Greatest Puerto Ricans of all time. The top 4 are easy - it's just the ordering that's debatable. 1-2 are Gomez and Ortiz, and their positioning can be debated regarding who's the real PR GOAT. Gomez was more consistently dominant and the more dynamic fighter, but Ortiz has a deeper resume of wins and was a more complete fighter. 3-4 are Benitez and Trinidad, and that can also be debated. But I'm more inclined to say Benitez at 3, and Tito at 4. Then #5 either comes down to Cotto or Camacho. I think Camacho was BETTER than Cotto prime-for-prime, but greater is hard to say. My personal top 6 is: 1. Ortiz 2. Gomez 3. Benitez 4. Trinidad 5. Camacho slightly edges Cotto. 6. Cotto 7-10 how would you say?
Whatever, I'll finish my list. 7. Rosario 8. DeJesus 9. Wilfredo Vasquez 10. Ivan Calderon Note: I would pick DeJesus over Rosario and Camacho H2H, but they accomplished more.
Cause I was struggling to finish the list at first, but less than a minute after posting, my 7-10 came to me
I was trying to debate between resume and the fact that Hector was just better. Plus, if you think about it, Cotto's best win was a razor close decision against a faded Mosley. Camacho does have the close (could have gone either way) win over a prime Rosario.
I didn't know whether to place PR's first champion, Sixto Escobar, but it's impossible to rate him with this being the only footage of him:
Resume is total, not just best achievement. Cotto has one of the most underrated (and i hate that term) resumes in recent boxing history. It's not a murderer's row but solid opponent after solid opponent. A more careful promoter wouldn't have let his prize get near those guys and he kept fighting and winning.
He no doubt gets a lot of credit for avoiding no one. He was kept away from Floyd in the mid 00s, but that was more Arum not wanting to ruin Cotto than Cotto ducking the fight.
Fightbeat, @George Crowcroft is one of the recruits i brought over from Eastside. He's quality, so welcome him aboard.
Damn, how the Hell did I forget about Jose Torres???? I talk about him all the time, so its weird he slipped my mind when making the list. I think Torres can slip in anywhere between 7-10, but I'm gonna put him at 9, just barely behind DeJesus. Also, for his string of dominance, I'm thinking Calderon deserves the #10 spot and Vasquez gets removed. Revised list: 1. Ortiz 2. Gomez 3. Benitez 4. Trinidad 5. Camacho 6. Cotto 7. Rosario 8. Dejesus 9. Torres 10. Calderon
Great list, George. I think everyone has a concensus 8 picks. And those last 2 picks seem to be up for grabs. You chose Basora and Cocoa Kid. One could also say Alfredo Escalera is worthy of a spot. But somewhere I would have to add Pedro Montanez to a top 10 Puerto Ricans. Just too good to leave out. Competed admirably in one rough era.
You have El Radar ranked ahead of Bazooka. While I've never actually seen Benitez ranked ahead of Gomez, I don't think it's far fetched.
Aye, I do. I was actually expecting quite a few people to agree with me, but apparently I put more of an emphasis on résumé (over longevity/dominance) than most.
I put a lot of weight on the fact that Gomez is a division GOAT. And 122 isn't a weak division. I have zero doubt that Benitez could have been the junior welterweight GOAT, but his teenage body outgrew 140.
I actually don't think Benitez would be, H2H at least. In fact, I don't think he'd be the best Puerto Rican 140lber.... I'd take Cocoa Kid to beat him. The Hearns-esque style, with the reach and speed, as well as much more experience means I'd like pick Lewis. I'd say that someone like Benitez is exactly the kind of style which Lewis should shine against, as opposed to someone like Pryor. How's that for a hot take?
I haven't seen enough film of Lewis to make an educated analysis. Only clips. You're well ahead of the young prodigy trajectory I was on .
1. Carlos Ortiz 2. Wilfredo Gomez 3. Felix Trinidad 4. Wilfred Benitez 5. Miguel Cotto 6. Hector Camacho 7. Edwin Rosario 8. Ivan Calderon 9. Jose Torres 10. Esteban DeJesus
I wouldn't have Camacho as high personally. He is better than he is great imo. Prodigious talent but a disappointing career in a way.
1. Carlos Ortiz 2. Wilfredo Gomez 3. Wilfred Benitez 4. Felix Trinidad 5. Pedro Montanez 6. Cocoa Kid 7. Hector Camacho 8. Jose Basora 9. Miguel Cotto 10. Rosario/De Jesus
