Rank your TOP-5 Puerto Rican boxers of all time

Not sure they are the greatest Puerto Rican fighters ever but they are probably my favourite top 5.

Hector Camacho
Wilfredo Gomez
Felix Trinidad
Edwin Rosario
Wilfred Benitez

 

Gomez
Ortiz
Benitez
Trinidad
Rosario

 

Good list. I feel like Cotto belongs but not quite sure who to take off. Picking just five is tough.

 

Yes. I had forgotten about Cotto and I would have liked to have included Juan LaPorte as well. He fought just about every big name at featherweight and super featherweight during the 1980s. It’s true he lost most of them but he was always competitive in all of them and good to watch.

 

Carlos Ortiz
Wilfredo Gomez
Felix Trinidad
Wilfredo Benitez
Miguel Cotto

 

This is a tough one. When you're ranking Top Mexican fighters you have JCC as the clear number 1, with JMM and Olivares being in the next tier and so on. I guess what I'm saying is, the fact is that no one PR boxer is a clear top dog. Or maybe, the contenders for the top spot have better arguments than in some other lists. My cents off the bat.

1.) Carlos Ortiz (multiple division champ, held the LEGIT championships, defended against all contenders in the USA, Italy, Japan, PR, Manila, Panama, Mexico etc. Plus, his titles were all won against legit badasses: Kenny Lane, Joe Brown, Ishmael Laguna.)

2.) Felix Trinidad: The extended championship reign at 147 is the meat of his legacy. He showed his mettle in beating David Reid and Fernando, and smoked Joppy with ease. Mayorga was a strong comeback win, and I give bonus points for smashing Troy Waters in a largely forgotten fight.

3.) Hector Camacho: Although widely reviled, he kept winning long after his star began to fade. His wins at 130 and peak performances at 135 are breath-taking. Although he fought much of his later career with the indifference of a bored Michael Nunn, his prime was a head to head nightmare. I'd pick the 'Macho' who dismantled Bazooka Limon to easily slash his way through a dozen IBHOFers

4.) Miguel Cotto: Titles at 140, 147, 154, and the Ring title at 160. Wins over Mosely, Judah, Martinez, Geale, Margarito etc. Who knows how differently his career turns out if Capetillo is sick and can't wrap Margarito's hands or if Manny didn't get to take his protein pills.

5.) Wilfredo Gomez: I'll get roasted for having him so low, but the foul tactics really irritate me. I don't buy the narrative about him losing to Sanchez and Nelson because he partied too much. If you can't bring yourself to train for Salvador Sanchez, that's your problem. I also don't regard him as a 3 division titlist. The robbery loss to Lockridge was rank corruption.

Benitez and Rosario are honorable mentions, both hamstrung like Gomez by party lifestyle. Sixto Escobar, the Island's first champ, and I believe Whitey Bimstein's first champ, is a forgotten great who merits a mention.

 

I have to also mention Esteban DeJesus, Pedro Montanez, Alfredo Escalera, Angel Espada and Jose Torres. I think this list could keep going.

 

Ooooh. Dejesus. Yeah, gotta replace Rosario with him I think.

 

As a note, Puerto Rico has a population of just over 3 million. Does any other country have the same quality top 5 per population?

 

Number1 Gomez




2DeJesus
3Ortiz
4BENITEZ
5Escalera

 

1. Carlos Ortiz

2. Wilfredo Gomez
3. Felix Trinidad
4. Wilfred Benitez

The rest in rough order: Jose Basora, Pedro Montanez, Sixto Escobar, Cocoa Kid (if he counts), Esteban DeJesus, Edwin Rosario, Hector Camacho, Jose Torres, Wilfredo Vasquez, Ivan Calderon.

Incredible boxing heritage for an Island so small. Puerto Rico produces some of the worlds best boxers, women, rum, coffee and food. Good bless Puerto Rico!

 

I have the same top 4 in the same order. It's a clear top 4 for me and there's no standout no. 5. Cotto deserves a mention along with the others you've listed, I think. Other than that, we're in full agreement.

 

Gomez
Ortiz
Benitez
DeJesus
Rosario

 

Carlos Ortiz
Wilfredo Gomez
Felix Trinidad
Wilfredo Benitez
Miguel Cotto

Ivan Calderon is definitely in the mix.