My knowledge goes back to the Sachez vs Gomez fight. What were some other major entries in the international rivalry. What started it in the first place?
Gomez vs Zarate was the first main bitter fight between them as far as I'm aware. Some of the situations around that one were awful.
Gomez had defeated another Mexican hero, Zarate in a previous fight; Sanchez was perceived to have gained revenge for Mexico when he defeated the Puerto Rican. That said, there were some notable Mexico-PR clashes before that, including: Carlos Ortiz-Battling Torres Cocoa Kid-Kid Azteca Pipino Cuevas-Angel Espada (1,2, and 3)
Was thinking about since I'm covering Trinidad and Vargas. Vargas was way over the top with his Mexican themed intro.
Sixto Escobar vs. Rodolfo Casanova was the first world title bout between Puerto Rico and Mexico. Casanova was beloved by Mexican fans and attempting to become the first Mexican national to go for the title and Escobar was regarded as a great champion. It sort of evolved into “Latin turf wars” and over time, both Mexico and Puerto Rico produced more and more high quality fighters. The rivalry was obviously getting intense by Ortiz vs. Ramos (a Cuban but a Mexican national and favorite) hence the reaction of the crowd and hostility shown to Ortiz. Ortiz also KO’d another young Mexican fan favorite Battling Torres in front of a big crowd at the LA Coliseum. Wilfredo Gomez made it bigger. He beat a lot of Mexicans and let everyone know about it. Defeating Zarate, who was 51-0 with 50 KO’s, viewed as invincible and reigning fighter of the year and many people’s choice as p4p #1 was HUGE. Gomez made the Sanchez fight personal, hurling all kinds of insults at Sanchez, questioning his manhood, saying “I’ve already beaten Mexico’s best” in reference to Zarate.
According to a boss I had years ago who was born and raisied in Spain, while Spaniards, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans all speak Spanish the people from Spain look down on and think they are better than people from Mexico and Puerto Rico. People from Mexico think they are better than Puerto Ricans. And Puerto Ricans are mad because Spaniards and Mexicans think they are better than them and they get dumped on by everyone. And they all get really offended if you confuse them with being from one of the other two countries -- especially Spaniards, who get the most offended, I've learned (LOL). That's it, in a very base, prejudiced nutshell. You find perceived hierarchies everywhere. That bubbles up when fighters from those countries meet each other - from the boxers to the fans in attendance.
Make no mistake, Mexicans and Spaniards look down on Ricans for one reason, and one reason alone - Ricans have black blood in them.
Mexicans also look down on Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Chileans. I've seen that play out many times in the neighborhoods I lived in most of my life.
As for the precise start of the rivalry, well...that's hard to pinpoint, and of course the cultural rivalry transcends just the one sport, but in prizefighting the sentiments probably had started to flare up from the kindling even a couples of decades before '81, with the confluence of the post-WWII influx of borciua emigration to NYC in the 50's/60's and the founding of the WBC and its seat of power in Mexico (with that country subsequently taking a more front and center role in the international & world title scene) in '63.
He was very smooth. Gave Pipino a real challenge in their second and third meetings after being KO’d in two in their first meeting. Nothing but respect for Angel.
