Just curios as to whom you think has done the most for the sport from Puerto Rico???? I mean not just in the ring accomplishments, but paving the way for other PR athletes too... I had a discussion and the person I was talking to could only name POPULAR fighters like Cotto and Trinidad but really had no knowledge outside the last 10 to 15 years of the role fighters from PR had contributed to the sport....
Sixto Escobar was the first PR champion, winning the bantamweight crown in the 1930s, and began the greatest rivalry in the sport- PR v. Mexico, by knocking out Mexico's Baby Casanova to win the title. Carlos Ortiz is my top PR fighter, facing several future hall of famers, many times in their hometowns, such as Loi, Sugar Ramos, Flash Elorde, Ismael Laguna, Loche, Joe Brown, and Mexico's Battling Torres. Jose "Chegui" Torres, under the tutelage of Cus D'Mato made his name in New York, becoming a legend to Puerto Ricans and the recent migrants who'd become Nuyoricans. Gomez, Trinidad, and Benitez transcended the region, and were respected worldwide for their talents, breaking records in the process that may never be topped. Others: Escalara, Camacho, Cotto, DeJesus, Rosario, Vazquez (the father), Arroyo, John John Molina
During the Salido-Lopez fight, Showtime had a poll up for who was the greatest Puerto Rican fighter of all time: Gomez, Trinidad, Cotto, Ortiz or Benetiz? Trinidad had like 44% of the vote, Cotto something like 21%. Neither come anywhere near to being the best fighter to have come out of Puerto Rico, however it does show you how much both (especially Trinidad) have done for boxing in Puerto Rico.
PR boxing seems to be in crisis now. Not a lot of champions the new flagman got KOed, Cotto is getting old. Who is the best young rican fighter??? I should watch some Vazquez Jr fights.
