Miguel Cotto had the distinction of becoming Puerto Rico?s 50th world champion. It?s an astounding number given that the island?s population is just fewer than four million and an estimated two million Puerto Ricans live in the United States. It?s been stated before that, per-capita, Puerto Rico is perhaps the most successful boxing nation in the world. Judging by these figures, it?s hard to argue. The list of Puerto Rican standouts in the ring is impressive and holds its own versus any country.
But the question is, just who is the greatest Boricua boxer of all time?
I posed this question to Carlos Acevedo, who runs the insightful and biting blog, theCruelestSport.com, who replied via email:
“The most dangerous question of all, especially if Don Q has been hanging around. Well, there are a handful of undisputed boxing greats among Puerto Rican fighters, that much is a given. Most can agree on a short-list of, say, Carlos Ortiz, Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gomez, and Wilfred Benitez, with Sixto Escobar and Esteban DeJesus occupying a second-tier.
To me, the greatest of them all is Wilfredo Gomez. Sure, he has a slew of Alphabet Group pushovers on his resume, but he also destroyed two legitimate greats?Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor?and walloped some pretty good fighters, like Alberto Davila, Juan Laporte, Leonardo Cruz, and Juan Meza. ?Bazooka? also notched 17 defenses of his junior featherweight title and chalked up a 100% KO ratio in doing so. There were no disputes–controversial decisions and such–when Gomez entered the ring in his heyday. In fact, for an entire decade, he simply made judges irrelevant, something boxing fans have dreamt about forever.
During his prime, his only loss was to Salvador Sanchez, and for that fight he spent more time stepping under a mirror ball while training than stepping around a heavy bag. A national day of mourning in Puerto Rico followed his defeat to Sanchez, and Gomez never really managed to put that loss behind him. But his unique blend of skill, power, and ruthless machismo made him an idol in Puerto Rico and one of the most exciting fighters of his era.”
Judging by what Acevedo states, the Mount Rushmore of Puerto Rican boxing is: Ortiz, Gomez, Benitez and Trinidad.
Ortiz was a three-time world champion (twice at lightweight and once at junior welterweight), whose career took him all over the globe, while still being a fixture at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York. He retired with a record of 61-7-1 with 30 knockouts to his credit. His r?sum? was more than good enough for him to be eventually inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The elusive and crafty Benitez was a three-time world champion who made history by becoming the youngest ever to win a world title at age 17, when he won the WBA 140-pound title via split-decision against Antonio Cervantes. Unfortunately, his career will be just as defined for its dramatic and swift decline, just as much for its meteoric rise.
But it?s Gomez and Trinidad that really seem to have a hold on their people. And it seems as if the consensus is that Gomez, considered the greatest 122-pounder that ever was, is the best of the lot but ?Tito? is the most revered.
Carlos Gonzalez of Primera Hora says, “That would be like the most accurate statement. Many people, me included, believe that Gomez was a better fighter because he was the most complete package. He had punching power, boxing ability, extraordinary defense. He was someone that was so colorful and was loved by the people but Trinidad took it to another level because of how he fought, because of how he carries himself with everybody. He doesn?t have ?no? for an answer. I mean, wherever you see him, people ask him for an autograph, for photos, or a simple conversation and to take any amount of time he just needs in order to comply with that person.
“I?ve had a chance to interview him many times and I can recall when someone in the entourage said, ?Tito, we have to go? and he continually says, ?Wait until I?m finished with the Puerto Rican press. I?m not leaving. They?re done, I?m done.?”
His colleague at El Nueva Dia, Jose Sanchez, echoes these thoughts, “We?ve done several censuses on this matter on the newspaper, Primera Hora, as well, and I remember we did a pretty big one a few years ago asking people, interviewing them and Gomez ended up by popular vote as the best Puerto Rican fighter. Trinidad was a close second. However, when you think about beloved fighters, Gomez is really loved in Puerto Rico- but ?Tito? is by far the most beloved athlete on the island. I?ll put it this way; I give two examples: I say if ?Tito? had never been a boxer, he?d be the most beloved baker in the Cupey area or the most beloved CPA. Because he?s a man who?s easy to befriend and to like. And the other thing I always say, in Puerto Rico the only sports hero bigger than ?Tito? is Roberto Clemente. I?ll say this; if Clemente wouldn?t have died in the incredible way that he did, sacrificing himself for the well-being of the Nicaraguan brothers who were suffering with the earthquake, ?Tito? would be the most beloved sports figure on the island.”
It wasn?t just ?Tito?s? connection to the people or his amiable relationship with the media that gives him this lofty status. Trinidad was a three-division champion who delivered glory to the island with victories over David Reid, Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya. He is a surefire Hall-of-Famer. Even if he wasn?t so personable and gregarious, his place among Puerto Rican pugilists was long ago established.
The impact of these two men is born from this fact- both Gomez and Trinidad gave their countrymen the best and worst of times. For an island that is so invested in its prizefighters, when an iconic Puerto Rican fights, it?s as if the hopes and dreams of millions of others are in there with him. Gomez?s knockout loss at the hands of Salvador Sanchez on the night of August 21st, 1981 in Las Vegas and Trinidad?s victory over De La Hoya on September 18th, 1999 are two dates that are forever etched in the fabric of this country?s history.
“Gomez and Sanchez was big but we lost that one,” said Sanchez. “So that was a disaster for us Puerto Ricans and it?s still a wound that hasn?t healed and it?s 30 years ago. The same thing happened with ?Tito? and [Bernard] Hopkins. The biggest fight ever for Trinidad and he lost it. So the biggest victory to me was the De La Hoya fight. I remember covering the airport welcoming; it looked like the Pope was getting to Puerto Rico.”
As for the reception, Gomez received after his crushing loss to the Mexican legend, Sanchez says, “There are videotapes of this; when he walked out of the airport, he said, ?I let every Puerto Rican down; I let my Puerto Rican people down.? Those have to be big words for a brave and proud person like Wilfredo was but he said it himself.”
COTTO
If he called it quits right now, at age 30, Miguel Cotto?s dossier warrants his inclusion as one of Puerto Rico?s best and he will most likely gain induction into Canastota one day. The man from Caguas, who represented his people in the 2000 Olympic Games, has a career mark of 36-2 with 29 KOs and has won major world title at 140, 147 and 154 pounds. For several years, his name was a fixture on pound-for-pound lists and he has names like Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Carlos Quintana, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricardo Torres, Carlos Maussa, Yuri Foreman and Joshua Clottey in his win column. As for his two defeats, his initial loss to Antonio Margarito in the summer of 2008 will forever be shrouded in doubt and suspicion and losing to Manny Pacquiao is certainly no shame.
Cotto is a bona fide gate attraction both on the island and in the States. He is certainly one of the most vital boxers this business has today.
Yet, for some reason, he seems more respected than idolized by those on the island. Perhaps it?s his often restrained and quiet persona that contrasted greatly from the companionable and friendly manner of Trinidad. I?ve often said that ?Tito? was that kid next door that played with your children, ate dinner a bunch of times with your family, and waved at you every time as he rode his bicycle down the street as he went to the park. When he made it big, he never forgot you. He still felt like a part of your clan. Cotto kinda seemed like that kid who grew up in the next neighborhood- the more affluent one- who never associated with your kids, went to the expensive private school and never acknowledged you as he drove down the block in his new BMW he got on his 18th birthday.
Yeah, I know, that?s probably not the way Cotto grew up (let?s face it; if he did, he wouldn?t be in this sport) but there is something that has kept him from resonating across-the-board like other Puerto Rican standouts of the past. In many respects, it?s like Larry Holmes following in the immense footsteps of Muhammad Ali. It was going to be a nearly impossible task to achieve the type of idolatry that was afforded Trinidad.
“Definitely, definitely,” agreed Sanchez, who drew this analogy, “Miguel had a few disadvantages. Number one: he came right after ?Tito?; that?s like following the Beatles on ?The Ed Sullivan Show.? And other thing is, Cotto is a very reserved person. He?s not a bad guy, per se, but he is very idiosyncratic; he?s very individualistic and he?s also introverted. He doesn?t like to be told what to do. For example, we had a very good interview with him after the [Ricardo] Mayorga fight, where he said to our paper, ?I don?t walk around asking people to smile at me, so don?t ask me to smile at them. This is my job. You try to make me smile, well, then I?ll do it even less.?
“That?s the way he is, very idiosyncratic. He?s his own man. They like him,” continued Sanchez, who adds bluntly, “but there is an anti-Cotto sentiment in Puerto Rico. It?s a minority but there is one. Saying that there isn?t, it would be a lie.”
RIVALRY
There is now some Boricua on Boricua (verbal) violence taking place between ?JuanMa?- who faces Orlando Salido this Saturday night in defense of his WBO featherweight title in Bayamon- and WBO junior featherweight titlist Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Geez, there?s hasn?t been this much animosity between fellow Puerto Ricans since Miguel Cotto and his uncle Evangelista.
Here?s what I propose: A) fight each other as soon as you can. If Lopez gets by Salido and Vazquez Jr. defeats Jorge Arce on May 7th, then I say do this grudge match in the fall. Not really a historian- and perhaps the aforementioned writers would be better off making this statement- but it would be among the biggest fights between two Ricans on the island ever. Or B) have a Rum Summit ( ala Henry Gates, James Crowley and Barry Obama at the White House) mediated by Fat Joe and put aside all their differences.
Honestly, I?d rather have these two duke it out. Peace in boxing is highly overrated.
FRIDAY FLURRIES
Told that junior welterweight ?Mile High? Mike Alvarado is in the running to take the spot on the Pacquiao-Mosley pay-per-view card after the rematch between Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon fell apart?Speaking of Puerto Rican fighters, Top Rank officially announced the addition of Kermit Cintron…Honestly, I wouldn?t mind seeing Rocky Martinez added to that May 7th card. That guy is never, ever in a bad fight…Daniel Ponce de Leon is supposed to return to the ring on June 18th in Mexico; at least that?s what he told me at the Maywood Boxing Club on Wednesday afternoon…This week?s edition of ?Friday Night Fights? on ESPN2 has Ruslan Provodnikov facing the tough Ivan Popoca. Telefutura has Eloy Perez taking on Alejandro Rodriguez…So far, with all those millions of dollars in taxpayer money, the Feds basically got a dribbler back to the mound in their case versus Barry Bonds…I can?t lie; I just love it when Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen melts down…So Verizon is finally ending its ?Test Man? campaign? Well, I guess you can?t hear him now…In watching some reruns of ?The Jamie Foxx Show? at the office, I forgot just who funny this show was…When a guy like John Lucas quits on you as ?life coach,? you?re hopeless. JaMarcus Bust-ell just might be a bigger flop than Ryan Leaf…Heard that tickets for the Andre Berto-Victor Ortiz fight aren?t moving well (no surprise) at the Foxwoods but I hear Sergiy Dzinziruk?s personal chef will be in attendance…I really like the new-new look of Newsweek…I can be reached at [email protected] and I tweet at www.twitter.com/stevemaxboxing. We also have a Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/Maxboxing.
