Edwin Rosario

Edwin Rosario
Edwin Rosario cropped.jpg
Rosario in 1984
Statistics
Real nameEdwin Rosario
Nickname(s)Chapo
Weight(s)Lightweight
Light welterweight
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach66+12 in (169 cm)
NationalityPuerto Rican
Born(1963-03-15)March 15, 1963
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
DiedDecember 1, 1997(1997-12-01) (aged 34)
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights53
Wins47
Wins by KO41
Losses6

Edwin "Chapo" Rosario Rivera (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeðwin roˈsaɾjo]; March 15, 1963 – December 1, 1997) was a world champion professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 1997. He won the lightweight championship of the world three times, as the WBC lightweight champion (1983–84), and the WBA champion (1986–87) and (1989–90). Rosario won a 4th world championship after moving up to the junior welterweight division by claiming the WBA title, holding that crown from (1991-1992).

Rosario was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Early life and career

Edwin Rosario was born in Candelaria barrio, Toa Baja, an extremely poor barrio on the north coast of Puerto Rico. Rosario's older brother Papo became a professional boxer, beginning what looked like a promising career. Edwin and Papo were the sons of Antonio Rosario and Elizabeth Rivera. They also had three sisters.

His boxing manager and coach (trainer), Manny Siaca Sr., had noticed the younger Edwin Rosario's talent when the boy was 8 years old. Inspired by his brother Papo, Chapo Rosario, as he became known in the world of boxing, had a stellar amateur boxing career.

Professional career

Chapo's brother Papo died unexpectedly, purportedly due to drugs, two years after his entry into professional boxing. Rosario persevered, wanting to honor his brother's memory by winning a world championship. He scored big knockout wins over Young Ezzard Charles and Edwin Viruet. He beat Charles in three rounds on the Benitez-Duran undercard in January 1982 in Las Vegas. He also defeated Viruet in three rounds; that opponent had boxed 25 rounds against Roberto Durán-including a world lightweight championship bout-without being knocked out.

Rosario eventually gained a record of 21–0 with 20 knockouts. This led to talks of a title fight against World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Alexis Argüello, to be held in Miami. But Argüello relinquished the title in order to move up in weight to challenge junior welterweight champion Aaron Pryor.

Boxing champion

External video
video icon You may watch Edwin Rosario vs José Luis Ramírez on YouTube

With Arguello moving divisions, Rosario was matched with Mexico's José Luis Ramírez on May 1, 1983 for the vacant WBC lightweight title. Rosario seemed to have the momentum over the first half of the fight, but tired down the stretch to make for a very close outcome. The judges, as well as most of the public present, felt Rosario had done enough to win. He became world lightweight champion by the unanimous score of 115–113 on all 3 judging cards. Rosario injured his hand during the fight and needed surgery, for which the World Boxing Council gave him a dispensation.

He didn't return to the ring until 1984. In his first defense of the title, he faced Roberto Elizondo, who had lasted 7 rounds with Argüello in a previous world title challenge and was expected to give him a tough fight. Rosario knocked out Elizondo in one round. Howard Davis Jr proved more of a challenge – Davis Jr was ahead on all scorecards with ten seconds remaining in the bout, but was dropped by Rosario for the second time in their fight at that point, and lost a split decision.

A rematch with Ramírez was scheduled, again in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 3, 1984. Rosario dropped Ramírez once in round one and again in the second, but the challenger got off the canvas to take Rosario's title away with a fourth-round TKO. This was Rosario's first defeat. Some fans felt he never fully recovered, although he won three more championships.

Rosario won a comeback fight against Frankie Randall, the future world champion, in London. He had to wait another year before an opportunity to regain the title. On June 13, 1986, he met the world champion Hector 'Macho' Camacho at Madison Square Garden in New York. The fight was televised by HBO, and although Rosario shook Camacho badly in the fifth round and rallied down the stretch, Camacho swept the middle rounds. The judges, in a split decision, awarded Camacho the fight.

Because of the closeness of that bout, the WBA gave Rosario a chance to challenge Livingstone Bramble, one of two other world lightweight champions (the other one being the International Boxing Federation's Jimmy Paul). Rosario went to Miami and defeated Bramble by knockout in the second round to become world lightweight champion for the second time. His pose, raising his arms after the fight, became The Ring magazine's cover for the next month — the only time Rosario was featured on its English-version cover.

Rosario defended the WBA lightweight title against fellow Puerto Rican Juan Nazario with a knockout in eight in Chicago.

In Rosario's next defense, he faced WBC super featherweight title holder Julio César Chávez, on November 21, 1987, in Las Vegas. Chavez moved up in weight to challenge for Rosario's title, and he battered the lightweight champion. By the tenth round, Rosario's left eye was completely shut. His right eye was swollen, and he was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Referee Richard Steele stopped the fight at 2:38 of the eleventh round at the request of Rosario's corner. At the time of the stoppage, Rosario trailed on the judges' scorecards by the following scores: Jerry Roth: 98-92. Bob Watson: 99-91. Albert Tramari 100-92 (2 rounds even).

Rosario was inactive for seven months then went 7–0 with 6 KO's in his next fights. After Chavez vacated the title in 1989, Rosario came back and won it again, beating Anthony Jones, a tough Kronk prospect for the championship.

Rosario joined a small group of men who had become world champions three times in the same division. This time, however, he didn't hold the title for long. When he gave Nazario a 1990 rematch at Madison Square Garden, he was defeated on cuts in the 8th round.

Rosario moved up a weight class to the junior welterweight division, and defeated defending world champion Loreto Garza in three rounds in Sacramento's Arco Arena to become a world champion for the 4th time.

However, personal problems started to take their toll. In his first defense, against Japanese Akinobu Hiranaka in Mexico City on April 10, 1992, he lost by a 1st-round TKO. He later lost a rematch to Frankie Randall, by technical knockout in seven rounds.

Later career and death

Rosario disappeared from the boxing scene. Years later he received media attention after being arrested for stealing beer from a supermarket. He vowed to stay clean and went into a program to achieve this.

In 1997, he won two comeback fights, then won the Caribbean welterweight title by beating Roger Benito Flores of Nicaragua in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in a twelve-round decision. Once an HBO staple, Rosario was then fighting on small cards without any TV showings. He was ranked #10 among Oscar De La Hoya's challengers at the welterweight division after his win over Flores, making him an official world title challenger once again.

He defeated Sanford Ricks at Madison Square Garden. In his final fight on September 25, 1997, Rosario knocked out Harold Bennett in two rounds at Bayamon. He died before fighting again.

On December 1, 1997, Rosario visited the home of his ex-wife and four daughters, but he cut his visit short an hour later, saying he felt ill. After returning home where he lived with his parents, Rosario was later found dead in his bed by his father. He was found to have died of an aneurysm on December 1, 1997, with fluid accumulated in the lungs. Doctors said that his history of narcotics and alcohol abuse was a factor.

Many celebrities and dignitaries attended his funeral, and a group of Puerto Rican world boxing champions were among the pallbearers. More than 5,000 people came to the funeral or watched from their homes as the coffin was driven from the funeral home to the cemetery.

Professional boxing record

53 fights 47 wins 6 losses
By knockout 40 5
By decision 6 1
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Age Location Notes
53 Win 47–6 Harold Bennett KO 2 (10) Sep 25, 1997 34 years, 194 days Bayamon, Puerto Rico
52 Win 46–6 Sanford Ricks KO 8 (8), 0:31 Aug 23, 1997 34 years, 161 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
51 Win 45–6 Roger Flores PTS 12 Jul 17, 1997 34 years, 124 days Bayamon, Puerto Rico Won WBA Fedecentro welterweight title
50 Win 44–6 Calvin Moody DQ 3 (8), 1:09 Jun 7, 1997 34 years, 84 days Mahi Temple Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, US Moody was DQ'd for holding, had also been penalised for rabbit punching
49 Win 43–6 Maurice Roberson TKO 4 (10), 2:02 May 22, 1997 34 years, 68 days Bayamon, Puerto Rico
48 Loss 42–6 Frankie Randall TKO 7 (10), 2:03 Jan 30, 1993 29 years, 321 days The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, US
47 Win 42–5 George Kellman TKO 5 (10) Aug 11, 1993 30 years, 149 days San Juan, Puerto Rico
46 Loss 41–5 Akinobu Hiranaka TKO 1 (12), 1:32 Apr 10, 1992 29 years, 26 days El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Mexico Lost WBA light welterweight title
45 Win 41–4 Loreto Garza TKO 3 (12), 1:09 Jun 14, 1991 28 years, 91 days Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, US Won WBA light welterweight title
44 Win 40–4 Dwayne Swift MD 10 Aug 23, 1990 27 years, 161 days Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, US
43 Loss 39–4 Juan Nazario RTD 8 (12), 3:00 Apr 4, 1990 27 years, 20 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US Lost WBA lightweight title
42 Win 39–3 Anthony Jones TKO 6 (12), 2:00 Jul 9, 1989 26 years, 116 days Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US Won vacant WBA lightweight title
41 Win 38–3 Larry Benson RTD 5 (10) Mar 16, 1989 26 years, 1 day Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
40 Win 37–3 Jesus Gallardo TKO 8 (10), 1:26 Feb 9, 1989 25 years, 331 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
39 Win 36–3 Juan Minaya KO 4 (10), 1:44 Oct 27, 1988 25 years, 226 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
38 Win 35–3 Felipe Angulo TKO 2 (10) Sep 3, 1988 25 years, 172 days Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
37 Win 34–3 Rafael Gandarilla TKO 3 (10), 1:19 Aug 11, 1988 25 years, 149 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
36 Win 33–3 Javier Cerna KO 1 (10), 2:40 Jul 31, 1988 25 years, 138 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
35 Win 32–3 Ramiro Lozano TKO 3 (10) Jun 2, 1988 25 years, 79 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
34 Loss 31–3 Julio César Chávez TKO 11 (12), 2:43 Nov 21, 1987 24 years, 251 days Las Vegas Hilton, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US Lost WBA lightweight title
33 Win 31–2 Juan Nazario KO 8 (15), 2:43 Aug 11, 1987 24 years, 149 days UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US Retained WBA lightweight title
32 Win 30–2 Roger Brown KO 2 (10), 0:36 Mar 7, 1987 23 years, 357 days Las Vegas Hilton, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
31 Win 29–2 Livingstone Bramble KO 2 (15), 2:28 Sep 26, 1986 23 years, 195 days Abel Holtz Stadium, Miami Beach, Florida, US Won WBA lightweight title
30 Loss 28–2 Hector Camacho SD 12 Jun 13, 1986 23 years, 90 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US For WBC lightweight title
29 Win 28–1 Roque Montoya KO 7 (10), 1:25 Dec 27, 1985 22 years, 287 days Latham Coliseum, Latham, New York, US
28 Win 27–1 Frankie Randall PTS 10 Jun 16, 1985 22 years, 93 days York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, UK
27 Win 26–1 Alberto Ramos KO 2 (10), 1:08 Apr 15, 1985 22 years, 31 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
26 Win 25–1 Eduardo Valdez TKO 3 (10), 1:36 Mar 13, 1985 21 years, 363 days Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
25 Loss 24–1 José Luis Ramírez TKO 4 (12), 2:52 Nov 3, 1984 21 years, 233 days Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico Lost WBC lightweight title
24 Win 24–0 Howard Davis Jr. SD 12 Jun 23, 1984 21 years, 100 days Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC lightweight title
23 Win 23–0 Roberto Elizondo TKO 1 (12), 1:57 Mar 17, 1984 21 years, 2 days Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico Retained WBC lightweight title
22 Win 22–0 José Luis Ramírez UD 12 May 1, 1983 20 years, 47 days Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico Won vacant WBC lightweight title
21 Win 21–0 Edwin Viruet TKO 3 (10), 1:37 May 30, 1982 19 years, 76 days The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
20 Win 20–0 Dennis Quimayousie TKO 1 (10), 1:52 Mar 21, 1982 19 years, 6 days Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
19 Win 19–0 Ezzard Charles Adams KO 3 (10), 2:07 Jan 30, 1982 18 years, 321 days Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
18 Win 18–0 Ernesto Herrera KO 3 (10), 2:02 Dec 10, 1981 18 years, 270 days Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
17 Win 17–0 Roberto Garcia KO 2 (10), 1:45 Nov 14, 1981 18 years, 244 days Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
16 Win 16–0 James Martinez UD 10 Sep 16, 1981 18 years, 185 days Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
15 Win 15–0 Rodrigo Aguirre KO 8 (10), 2:38 Jul 18, 1981 18 years, 125 days Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, US
14 Win 14–0 Refugio Rojas KO 2 (10), 1:47 Jun 25, 1981 18 years, 102 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
13 Win 13–0 Jose Resendez TKO 6 (8), 2:09 May 23, 1981 18 years, 69 days Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
12 Win 12–0 Tony Tris TKO 4 (10) Apr 10, 1981 18 years, 26 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
11 Win 11–0 Javier Flores TKO 9 (10), 2:56 Aug 22, 1980 17 years, 160 days Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
10 Win 10–0 Jose Luis Lara TKO 2 (10) Jul 7, 1980 17 years, 114 days Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, Minnesota, US
9 Win 9–0 Pascual Polanco TKO 4 (10) Mar 10, 1980 16 years, 361 days San Juan, Puerto Rico
8 Win 8–0 Leopoldo Frias KO 2 (8) Feb 18, 1980 16 years, 340 days Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
7 Win 7–0 Pancho Muletta KO 2 (8) Sep 22, 1979 16 years, 191 days San Juan, Puerto Rico
6 Win 6–0 James Sowell KO 2 (8) Aug 1, 1979 16 years, 139 days Shrine Exposition Center, Los Angeles, California, US
5 Win 5–0 Jose Villegas RTD 5 (8) Jul 20, 1979 16 years, 127 days Coliseum, San Diego, California, US
4 Win 4–0 Julio Miranda KO 4 (8) May 12, 1979 16 years, 58 days Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
3 Win 3–0 Enrique Maldonado KO 3 (8) Mar 27, 1979 16 years, 12 days Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2 Win 2–0 Juan Caro KO 1 (8) Mar 4, 1979 15 years, 354 days Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1 Win 1–0 Jorge Ortega KO 2 (8) Mar 3, 1979 15 years, 353 days Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Legacy and honors

  • He won three world championships in the same division.
  • On January 12, 2006, Rosario was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the sixth Puerto Rican inducted into the hall.
  • According to Ring Magazine, Edwin Rosario ranks #36 on the list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time."
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg

Puerto Ricans in the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Number Name Year inducted Notes
1 Carlos Ortíz 1991 World Jr. Welterweight Champion 1959 June 12- 1960, September 1, WBA Lightweight Champion 1962 Apr 21 – 1965 Apr 10, WBC Lightweight Champion 1963 Apr 7 – 1965 Apr 10, WBC Lightweight Champion 1965 Nov 13 – 1968 Jun 29.
2 Wilfred Benítez 1994 The youngest world champion in boxing history. WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1976 Mar 6 – 1977, WBC Welterweight Champion 1979 Jan 14 – 1979 Nov 30, WBC Light Middleweight Champion.
3 Wilfredo Gómez 1995 WBC Super Bantamweight Champion 1977 May 21 – 1983, WBC Featherweight Champion 1984 Mar 31 – 1984 Dec 8, WBA Super Featherweight Champion 1985 May 19 – 1986 May 24.
4 José "Chegui" Torres 1997 Won a silver medal in the junior middleweight at the 1956 Olympic Games. Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion 1965 Mar 30 – 1966 Dec 16
5 Sixto Escobar 2002 Puerto Rico's first boxing champion. World Bantamweight Champion 15 Nov 1935– 23 Sep 1937, World Bantamweight Champion 20 Feb 1938– Oct 1939
6 Edwin Rosario 2006 Ranks #36 on the list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time." according to Ring Magazine. WBC Lightweight Champion 1983 May 1 – 1984 Nov 3, WBA Lightweight Champion 1986 Sep 26 – 1987 Nov 21, WBA Lightweight Champion 199 Jul 9 – 1990 Apr 4, WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1991 Jun 14 – 1992 Apr 10.
7 Pedro Montañez 2007 92 wins out of 103 fights. Never held a title.
8 Joe Cortez 2011 The first Puerto Rican boxing referee to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame
9 Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick 2012 Member of boxing's "Black Murderers' Row". World Colored Welterweight Championship - June 11, 1937 to August 22, 1938; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 11, 1940 until the title went extinct in the 1940s; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 15, 1943 until the title went extinct in the 1940s
10 Félix "Tito" Trinidad 2014 Captured the IBF welterweight crown in his 20th pro bout. Won the WBA light middleweight title from David Reid in March 2000 and later that year unified titles with a 12th-round knockout against IBF champ Fernando Vargas. In 2001 became a three-division champion.
11 Héctor "Macho" Camacho 2016 First boxer to be recognized as a septuple champion in history (counting championships from minor sanctioning bodies). WBC Super Featherweight Championship - August 7, 1983 – 1984, WBC Lightweight Championship - August 10, 1985 – 1987, WBO Light Welterweight Champion - March 6, 1989 – February 23, 1991, WBO Light Welterweight Champion - May 18, 1991–1992.
12 Mario Rivera Martino 2019 First Puerto Rican boxing sports writer to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He served Puerto Rican boxing for more than 50 years as a writer and eventual commissioner.
13 Miguel Cotto 2022 He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes, from light welterweight to middleweight. In 2007 and 2009,

= Indicates the person is no longer alive

See also


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