Puerto Rico VS Mexico Boxing Rivalry
Puerto Rico VS Mexico Boxing Rivalry
This Saturday Miguel Cotto VS Antonio Margarito will be the latest installment of the Puerto Rico VS Mexico Boxing Rivalry. Not only that, it should be Fight of The Year.
Here is a good article on the Puerto Rico VS Mexico Boxing Rivalry: MEXICO VS PUERTO RICO: WHEN THE STARS COLLIDE
GREAT PUERTO RICAN FIGHTERS
Miguel Cotto is the latest in a long line of wonderful prizefighters from Puerto Rico. Like the best of his compatriots, he is highly diverse; when facing a puncher, he can move and box with the best of them. When he’s the puncher, there may not be a more dangerous young guy at 140 pounds. He’s young still and growing, but shows poise beyond his years and has consistently faced stiff competition. Will he be remembered among the great Puerto Rican fighters when he’s done? Only time will tell, of course, and he’s got a very tough act to follow. Here’s one man’s list, presented in alphabetical order, of the best fighters Puerto Rico has produced.
Wilfred Benitez
Benitez was the best defensive fighter of his era, and not by a little. You just had to see him fight once to know it. If you saw him boxing rings around the great Antonio Cervantes, at 17 years old for cripes’ sake, or Carlos Palomino or Roberto Duran, you knew how special he was. He hated to train and loved to party but if you want to see one of the smoothest defensive fighters of the last 50 years, get a tape of prime Benitez. He was pure magic.
Hector Camacho
There are those who still don’t take Camacho seriously because of his persona and ring style, but the Camacho who tore through a pair of divisions in the early 1980s was a very good fighter. He beat Rafael Limon, Rafael Solis, Jose Luis Ramirez, Freddie Roach and others. Even later on he was still too good for Ray Mancini, Vinny Pazienza, Howard Davis and Greg Haugen (he also lost to Haugen). And he proved his heart once and for all when he lasted the distance with Julio Cesar Chavez, despite taking a terrific beating.
Esteban DeJesus
DeJesus wasn’t only the first guy to beat Roberto Duran. He beat a lot of talented fighters, such as Ray Lampkin and Johnny Gant and Alfonso Frazier. Duran will forever overshadow him, but what’s terrible about being second best to maybe the greatest lightweight ever? Of DeJesus’ five career losses, two were to Duran, one was to Antonio Cervantes, and another was in his very last fight, to Saoul Mamby. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.
full article: http://www.hbo.com/boxing/features/greatest/pr_fighters.html
THE GREAT MEXICAN FIGHTERS
1. Julio Cesar Chavez - Widely regarded as the greatest Mexican fighter of all-time, although old timers will debate you on that. They favor Olivares, Miguel Canto or maybe even Sanchez. Whatever they think, Chavez won world titles at 130, 135 and three times at 140 and retired with a record of 108-6-2 with 87 KOs. He was unbeaten in his first 91 fights (although a draw to Pernell Whitaker was a gift) before Frankie Randall beat him by well deserved split decision. One of his greatest performances was his last-second stoppage of Meldrick Taylor on March 17, 1990, a brilliant and brutal night in which Taylor administered a boxing lesson but took a beating from which he never fully recovered. Chavez used suffocating pressure, body punching and crushing right hands to wear men down and beat them up. He was 88-0 when he and Whitaker fought in San Antonio. He was a lesser fighter after that but he was also 31 and a veteran of an inordinate amount of ring wars. It will take a lot for someone to remove him out of this No. 1 ranking.
2. Ruben Olivares - One of the two or three best bantamweights ever to fight, Olivares held that title through two reigns between 1969-72 before moving up to twice win the WBC featherweight title. A powerful puncher, Olivares won his first 60 fights, 55 by knockout on the way to posting a record of 88-13-3 (78 KO). Perhaps no 118 pounder ever punched harder than Olivares. He could box but most often chose not to, relying instead on a shot to the liver and a menacing style that was all about coming forward. Classic Mexican brawler, Olivares was loved by Mexican fight fans. His three wars with Bobby Chacon are typical of why.
3. Salvador Sanchez - Sanchez (44-1-1) never lost a title fight and defeated a roster of top opponents like Danny Lopez (twice), Azumah Nelson, Wilfredo Gomez, Juan LaPorte and Ruben Castillo before dying at 23 in a car wreck. He had made nine successful defenses of the featherweight title at the time of his death. Sanchez was not the typical Mexican brawler but rather a defensive expert and sharp counter puncher. His greatest night was when he destroyed Gomez, who was 32-0-1 at the time, in eight technically perfect rounds.
4. Miguel Canto - A defensive master, he’s the Mexican version of Willie Pep. He successfully defended the flyweight title a record 14 times, winning all but one of those fights by 15-round decision, a record that will never be approached for dominance by virtue of pure boxing skill.
Canto finished 61-9-4 with only 15 knockouts with four of those losses coming at the end of his career and most of the rest in the first two years of it. He was more difficult to hit than Sandy Koufax.
Full article: http://www.hbo.com/boxing/features/greatest/great_mexican.html
(although Erik Morales need to be added to the Top Ten)
Depending on who’s doing the counting, there have been nearly five dozen world title fights between boxers from Mexico and Puerto Rico and most have been classic brawls.
“In other countries people go crazy to see a soccer game between Spain and Italy, Italy and England,” said boxing writer Gerardo Fernandez of the Puerto Rican daily Primera Hora. “Well, it’s the same ambience for a boxing match between Mexico and Puerto Rico.”
It’s not hard to figure out why. They are Latin American lands with similar backgrounds and cultures. And in both lands, boxing is revered.
“They’re two countries in which boxing is the national sport,” said Jose Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council. “It’s the sport that’s in their hearts. There’s a special rivalry over which Latin country has the best boxers.”
Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry packs a real punch
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The International Playboy’s International Playboy
AKA Lo Mas Frio
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Everything’s Coming Our Way Santana
RALFI PAGAN OOH BABY BABY
24/07/2008 at 6:40 pm Permalink
VIVA MEXICO CABRONES.
Saludos desde monterrey, mexico
11/08/2008 at 3:59 pm Permalink
Yes and ALL of the pero-rican boxers got beat up by MEXICANS.
Antonio Margarito pounded miguel cotto in to the ground.
Salvador Sanches destroyed wilfredo gomez.
and of course Julio Cesar Chavez pounded hector camacho into a bloody pulp.
wilfred benitez and esteban dejesus …avoided Mexicans so they got away
But when it comes down to Mexican champion vs pero-rican champion…MEXICANS own the rivalry.
11/08/2008 at 6:03 pm Permalink
“MEXICANS own the rivalry.”
I wouldn’t say I am more pro-Mexican or more pro-Puerto Rican. I like boxers from both spots.
Puerto Ricans have done pretty well also:
Wilfred Benitez beat Carlos Palomino
Héctor Camacho beat Rafael Limón
Sixto Escobar beat Casanova (the first world title fight between a Puerto Rican and a Mexican)
Wilfredo Gómez beat Lupe Pintor
Félix ‘Tito’ Trinidad beat Yori Boy Campos, de la Hoya and Fernando Vargas
And Camacho beat the great José Luis Ramírez
I would say its more or less even. Hence the reason it is a great rivalry.
Also, consider this:
Mexico — Population: 108,700,891
Puerto Rico — Population: 3,944,259
- MPM
12/08/2008 at 8:57 am Permalink
some of the pero-ricans won against Mexicans but they were not fighting Champions or were getting champions on the way down.
Allow me to retort…
Carlos Palomino was 31-4 not a great champion…and benitez won by split decision after benitez gave Palomino a headbut.
Rafael Limon was not a great mexican fighter (52-23) and was 8 years older than camacho…not exactly a victory I would brag about.
Casanova was a 19-3 boxer and not a great champ…but of course sixto escobar one year later got schooled in what was supposed to be a gimme fight… that young fighter was Juan Zurita … who did become a LEGEND at 131-24.
Lupe Pintor was ok boxer at 56-14…so wilfredo gomez beating him is not something to brag about.
Ohh and the De Lahoya thing…please we all know tito lost that fight.
12/08/2008 at 4:48 pm Permalink
Anon,
You make some decent points, but I think you are discrediting some of the Mexican fighters that were defeated by Puerto Ricans.
Palomino was a great boxer. Besides an early loss, his only losses were to Benitez, Roberto Duran (in a decision, no shame there) and Wilfredo Rivera (another Puerto Rican).
“Rafael Limon was not a great mexican fighter”
Come on? Bazooka Limon not Great? Two time Champion. Sure is record is not glossy, but some of those losses were early on the tough Mexico circuit.
He also ended his career 2-12 when he became a stepping stone which made his record a little lopsided. Some of those losses? Chavez and Camacho as well as a rising Sharmba Mitchell.
And Pintor was Ring Magazines Comeback fighter of the year in 1985. He also ended his career 2-7 when he became a stepping stone for fighters like Samart Payakaroon of Thailand.
I think you are putting to much emphasis on record. A lot of these guys fought in the days when they weren’t protected like fighters are today. An “Undefeated” record wasn’t as important as it is today to market a fighter.
About the De La Hoya thing. Sure it can be argued that De La Hoya won. But in a Mexico VS Puerto Rico match up, you cannot run the last four rounds. When a Mexican fighter and Puerto Rican fighter fight a lot of it is about who is mas macho.
De La also got some gift decisions in his career. Whitaker torched him and Quartey, despite De La’s finish, mathematically won the fight.
That all being said. Mexico VS Puerto Rico is the greatest rivalry in not just boxing, but all of Sport.
- MPM
14/08/2008 at 2:52 am Permalink
Hey G-man….Way to school this ignorant mamao and everyone else.
There’s been some awesome rivalries. Lets not forget Juanma Diaz who ko’d Ponce De Leon in the first round. Oh, but since he lost he’s not a good Mexican fighter. I don`t understand Mex people, they always have excuses. Hell, they don’t even get along with their own kind….One is a Mexican American, the other is a Mexican national. What the fuck? If the island was anywhere the size of mejico, Mexican fighters wouldn’t even exist. They’re lucky Cubans aren’t around. Borinken is small, but look at all the athlete’s we produce, from boxing to baseball.
16/08/2008 at 3:56 pm Permalink
Now there are two idots who can not tell the difference between a fight and a Collision Of Champions.
You have to use history and record when defining a Grand Champion. This has been another big difference pero rican champions come and go…but Mexican Grand Champions last a long time.
Now a GREAT Champion is someone that has at Minimum 50 fights with minimum of 10 title defences and has won at least 90% of his fights.
Go look up your boxing history…you will see how few of these there are.
Every time pero-ricans loose they start talking about how small their island is…SO WHAT! England is small, South Korea is small and the Philipines. The island size excuse is pathetic.
And with regards to Mexicans that are born, raised in Mexico compared to Americans of Mexican heritiage, of course the difference is valid.
Puerto ricans do the same thing! They make a clear distinction between Puerto Rican fighters and American Puerto Rican (aka Newyor-Ricans). In fact puerto ricans do not hardly support “puerto-rican blood” if the boxer is born and raised in the 50 states.
This conversation always comes out the same…one thing you can not argue after Margarito dealt cotto a pummeling KO,
RIGHT NOW…MEXICO HAS BRAGGING RIGHTS.
- FJO
02/09/2008 at 8:07 am Permalink
Ivan Calderon,Roman Martinez,Eric Morel.Calderon future hall of fame,Martinez future world champ.Morel next two time world champ.arriba los boricuas.
13/09/2008 at 12:57 pm Permalink
AS SOON AS MEXICANS LOOSE, THE VEXICAN PEOPLE SAY “HE WASNT A GREAT CHAMP” LMAO SO WHATS THE EXCUSE FOR ALL THOSE MEXICAN “SO-CALLED” LEGENDS THAT PACMAN RETIRED? WERE THOSE GUYS NOT GREAT CHAMPS EITHER?
16/09/2008 at 9:33 pm Permalink
I am a proud mexican boxing fan… but i can not stand hispanics, mexicans, puerto ricans or any latins arguing over who sucks…. there is great, good, bad and mediocre boxers everywhere. I am proud to say that mexico has had great champions and new prospects make us very proud, but i also admire boxers from others countries… puerto rico included. Miguel cotto is one of the better fighters to come out of puerto rico. I enjoy the professional rivalry there is because it makes fights that much more exciting. WE are ALL HIspanic or LAtin we should not fall into this stupid general rivalry between hispanics it only makes us weaker in a country in which we are a MInority… RAcism is very real in america… we should use our diverse cultures to enrich and empower our races….we need to set an example and prove that we are worthy people who deserve to be given a chance to live in the greatest country of the world.
18/09/2008 at 5:00 pm Permalink
I SECOND THAT THOUGHT “MEXICANS OWN THE RIVALRY” PUERTO RICO WE SHARE THE SAME LANGUAGE AND WE’VE SUFFERED THE SAME THINGS WE ARE LIKE FAMILY. BUT BROTHERS ALWAYS FIGHT AND RIGHT NOW ARE WINNING. OUR RESPECTS AND BRING THE HEAT NOTHING EXCITES US MORE THAN A GOOD FIGHT.
VIVA MEXICO
18/09/2008 at 9:55 pm Permalink
Asi es, siempre que hay una gran pelea hay controversia…y…… EXCUSAS .
PR es mas chico que MEXICO ok.
Los boxeadores de donde sean tienen que ser buenos, carismaticos ………..y……………… POBRES
todo esto no es a favor ni en contra………………………………
hay que saber perder.
no te gusta?
ni modo
la cosa es asi y seguira ganando quien en el momento sea MEJOR
llamese puertorican, nwrican mexamerican-mexican
cosa curiosa…
que hizo peleear a Oscar De La Hoya vs Chavez?
lo unico que desato fue division
mal movimiento para un BUSSINESMENT
SAME THINK WITH FLOYD M.
07/10/2008 at 9:51 am Permalink
puerto rico is the best boxers in the world and till this day is still making nose in boxing,puerto rico has beat up wet backs over the years its nothing new about this. but you wet backs always try to find something to say about puerto rican boxers,but the truth is that you hate us because I.N.S. IS NOT AFTER US,BUT AFTER YOUR ASS. GET OUT YOU DONT BELONG HERE GET YOU ALL NO GOOD MOTHER FUCKERS. FUCK ALL YOU.
25/10/2008 at 3:06 pm Permalink
WOW! It’s sad when you take a glimpse at this blog and notice the ignorance of some. It is good to see those impartial parties though. Puerto Rico vs Mexico… Best rivalry in sport if you ask me. To be a rivalry each party must win and lose. That’s what makes this a great one. Better yet, I think humility has a great deal of importance. Margarito whooped my fellow boricua not too long ago, but both were gentlemen about it. First Cotto for even granting Margarito the chance at greatness and then Margarito for not avoiding the rematch (which will come soon). I like when people go off talking smack about others, in the end this rivalry helps each group appreciate their culture and demonstrate their respective pride. That’s good for the sport and good for Latinos. But in the end, don’t forget that he who laughs last laughs the hardest… and in this rivalry, there is no telling who will be laughing last. Thanks for a good read people! Keep up the hating… very entertaining.
21/12/2008 at 4:54 pm Permalink
WHY EVERY TIME A MEXICAN FIGHTER LOOSE TO A PUERTO RICAN FIGHTER HES NOT A GREAT CHAMPION.SO MARGARITO IS GREAT CHAMPION BECAUSE HE BEAT TWO PUERTO RICAN FIGHTER. IF HE WOULD LOST THAT FIGHT WOULD MAKE HIM ANOTHER NOT SO GREAT CHAMPION.