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In addition, he garnered the respect of many writers from several boxing publications, including Ring Magazine and The Ring En Espanol, for his ability to absorb punishment and fight back.
Escalera began to box professionally on September 4, 1970, against Bob Payzant , in Portland. That night, he won by a knockout in round four.
He would suffer his first defeat in his third fight, when faced against Doug McClendon , who beat him by a decision in six on January 26, 1971 in New York. He won five bouts in a row, and then lost by decision in eight to future Roberto DuranRoberto Duran (b. June 16, 1951) is a famous boxer from Panama. He held world titles at four different weights lightweight (1972-79), welterweight (1980), junior middleweight (1983-84) and middleweight (1989). He was also the only boxer to have fought in world title challenger Edwin Viruet .
He began 19721972 is a leap year starting on Saturday (click link for calendar). Events January events January 2 the Pierre Hotel Heist Six men rob the safety deposit boxes of the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Loot is at least $4 million January 5 President of the Un by losing to another future world title challenger, Diego Alcala , by knockout in round eight, but he won his three other fights that year.
In 1973Events January events January 1 United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark enter the European Economic Community now known as the European Union January 3 Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) sells the New York Yankees for $10 million to a 12-person syndicate led, he began, once again, by losing to another future world title challenger, Miguel Montilla , by a decision in ten. Before the year was over, however, he was able to avenge that defeat, defeating Montilla by a knockout in round eight, and he won seven of his eight other fights that year.
By 19741974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). Events January-February January 5 Dungeons & Dragons officially released. February 4 Patricia Hearst, the 19 year old granddaughter of publisher William Randolph Hearst, is kidnapped, he began climbing up the Jr. Lightweight rankings, going 8-2 that year. He beat his own future world title challenger Sigfredo Rodriguez by a knockout in round one, and former world champion Ricardo Arredondo by a disqualification in round eight.
In what could be considered ironic, Escalera received his first world championship try after drawing in ten rounds with Francisco Villegas : On July 4July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. Events 993 Saint Ulrich of Augsburg canonized. 1054 A supernova is observed by the Chinese and Amerindians near the star ζ Tauri. For severa, 1975Events January January 1 Watergate scandal: John N. Mitchell, H. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman are found guilty of the Watergate cover-up and are sentenced to 30 months to 8 years in jail on February 21 January 5 The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, i, he fought the WBC world Jr. Lightweight champion Kuniaki Shibata in Mito , knocking Shibata out in round two to become a world Jr. Lightweight champion.
He defended his title 10 times, including wins over Ray Lunny , Sigfredo Rodriguez and Tyrone Everrett , before losing it on January 28January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 337 days remaining (338 in leap years). Events 1521 Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. 1547 Edward VI becomes King of England. 1573 articles of Warsaw Confederation are s of 1978 to Alexis Argüello of Nicaragua by a knockout in round 13 in Bayamón. In this fight, Escalera suffered a broken nose and tooth, a cut on his tongue and above his left eye, and a closed right eye before submitting to Argüello.
Escalera and Argüello had a rematch, on February 4, 1979, in Rimini, and Escalera held a small lead on the judges' cards after 12 rounds, but he was knocked out, once again, in round 13 by Argüello. Shortly after drawing with Antonio Cruz in ten rounds in October of that year, he announced his retirement.
In 1980, Escalera dedicated himself to the sport of professional wrestling, competing on the Puerto Rican professional wrestling circuit, but in 1981, he launched a boxing comeback. He lost to future world Jr. Welterweight champion Gene Hatcher in San Antonio, but he beat former world title challenger Maurice Termite Watkins at The Battle of the Champions' undercard in Miami, to complete his 1982 boxing campaign.
In 1983, he avenged his loss to Hatcher, dropping him in round six and scoring a 10 round unanimous decision win at the Duran- Davey Moore world title fight's undercard in the Madison Square Garden, but on September 15 of that year, he lost to future world title challenger Charlie White Lighting Brown at the Ray Mancini- Orlando Romero world title bout's undercard.
After that fight, Escalera announced his retirement from boxing once again, and the second time around, he was able to stay retired. Shortly after, it was discovered that he had eyesight problems and had been fighting almost blinded for his last few fights.
Escalera and Samuel Serrano became the first two Puerto Ricans to be world champions at the same division during the same time. They would be emulated years later by Ossie Ocasio and Carlos De Leon in the Cruiserweight division. There was frequent talks about facing Escalera and Serrano in a unification world title bout. The bout, however, never materialized.
Escalera became a house-hold name in Puerto Rico during his tenure as world champion. He appeared on tv commercials and was a popular public figure.
The avid autograph signer left a boxing record of 49 wins, 14 losses and 2 draws, with 29 wins by knockout. His two fights with Argüello are considered by many to be boxing classics, Argüello-Escalera I making The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest fights of all time at number 31, and Argüello-Escalera II making it at number 68.
Escalera now enjoys the fruits of his career in his farm in Puerto Rico. His son, Alfredo Escalera Jr. , is currently an amateur boxer who is based in Florida.