I am not a sports fan save the occasional futbol game (and no I am not talking Superbowl football), pero even I knew who Jose Chegüi Torres was. I would listen to the first Latin-American world light-heavyweight boxing champion discuss not just race in sports on radio station WBAI, pero identity politics and power in general as he was a regular guest on many Latino themed shows.

From Ponce, Puerto Rico, Chegüi Torres passed away on January 19th.

From a tribute written by Julio Pabon:

José “Chegüi” Torres was one incredible role model for anyone that took the time to speak to him. The fact that he was loved in the Puerto Rican communities of the 60’s is a matter of record. He was an inspiration for every Boricua sweating in the factories of New York struggling in a city that did not understand our political plight.

The 1960’s were a very rough period for the Boricua’s living in this city. It was the height of the struggles between Italians and Puerto Ricans that was manifested in many schoolyards, rooftops and parks in this city with casualties that would equal those of many undeclared wars that received no international attention. It was West Side Story in every community where Puerto Rican’s were moving into and Italians were holding on to.

In was during that volatile period in our history that Chegüi Torres got his long awaited chance to fi ght for the World Championship that was being delayed for no other reason except that he was a dark skin Puerto Rican. Finally in 1965 Chegüi was given the opportunity to fight the reining Champ, Willie Pastrano the pride of the Italian’s.

What people might not know is that Chegüi not only negotiated for himself for this important fight, he also negotiated for the entire Puerto Rican community. Chegüi explained it to me this way: “I knew that every Puerto Rican who could afford it was going to go to Madison Square Garden to see this fight. I also knew that the other half of the Garden (sitting in the lower expensive seats) was going to be filled by Italians. I wanted to do something special for our community so I negotiated that I wanted the Puerto Rican national anthem to be played before the fight.”

This might seem trivial today, however, historians would tell you that no other countries national anthem, other than the American national anthem was ever played in a boxing match, especially if both fighters were American citizens.

On March 30th, 1965 José Chegüi Torres walked into a packed Madison Square Garden. Just as he predicted, the Garden was almost evenly split. All the Puerto Ricans were filling up the middle levels up to the roof and the Italians were sitting in mid-level to lower seats.

Chegüi was anxiously waiting when finally they knocked on the locker room door to inform him that he would be coming out in approximately five minutes. “Oh and by the way, we will not be able to play the Puerto Rican National Anthem,” one of the promoters stated. Chegüi opened the door and asked them to explain what was it that he heard about not playing the national anthem? The promoter explained that due to some added television coverage they were limited with the time prior to the fight and had to cut that part out of the program.

Chegüi told me he looked at the guy straight in the face and told him, “then you need to cut me out of the program because I’m not fighting.” I could only imagine the face of the promo ter when he heard this? Chegüi told me that he looked dumbfounded and thought that was kidding. Chegüi repeated, “I was promised that we could play the Puerto Rican National Anthem and if we don’t I’m not fighting.”

Finally they came to his dressing room and told him it was worked out and that he could sing the national anthem. Chegüi smiled walked out of the dressing room and headed for the ring to make a little piece of history.

Chegüi called out to his Compadre, none other than singer, Felipe Rodriguez, one of the most popular Puerto Rican singers of all time. Felipe, who was sitting in the first row came up to sing the Puerto Rican National Anthem and thus it was the first time that a national anthem, other then the American national anthem was performed in a major boxing match and quite possibly in any sports event in this country.

Chegüi then went o ut to make history for the second time by knocking out, Willie Pastrano in the ninth round and becoming the third Puerto Rican to win a World title and the first Latino to win a light-heavyweight title.

The next day after he won the fight he went to El Barrio’s 110th Street, climbed onto a fire escape and told the admiring crowd how he had won the Championship fight for all of them.

That was my friend Chegüi Torres.

Other Chegüi tidbits:

Chegüi began fighting in the US Army as a teenager at the age of 18.

In the 1956 Olympics he won the Silver Medal for the USA in Boxing.

Started his professional boxing career in May 1958 and in 11 years as a fighter he won 41 fights (29 by KO), 3 losses and one tie.

After retiring he became a known author, writer and sports reporter. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.

He was a friend to every progressive cause and will also be in our memory as a friend and supporter to Latino Sports.

A memorial service for Chegüi is being planned for Saturday Feb. 7th at Hostos Community College and a memorial church service is being planned for Sunday Feb 8th at La Resurrección UMC at 158th & Walton Ave. Bronx, NY 11:30 AM.

Call 718-402-9310 for additional information