Brown was one of the most dominant 135-pound titleholders of all-time, having successfully defended his title 11 times over five-and-a-half years. On April 21, 1962, Ortiz challenged Joe Brown for Brown’s world lightweight crown. Ortiz became only the second Puerto Rican world champion, 20 years after Sixto Escobar had worn the world bantamweight title.Īfter a two-year reign as the 140-pound titleholder from 1959-1961, Ortiz moved back down to 135 pounds the following year. My father was 10 years old at the time and used to brag all the time about how he snuck into the world’s most famous arena to see Ortiz win his first world title at the age of 22. On June 12, 1959, in front of a predominantly boisterous Puerto Rican crowd at Madison Square Garden, Ortiz won the vacant 140-pound title by decimating Lane in the second round. The rematch would be for the vacant world junior welterweight title. Ortiz won the subsequent rematch and after losing another questionable decision to Kenny Lane on December 31, 1958, he secured an immediate rematch with Lane. Ortiz would go undefeated in his first 27 fights at 135 pounds before losing a questionable decision on Jto Johnny Busso. Ortiz learned to box at a young age and turned pro on Valentine’s Day in 1955 at the tender age of 18. My father’s family moved to New York from Puerto Rico in 1950, as did my mother’s family in 1954. The Ortiz family was part of the early great migration of Puerto Ricans to New York City throughout the 1940s and 1950s. His parents moved their entire family to New York City when Carlos was a very young boy. Ortiz was born Septemin Ponce, Puerto Rico. You can definitely see the influence of Ortiz on later Puerto Rican greats such as Wilfredo Gomez and Miguel Cotto. My answer when it comes to a Puerto Rican boxer’s prototypical style always harkens back to the way Ortiz fought a boxer/puncher who would adjust his style according to his opponent’s style. The prototypical Cuban style is a defensive-minded boxer with lots of foot and head movement, a la Kid Chocolate and Kid Gavilan. The prototypical Mexican style is the slugger who bangs the body while having an iron chin, a la Julio Cesar Chavez. He also stands alongside Roberto Clemente as the two most important figures in Puerto Rican sports history.īecause I’m Puerto Rican, fellow boxing fans always ask my opinion of what is the quintessential style of a Puerto Rican boxer. While his death ends his life on earth, it can never end his endearing legacy of being the biggest pioneer in terms of boxing in Puerto Rico. His family has yet to disclose the cause of death. On the morning of June 13, 2022, Ortiz passed away in New York City at the age of 85. Whenever someone asks who is The Godfather of boxing in Puerto Rico, there can only be one answer.
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