division. He gathered a record of 9-2 during the first three years of his career, which featured a trilogy against eventual contender, Pedro Jose Feliciano. Seeking to improve his standing in the world rankings, Ruíz challenged and defeated former World Boxing Council and Colombian champion, Prudencio Cardona and Chilean titlist Bernardo Manuel Mendoza. On April 29, 1989, he received his first opportunity for a world championship, defeating Sugar "Baby" Rojas for the title of the newly created World Boxing Organization. Ruíz had four successful defenses, defeating Juan Carazo, Ángel Rosario, Wilfredo Vargas and Armando Velasco. On February 22, 1992, Ruíz lost the title to José Quirino by unanimous decision. Five months later, he participated in the last fight of his career, losing a close majority decision to the International Boxing Federation's champion, Robert Quiroga. On February 28, 1992, Ruíz was ambushed and shot while traveling through one of San Juan's barrios, receiving six bullet wounds that fatally injured him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfredo Vázquez Jr.</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2016, and held the WBO junior featherweight title from 2010 to 2011. He is the son of former world champion Wilfredo Vázquez.

Keith Tapia is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He was born in Bronx, New York, where he lived his childhood as part of the large Nuyorican community; he began boxing there and represented the United States for few international tournaments, in the process winning bronze at the 2006 Cadet World Championships. In 2007, Tapia appealed to his Puerto Rican heritage and ethnicity and changed his Olympic nationality, representing Puerto Rico until his amateur retirement in 2011. Under the Puerto Rican flag, he won gold at the 2007 AIBA Cadet World Championships and other international tournaments, while winning the heavyweight national championship locally. On November 18, 2011, Tapia made his professional debut, now boxing out of Carolina, Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abner Cotto</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Abner Cotto Román is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who currently competes in the lightweight division. He is a member of the Cotto family, which has produced a professional world champion and multiple amateur medalists. As an amateur, Cotto has represented Puerto Rico in international competitions. The pugilist compiled several national championships and recognitions, including his division's silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Quintana (boxer)</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Carlos Quintana is a retired Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur Quintana represented Puerto Rico. He debuted as a professional in 1997. On February 24, 2006, he participated in his first professional championship fight, defeating Raul Bejerano for the World Boxing Organization's Latino welterweight championship. His first defense took place on June 24, 2006, when he defeated Joel Julio by unanimous decision in a welterweight title eliminator. In this fight he also won the World Boxing Council's Latino welterweight championship. His first world title fight took place on December 2, 2006, when he fought against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Association welterweight title. Cotto won the fight by technical knockout. On February 9, 2008, Quintana challenged Paul Williams for the WBO welterweight championship, winning the fight by unanimous decision. He entered the Light Middleweight division to face Deandre Latimore, knocking Latimore out to win the NABO Light Middleweight championship.

José Ángel "Carita" López Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who has competed in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions. His first professional championship was the Puerto Rican flyweight title, which won by defeating José Luis De Jesús. López's first championship opportunity was against Alberto Jiménez for the World Boxing Organization's flyweight title, in a contest that he lost by unanimous decision. This was followed by three more world championships fights, two of them for major titles. However, López lost these contests by unanimous decision. On June 23, 2001, López won the WBO Latino super flyweight title. After losing to Fernando Montiel in his fifth world title opportunity, he recurred to fight for regional championships. From 2001 to 2008, López compiled an undefeated record consisting of 14 wins and a single draw. On March 28, 2009, López defeated Pramuansak Phosuwan to win the WBO's super flyweight world championship.

José Juan Cotto is a retired Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, Cotto represented Puerto Rico in the flyweight division, winning a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Cotto made his professional debut on 14 December 1997, defeating compatriot Elias Cepeda in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Serrano</span> Puerto Rican boxer and mixed martial artist (born 1988)

Amanda Serrano is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. As a boxer, she is the unified featherweight world champion, having held the WBO title since 2019, IBO title since 2021 and the WBA title since 2023. She held the IBF title between 2022 and 2024. She is the only female, and Puerto Rican, to win world titles in more than four weight classes, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most boxing world championships won in different weight-classes by a female, having held 9 major world titles across seven different weight classes.

Ángel Acosta Gómez is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who held the WBO light flyweight title from 2017 to 2019. As an amateur, Acosta won the gold medal at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Cindy Serrano is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who held the WBO female featherweight title from 2016 to 2017. She also challenged for the WIBA featherweight title in 2005; the WIBA and WIBF welterweight titles in 2011; and the unified WBA and IBF female lightweight titles in 2018. Her younger sister, Amanda, is also a professional boxer. The pair became the first sisters to hold world titles from major sanctioning bodies at the same time after Cindy captured the WBO title in 2016.

The history of the sport of boxing in Puerto Rico is a varied and extensive one. Boxing is a major sport in the Caribbean country, and the sport has produced many champions for the island, both in the amateur and professional ranks, and among men and women fighters.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Puerto Rico, país de tradición boxística" (in Spanish). Univision. 2007-09-13. Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  2. ↑ "World Champions By Nationality". BoxRec. Archived from the original on 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  3. 1 2 José Torres (2004-12-15). "Fábrica de campeones" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Archived from the original on 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  4. ↑ "El Consejo Mundial de Boxeo rinde un homenaje a Peñagarícano y Chade" (in Spanish). Yahoo!. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  5. ↑ Sebastián Contursi (2008-06-08). "La época dorada" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Archived from the original on 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  6. 1 2 José A. Sánchez Fournier (2008-10-06). "Deportes". En un dos por tres (in Spanish). Puerto Rico: El Nuevo Día. p.97
  7. ↑ "Miguel Cotto 'listened to the game plan' to beat Sergio Martinez". The National. 8 June 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Amanda-Serrano ties Cotto, demolishes Lazar for WBO title". BoxingScene. 19 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fonseca et al., p.314
  10. 1 2 3 4 Fonseca et al., p.315
  11. ↑ Fonseca et al., pp.14–16
  12. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.17
  13. 1 2 Fonseca et al., p.317
  14. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.320
  15. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.326
  16. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.328
  17. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.20
  18. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.31
  19. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.39
  20. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.50
  21. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.59
  22. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.70
  23. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.86
  24. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.95
  25. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.104
  26. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.122
  27. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.134
  28. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.151
  29. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.164
  30. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.180
  31. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.198
  32. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.210
  33. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.220
  34. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.224
  35. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.240
  36. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.252
  37. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.263
  38. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.275
  39. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.293
  40. ↑ Fonseca et al., p.282
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Los campeones mundiales boricuas". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  42. ↑ Luis Santiago Arce (2008-01-05). Rumbo a la Titomanía (in Spanish). El Nuevo Día.
  43. ↑ Rey Colón (2009-03-31). 'Carita' López en la lista de campeones boricuas (in Spanish). El Vocero.
  44. ↑ "A defender en casa" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 2003-08-28. Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  45. ↑ Fiona Manning (2003-05-09). "Ivan Calderon: Puerto Rico's New World Champion". La Prensa San Diego. Archived from the original on 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  46. ↑ José A. Sánchez Fournier (2007-08-26). Calderón vs Cázares: Doble Correa para el boricua (in Spanish). El Nuevo Día. pp. 118–119.
  47. ↑ "Siaca takes Mundine's crown". BBC. 2004-05-05. Archived from the original on 2004-05-09. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  48. ↑ Don Steinberg (2008-07-25). "Las peleas más importantes" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Archived from the original on 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  49. ↑ Dan Rafael (2006-12-02). "Cotto crushes Quintana in five". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  50. ↑ Clifton Brown (2007-02-10). "BOXING; Every Picture Tells a Story". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  51. ↑ Dan Rafael (2006-10-30). "Scorecard: Cintron gets title; Julio wins but loses luster". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  52. ↑ Carlos González (2008-02-13). ""El Indio" Quintana: "Gané por mí y por mi familia"". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-04-21. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  53. ↑ Carlos González (2008-06-07). "Fulminante Juanma". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-04-20.
  54. ↑ Mark Vester (2009-03-14). "Martinez Knocks Cook Out in Four, Captures WBO title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  55. ↑ Esteban Pagán Rivera (2009-03-29). ""Carita López" logró su ansiado título mundial". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-04-21. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  56. ↑ Mark Vester (2010-02-27). "Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Knocks Out Marvin Sonsona in Four". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  57. ↑ Dan Rafael (2012-03-25). "Garcia outlasts Erik Morales to win title". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  58. ↑ Thomas Gerbasi (2011-06-10). "Ready Rico Preps For First World Title Shot With Shimoda". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  59. ↑ Lem Satterfield (2011-07-09). "Rico Ramos Knocks Out Akifumi Shimoda, Wins Title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  60. ↑ "Pedraza wins IBO super featherweight belt". FightNews.com. 2014-03-22. Archived from the original on 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
  61. ↑ "McJoe Arroyo se corona campeón de las 115 libras de la FIB". 2015-07-19. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  62. ↑ ""El Canito"Jason Sosa es el nuevo campeón mundial de la AMB". 2016-06-25. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  63. ↑ "El boxeador Alberto Machado se coronó campeón mundial en las 130 libras". 2017-10-22. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  64. ↑ "Puerto Rico tiene nuevo campeón mundial". 2017-12-03. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  65. ↑ "Women's Boxing: Melissa Del Valle Biography". Women Boxing Archive Network. Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  66. ↑ "Women's Boxing: Ada Velez Biography". Women Boxing Archive Network. Archived from the original on 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  67. ↑ Ken Hissner (2011-07-20). "Melissa Hernandez – 4 Time World Champion!". Doghouseboxing.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  68. ↑ "Amanda Serrano". Boxrec. Archived from the original on 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2016-10-21.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.