6 Famous Puerto Rican Boxers in History

• Over the years, Puerto Rico has been producing phenomenal talents in both amateur and professional levels
• The North American nation has had at least one world boxing champion since 2004 and some have earned their way into the Boxing Hall of Fame
• Known to many as Tito Trinidad, Felix Trinidad is arguably the greatest Puerto Rican boxer of all time

Puerto Rican boxers are some of the best fighters to ever step in the ring. Over the years, the nation has been producing phenomenal talents in both amateur and professional levels. The North American country has had at least one world boxing champion since 2004 and some have earned their way into the Boxing Hall of Fame.

In this article, SportsLeo takes a look at six famous Puerto Rican boxers who have inspired a generation of young boxers.

1. Felix Trinidad

Felix Trinidad is one of the greatest Puerto Rican boxers of all time. Photo/ Boxing News.

The most famous boxer from Puerto Rico is arguably Felix Trinidad. Known to many as Tito Trinidad, the boxing legend competed from 1990 to 2008 and captured titles at welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight.

While competing at welterweight, he recorded victories against notable fighters such as Oscar De La Hoya, Hector Camacho and Pernell Whitaker. He became a champion at 160 after beating the famous William Joppy. His first career loss came against Bernard Hopkins in a unification fight in Madison Square Garden that went up to 12 rounds.

At the time of his retirement, Tito had won 35 of his 42 fights and lost just three times.

2. Hector Camacho 

Hector Camacho is one of the most famous Puerto Rican boxers who had an impact on the sport. “Macho” had an amazing career in the 1980s and 1990s and boasts victories against top boxers of those days. The southpaw fighter was a menace in the ring and started winning titles as an amateur.

Camacho competed in seven different weight classes stunning fans with his performance in the ring. The highlights of his career include sending Ray Leonard into permanent retirement and beating Roberto Duran twice.

The Puerto Rican stayed active until 2010 and passed away two years later in Bayamon. He was sitting with a friend outside a bar in a Ford Mustang when an unknown assailant fatally shot them.

Hector Camacho. Photo/ YouTube.

3. Wilfredo Gomez 

Few in the boxing world can punch like Wilfredo Gomez. Known to some as Bazooka Gomez, Wilfredo is often considered the greatest super bantamweight fighter of all time. After drawing in his first professional fight, the Puerto Rican boxing star went on to win his next 32 fights via knockout.

Gomez suffered just one defeat throughout his career against Salvador Sanchez, which is why the Mexican was thought of so highly. Gomez was a world champion in three divisions and boasts a pro record of 44-3-1, with 42 KOs.

4. Miguel Cotto 

Miguel Cotto is one of the Puerto Rican boxers with the heart of a lion. Cotto faced all the greats of his time and stood out due to his prowess in the ring. He started his career with a huge knockout streak in 2001 and went on to stun boxing fans with his performance in the ring until his retirement in 2017.

Miguel Cotto. Photo/ MMA Mania.

The multiple world champion lost his WBO welterweight title to Manny Pacquiao and WBA (Super) title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Out of his 47 fights, he won 33 via knockout. Cotto suffered just six losses throughout his professional career.

5. Carlos Ortiz 

Carlos Ortiz may be a strange name to modern boxing fans but he was a formidable force in the ring during his days. The slick technical boxer was a light welterweight world champion from 1959 to 1960 before moving down to lightweight where he became the most dominant fighter in the 1960s. He held the world title from 1962-1965 and from 1965-1968. Ortiz passed away in 2022 at the age of 85.

6. Amanda Serrano

Amanda Serrano. Photo/ DAZN.

Amanda Serrano definitely deserves a spot on the list of the best Puerto Rican boxers. The 35-year-old, who is the only active boxer we have mentioned, is the unified featherweight world champion. She has held the WBO title since 2019, won the IBO title in 2021, IBF title since 2022 and crowned WBA champion in 2023. From her achievements, it seems there is no weight class that Serrano can’t win a title in. She has fought 49 times and lost just once.