Puerto Rico

A hard route to the world title Cruz turned professional in 1959, splitting his early career between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Progress was uneven, but he kept improving and earned a shot at Ortiz, one of the finest lightweights of his era. Fighting before a home crowd,...

The punch that made him a champion Ramírez stopped Rosario in their 1984 rematch, and the Puerto Rican later came up short against fellow island star Héctor “Macho” Camacho in a close split decision. Rosario pressed the action, but Camacho kept his WBC belt. The result sparked debate at...

A title run built on control Born in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Serrano turned professional in 1969. He first challenged Ben Villaflor for the WBA junior lightweight championship in 1976; that bout ended in a draw. The WBA ordered a rematch, and on October 16 Serrano won a unanimous...

A world title won in Puerto Rico Buchanan turned professional in 1965 and built his reputation through bouts across Britain and Europe. On September 26, 1970, he traveled to San Juan to challenge WBA lightweight champion Laguna, a date recorded by the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. The two...

The night Durán was beaten On November 17, 1972, De Jesús met the reigning WBA lightweight champion at Madison Square Garden in a 10-round non-title bout. He floored Durán with a left hook in the opening round and went on to win a unanimous decision. Durán’s championship was not...

Speed that carried him to three titles Camacho’s quick hands and slippery defense took him from prospect to champion in just a few years. In 1983, he stopped Rafael “Bazooka” Limón in the fifth round to win the vacant WBC super featherweight title. Two years later, he moved up...

Ortiz first reached the championship level at junior welterweight. In 1959, he stopped Kenny Lane in the second round to win the title. After a controversial defeat to Loi in Milan cost him the crown, Ortiz moved down to lightweight and began a second climb. On April 21, 1962,...