By Armando Paz: The Country of Mexico and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico have had numerous boxing champions, yet no Mexican or Puerto Rican born fighter has won a major belt in four different weight classes. For clarity, I exclude Oscar De La Hoya as he was born in the United States and his Gold Medal in the Barcelona Olympics was for the United States. Hector “Macho” Camacho won alphabet soup belts between welterweight and super middleweight but only three divisions included a title from one of the four major sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO).

The fourth weight championship has been elusive not just for both Puerto Rican or Mexican fighters but Latin fighters in general. Roberto Duran remains the only fighter born in a Latin country to accomplish that. While Nicaraguan born Alexis Arguello came very close but Aaron Pryor and an infamous “magic” bottle came his way on that Fall 1982 night.

For Mexico, it was a feat that was destined to be made by arguably their greatest fighter Julio Cesar Chavez. His attempt fall short to Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker for the WBC welterweight title in 1993 and he tried again for a fourth title but lost to Oscar De La Hoya in their rematch a few years later. The great Salvador Sanchez died at 23 and the world never saw what he might do if he had moved north from the featherweight division. The undefeated Ricardo Lopez never fought for a Flyweight title or higher and retired as a two division champion. This gave Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales a unique opportunity in Mexican boxing history. Barrera ended up as a champion in three weight classes and never really challenged for his fourth weight class in the lightweight division as his lost to Amir Khan would end any hopes to seriously contend as a lightweight. Erik Morales did seem to have an excellent chance in his last fight about 2 and half years ago. He seemed to be doing well early on against David Diaz in their WBC lightweight bout as he scored an early knockdown; but seemed to let it slip away in the second half of the fight. This Saturday on March 27 we will see if he can start a successful march to the elusive fourth title. Unfortunately, Morales can’t no longer make it physically as a lightweight or even a junior welterweight. He is fighting Jose Alfaro in the welterweight title for an international WBC title. This is a division that includes fighters as Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao who are bigger names than guys like Khan or Maidana who fight at the junior welterweight division. But the sport of boxing anything is possible as we remember what Forman did to Michael Moorer or that great night Roberto Duran had when he won his fourth title at age of 37 against Iran Barkley for the middleweight championship.

For the Island of Puerto Rico a country rich in boxing history since Sixto Escobar became their first champion it also never had a champion in four weight classes. The great Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez never tried for his fourth title at lightweight and retired with three. The defensive genius Wilfred “The Radar” Benitez seemed to have the skill to achieve that accomplishment. He was the youngest champion in boxing history at the age of 17 and beat guys like Duran, Cervantes, Palomino, Hope, and even gave Thomas Hearns a tough 15 round contest. But after losing to Mustafa Hamsho in 1983 his big dream fight with Marvin Hagler pretty much ended there. This gave another Puerto Rican Fighter Felix “Tito” Trinidad that great chance in Puerto Rican boxing immortality. But after beating William Joppy for the WBA middleweight title he would lose to Bernard Hopkins in a unification bout and pretty much retire from the sport after only a few cameo appearances. This has given the young fighter Juan Manuel Lopez possibly the best chance at that dream. Miguel Cotto even if he wins at 154 against Yuri Foreman is unlikely to fight in the middleweight division. But a guy like Juan Manuel Lopez at age 26 is still very young and has already two weight classes under his belt. He would need to win at both super featherweight and Lightweight to make it happen. His 5 feet 7 inch body frame and his 25 knockouts in 28 fights potentially give him the power to make the possibility a reality. This added with now four major international sanctioning bodies.

If either Morales or Lopez ever accomplish this elusive feat than they will definitely be put in a special place in their national boxing pantheon. With the rich history of Mexican and Puerto Rican fighters it will be a special mountain to be at standing on top off.