World Title Defenses in a Division: Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles WBC Welterweight World; Title, Felix “Tito” Trinidad IBF Welterweight World Title; Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. WBC Light Welterweight World Title.

World Title Defenses in a Division: Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles WBC Welterweight World; Title, Felix “Tito” Trinidad IBF Welterweight World Title; Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. WBC Light Welterweight World Title.

Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles

Height 5’7 1/2” Reach 72”

From Santiago, Cuba

Record 81-7 54 KO’s

WBA Welterweight Champion (2) and WBC Welterweight Champion (2)

Jose Napoles won the WBC Welterweight Title by defeating Billy Backus via a TKO in the 8th round     in June 4, 1971. Napoles won a total of 10 successful title defenses until his KO defeat at the hands of  John H. Stacey in the 6th round on Dec 6, 1975.

1.         1971 Dec 14    Jose Napoles  UD 15  Hedgemon Lewis

2.         1972 Mar 28    Jose Napoles  KO 7    Ralph Charles

3.         1972 Jun 10     Jose Napoles  TKO 2  Adolph Pruitt

4.         1973 Feb 28    Jose Napoles  KO 7    Ernie Lopez

5.         1973 Jun 23                   Jose Napoles UD 15 Roger Menetrey

6.         1973 Sep 22    Jose Napoles UD 15   Clyde Gray

7.         1974 Aug 3                    Jose Napoles TKO 9            Hedgemon Lewis

8.         1974 Dec 14    Jose Napoles KO 3     Horacio Agustin Saldano

9.         1975 Mar 30    Jose Napoles TD 12    Armando Muniz

10.       1975 Jul 12      Jose Napoles UD 15   Armando Muniz

LOST 1975 Dec 6       John H. Stracey TKO 6          Jose Napoles

Felix “Tito” Trinidad

Height 5’11” Reach 72 ½”

From Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico

Record 42-3 35 KO’s

3 Division World Champion: IBF Welterweight Champion, WBC Welterweight Champion, WBA Light Middleweight Champion, IBF Light Middleweight Champion,and WBA Middleweight Champion

Trinidad was a dominating welterweight with 15 successful title defenses. In June 19, 1993 Felix Trinidad KO’s Maurice Blocker in two rounds and goes on to successfully defended the IBF Welterweight Title a total of 15 times with a total of 12 KO’s.  He would later vacate the title and move on to campaign in the Jr. Middleweight division.

Here are his 15 IBF Welterweight title defenses:

1.         1993 Aug 6     Felix Trinidad TKO 1 Luis Gabriel Garcia

2.         1993 Oct 23    Felix Trinidad KO 10 Anthony Stephens

3.         1994 Jan 29     Felix Trinidad UD 12 Hector Camacho

4.         1994 Sep 17    Felix Trinidad TKO 4 Yory Boy Campas

5.         1994 Dec 10    Felix Trinidad TKO 8 Oba Carr

6.         1995 Apr 8      Felix Trinidad TKO 2 Roger Turner

7.         1995 Nov 18   Felix Trinidad TKO 4 Larry Barnes

8.         1996 Feb 10    Felix Trinidad TKO 4 Rodney Moore

9.         1996 May 18   Felix Trinidad KO 5 Freddie Pendleton

10.       1996 Sep 7      Felix Trinidad TKO 6 Ray Lovato

11.       1997 Jan 11     Felix Trinidad TKO 3 Kevin Lueshing

12.       1998 Apr 3      Felix Trinidad KO 4  Mahenge Zulu

13.       1999 Feb 20    Felix Trinidad UD 12 Pernell Whitaker

14.       1999 May 29   Felix Trinidad KO 4 Hugo Pineda

15.       1999 Sep 18    Felix Trinidad MD 12 Oscar De La Hoya

Vacated title to move up to Jr. Middleweight.

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

Height 5’ 7 ½” Reach 66 ½”

From Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico

Record 107-6-2 86 KO’s

3 Division World Champion: WBC Super Featherweight Champion, WBA Lightweight Champion, WBC Lightweight Champion, WBC Light Welterweight Champion (2), and IBF Light Welterweight Champion.

On May 13, 1989 Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. defeats Roger Mayweather by a RTD in the 10th round to win the WBC Light Welterweight Title.  Chavez would defend the WBC Light Welterweight title a total of 12 times with 10 KO’s until his defeat at the hands of Frankie Randall on Jan 29, 1994 via SD.

1.         1989 Nov 18   Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 10   Sammy Fuentes

2.         1989 Dec 16    Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 3     Alberto de las Mercedes Cortes

3.         1990 Mar 17    Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 12           Meldrick Taylor

4.         1990 Dec 8      Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 3            Kyung Duk Ahn

5.         1991 Mar 18    Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 4     John Duplessis

6.         1991 Sep 14    Julio Cesar Chavez UD 12      Lonnie Smith

7.         1992 Apr 10    Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 5     Angel Hernandez

8.         1992 Aug 1     Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 4     Frankie Mitchell

9.         1992 Sep 12    Julio Cesar Chavez UD 12      Hector Camacho

10.       1993 Feb 20    Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 5            Greg Haugen

11.       1993 May 8     Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 6     Terrence Alli

12.       1993 Dec 18    Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 5     Andy Holligan

LOST 1994 Jan 29     Frankie Randall SD 12      Julio Cesar Chavez




by M. DeTyrone

The Puerto Rico vs. Mexico Rivalry: The Rivalry Continues World Championship fights #134 and #135

This Boxing Rivalry stands at Puerto Rican Boxers 75-55-2 1 NC 40 KO’s and Mexican and Mexican-American Boxers at 55-75-2 1 NC 32 KO’s. With a total of 133 World Championship bouts.

The 134^th World Championship fight:

It’s between the WBO Super Featherweight Champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez 27-1-2 16 KO’s from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico vs. Mikey Garcia 32-0 27 KO’s from Oxnard, California. The fight will be held in the American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas for the WBO Super Featherweight Title on November 9, 2013.

Mikey Garcia: Height 5’6” Reach 68” Record 32-0 27 KO’s is the odds favorite to win on his first fight at 130 lbs. and become the new WBO Super Featherweight Champion.

Roman “Rocky” Garcia: Height 5’8” Reach 67” 27-1-2 16 KO’s is the huge underdog.

This will be the 60 th WBO World Championship fight between a Puerto Rican Boxer vs. a Mexican or Mexican-American Boxer the record stands at:

Puerto Rican Boxers: 31-25-2 1NC 11 KO’s

Mexican and Mexican-American Boxers: 25-31-2 1NC 15 KO’s  

Puerto Rican Boxers are ahead with a 6 fight lead, but currently have been on a 4 fight WBO World title losing streak. Mexican and Mexican-American Boxers lead by 4 KO’s this is has been in large part due to one man Juan Ma Lopez with 3 straight KO’s loses and one by Orlando Cruz.

The 135^th World Championship fight:

It’s between the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Leo “Teremoto” Santa Cruz 25-0-1 15 KO’s from Rosemead, California via Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico vs. Cesar Seda 25-1 17 KO’s from Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. The fight will be held at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas December 14, 2013.

Leo Santa Cruz: Height 5’7” 69” 25-0-1 15 KO’s is the favorite and believed to be the next Mexican boxing star.

Cesar Seda: Height 5’6” Record 25-1 17 KO’s is the underdog.

This will be the 36 th WBC World Championship fight between a Puerto Rican Boxer vs. a Mexican or Mexican-American Boxer the record stands at:

Puerto Rican Boxers: 22-13 14 KO’s

Mexican and Mexican-American Boxers: 13-22 7 KO’s

In WBC World Championship title fights Puerto Rican Boxers have historically done well, and have won by 14 KO’s, however, due to total mismatches they have lost 3 straight WBC world title fights. Two of them were by the veteran Eric Morel and one by the over the hill Kermit Cintron in Mexico.

by M. DeTyrone

Mikey Garcia vs. Rocky Martinez: Rocky the ultimate underdog?

It’s generally recognized or believed by the boxing media, the boxing fans, and causal fans that “Rocky” Martinez stands no chance against Mikey Garcia. A win by Rocky Martinez will be the upset of the year, in my opinion, thus becoming a true life Rocky. Martinez is the ultimate underdog in this fight with all the odds against him. His pressure style is tailor made for Garcia’s counter punching abilities.  On the day of the fight it will be interesting how much weight “Rocky” Martinez gains and after two rounds if he is able to withstand Garcia’s power and pressure him with a body attack.

Roman “Rocky” Martinez is a pressure boxer with the height of 5’8” and the reach at 67” with a record of 27-1-2. He is the natural Super Featherweight and WBO Champion in that division with world experience and only knows one way to fight which is forward. He has faced Diego Magdaleno 23-0, J.C. Burgos 30-1-0, Miguel Beltran 27-1, Daniel Attah 26-7-1, and Ricky Burns.

Mikey Garcia height is at 5’6” and reach at 68” with a record of 32-0 27 KO’s and is now currently under nutritionist Alex Ariza the man who was responsible for Manny Pacquiao’s rise through multiple weight divisions with lean muscle, unbelievable stamina, and devastating KO power. It’s very likely everyone will see a new muscular lean Garcia with the addition of new power and strength.  Mikey Garcia’s rise has been a strategic one and not one of fighting top talent. His last opponents before the WBO championship fights were J.V. Barros 34-3-1, Mauricio Pastrana 35-16-11, Bernabe Concepcion 30-5-1, and J.C. Martinez 19-12-1. The Garcia team has selected opponents and at various opportunities avoided the dangerous Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa once the IBF Featherweight Champion, and the Filipino Michael Farenas. They basically waited for Juan Ma Lopez and Orlando “Siri” Salido to demolish each other, as a result, by the time Garcia faced Juan Ma Lopez and Orlando Salido both were coming off two brutal fights where Salido had KO’d Lopez twice.

After his two KO victories Orlando Salido then faced Mikey Garcia for the WBO Featherweight title.  In this fight Garcia wins the WBO Featherweight title, because, he could not continue due to a broken nose. Juan Ma Lopez due to his on air allegations of corruption and gambling ends up suspended but then returns and wins a fight versus a club fighter in Mexico. No surprise at all the WBO grants Juan Ma Lopez a title shot in Texas versus the new champion Mikey Garcia. Nevertheless, Garcia showing irresponsibility as the WBO Featherweight Champion could not make weight due to 2 lbs. and after negotiations his team pays Juan Ma Lopez a substantial amount of money for a fight. As a result, the boxer Juan Ma Lopez who is already a huge underdog faces a Garcia with better talent, and a weight advantage is TKO’d.

Garcia is a counter puncher with power at Featherweight and with the addition of Ariza on his team. Garcia’s power at Super Featherweight will not be an issue question will be can he hurt Martinez? It’s very likely he will. It depends on “Rocky” Martinez defensive improvements, and his game plan.  “Rocky” Martinez can obtain a victory by constantly breaking down Garcia with body shots, not allowing any space and a vast improvement in defense. If “Rocky” Martinez takes the fight to the later rounds and can with stand Garcia’s power, then “Rocky” Martinez’s odds improve. “Rocky” Martinez must win by KO or TKO.  I don’t see any way he wins a decision.

Boxing: The Who’s Who of Banned Substances

In the last decade there has been a rise of professional boxers being caught with banned substances by post and prefight drug test, and also there has been a rise of nefarious characters that already have convicted of administering steroids to athletes and boxers, or have worked miracles in boxers by creating boxers that can move up various weight divisions with power, stamina, and lean muscle in a short period of time.

Many boxers have been associated with steroids / Performance Enhancement Drugs, labs, etc.  And others have admitted to their use to law enforcement or the sports media. I don’t see the WBO, WBC, WBA, or IBF doing anything about the rise of illegal substance in boxing. Sadly, it’s all currently left up to the teams and boxers with common sense, and who are looking for their personal safety and a level playing field. Demanding USADA or VADA drug testing in their fights is the smart thing for any champion, if not they place their lives at risk. Just regular commission drug testing varies from commission to commission and not all of them are on the same page.

It will take the death of a boxer at the hands of a juiced up opponent on a cable network for any action to be taken and put another black eye into boxing. The WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC can simply demand their boxing champions and top contenders to take random blood testing for PEDs; however, this seems not to be for their benefit. Commission should impose draconian rules against anyone caught with any banned substance in their body; however, they do not in the United States. 

1.      All boxers and champions should take it up themselves to demand USADA and VADA drug testing for each of their fights.

2.      Commissions should ban any boxer caught with any illegal substance in their system a minimum of 5 years and finned 50% of their purse.

3.      The WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF can implement mandatory random blood testing for their champions and top 10 boxers in their rankings. 

4.      The WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF can strip a champion and ban from their ranking any boxer caught with a banned substance in their system.

The Who’s Who list of banned substance and PED’s list:

Andre Berto tested positive for Norandrosterone.

Lamont Peterson tested positive for Synthetic Testosterone in his system.

Michel Trabant tested positive for an Anabolic Steroid in his system.

Timo Hoffman tested positive for an Anabolic Steroid in his system.

Joey Gilbers tested positive for Stanozolol Metabolite, Methamphetamine, Oxazepam, Dizepam, Nordiazepam, Temazepam, and Amphetamine. However, NSAC only gave a one year fine and a $10,000 fine.

Danny Batchelder found with Stanozolol and Oxandolone in his system.

Antonio Tarver found with Drostanolone in his system.

Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas tested positive for Stanozolol in his 2002 11^th round TKO defeat at the hands of Oscar De La Hoya.

Roy Jones Jr. tested positive for Androstenedione in 2000.

Richard Hall tested positive for Androstenedione in 2000.

Cruz Carbajal tested positive for Nandrolone and Hydrochlorothiazide.

Orlando Salido tested positive for Nandrolone in his fight versus Robert Guerrero in 2006. Salido obtained a drug test at a national blood lab and in their findings Salido was negative. At any rate, the NSAC changed the results.

James Toney tested positive for Nandrolone, Boldenone and Stanozolol in 2005 and 2007.

Ali Adams tested positive for Stanozolol.

Omar Nino Romero tested positive for Methamphetamine.

Erik Morales tested positive for Clenbuterol and suspended for 2 years in his defeat in the hands of Danny Garcia.

Mariano Carrera tested positive for Clenbuterol.

Stevie Johnston tested positive for Ephedrine.

Mariusz Wach tested positive for an Anabolic Steroid.

Frans Botha tested positive for Anabolic Steroid.

Larry Olubamiwo tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO) and admitted to using 13 other banned substances.

Eloy Perez tested positive for Cocaine in his defeat at the hands of Adrien Broner.

Pernell Whitaker tested positive for Cocaine.

Manuel M. Vargas tested positive for Hydrocodone.

Guillermo Jones tested positive for Furosemide.

Joel Casamayor tested positive for Marijuana in his fight with Timothy Bradley.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Tested positive for Marijuana and Furosemide.

J’Leon Love tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide in his fight versus Gabriel Rosado.

Sam Soliman tested positive for Methyslysnephrine.

Brian Magee tested positive for Oxilofrine.

Mickey Bey Jr. tested positive for Elevated Testosterone levels.

Rosendo Alvarez tested positive for Furosemide.

Joan Guzman tested positive for Furosemide and fined $3,750.

Ricardo Mayorga tested positive for Furosemide in his fight versus Oscar DeLaHoya.

Clenbuterol: Mariano Carrera and Erik Morales

Stanozolol: Fernando Vargas, James Toney, Joey Gilbers, Danny Batchelder, and Ali Adams.

Diuretics: J’Leon Love, Guillermo Jones, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Ricardo Mayorga, Joan Guzman and Rosendo Alvarez. 

Cocaine: Pernell Whitaker, Juan Carlos Gomez, and Eloy Perez

Nandrolone: Cruz Carbajal and James Toney

Danny “Swift” Garcia: What are the Options?

The Puerto Rican born in Philadelphia Danny “Swift”Garcia 27-0 (16 KO) Height 5′ 8½″   / Reach 68½″   has built up an impressive resume with a 12th round unanimous decision versus Zab Judah in a fight in which he dropped Judah is the 8th round. His two victories over Erik Morales in the last one he totally demolished the veteran who had previously had tested for the banned substance Clenbuterol, and the discombobulation of the U.K’s Amir Khan in just four rounds. Then finally his victory over Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse who had defeated Lamont Peterson via a 3rd   Round TKO, Ajose Olusegun via a 10th Round TKO, and a Humberto Soto via 5th Round RTD.

After beating the media created invincible boxing juggernaut Lucas Matthysse nicknamed “The Machine” what is next for Danny “Swift” Garcia to prove at Super Lightweight? If Garcia stays at 140 lbs. what will be his options, since, there is now nothing for him to prove at 140 lbs. He can go and fight Lamont Peterson but after Peterson was caught with synthetic testosterone in his system and the devastating 3 round KO defeat at the hands of Lucas Matthysse is there any true reason to fight him? Peterson holds the IBF 140 lbs. title, yet he is not recognized among the best 140 lbs. Ruslan “The Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov the current WBO 140 lbs. Champion is with another promotional company and network making the fight very unlikely.

 There are various boxers at 140 lbs. that Garcia can defend his titles among them the Super lightweight WBC Silver Champion and ranked #2 by the WBC out of Mexico Roberto Ortiz, the number 1 ranked Ukrainian Viktor Postol, then there are Humberto Soto already a 5 round victim of Lucas Matthysse, the Dominican boxer based out of Puerto Rico Thomas Dulorme, Henry Lundy who had a good showing versus Ajose Olusegun another victim of Lucas Matthysse, and  there is also the Russian Khabib Allakhverdiev. However, none are well known or big names that are recognized.

Danny “Swift” Garcia already is established in the Super Lightweight division, but for his legacy is very likely to be cemented in the welterweight division. The big fights and names are at welterweight. A division that historically has been the premier division in boxing. A division ruled by Puerto Rican great Felix “Tito” Trinidad who defended his title 15 successful consecutive times, Oscar De La Hoya among one of the most profitable PPV stars, this era Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather jr. , in the past Henry Armstrong, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez, etc… Currently the welterweight division is stacked with talented boxers and hard hitters among them Keith Thurman, Argentinians Marcos Maidana, Luis Carlos Abregu, and Diego Chaves, Zab Judah who has moved up to welterweight, the veteran Shane Mosley, Robert Guerrero, Devon Alexander, Shawn Porter, Paul Malignaggi, Adrien Broner, Kell Brook from the UK, Amir Khan who hasn’t been looking good in his last few fights, and above all Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

New Upcoming Boxing Era: The Young Guns

All good things must come to an end. Boxers like Floyd Mayweather jr., Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, Miguel A. Cotto, and Juan Manuel Marquez will soon retire from boxing in a few years. The question will be who will the next stars and dominating boxers be? Andre Ward is already established so is the master Cuban pugilist Guillermo Rigondeaux and Abner Mares although it will all depend, if Mares can rebound and avenge his 1 round KO at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez.

Who are the promising young guns making a name for themselves in boxing?

In my opinion, one of the best boxers at the moment that is not given much attention is the 22 year old Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico with a current record of 17-1-1 9 KO’s with a height of 5’8 ½” already IBF Super Flyweight Champion and he has obtained victories over Roberto Domingo Sosa, Rodel Mayol, Juan Francisco Estrada, and Juan Alberto Rosas.

The next young gun is the undisputed Jr. Welterweight Champion out of Philadelphia of Puerto Rican descent at the age of 25 Danny “Swift” Garcia with a record of 21-0 16 KO already has won the WBA Super Lightweight World Champion, and WBC Light Welterweight Champion. Garcia is the ultimate underdog but with his victories he has proved wrong many of his critics within the boxing media and casual boxing fans with his victories over Lucas Matthysse, Zab Judah, Erik Morales twice, Amir Khan, Kendall Holt, and Nate Campbell. It’s very likely to see Garcia move up to 147 the Cadillac division of boxing.

Out of Cincinnati, Ohio there is the 24 year old cocky 5’6 1/2” Adrien “The Problem” Broner with a record of 27 wins and 22 KO’s with no defeats. Broner already has become a 3 Division world champion a WBO Super Featherweight Champion, WBC Lightweight Champion, and WBA Welterweight Champion. His best victories have been against Paul Malignaggi, Antonio DeMarco, and Daniel Ponce Deleon. Broner’s campaigning in the welterweight maybe a dangerous one with plenty of talent with brutal KO power and boxing gunning for his world title. One of these threats is the 24 year old from Clear Water, Florida named Keith Thurman with a record 21-0 19 KO’s one of the most powerful punchers at welterweight and Jr. Middleweight with wins over Jan Zaveck, Carlos Quintana, and Diego Gabriel Chaves.

Three boxers that are creating a lot of attention among them is the 25 year old Leo Santa Cruz from Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico with a record of 25-0-1 with 15 KO’s already a 2 division world champion holding the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion and IBF Bantamweight Champion.  His important victories have been versus Victor Terrazas, Alexander Munoz, Eric Morel, and Vusi Malinga. From Sonora, Mexico there is the 23 year old Juan “El Gallo” Francisco Estrada with a record 25-2 18 KO’s holding the WBA Super World Flyweight title and the WBO Flyweight title. He has obtained victories over Milan Melindo and the solid veteran Brian Viloria, however, he has two defeats in the hands of Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, who I consider among one of the best pound for pound boxers in the world and another to Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. [Who I consider to be among the top 3 boxers in Mexico.]

Finally, the 25 years old Mickey Garcia with a record 32-0 27 KO’s who won the WBO Featherweight Title via a Technical decision due to a broken nose versus Orlando Salido, and later lost the same title versus Juan Manuel Lopez at the scales due to 2 lbs. forcing him to move up to 130 lbs. the Super Featherweight division. There is a lot of hype behind Mickey Garcia, yet he has not faced any true threat and both his victories versus Salido and Lopez came under excuses. Due to him being under his promotional company and network I don’t see Garcia achieving much but beating sub-par opponents for WBO titles for a long time. Unless a man named Vasyl Lomachenko with spectacular amateur record becomes a true professional boxer and defeats Orlando Salido, and then moves up to 130 lbs. with just 10 official pro fights including the WSB victories.

There are important world title fights coming up before the boxing year of 2013 is over that involves a few of the boxers mentioned above, and we will see if these young guns are the promise of the future, or are just part of the present. With the defeat of any of these young guns we may see the rise of an unknown star, or the newly gained respect of a boxer.

Wilfredo “El Orgullo de Puerto Rico” Vazquez Sr.: Belongs in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. By M.DeTyrone

Wilfredo “El Orgullo de Puerto Rico” Vazquez Sr.: Belongs in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

By M.DeTyrone

One boxer that has earned to be inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY is Wilfredo “ El Orgullo dePuerto Rico” Vazquez.  If there is one boxer that travelled and showcased Puerto Rican boxing all throughout the world that would be one of its greatest ambassadors. Wilfredo “El Orgullo de Puerto Rico” Vazquez Sr. who was born in August 1960 began to box at the age of 18.  Although he didn’t have a stellar amateur career, he gained much in  pro boxing from the year 1981 to 2000 accomplishing a strong boxing career with a final record of 56-9-2 and 1 No contest with 41 KO’s, a WBA Bantamweight champion, a WBA Super Bantamweight champion from March 27, 1992 — May 13, 1995 with 9 successful title defenses, a WBA Featherweight champion  from May 18, 1996 — 1997 with 4 successful title defenses, a 3 Division World Champion, with 21 career world title fights and a record of 16-3-2.

Vazquez Sr. is recognized among the top 15 Puerto Rican boxing greats who traveled to South Korea, Japan, Mexico, the U.K., the U.S.A, Italy, Thailand and France to defend his title or look to win a title. This cannot be said about many boxers in his era or this era of boxing where many boxers don’t even travel their home state or geographical region where their fan base is more concentrated. How can a road warrior like Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. with 56 wins 9 defeats 2 draws 1 no contest and 41 knockouts is not inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame? And those that made a career fighting in world title fights in their homelands, or geographical regions that might as well be their homelands are even mentioned for the hall of fame.  Many who benefited from subpar performances and obtained home cooked decisions due to their marketability for various reasons outside those of boxing. 

I don’t know the criteria for a boxer to be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, but I do have my own in recognizing boxing greats and it’s a boxer with the combinations of the list below[Although not complete]. 

A.    A boxer should have won a world championship WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF in 3 or more weight divisions. Not Ring Magazine titles or Interim Titles of any sort of creation.

B.     A boxer should have face the top opposition of his era in the record of opponent there must be future world champions, world champions, or various multiple title contenders.

C.     A boxer must have not be caught and suspended by any of the boxing commissions for any illegal substance such as Performance Enhancement Drugs, or substances used to gain an advantage over an opponent.

D.    A boxer should have fought over 20 World Championship Title fights and have a winning percentage of over 70%.

E.     A boxer should have over 12 world title successful defenses in their record.

F.      A boxer should have accomplished boxing history either by establishing a record, breaking a record, or becoming the first in boxing.

G.    A boxer should have been recognized the best in their division by defeating and winning all the titles or the majority of the recognized titles in their respected division.

H.    A boxer obtaining wins outside their homeland or geographical regions which is no different than their homeland due to fan support.

Let’s look at Vazquez Sr. professional boxing record. In 1986 Vazquez Sr. fights in Florida and loses by a 12 round Unanimous Decision to Miguel Lora for the WBC Bantamweight title in a fight where both boxers visited the canvas. The judge’s score was 111-116, 112-115, and 113-116. Miguel Lora would be a WBC Bantamweight champion from 1985 to 1988. A year later in 1987 Vazquez Sr. travels to South Korea and TKO’s in 10 rounds Chan-Young Park who would finish his career with a professional record 33-5-2 16 KO’s and an ex-WBA Bantamweight Champion. We find Vazquez Sr. in Asian this time in Japan in 1988.  Vazquez Sr. ends up with a draw vs. Takuya Mugurama in a WBA World Bantamweight title fight. Takuya Mugurama would finish his career with a professional record 26-3-2 20 KO’s and an ex-WBA Bantamweight champion.

Again in 1988 Vazquez Sr. is on the road in Asian this time in Thailand against Khaokor Galaxy in WBA World Bantamweight title fight in which Vazquez loses by a split decision with the judge’s scores 113-115, 114-113, and 112-115. Khaokor Galaxy would finish his professional career with a record 24-2 18 KO’s and a WBA Bantamweight Champion. By 1992 Vazquez Sr. travels to Mexico, Italy, and France and obtains victories in WBA Super Bantamweight World title fights. First fight in Mexico Vazquez Sr. KO’s in 3rounds Raul Perez, second fight he wins by majority decision, and then finally in France he TKO’s in 8 rounds Thierry Jacob. Raul Perez would finish his professional career with a record of 61-6-3 42 KO’s and a WBC Bantamweight Champion in 1988. Thierry Jacob would finish with a record 39-6 20 KO’s and a WBC Super Bantamweight Champion.

In 1993 Vazquez Sr. is fighting in two WBA Super Bantamweight Championship title fights one in France and Japan. Vazquez Sr. defeats via a unanimous decision Luis Mendoza, and then in a rematch Vazquez Sr. KO’s in 10 rounds Thierry Jacob. In Japan Vazquez Sr. fights Hiroaki Yokota, who he defeats by unanimous decision in 12 rounds with the judges score of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113. In 1994 Vazquez Sr. travels to Tokyo, Japan and TKO’s in 1 round Yuichi Kasai in a WBA Super Bantamweight title fight. That same year in a WBA Super Bantamweight title fight he KO’s in 2 rounds Jae-WonChoi in Las Vegas, Nevada, and then defeats in France by unanimous decision in WBA World Super Bantamweight title fight Juan Polo Perez. 

In 1995 as a huge underdog Vazquez Sr. travels to face Orlando Canizalez in a WBA World Super Bantamweight title bout in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. Where Vazquez Sr. defeats Canizalez via a split decision with the judges scores 115-113, 113-117, and 116-115. Orlando Canizalez would end up with a record of 50-5-1 37 KO’s, IBF Bantamweight Champion from 1988 to 1994, and in 2009 inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

In 1995 Vazquez Sr. would lose by unanimous decision in 12 rounds to Antonio Cermeno in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. In 1996 Vazquez Sr. travels to Las Vegas and defeats Eloy Rojas by an 11 round TKO in a WBA World Featherweight title bout. Vazquez Sr. would later in 1996 and 1997 would travel to California and Japan and with by KO in 5 rounds both Bernardo Mendoza and Yuji Watanabe in WBA World Featherweight title bouts. In 1997 Vazquez Sr. would defeat by unanimous decision both Roque Cassiani and Genaro Rios in NYC and Las Vegas. In 1998 after 17 years of boxing he faces Nassem Hamed in the U.K. where Vazquez Sr. loses via a 7^th round TKO in a WBO Featherweight title fight.