Viva El Chapo! Edwin Rosario’s Brightest Moment
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In his prime, Edwin ‘Chapo’ Rosario was a very fine boxer. A native of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Rosario had a career record of 47-6 with 41 knockouts between 1979 and 1997. El Chapo debuted at age 15 on March 3, 1979, with a second round knockout of Jorge Ortega in Santo Domingo.
Rosario won the vacant World Boxing Council World Lightweight title by 12 round decision over Jose Luis Ramirez, whom he lost his world title belt to in 1984 in his fourth defense. In June 1986, Rosario failed in his second try to regain his WBC title with a 12 round split decision loss to WBC World champion Hector Camacho at Madison Square Garden.
On September 16, 1986, Rosario challenged for the World Boxing Association World Lightweight title held by Livingston Bramble at Abel Holtz Stadium in Miami Beach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YELj4NMeQ8s
Chapo was all over Bramble, and outclassed him by getting inside, punching Bramble and then getting out. Heavy right hand power shots from El Chapo send bramble to his knees, with a bad wide open cut over one eye, shaking his head. This is the way El Chapo should be remembered, winning with superior skills at the peak of his abilities. Rosario’s win over Bramble made the cover of the English version of Ring Magazine.
Chapo later lost, won and lost the WBA world lightweight title, then won and lost the WBA World Super Lightweight title. Rosario spent several years in alcohol rehabilitation, then won five comeback bouts in five months in 1997. El Chapo had risen to tenth in the world junior welterweight rankings when he died suddenly on December 1, 1997, found in bed by his father, dead of an aneurysm with fluid in his lungs.
Though clean for several years, Rosario’s history of narcotics and alcohol abuse was said to be a contributing factor to his death. His final fight, a second round knockout win over Harold Bennett in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on September 25, 1997, was televised because this reporter remembers it. In the post fight interview, Rosario expressed his gratitude for his many fans who supported his comeback in progress. He was hoping to win a world title again, but sadly, it was not to be. Edwin died on December 1, 1997. Over 5000 attended his funeral in Puerto Rico. Matthew Hurley of SecondsOut.com wrote: “An autopsy would later reveal that he had died of an aneurysm, with fluid having accumulated in his lungs. Doctors would also add that his past history with drugs and alcohol were a major contributing factor, although he had long gone clean, and nothing were found in his system at the time of his death. Sadly, Edwin was clean, and get trying to get his life together when it suddenly ended.” According to the New York Times, which accessed the Toa Baja Puerto Rico town police reports, Rosario visited his four daughters at his former wife’s house at 7 P.M., but returned to his parents’ home an hour later, saying on arrival he felt ill. Rosario went to his room and laid down. His father, Antonio, went to check on him 45 minutes later, found him unconscious, and called the police. Toa Baja police officer Perez said in a later statement Edwin Rosario was dead when police arrived at the house. Edwin had lost over four years of his career due to drug abuse, but after a nine month stint in drug rehabilitation, Roosario had won five fightsin five consecutive onths in 1997 and his comeback was well underway.
COMMENTS
English