Juan Laporte in Twilight, The Man With The Granite Chin
RCM Historical Boxing
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
During a break in the action at Resorts World Casino Aqueduct Raceway on the evening of May 4, 2013, what a fine gentleman I walked into than former World Boxing Council World Featherweight champion Juan Laporte.
Now 53 years old, Laporte is best known for his wars in the featherweight division.
Laporte’s career lasted from 1977 to 1999. Laporte turned pro with a first round knockout of Johnny Green in October 1977. Winning 15 of his first 16 pro bouts (losing only a six round decision in his fifth pro bout), Laporte lost a 15 round unanimous decision to the late Salvador Sanchez for the WBC featherweight title in in El Paso, Texas, in December 1980.
Laporte then scored four comeback wins, including a knockout of future world champion Rocky Lockridge, to qualify for a title shot against WBA World Featherweight champion Eusebio Pedroza, but lost the decision in 15 rounds again.
After two comeback wins, Laporte was due for a rematch with Sanchez, but Sanchez died in a car crash. So Laporte knocked out 19-0 Mario Miranda in the tenth round to finally win the WBC World Featherweight title at Madison Square Garden in September 1982.
Laporte defended his WBC Featherweight title twice against Ruben Castillo, and 22-0 Johnny De La Rosa, before losing his title by 12 round decision to Wilfredo Gomez in Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico in March 1984.
Laporte then lost a decision to Barry McGuigan, then won a decision over VInne Costello and knocked out Jimmy Magnifico. Laporte then fought 53-0 Julio Cesar Chavez and lost a 12 round decision at Madison Square Garden for the WBC World Super Featherweight title. Two of the judges had it 114-113 and 115-114 for Chavez, and some called it a bad decision.
Laporte subsequently won the North American Boxing Federation Super Featherweight title and defended it three times. Laporte lost a 12 rounder to Azumah Nelson for the WBC World Featherweight title, and a lost a 12 rounder to John John Molina for the vacant WBO World Super Featherweight title. Laporte also fought and lost attempts to win the WBO and IBF World Light Welterweight titles, losing to Charles Murray and Zack Padilla. After losing his WBO title bout to Padilla in 1994, Laporte retired.
Laporte attempted a comeback in 1998, and again in 1999, losing an eight round decision to Teddy Reid, and losing a 10 round split decision for former World Junior Welterweight champion Billy Costello at middleweight in the final fight for both former champions. Laporte lost a son to a drowning accident in 1989. Another son, Tony Laporte Jr., lost his professional debut in 2010 and never fought again.
Perhaps Laporte, a 1976 New York Golden Gloves champion, is a most fortunate and lucky man. His health and faculties are intact. Over 30 years after the tragic death of Salvador Sanchez, LaPorte is still around, his health and spirit intact.
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