33 Facts About Sixto Escobar

Sixto Escobar was a Puerto Rican professional boxer.

Sixto Escobar received several posthumous recognitions and his name was used in several sports venues and buildings.

In 2002, Sixto Escobar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Sixto Escobar was born in La Boca in Barrio Palmas Altas, a sector of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, to Jacinto Sixto Escobar and Adela Vargas.

Sixto Escobar met and was received by Ignacio Penagaricano, the owner of Victoria Gym.

Sixto Escobar's draw was against Ramon Rodriguez of San Lorenzo and his only loss was in the hands of Pedro Montanez from Cayey, in a fight that took place in March 1930.

Sixto Escobar turned professional on September 1,1930, in a fight card organized at the Victory Garden gym in San Juan.

In Puerto Rico, Sixto Escobar fought in 15 contests, before moving to Venezuela after the popularity of professional boxing declined in his home country.

On November 11,1931, Sixto Escobar competed against Enrique Chaffardet for the Venezuelan Bantamweight Title, but lost by decision.

Since Sixto Escobar turned professional while he was still legally a minor, his father had to sign the unbinding agreement.

Sixto Escobar reached New York in early 1934, intending to "obtain fame and honor" for "[his] motherland", there he was received by Rojas and professional trainer Whitey Bimstein.

Sixto Escobar's first fight in the United States took place at the Valley Arena in Holyoke, Massachusetts on May 7,1934.

Sixto Escobar scored a knockdown in the third round; the fight concluded in the ninth round when Casanova lost by knockout.

However, Sixto Escobar was forced to cancel his plans after suffering a heel injury when he was hit by a car.

Sixto Escobar spent a month in inactivity while recovering, and in the winter he returned to Puerto Rico.

Sixto Escobar pursued a fight with Brown, but his offers were refused while the Panamanian pugilist promoted a campaign protesting the removal of his recognition as champion, demanding to be reinstated.

Sixto Escobar won the fight by knockout in the thirteenth round, receiving the "undisputed world champion" distinction.

On November 13,1935, Sixto Escobar became the first Puerto Rican to win a title fight in the first round, defeating "Indian" Quintana by knockout.

Sixto Escobar won the fight by unanimous decision, while Jack Dempsey served as referee.

Sixto Escobar participated in Mike Jacobs's "Carnival of Champions" on September 23,1937 and lost the title to Harry Jeffra by unanimous decision.

On February 20,1938, Sixto Escobar faced Jeffra in a rematch organized at the El Escambron baseball park in Puerta de Tierra.

Sixto Escobar won the contest by unanimous decision, scoring three knockdowns.

Later in 1939, Sixto Escobar received a draft notice from the United States Army, ordering him to take a physical exam for possible military service.

Sixto Escobar then fought some short non-title fights, of which he lost four, all by points.

On December 2,1940, Sixto Escobar participated in his last professional fight, losing to a ten-round decision to Harry Jeffra.

Sixto Escobar became a spokesman for a liquor brand and relocated to New York temporally, with his family.

Sixto Escobar was inducted into the Madison Square Garden's Boxing Hall of Fame in 1950.

Sixto Escobar continued in his job as a liquor salesperson, during which it was common for liquor salesmen to drink a little bit of the product which they sold in front of potential customers.

Sixto Escobar's remains are interred at Cementerio Municipal Viejo in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, according to a memorial written to honor his life.

Sixto Escobar became the first world boxing champion in history to have a statue in his honor.

On June 9,2002, Sixto Escobar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Sixto Escobar became the fourth Puerto Rican to receive this distinction and the first to be included in the "Old Timers" section.

In 2019 Sixto Escobar was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.