Strong Latino Influence on
“World’s Greatest Ever Boxers”
November 25, 2009
(NOV 25) LAS VEGAS – Latinos have had a
profound influence on boxing, particularly in smaller-weight divisions,
evident by 21 nominees in the ongoing “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” (“WGEB”)
promotion.
Eighteen of the 21 Latino “WGEB” nominees are in the International
Boxing Hall of Fame and the remaining three – Oscar De La Hoya, Julio
Cesar Chavez and Marco Antonio Barrera – are surefire locks for
induction as soon as they’re eligible.
On-line voting at GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the
world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight
classes (10 candidates in each division except for 12 heavyweights),
highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “The World’s Greatest Ever
Boxer.”
The Dec. 11-13 weekend event is being presented by Greatest Ever
Enterprises, which already has done “world’s greatest” tributes on two
continents in the sports of soccer and rugby.
Roberto Duran, Wilfredo Gomez and Carlos Ortiz are among the numerous
“WGEB” candidates already committed to attending the Dec. 11-13 weekend
festivities in Las Vegas.
Argentinean middleweight CARLOS “Escopeta” MONZON (87-3-9 1 NC, 59 KOs),
a 3-time world champion in the 1970’s, held the record at the time for
14 middleweight defenses. Monzon was a known playboy convicted of murder
who was killed in car crash on weekend furlough. He had two victories
against “WGEB” welterweight nominee Emile Griffith.
Mexican-American welterweight OSCAR “Golden Boy” De La HOYA (39-6, 30
KOs), 1992 Olympic gold medalist, defeated 17 world champions and was a
10-time world champion in six weight classes. Three-time world
welterweight champion JOSE ANGEL “Mantequilla” NAPOLES (77-7, 54 KOs)
was a national hero in Cuba and Mexico after he found asylum in Mexico
after Fidel Castro banned pro boxing in Cuba.
The “WGEB” lightweights are well represented. Panamanian ROBERTO “Hands
of Stone” DURAN (103-16, 70 KOs) was world champion in four different
weight classes and the second fighter ever to fight in five different
decades. Mexican icon JULIO CESAR “JC” CHAVEZ (108-6-2, 87 KOs), 6-time
world champion in three weight classes, fought 25 years and was No. 1
Pound-for-Pound during one stretch. He started his pro career by winning
first 88 fights and holds records for most world title defenses (27),
most world title fights (37) and longest unbeaten streak (91).
Puerto-Rican CARLOS ORTIZ (61-7-1, 1 NC, 30 KOs), a 4-time world
champion in two divisions, moved to New York City and became first
Puerto Rican world champion in more than 30 years and second ever at
time.
Four of 10 “WGEB” bantamweights are Latinos. The recently deceased
Nicaraguan favorite ALEXIS “El Fiaco de Explosivo” ARGUELLO (80-8, 64
KOs), a 6 -time world champion, was the sixth boxer to be world champion
in three weight classes, only the second Latino. Mexican star SALVADOR
“Chana” SANCHEZ (44-1-1, 32 KOs) won a world title at 19 but died in car
crash in 1982 at the age of 23. Another Mexican warrior, “Baby Faced
Assassin” MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA (65-7, 43 KOs) is a 7-time world
champion in six divisions. “The Cuban Bon Bon” KID CHOCOLATE (131-9-6,
50 KOs) became the first Cuban world champion in the 1930’s.
Latinos dominate the “WGEB” bantamweight process with seven of 10
nominees. “Panama” Al Brown (123-18-10, 4 ND, (62 KOs) was boxing’s
first Hispanic world champion. Mexican-American Manuel Ortiz (96-28-3,
49 KOs) was a 2-time world champion. Brazilian Eder “Golden Bantam”
Jofre was a 4-time world champion as a bantamweight and featherweight.
Mexican Ruben “El Pucas” Olivares (88-13-3, 78 KOs) also was a 4-time
world champion in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Another
Mexican great, Carlos “Canas” Zarate (61-4, 58 KOs) set the record for
two streaks of 20 or more knockout wins. Puerto Rican power puncher
Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez (44-3-1 (42 KOs) was a Puerto Rican Olympian,
3-time world champion in three divisions, and he had one of the highest
KO rates (95.4%) in boxing history, including 32 knockouts in a row
(longest streak of any world champion). Mexican-American Orlando
Canizales (50-5-1, 37 KOs) defended his IBF title belt a record 16
consecutive times.
Strawweights are included in the flyweight category. Pascual “El
Terrier” Perez (84-7-1, 57 KOs), the first Argentinean world champion,
didn’t lose as a pro until his 52nd fight. Four-time world champion
Mexican Ricardo “Finito” Lopez (51-0-1, 38 KOs), who established the
record for most consecutive title bouts without losing (26), defended
his WBC Strawweight title 21 times. Mexican-American Michael “Little
Hands of Steel” Carbahal (49-4, 33 KOs) was a 4-time world champion.
Miguel “El Maestro” Canto (61-9-4, 15 KOs), another Mexican superstar,
lost his first pro fight but went on to become WBC Flyweight champion,
and holds the record for having 13 15-round title fights.
Tickets to the dinner are available at greatestever.com or via MMG in
Las Vegas (702 617 9730). The Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) is the
official charity.
Tickets for the US vs. World pro boxing show are priced at $150 (Super
VIP), $100 (Platinum), $80 (VIP), $65 (Gold) and (newly added) $40. The
fight card plus hospitality packages are priced at $500 (Super VIP),
$400 (Platinum) $250 (VIP) and $150 (Gold), as well as for the Greatest
Ever Dinner Awards Ceremony and Entertainment at $1000 (Super VIP), $800
(Platinum), $450 (VIP) and $250 (Gold).
