The Top 50 Puerto Rican Prospects: August 2013

1.      Carlos Ivan “Twin Dream” 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. – Catano ( Last win vs. Giorgi Mtchedlishvili where he dropped Giorgi in the 6^th round in Las Vegas.)

2.      Jose “Sniper” Pedraza 14-0 (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. – (Has been stepping up in competition… Last win vs. Gabriel Tolmajyan by a Unanimous Decision in California.)

3.      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. (Has been inactive but has faced quality opponents fought to a draw ex-world champion S. Dzinziruk, and last win was a Majority Decision vs. Derrick Ennis.)

4.      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 (Is slowly building a record outside the Island of Puerto Rico.)

5.      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. – Bayamon (Only defeat vs. Vic Darchinyan 37-5-1 by Unanimous Decision.)

6.      Felix Verdejo 5-0 (4 KO): Winner of the 2012 American Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament, and Pan American Youth Champion. – San Juan (Has been build up to be a good prospect by the boxing experts last win vs. Guillermo Delgadillo by Unanimous Decision. He dropped Delgadillo 2 time in the fight.)

7.      Gamalier Rodriguez 22-2-3 (15 KO) – Bayamon (Recent wins have been by Unanimous Decision and TKO recently has stepped up in competition.)

8.      Jesus M. Rojas 18-1-1 (13 KO)

9.      Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez 20-0 (15 KO) – Juncos (Last win vs. Salvador Sanchez 2 who he dropped 2 times, has been in active and has faced sub-par opponents)

10.  Luis Cruz 20-2 (16 KO) – Las Piedras (Lost Majority Decision to Juan Carlos Burgos and Unanimous Decision to Jose Felix Jr.)

11.  McWilliams Arroyo 14-1 (12 KO) – Fajardo (Has face decent opposition but been inactive...  last win was by TKO in 4 rounds vs. Miguel Tamayo; only defeat vs. Takashi Okada by Unanimous Decision where he was dropped once in the 2^nd round)

12.  + Thomas Dulorme 18-1 (13 KO) – Carolina ( Dominican Republic)

13.  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 (Last win vs. Jairo Hernandez in Mexico by Unanimous Decision has not faced quality opponents.)

14.  Eliezer Gonzalez 13-0 (8 KO) – Cupey Alto (Has been building a record with soft opposition in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Already has been dropped.)

15.  Jonathan Vidal 17-1 (9 KO) – San Juan (Lost a Unanimous Decision to Alberto Guevara; Vidal hurt and dropped Guevara in the 10^th round.)

16.  Braulio Santos 10-1 (9 KO) – Carolina (Lost a Unanimous Decision to Derrick Wilson)

17.  John Karl Sosa 8-0 (6 KO) – Caguas (Only one fight outside the island of Puerto Rico. Last victory in Texas, USA vs. Alexis Pena via KO in the 2^nd round. I question how far he will go with his trainers and management.)

18.  Miguel Robles 12-3 (5 KO) – San Juan (Last fight was a KO defeat in 7 by Randy Caballero… Robles is a dangerous boxer that can obtain an upset.)

19.  Camilo Perez 9-0 (4 KO) – Carolina

20.  Israel Vazquez 8-0-2 (6 KO)

21.  Vicente Miranda 16-1 (9 KO) – Bayamon

22.  Jeffrey Fontanez 12-0 (9 KO) – Caguas

23.  Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez 13-1 (11 KO) - Caguas (Has not faced quality opponents and recently TKO’d in 4 by G. Segura. Doubtful he will recover mentally from the defeat. Bad management and trainers.)

24.  Jonathan Oquendo  25-3 (15) – Vega Alta

25.  Jorge Melendez 26-3 (25 KO) – Manati (Has been KO’d 2;  last defeat a Unanimous Decision vs. Brinson)

26.  Gabriel Bracero 22-1 (4 KO) – Brooklyn, NYC (Lost a Unanimous Decision to DeMarcus Corley who is basically a sparring partner for many of the top boxers. Bracero was dropped 3 times in the fight. )

27.  Reylando Ojeda 10-0 (5 KO) – San Juan

28.  Jose Martinez 8-0 (6 KO)

29.  Jose Lopez 9-0 (7 KO) - Carolina

30.  Javier Flores 9-0 (8 KO) – Hartford , Connecticut, USA

31.  Kevin Nieves 6-0 (3KO) -

32.  Luis Rosa 14-0 (6 KO) – Connecticut , USA

33.  Noel Echevarria 10-0 (6 KO) – North Carolina, USA

34.  Emmanuel Rivera 9-1 (5 KO)

35.  Edgardo Laboy 7-0 (4 KO) (Recently had a fight outside the island and obtain a KO victory in the 3^rd round vs. Luis Vargas in California.)

36.  Jose Aguirre 6-0 (4 KO) - Manati

37.  Alberto Mercado 6-0 (1KO) – Las Piedras

38.  Jose Martinez 8-0 (6 KO) (Building a record in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico vs. soft opposition.)

39.  Edwin Soto 9-0-2 ( 4 KO)

40.  Fransisco Almestica Garcia 4-0 (2 KO)

41.  Carlos Narvaez 6-0 (5 KO)

42.  Jonathan Perez 5-0 (3KO) - Moca

43.  Osenohan Vasquez 6-1 (1 KO) – Jersey City , NJ USA (Has been KO’d once)

44.  Emmanuel De Jesus 4-0 (4 KO) - Canovanas

45.  Miguel Marrero 7-0-2 (4KO)

46.  Emmanuel Rodriguez 4-0 (4 KO)

47.  O’Nell Negron 9-1-2 (8KO)

48.  Adner Cotto 16-1 (7KO) – Caguas (Build up a record vs. below average opponents gained some popularity due to his surname. KO in 1^st Round by Omar Figueroa)

49.  Miguel Soto 11-1 (11 KO) - Arecibo

50.  Jorge Maysonet jr. 11-1 (10KO) – Catano (No quality opponents; Lost a Unanimous Decision vs. Gabriel Tomajyan and dropped in round 1.)

Is Puerto Rican Boxing in a decline?

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

The Final Championship Round: 2013 MID YEAR RANKINGS

HEAVYWEIGHT (OVER 200)

1. Vitaly Klitschko (UKR): WBC Champion

2. Wladimir Klitschko (UKR): WBA, WBO & IBF Champion

3. David Haye (GB):#4 IBF, # 7 WBC #1 WBA & WBA Continental Champion, #4 WBO & WBO International Champion.

4. Bermane Stiverne (Canada): #5 IBF, #1 WBC & WBC Silver Champion 

5.  Johnathon Banks (US): #2 WBC & WBC International Champion, #8 WBA,#2 WBO & NABO Champion

6. Seth Mitchell (US:)#5 WBC,

7.  Alexander Povetkin (RUS): WBA Interim Champion

8. Robert Helenius (FIN): #1 WBO

9. Luis Ortiz (CUB): #2 WBA & WBA International Champion, #11 WBC & FECARBOX Champion.

10.         Tomasz Adamek (Poland): #10 WBC, #11 IBF

MIDDLEWEIGHT (160 LBS)

1. Gennady Golovkin (Kazakhstan): WBA Champion

2. Martin Murray (GB): #4 WBC, #1 WBA & WBA International Champion.

3. Peter Quillin (USA): WBO Champion

4. Sergio Martinez (ARG): WBC Champion

5. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (MEX)

6. Matthew Macklin (GBR):#11 WBA

7. Daniel Geale (Australia): IBF Champion

8. Felix Sturm (GER): #2 WBA, #6 IBF

9. Gabriel Rosado (USA):#20 WBC

10.         Marco Antonio Rubio (MEX): #1 WBC, #2 WBO

JR. MIDDLEWEIGHT / SUPERWELTERWEIGHT (154 LBS)

1.  Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA): WBC Diamond Champion, WBA Super Champion.

2.  Erislandy Lara (CUB): #1 WBA, #3 WBO, #6 IBF

3.  Carlos Molina (US): #6 WBC, #2 IBF

4.  Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (MEX): WBC & WBA Champion

5. Austin Trout (USA): Former WBA World Champion

6. Vanes Martirosyan (Armenia): #10 WBC, #7 IBF, #1 WBO

7. Damian Jonak (POL): #4 IBF, #2 WBA

8. Miguel Cotto (P. Rico): #2 WBC, Former WBA Super World Champion

9. Demetrius Andrade (USA): #2 WBO, #3 IBF, #14 WBA

10.         Jonathan Gonzalez (P.Rico): #7 WBC, #4 WBA, #11 IBF

WELTERWEIGHT (147 LBS)

1.  Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA): WBC World Champion

2.  Juan Manuel Marquez (MEX):

3.  Manny Pacquiao (PHL):#2 WBO & WBO Sup-Champion

4. Timothy Bradley (US): WBO World Champion

5.  Luis Carlos Abregu (Argentina):#1 WBC & WBC Silver Champion, #8 WBA,

6. Devon Alexander (US): IBF World Champion

7. Keith Thurman (USA): #4 WBA, #1 WBO & WBO Inter-Champion

8. Diego Chaves (ARG): #1 WBA & WBA Interim Champion

9. Marcos Maidana (ARG): #2 WBA & WBA Continental Champion

10.       Paul Malignaggi (US): WBA World Champion

JR. WELTERWEIGHT / SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT (140 LBS)

1.  Danny Garcia (USA): WBA & WBC World Champion

2.  Juan Manuel Marquez (MEX): WBO Sup-Champion

3.  Lucas Matthysse (ARG): WBC Interim-Champion

4.  Mike Alvarado (USA): WBO Interim-Champion

5.  Zab Judah (US): #13 WBC, #6 WBA

6. Karim Mayfield (US): #14 WBC, #2 WBO & NABO Champion

7.  Cesar R. Cuenca (Argentina): #12 IBF, #8 WBC, #5 WBO & WBO Latino Champion

8. Joan Guzman (Dom. Rep.): #5 WBA

9. Lamont Peterson (USA): IBF Champion

10.          Juan Carlos Abreu (Dom. Rep.): #10 WBC, #13 IBF

LIGHTWEIGHT (135 LBS)

1. Yuorokis Gamboa (Cuba):

2. Richar Abril (Cuba): WBA World Champion

3. Miguel Vazquez (Mexico): IBF World Champion

4. Daniel Estrada (Mexico): WBC Silver Champion

5. Jorge Linares (Venezuela): #5 WBC, #9 WBA, #7 WBO

6. Antonio DeMarco (Mexico): #7 WBC, #12 WBO

7. Omar Figueroa (USA): #4 WBC & FECARBOX Champion, #9 IBF

8.  Ricky Burns (GB): WBO World Champion

9. Nihito Arakawa (Japan): #1 WBC, #5 WBO,

10.         Terence Crawford (USA): #27 WBC, #11 IBF

 JR. LIGHTWEIGHT / SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT (130 LBS)

1. Takashi Uchiyama (Japan): WBA World Champion

2. Yuriorkis Gamboa (Cuba): #1 WBA & WBA Inter-Champion

3. Roman Martinez (P. Rico): WBO World Champion

4. Argenis Mendez (Dom. R.): IBF World Champion

5. Takashi Miura (JAPAN): WBC World Champion

6. Juan Carlos Burgos (MEX): #1 WBO

7. Rances Barthelemy (USA): #2 IBF

8. Takahiro Aoh (Japan): #7 WBC, #12 IBF, #8 WBO

9. Fahsai  Sakkreerin (THA): #5 IBF

10.       Will Tomlinson (AUS): #7 WBA, #10 WBC, #3 WBO

FEATHERWEIGHT (126 LBS)

1. Abner Mares (Mex): WBC World Champion

2. Chris John (INA): WBA World Champion

3. Miguel A. Garcia (USA): Former WBO World Champion

4. Orlando Cruz (P.Rico): #1 WBO

5. Garry Russell Jr. (USA): #2 WBO, #5 WBC

6. Javier Fortuna (DOM): #1 WBA & WBA Inter-Champion

7.  Ray Bautista (PHI):#5 WBO & WBO International

8. Daniel Ponce De Leon(MEX): #3 WBC & Former WBC World Champion

9. Robinson Castellanos (Mexico):#1 WBC & WBC Silver Champion

10.          Orlando Salido (Mex):

 JR. FEATHERWEIGHT / SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT (122 LBS)

1.  Guillermo Rigondeaux (Cuba): WBA & WBO World Champion

2. Jhonathan Romero (Colombia): IBF World Champion

3. Leo Santa Cruz (Mex): #4 IBF,

4. Nonito Donaire (Phi): Former WBO World Champion

5.  Vic Darchinyan (ARM) : #1 WBO, #7 IBF

6.  Victor Terrazas (Mex): WBC World Champion

7.  Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan): #5WBC, #2WBO

8.  Yoandris Salinas (Cuba): #8 WBC & WBC Latino Champion, #9 WBO

9.  Jesse Magdaleno (USA): #8 WBO & NABO Youth Champion

10.         Carl Frampton (GB/NIG): #6 WBC & EBU/COMM Champion, #3 IBF, #14 WBO, #7 WBA & EBU champion.

BANTAMWEIGHT (118 LBS)

1.  Yamanaka Shinsuke (JPN): WBC World Champion

2.  Anselmo Moreno (PAN): WBA Super World Champion

3.  Koki Kameda (JPN): WBA World Champion

4.  Jamie McDonnell (ENG): IBF World Champion

5.  Pungluang Sor Singyu (THA): WBO World Champion

6.  Cesar Seda Jr. (P. Rico): #6 WBC , #12 WBO

7.   Dennis Tubieron (Phil): #7 WBC & WBC Inter-Champion

8.  Randy Caballero (USA): #1 WBO & NABO Champion

9. Juan C. Payano (Dom. Rep.): #14 IBF , #10 WBC & WBC Latino

10.         Jose Nieves (P. Rico): #9 WBC, #2 WBO & WBO Latino Champion