Alfredo Escalera

2.1. Birth and Background

Alfredo Escalera was born on March 21, 1952, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He adopted the nickname "El Salsero" because of his deep appreciation for Salsa music. Throughout his career, Escalera primarily fought with an orthodox style.

2.2. Early Professional Bouts

Escalera commenced his professional boxing career on September 4, 1970, with a bout against Bob Payzant in Portland, Oregon, securing a victory by knockout in the fourth round. His first professional defeat occurred in his third fight on January 26, 1971, in New York City, losing by decision in six rounds to Doug McClendon. Following this, he achieved five consecutive wins before suffering another decision loss in eight rounds to future world title challenger Edwin Viruet.

The year 1972 began with a knockout loss in the eighth round to Diego Alcala, another fighter who would later contend for a world title, though Escalera won his three subsequent fights that year. In 1973, he faced a similar start, losing a ten-round decision to Miguel Montilla, who also became a future world title challenger. However, Escalera quickly avenged this loss, defeating Montilla by an eighth-round knockout later that year and winning seven of his eight other bouts.

By 1974, Escalera was steadily ascending the super featherweight rankings, compiling an 8-2 record for the year. During this period, he secured a first-round knockout victory over future world title challenger Sigfredo Rodriguez and defeated former world champion Ricardo Arredondo by disqualification in the eighth round. Notably, Arredondo had only recently lost his WBC Super Featherweight title in February 1974, making Escalera's victory a significant achievement as he continued his rise.

3.1. Winning the WBC Title

On July 4, 1975, Alfredo Escalera, in his 38th professional fight, challenged the reigning WBC Super Featherweight champion Kuniaki Shibata in Mito, Japan. Escalera delivered a powerful performance, knocking Shibata out in the second round to claim the WBC Super Featherweight title. This victory held significant historical importance for Puerto Rico, as it coincided with Ángel Espada's win of the WBA world Welterweight championship on the same day in Puerto Rico. This marked the first instance in boxing history where two Puerto Rican fighters became world champions on the same day, effectively doubling the number of world champions the island had produced up to that point.

3.2. Title Defenses

After securing the world title, Escalera became a widely recognized name in Puerto Rico. He was a popular public figure, appearing in television commercials and enjoying considerable fame during his championship reign. He successfully defended his title ten times, six of these victories coming by knockout. Notable opponents during his defenses included Ray Lunny, Sigfrido Rodriguez, and Tyrone Everett.

One of his most controversial title defenses was against Tyrone Everett on November 30, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although Escalera was awarded a split decision victory after 15 rounds, most boxing observers widely considered this outcome to be one of the worst decisions in boxing history, as it appeared that Everett had clearly won the fight. A rematch between Escalera and Everett was reportedly being negotiated when Everett was tragically murdered.

3.3. Loss of the Title

Alfredo Escalera's championship reign concluded on January 28, 1978, when he lost his WBC Super Featherweight title to Alexis Argüello of Nicaragua. The intensely fought bout took place in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and is famously known as "The Bloody Battle of Bayamón" due to its brutal nature. In this fight, Escalera sustained severe injuries, including a broken nose, a broken tooth, a cut on his tongue, another cut above his left eye, and a completely closed right eye before the fight was stopped in the 13th round, resulting in a technical knockout victory for Argüello. The fight was widely described as exceptionally brutal, leaving a lasting mark on both fighters.

4.1. Rematch with Argüello and Later Fights

Escalera and Argüello met for a highly anticipated rematch on February 4, 1979, in Rimini, Italy. Despite holding a narrow lead on the judges' scorecards after 12 rounds, Escalera was ultimately knocked out by Argüello in the 13th round. Shortly after this fight, in October of the same year, Escalera fought to a draw with Antonio Cruz over ten rounds and then announced his initial retirement from boxing.

In 1981, Escalera made a boxing comeback. He faced Gene Hatcher, a future world Light welterweight champion, suffering a loss in San Antonio, Texas. However, he later secured a unanimous decision victory over former world title challenger Maurice Watkins on the undercard of "The Battle of the Champions" in Miami, Florida, concluding his 1982 boxing campaign on a positive note. In 1983, Escalera avenged his earlier loss to Hatcher, securing a ten-round unanimous decision win on the undercard of the Roberto Durán-Davey Moore world title fight at Madison Square Garden. His final professional boxing match was on September 15, 1983, when he lost to future world title challenger Charlie White Lighting Brown.

4.2. Brief Stint in Professional Wrestling

In 1980, during a break from his boxing career, Escalera briefly transitioned into professional wrestling, competing on the Puerto Rican professional wrestling circuit. This foray into a different combat sport showcased his versatility and continued presence in the public eye.

4.3. Final Retirement and Health Issues

After his fight against Charlie Brown in September 1983, Alfredo Escalera announced his definitive retirement from boxing. It was later revealed that he had been experiencing significant eyesight problems, having fought some of his final matches with severely impaired vision. This health issue ultimately influenced his decision to step away from the sport permanently.

6.1. Acquired Titles

Escalera held the following championship titles during his professional career:

• WBC Super Featherweight Champion (July 5, 1975 - January 28, 1978)
  • Defended the title successfully 10 times.
• WBC Continental Americas Light Welterweight Champion (May 13, 1983 - 1983; Vacated)

6.2. Honors and Inductions

In recognition of his distinguished boxing career, Alfredo Escalera was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023.

7.1. Historical Significance in Boxing

Escalera's two fights against Alexis Argüello are widely celebrated as boxing classics. The first encounter, dubbed "The Bloody Battle of Bayamón," and their rematch are both recognized among the greatest fights of all time by The Ring magazine. The first Argüello-Escalera fight was ranked number 67 on their list of 100 greatest fights, while their second bout was ranked number 40, underscoring their enduring impact on the sport. Escalera's reign as a world champion for over two and a half years solidified his place among the elite boxers of his era.

7.2. Public Reception and Impact

During his tenure as world champion, Alfredo Escalera became a beloved public figure and a household name in Puerto Rico. His success brought immense pride to the island, and his appearances in television commercials further enhanced his popularity and connection with the public. His achievements, including being part of the historic day when two Puerto Ricans won world titles simultaneously, significantly boosted the sport's profile in his home country.

7.3. Controversies

One of the most notable controversies in Escalera's career revolved around his November 1976 title defense against Tyrone Everett. Despite being awarded a split decision victory, the outcome was widely disputed by many observers, who believed that Everett had clearly won the fight. This decision remains one of the most debated in boxing history. Tragically, a planned rematch between Escalera and Everett could not materialize due to Everett's untimely death.

8.1. Family

Alfredo Escalera is the father of Alfredo Escalera Jr., who also pursued a career in boxing and is based in Florida.

8.2. Current Status

Alfredo Escalera currently lives on his farm in Puerto Rico, enjoying his retirement from professional boxing. He remains an avid autograph signer, often engaging with fans.