Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar was a prominent Puerto Rican boxer born on March 23, 1913, in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. He began boxing at a young age and achieved significant success in the sport, becoming the first Puerto Rican world champion and only the third champion from Latin America. Escobar turned professional in the early 1930s and gained acclaim for his skill and determination, notably winning the bantamweight title in 1934 after a decisive victory over Rodolfo Casanova. Throughout his career, he faced and defeated notable opponents, and he successfully reclaimed his title multiple times, showcasing resilience in the ring.
Despite experiencing setbacks, including injuries and losses, Escobar left a lasting legacy in boxing, with a final record that remains debated due to unrecorded fights. After retiring, he worked as a beer salesman and struggled with health issues related to diabetes until his death in 1979. Escobar is remembered not only for his accomplishments in the ring but also for paving the way for future Puerto Rican boxers, with his impact celebrated through honors such as induction into various boxing halls of fame. His contributions to the sport have solidified his status as a legendary figure in Puerto Rican sports history.
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Subject Terms
Sixto Escobar
Puerto Rican-born boxer
- Born: March 23, 1913
- Birthplace: Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
- Died: November 17, 1979
- Place of death: Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
Escobar was the first world boxing champion from Puerto Rico. By the end of his career, he had held the title three times from 1934 to 1939, never being knocked down or knocked out. His success paved the way for later Puerto Rican champions such as Wilfred Benítez, José Torres, and Félix Trinidad.
Early Life
Sixto Escobar (SEES-toh EHS-koh-bahr) was born to Jacinto Escobar and Adela Vargas in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, on March 23, 1913. He attended school until the eighth grade but decided to end his formal education and concentrate on sports. He was involved in boxing in and around his neighborhood; however, at that time, the sport was illegal in Puerto Rico, prompting boxers to fight clandestinely on rooftops and in backyards. When boxing became legal in February, 1927, Escobar registered as an amateur. He finished his amateur career with a record of twenty-one wins, one loss, and one draw.
Escobar won a decision in his first professional fight in the summer of 1930. With boxing losing popularity in Puerto Rico, he moved to Venezuela, thinking he could get more fights in the bantamweight division there. He won six fights in a row and was matched against Enrique Chaffardet for the Venezuelan featherweight title, but he lost a ten-round decision on points. Escobar fought ten more times in Venezuela, including twice more against Chaffardet, suffering a draw and a loss. After a brief stop in Puerto Rico, Escobar went to the United States, where he was handled by legendary trainers Whitey Bimstein and Ray Arcel.
Stepping in for Midget Wolgast, Escobar fought Bobby Leitham, the Canadian bantamweight champion, on May 7, 1934, in Massachusetts. The bout with Escobar was supposed to be a tune-up fight for Leitham, who was scheduled for a bantamweight title eliminator. Escobar knocked him out in the seventh round. The fighters met again in Montreal, Canada, in June, 1934. Escobar again knocked Leitman out, sending him into retirement. Less than three weeks later, Escobar returned to Montreal to face Rodolfo Casanova for the Montreal Athletic Commission bantamweight title and the vacant National Boxing Association (NBA) title. After dominating his Mexican opponent for eight rounds, Escobar knocked him out in the ninth, becoming the first Puerto Rican and third Latin American to win a world title.
Life’s Work
On August 8, 1934, Escobar fought his first full fifteen-round fight, defeating Eugene Huat in Montreal. In December, Escobar hurt his ankle and had to spend months recuperating. He went to Puerto Rico, where he was treated like a king. After a trio of fights in Mexico and the United States, Escobar returned to Montreal to defend his title against Pete Sanstol on August 7, 1935. He pummeled the challenger, who refused to quit. This bout broke the record for gate receipts in a Montreal fight. Less than three weeks later, Escobar was in New York City, where he lost a fifteen-round decision and his world title to Lou Salica. Two and a half months later, they met at Madison Square Garden, and Escobar regained his title with a fifteen-round decision. On August 31, 1936, he won by knockout in the thirteenth round over Tony Marino in New York City to unify the NBA and New York State Athletic Association titles.
In October and December, Escobar dropped a pair of non-title decisions to Harry Jeffra, a fighter to whom he would later lose his title. In February, 1937, he traveled to Puerto Rico and defended his title against Salica, with former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey as the referee. On September 23, 1937, Escobar lost his title in a one-sided fight against Jeffra. They had a rematch in February, 1938, in Puerto Rico. This time, Escobar knocked down Jeffra three times to regain his title, the only time he would defeat Jeffra in their five bouts. In April, 1939, Escobar defended his title against K. O. Morgan, a fighter to whom he had lost the previous April.
The fight against Morgan was the last time Escobar defended his title. He could no longer make the bantamweight limit and finished with 1 win, 5 losses, and 1 draw in his final 7 bouts. He retired with a record of 36-22-3 with 15 knockouts, although this record is in dispute given that some fights have not been recorded. No other Puerto Rican held a world title until Carlos Ortiz won the junior welterweight title in 1959. Sixto Escobar Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was named in Escobar’s honor. Escobar worked as a beer salesman after his boxing career. He suffered from the effects of diabetes until his death in 1979.
Significance
Escobar was the first Puerto Rican world champion and only the third world champion from Latin America. Although he lost the title to Jeffra and Salica, he was able to regain it, the mark of a true champion. Many boxing observers consider him the best Puerto Rican fighter of all time. Escobar was inducted into the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame in 1950, the Ring Magazine Boxing Hall of Fame in 1975, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002, the fourth Puerto Rican to be so honored.
Bibliography
Friedman, Ian C. “Sixto Escobar.” In Latino Athletes. New York: Facts On File, 2007. This reference source offers a useful overview of Escobar’s achievements.
Gems, Gerald R. The Athletic Crusade: Sport and American Cultural Imperialism. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006. This publication discusses Sixto Escobar and other Puerto Rican athletes whose success helped build national identity and pride
Mullan, Harry, and Bob Mee. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Boxing. London: Carlton, 2007. Includes information about Escobar’s career.