In early 1982, WBC World Featherweight Champion Salvador Sanchez was tragically killed in a car crash just before he was to have a rematch with Puerto Rican boxer Juan LaPorte….who had taken the Mexican World Featherweight Champion the distance less than a year earlier…so, when it became apparent that this rematch wasn’t going to happen….the WBC decided to put Laporte against Colombian Mario Miranda for the vacant world title in a fight that was held at the Madison Square Garden in NYC.
LaPorte dropped Miranda in the eighth round….which led to Miranda quitting on his stool before the start of the 11th….as Juan LaPorte….the tough kid from New York City who couldn’t figure to become a world champ versus the legendary champions of the day….had indeed become a world champion.
Juan LaPorte was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico….who soon after moved to New York City…..where he began boxing at a young age….having a 22 year-long career….as Laporte fought some of the greatest fighters of each decade….including Hall of Fame members Salvador Sanchez, Eusebio Pedroza, Azumah Nelson, Wilfredo Gomez, Barry McGuigan, Kostya Tszyu & Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. He retired in 1999 with a record of 40-11….with many of his losses being highly competitive….and sometimes controversial while taking on each and every good fighter in his weight class throughout his career.
This championship fight was a really good fight until Miranda was unable to meet the bell in Round 11….a fight that anyone who enjoys the sweet science of boxing will enjoy.
