By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart
It may seem like I am obsessing with one Puerto Rican fighter one week and then along comes another the following week, but I am not!
Honest!
This week I had a look at three times world champion Wilfred Benitez, 53-8-1 31 KO’s, who fought professionally no fewer than on 62 occasions. He stands out because he became the youngest, at the age of just 17, of the Puerto Rican world champions!
He was also no slouch, having been active during the years, in his weight divisions, of Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard – all of whom he fought!
Posted on 12/15/2020
By: Henry Deleon
Puerto Rico, a small Caribbean island, has produced many Boxing Superstars. From the legendary Carlos Ortiz to the youngest world champion in boxing history – Wilfred Benitez. Amongst that distinguished list were also the likes of Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, the heavy-handed Felix Trinidad, “Macho Man” Hector Camacho and future hall of famer Miguel Cotto. Puerto Rico, for the most part, has always had that one individual that the Puerto Ricans have always taken pride in.
Since Miguel Cotto departed the sport back in 2017, there hasn’t quite been someone that has been able to fill that “superstar” void. There have been many potential candidates including Danny Garcia, Felix Verdejo, Jose Pedraza, and Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz to now rising talent such as Xander Zayas, and Josue Vargas. But no-one’s name has made an impression more than Edgar Berlanga.