BoxRec

Who do you believe is the best Puerto Rican fighter ever?

Carlos Ortiz is the greatest Puerto Rican boxer. His record against a very impressive resume of opponents is outstanding.

Wilfredo Gomez gets my vote, but Carlos Ortiz has a very strong case also.

Benitez for me.

Puerto Rico is an amazing little island, given the sheer numbers of quality fighters it has produced.

pundit wrote:Benitez for me.

Puerto Rico is an amazing little island, given the sheer numbers of quality fighters it has produced.

Agreed on both counts.

Andy Mac wrote:

pundit wrote:Benitez for me.

Puerto Rico is an amazing little island, given the sheer numbers of quality fighters it has produced.

Agreed on both counts.

Now there is Miguel Cotto who I considered overrated for a long time, but in 2006 he has really established himself.

Plus Puerto Rico produced Iris Chacon who was more exciting to watch than Ortiz, Benitez, Gomez and Trinidad combined.

Seamus wrote:Plus Puerto Rico produced Iris Chacon who was more exciting to watch than Ortiz, Benitez, Gomez and Trinidad combined.

Seamus I agree 100% with your statement

My list goes like this:

1. Carlos Ortiz
2. Wilfredo Gomez (Could have #1 if he didn't party so much)
3. Wilfredo Benitez
4. Felix Trinidad
5. Pedro Montanez
There is one fighter that one everything is set and done might jump to the top 5 fighter from Puerto Rico, and that is Ivan Calderon. It is a shame that not too many people pay attention to him. He has absolutely no power but his technique is awesome and his deserves a lot more credit than people are giving him.

Here is a nice article about him:

2006 END OF YEAR AWARDS
Compiled by the FightBeat Staff

MOST UNDERRATED BOXER:
IVAN CALDERON
If you thought the strawweight division retired with Ricardo Lopez, you haven't been paying attention. He may not be able to crack an egg with his feather fists but Ivan Calderon is a purist’s dream. Calderon's superb technical skills and handspeed have earned him an undefeated record and a WBO belt too big for his 5'0” size. Like Lopez, he may never get the fanfare his heavier counterparts are accustomed to. For now, he can appease hardcore fans with a unification match versus WBC titlist Eagle Kyowa.

10 Best Puerto Rican Fighters Of All Time

1.Carlos Ortiz
2.Wilfredo Gomez
3.Wilfred Benitez
4.Pedro Montanez
5.Felix Trinidad
6.Sammy Serrano
7.Hector Camacho
8.Jose Torres
9.Esteban DeJesus
10.John John Molina

Sugar Deleon

Luis Collazo

1-Carlos Ortiz*
2-Wilfredo Gomez*
3-Wilfred Benitez
4-Tito Trinidad
5-Esteban DeJesus

* I have no problem with someone swapping these to around, I do from time to time to be honest.

BoxBuzz wrote:Luis Collazo

I love Collazo too but I do believe its a little early to put him up there with the greatest fighters. By the way do believe his loss to Hatton was a robbery?

El Flaco Maqnifico wrote:

BoxBuzz wrote:Luis Collazo

I love Collazo too but I do believe its a little early to put him up there with the greatest fighters. By the way do believe his loss to Hatton was a robbery?

I score the fight 115 to 114 for Collazo, but even like that I don't actually call it a robbery. It was really close.

Ok I admit I was simply baiting here...not exactly trolling but this guy should be given some credit....he was supposed to be hand picked and fed to Hatton to fatten him up. Well ok maybe that's not the best analogy but you know what I mean...and he came back...if it would have been a 15 rounder we likely would have had a different outcome. So he may be the current best rep from PR.

I think Benitez just about pips Gomez for me, Gomez and indeed Ortiz were great but Benitez at his best was close to genius and one of the best boxers I've ever seen....

Don't forget Jose "Monon" Gonzalez who has wins over Luis Rodriguez, Florentino Fernandez, Vicente Rondon, Hurricane Carter, Bobby Cassidy and a bunch of other good fighters.

Incidentally, his record is not complete. It is my understanding that promoterRafito Cedeno hired him to teach an undefeated upstart with an attitude a lesson and although retired for some time, Monon travelled to Venezuela and beat the prospect blue. I have no more info, but if someone finds that fight it deserves to be added.

I'd rate Dejesus high as well, personally I'd put him above Ortiz on pure ability... if Duran hadnt been around Dejesus would probably have been champion for a long time...

1. Gomez
2. Benitez
3. Trinidad
4. Ortiz
5.Rosario or Camacho

Try concentrating on Camacho's career before Chavez dismantled him. Even after hisa close encounter with Rosario, Camacho scored some very good wins against tough competition. Before Rosario, he was absolutely brilliant.

1. Wilfredo Gomez
2. Carlos Ortiz
3. Wilfredo Benitez
4. Felix Trinidad
5. Edwin Rosario
6. Esteban De Jesus
7. Samuel Serrano
8. Wilfredo Vazquez
9. Sixto Escobar
10. John John Molina

Also Rans: Ivan Calderon, Miguel Cotto, Hector Camacho, Jose Torres, Carlos De Leon (and I am sure there are others I am slighting)

Hector Camacho? In the top 10 of Puerto Rico fighters?....you gotta be joking...... Maybe the Bronx.

Gomez, Ortiz, Benitez in any order feels about right to me.

Why arent more people mentioning Dejesus?.... was he really inferior to Ortiz?... from what I've seen I'd say Esteban was probably the better fighter.......

amazing how, as time goes by, reputations change so much

30 years ago ...if you asked this question- most people would've said Jose Torres. Carlos Ortiz back then was considered a hot and cold fighter whose best wins came against smaller fighters: Elorde-Laguna-Ramos etc.

my vote goes to Felix Trinidad, Gomez, Torres, Benitez, Ortiz, Dejesus

Decagon wrote:

silkov wrote:Why arent more people mentioning Dejesus?.... was he really inferior to Ortiz?... from what I've seen I'd say Esteban was probably the better fighter.......

Ortiz was the more proven fighter. He beat Loi, Matthews, Old Bones, Elorde, Lane, Laguma and Ramos. Besides Duran, who did DeJesus beat? After an aging Suzuki, you're really stretching for a name.

But Duran was Duran!... can you imagine Ortiz beating Duran?... I cant...