Ten Great Puerto Rican Fighters

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 2, 2012

Ten Great Puerto Rican Fighters

Miguel Cotto

Known as a classy champion who captured titles at 140, 147 and 154 pounds, Cotto remains one of the biggest draws in boxing today.

Carlos Ortiz

A champion at lightweight and junior welterweight during the 1950s and '60s, the fearless Ortiz fought the top opposition in both divisions -- often on their home soil.

Wilfred Benitez

At 17, Benitez became the youngest champion in boxing history with a points victory over Antonio Cervantes for the 140-pound title. After winning the welterweight title -- then losing it to Sugar Ray Leonard in a classic 1979 bout -- he came back to win a third title at 154 pounds.

Felix Trinidad

"Tito," who holds the record for welterweight title defenses (15), also won belts at junior middleweight and middleweight. Knocked down seven times in fights he ultimately won by knockout, Trinidad's indomitable fighting spirit made him one of the island nation's most beloved champions.

Wilfredo Gomez

A world champion at three weights, "Bazooka" Gomez was at his best at the 122-pound division, where he made 18 title defenses between 1977 and '83.

Hector Camacho

Born in Bayamon and raised in New York's Spanish Harlem, Camacho won titles at junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight, impressing onlookers with his tenacity and courage.

Edwin Rosario

A title-holder at 135 and 140 pounds, "Chapo" came up short in star-making fights with Hector Camacho and Julio Cesar Chavez but always impressed due to his devastating punching power.

Cocoa Kid

A member of boxing's "Black Murderers' Row" -- a collection of nine highly rated contenders of the 1940s and '50s among the most avoided fighters of their generation -- Kid was never given a world title shot. He will be inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Wilfredo Vazquez

A champion at bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight, Vazquez had more than 50 wins (and an impressive 41 knockouts).

Jose Torres

A silver medalist at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Torres won the undisputed light heavyweight title and defended it four times before losing back-to-back fights with Dick Tiger late in his career.