It is with Great sadness that I again have to inform you of the passing of another Great Champion. Jose Torres, the former Light Heavyweight Champion of the World died this morning @ 4:00 AM in Puerto
Rico were he was living the past 3 years or so.
Jose Torres is boxing’s renaissance man: olympian, world champion, author, administrator and now Hall-of-Famer.
Like many successful amateur fighters, Jose began fighting when he
joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18. From the Army, he represented
the United States in the 1956 Olympics and won a silver medal in the
light middleweight division.
Like many Olympic medalists, Torres went on to have a brilliant pro career.
Torres turned pro in 1958 and quickly established himself as a
contender when he battled future welterweight king Benny Paret to a
10-round draw. As a middleweight he beat contenders Randy Sandy, Don
Fullmer, Jose Gonzalez and Wilburt McClure.
In 1965, Torres stopped Willie Pastrano at Madison Square Garden to
become light heavyweight champion of the world. Then, four months
later, he won a non-title bout over Tom McNeeley, who would later
challenge for the heavyweight title.
Torres made three successful title defenses in 1966, defeating Wayne
Thornton, Eddie Cotton and Chic Calderwood. But in December of ’66,
Torres lost the crown to former middleweight king Dick Tiger on a close
decision.
They fought again six months later and Torres lost a split decision.
Torres fought once in 1968, knocking out Bob Dunlop and once in 1969,
climbing off the canvas to stop Charlie “The Devil” Green. That was his
last fight.
Torres has remained part of boxing although his fighting days ended. He
authored a pair of biographies, “Sting Like a Bee” on Muhammad Ali and
“Fire and Fear” on Mike Tyson. From 1983 to 1988 he served as chairman
of the New York State Boxing Commission and is currently a presiding
supervisor for the WBO.
He was also Inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame on November 18, 2004.
Also, another bio is on the following web site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Torres