Chegui! The Life and Times of World Light Heavyweight Champion Jose Torres
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Jose ‘Chegui’ Torres was born on May 3, 1936, in Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico. He began boxing at 17 years old after he joined the United States Army in 1943 during World War II. Trained by the legendary Cus D’Amato, Victor Valle, and Joey Fariello. As an amateur boxer, Torres won three Golden Gloves championships in New York and was the National AAU champion at 160 pounds. He represented the United States at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in Australia, winning an Olympic Silver Medal, losing to eventual Gold Medalist Laszlo Papp.
Jose turned pro in 1958 and posted a professional record of 41-3-1 with 29 knockouts during his eleven years of his professional career. He turned pro in May 1958 with a first-round knockout of Gene Hamilton at Eastern Parkway Arena in Brooklyn, New York. His record reached 34-1-1, with only an upset stoppage loss to Florentino Fernandez, and a draw with Benny (Kid) Paret on an otherwise impeccable rise to the top.
In March 1965, Torres won the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, and World Light Heavyweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of Willie Pastrano at Madison Square Garden, knocking Pastrano down in the sixth round. Referee Johnny LoBianco stopped the bout between rounds before the start of the tenth round, and Pastrano never fought again.
After winning a heavyweight nontitle 10 round decision over Tom McNeeley, also in 1965, Torres made three title defenses in 1966 over Chic Calderwood, Wayne Thornton and Eddie Cotton. After losing his world light heavyweight title to Dick Tiger by 15 round decision in 1966, and failing to regain it by 15 round decision in 1967, Torres won two comeback bouts. After defeating Bob Dunlop in 1968 and Charlie Green in 1969, Torres retired without facing the then world light heavyweight champion Bob Foster, Torres retired. Torres later served as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, wrote a newspaper column on sports and Hispanic community affairs, and wrote the best sellers ‘Sting Like A Bee: The Muhammad Ali Story’, and ‘Fire and Fear: The Mike Tyson Story’. Torres also reported for ESPN Deportes. He was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame. In declining health, Torres returned to Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he passed away from a heart attack on January 19 2009. Torres was survived by his wife Ramona of 47 years, and his four children.
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