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Jose "Chegui" Torres, RIP

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:36:33 PM EST
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Former boxing champion and writer Jose "Chegui" Torres has passed away:

Former light-heavyweight boxing champion Jose Torres died Monday in Ponce, Puerto Rico, of a heart attack, according to the Associated Press. Torres was 72. Born in Ponce, Torres grew up in the United States, winning a silver medal while representing the country at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Guided by trainer Cus D'Amato, he stopped Willie Pastrano in 1965 to win the light-heavyweight title. He defended the 175-pound title three times before losing a pair of decisions to successor Dick Tiger.

I knew Chegui in New York but had not spoken to him in several years. He was a good man and lived a full life. My thoughts are with his family. May he rest in peace.

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    Jose "Chegui" Torres, RIP | 19 comments (19 topical)

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    thanks, BTD. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:46:46 PM EST
    Sorry for your loss, and sorry for the family, also.

    No telling how many fighters he motivated.

    It made me think about the fact (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:50:49 PM EST
    that I had not talked to him for several years.

    I should have made a point of seeing him.

    I do regret that. He was a good man. And always upbeat.  

    Parent

    I understand. I have begun (none / 0) (#6)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:56:20 PM EST
    getting in touch with people recently. Personal tragedies are... personal. But to contact old friends is a good thing.

    Parent
    What is this? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Steve M on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:47:33 PM EST
    Born in Ponce, Torres grew up in the United States, winning a silver medal while representing the country at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

    Would it be normal to start a sentence with "Born in Detroit, Torres grew up in the United States..."?  Is Puerto Rico not located in the United States?  Perhaps I missed a memo, or perhaps this journalist did.

    R.I.P., Mr. Torres, an outstanding American!

    He fought for the Puerto Rico Olympic team (none / 0) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:48:54 PM EST
    Puerto Rican sovereignty involves sports teams and beauty pageants.

    It's kind of weird.

    Parent

    Did he really? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Steve M on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:00:06 PM EST
    I'm seeing a lot of online sources that claim he fought for the U.S. team that year.  Not that I have any idea myself, of course!

    In any event, I am sorry about your friend's passing, and of course my thoughts are with the family.  It sounds like he had a mighty full life.

    Parent

    I am positive (none / 0) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:01:31 PM EST
    the Pride of Ponce. He was one of the first prominent PR boxers.

    Parent
    So much for my being positive (none / 0) (#11)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:04:15 PM EST
    I was just told on the phone by a friend that I am completely wrong - he fought for the USs.

    Parent
    Wasn't he born in a colony of the US? (none / 0) (#5)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:56:01 PM EST
    Then moved to and grew up in the US?

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:59:53 PM EST
    he was born in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which was granted domestic self government in 1952(so I guess he grew up PARTLY in a colony) abd did not move to New York until he turned professional (after the 56 Olympics), when he went to train with Cus D'Amato.

    Parent
    What you write sounds a little mushy. (none / 0) (#14)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:22:10 PM EST
    He was born in 1936 in the US colony of Puerto Rico.

    PR became a US Commonwealth in 1952.

    I trust you're right that the article you linked to, and Steve M quoted from, is wrong and that he didn't grow up on the mainland.

    30 Rock had some pretty funny lines last week about saying "she's Puerto Rican."

    Parent

    And every internet site says stuff like: (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:44:57 PM EST
    Born in Ponce, Torres grew up in the United States, winning a silver medal while representing the country at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
    or
    Torres was born in the playita sector of Ponce, the same area that Sor Isolina Ferré would later call home. Because he lived in the United States as a youngster, he had to represent that nation in the 1956 Olympic Games, where he won a Silver medal as a Jr. Middleweight.

    So, he was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the US.


    Parent

    Not how I know the story (none / 0) (#16)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:48:38 PM EST
    To be frank, it would surprise me because Chegui had a very strong accent in English and spoke Spanish very very well.

    But to be honest, I never discussed his childhood in PR (or NY) for that matter. So I will reserve my thoughts on this.

    Parent

    No matter. Cool that you knew him. (none / 0) (#17)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:54:29 PM EST
    What does "Chequi" mean?

    Parent
    It is a common (none / 0) (#19)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 07:04:26 PM EST
    nickname for "Jose Luis"

    Parent
    Sorry For YOur Loss BTD (none / 0) (#7)
    by squeaky on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 04:59:13 PM EST
    Sound like he lived a full life, albeit too short..

    Sad to hear (none / 0) (#12)
    by bayville on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:18:50 PM EST
    Jose Torres was one of the shining lights and he ranks right below Roberto Clemente when it comes to Puerto Rican sports legends. He became light heavyweight champion right about the time that that weightclass was about to evolve into a thrilling division.

    He passed the baton to Dick Tiger who passed it to Bob Foster and then was followed by the likes of Victor Galindez, Marvin Johnson, Matthew Franklin (aka: Mathhew Saud Mohammad), Mike Rossman, Dwight Braxton (aka: Dwight Muhammad Qawi) Eddie Gregory (aka: Eddie Mustafa Muhammad) and ending with Michael Spinks.

    God what a great era of boxing.

    RIP Jose

    My condolences... (none / 0) (#13)
    by kdog on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:20:49 PM EST
    always hard to lose a champion or a good man.

    And boy do I yearn for the boxing of yore, before my time, when champion meant something.  

    RIP Champ.

    Mr. Torres was a master of his craft (none / 0) (#18)
    by wurman on Mon Jan 19, 2009 at 05:58:25 PM EST
    and his Sting Like a Bee: The Muhammed Ali Story (co-authored with Bert Sugar) makes so clear what one outstanding prizefighter can see in another great champion.  It's a good read.

    Mr. Torres was a great athlete.

    He was also a fine man.

    Jose "Chegui" Torres, RIP | 19 comments (19 topical)

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