Due to recently defeats there seems to be a worry
about Puerto Rican boxing on the island, and a sort of panic that boxing is on
downward spiral on the island which is occupied by less than 4 million people.
The question is that really the case or are we just witnessing the survival of
the fittest in Puerto Rican boxing? Currently there are only two world
champions one of the two is Danny Garcia of Puerto Rican parents who immigrated
to Philadelphia, and the other Rocky Martinez the WBO Jr. Lightweight champion.
Because of Social Media and high exposure of boxing fights many Puerto Rican
boxing fans somehow believe that just because the boxers is Puerto Rican he is
going to win, because they are hungry for good boxers, and a world champion. The
winner of a boxing match is the one who is more prepared, more intelligent, and
managed well lately this has not been the case with many Puerto Rican prospects.
One example is the recent defeat of the boxer Miguel Soto with a record of 11-0
(11 KO) ends up being knocked out brutally by a boxer of just 4 KO’s , and many
of the fans are surprised but not me. Why? Because I had Soto ranked #21 in my
list of Puerto Rican prospects. There have also been others like “Chelo”
Gonzalez who quit during his world title fight versus Ricky Burns, Pin Cotto
who was embarrassed in his last fight and others who are just showing up to get
beat up. Juan Manuel Lopez has lost 3
world title fights in a row a boxer that seems to have never learned any
defensive skills, and what is disturbing is that his trainers were content with
his abilities to put him against a young Mickey Garcia, who is a powerful counter
puncher that did not make weight and lost his title at the weight scales.
However, for a monetary amount of 6 figures the fight is made and Juan Ma Lopez
gets demolished. I ask anyone that is being trained by these trainers who had
trained with Lopez why are they still with them? Obviously Lopez did not learn
a thing from these trainers.
I hold the WBO partly responsible due to the fact
that they rank Puerto Rican boxers that clearly are not ready or truly at the
level they claim to be. Back in the 70’s , 80’s and 90’s many Puerto Rican
boxers would have to fight outside the island and build up their records and be
ranked by the WBA, IBF, and WBC. Notice
that the best Puerto Rican boxers in the island history have not been WBO
champions with the exception of Ivan Calderon, the best in its long history
have been WBA, IBF, and WBC champions in the 70’s and 80’s. Another factor is
the combination of many things extreme high crime, murder, and drug trafficking,
the rise of basketball has really taken away most of the talent not just boxing
but from baseball on the island of less than 4 million. Just like the Pro
Football and Basketball has depleted the once pool of possible talent for the
USA Heavyweight division. There is also the current high immigration of Puerto Ricans from the
island to the Continental United States and other parts of the world as a
result this has caused to be there less
talent to choose from.
Lately, many have been the witness of the dirty game
being used by promotional companies who are feasting and exploiting the talent
on the island due to its long history of boxing and since it’s the national
sport on the island. Lately a few promoters have been building these boxers
with soft opposition, the trainers are not teaching them Puerto Rican Boxing
which is distinguished by good defense, power punching and good foot work, they
market them in the island, with no amateur background many with just 10
professional fights they put a Puerto Rican flag over them and then send them
to the slaughter house vs. already proven boxers. There also seem to be this rush of putting
these young talented boxers against seasoned pros instead of cultivating and
waiting until they reach a certain level of experience.
Is Puerto Rican boxing in a decline? I would say no
but it’s in trouble for many of the reason I mentioned above, although other
place like the Philippines, Panama, etc. are not doing so well either. Only
time will show us if the small island of Puerto Rico stops producing good
champions and is relegated to just a distant glorious past.
Not many Puerto Rican fans are up on who are the
best prospects and who is not I created a List of A, B, C , D groups of boxers
based on to their level of opposition, trainers, fights outside the island,
promotional companies, skills, etc.
GROUP A:
1.
Carlos Ivan Velasquez 15-0 (11 KO): Gold
Medal in the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games. Velasquez is best known
for defeating Yurlorkis Gamboa in the 2006 Central American and Caribbean
Games.
2.
Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez 16-0-1
(13 KO): Silver Medal in the 2007 Pan American Games. He finished with an
amateur record of 132-18.
3.
Jose “Sniper” Pedraza 13-0 (9 KO):
Bronze Medal in the 2007 Pan American Games, Bronze Medal in the 2008 Boxing
World Cup, Silver Medal in the 2009 World Amateur Championships, and a Gold
Medal in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.
4.
Felix Verdejo 5-0 (4 KO): Winner of the
2012 American Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament, and Pan American Youth
Champion. – San Juan
5.
Keith “Machine Gun” Tapia 8-0 (6 KO):
Bronze Medal in the 2006 Cadet World Championship, Gold Medal in the 2007 Cadet
World Championships, Gold Medal in 2011 Torneo Internacional Jose “Cheo”
Aponte,and Gold Medal in the 2010 & 2011 Copa Olimpica Internacional. –
Santurce
GROUP B:
1. Luis Orlandito Del Valle 17-1 (12 KO):
Once the #1 U.S.A Amateur at 125 lbs., Former U.S.A Elite Team Member, 2004
National Golden Gloves Champion at 125 lbs., A former 3 Times NY Golden Gloves
Champion, 2005 USA under 19 National Champion at 125 lbs., Bronze Medal in the
2005 International Tammer Tournament, 2004 Under 19 Puerto Rican National
Champion at 125 lbs., Amateur record of 112-14.
2. . Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez 13-0 (11
KO): Gold in the 2008 AIBA World
Championship, Gold Medal in the 2009 & 2010 Torneo Nacional Isaac
Barrientos, Gold in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. - Caguas
3. McJoe Arroyo 13-0 (7 KO): Bronze Medal
in the 2007 World Amateur Championship, Bronze Medal in the 2006 Central
American and Caribbean Games. - Fajardo
4. Gamalier Rodriguez 20-2-3 (14 KO) -
Bayamon
5. Jesus M. Rojas 18-1-1 (13 KO)
6. Luis Cruz 20-2 (16 KO) – Las Piedras
7. + Thomas Dulorme 18-1 (13 KO) - Carolina
8. Jayson Velez 20-0 (15 KO)
9. McWilliams Arroyo 14-1 (12 KO) - Fajardo
10. Eliezer Gonzalez 13-0 (8 KO) – Cupey
Alto
GROUP C:
1.
Jonathan Vidal 17-1 (9 KO) – San Juan
2.
Israel Vazquez 8-0-2 (6 KO)
3.
Emmanuel Rodriguez 5-0 (4 KO) -- Good amater expericence...
4.
Braulio Santos 10-1 (9 KO) - Carolina
5.
John Karl Sosa 6-0 (4 KO) – Caguas
6.
Miguel Robles 12-3 (5 KO) – San Juan
7.
Camilo Perez 9-0 (4 KO) - Carolina
8.
Miguel Soto 11-1 (11 KO) - Arecibo
9.
Gabriel Bracero 22-1 (4 KO) – Brooklyn ,
NYC
10.
Vicente Miranda 16-1 (9 KO) - Bayamon
11.
Jeffrey Fontanez 12-0 (9 KO) – Caguas
GROUP D:
1.
Jorge Melendez 26-3 (25 KO) - Manati
2.
Reylando Ojeda 10-0 (5 KO)
3.
Jonathan Oquendo 25-3 (15) – Vega Alta
4.
Jose Martinez 8-0 (6 KO)
5.
Jose Lopez 9-0 (7 KO) - Carolina
6.
Javier Flores 9-0 (8 KO)
7.
Kevin Nieves 6-0 (3KO)
8.
Luis Rosa 13-0 (6 KO)
9.
Noel Echevarria 10-0 (6 KO) – North
Carolina, USA
10.
Emmanuel Rivera 9-1 (5 KO)
11.
Edgardo Laboy 6-0 (3 KO)
12.
Jose Aguirre 6-0 (4 KO) - Manati
13.
Alberto Mercado 6-0 (1KO) – Las Piedras
14.
Jose Martinez 8-0 (6 KO)
15.
Edwin Soto 9-0-2 ( 4 KO)
16.
Fransisco Almestica Garcia 4-0 (2 KO)
17.
Carlos Narvaez 6-0 (5 KO)
18.
Emmanuel De Jesus 4-0 (4 KO) - Canovanas
19.
Adner Cotto 16-1 (7KO) - Caguas
