A Boxing Memory: Edwin Rosario

A Boxing Memory: Edwin Rosario

A life cut short. A career cut short. It is a story we hear far too often in boxing. Edwin Rosario was only 34 when his life ended in 1997, just a few months after his final fight. Rosario was a two-weight world champion, winning titles at lightweight and super-lightweight, but it was another story of what could and should have been. Rosario had battles with his demons. That fight with drug abuse was a constant, and it cost him many things in his life.

But before it all came crashing down, Rosario was at one time the best lightweight on the planet and was more than a shade unlucky not to inflict the first defeat on the resume of Hector Camacho in their fight at Madison Square Garden in 1986. Even in defeat, you could argue that Rosario took away the ‘Macho’ from Camacho. A certain young rampaging heavyweight fought on the card that night. Mike Tyson stopped Reggie Gross inside a round on the undercard of Camacho/Rosario. The New York duo Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton co-managed both Tyson and Rosario. For different reasons, neither relationship lasted the distance.

Rosario was born in Ingenio, a barrio of Toa Baja in Puerto Rico. His father, Antonio, had a passion for cockfighting, and Rosario would later engage in that world also. By the time he was 9, Rosario had found his way into a boxing gym. He would soon earn the nickname of ‘Chapo’ which was short for chaparrito, or ‘little man’ and the talent for boxing was visible at an early age. Manny Sciaca was at the helm, the astute trainer taught him the skills he needed. The Puerto Rican was on his way.

Rosario was 15 when he made his professional debut when he stopped Jorge Ortega in March 1979. A day later, he fought again. Just four years later, when he was only 20, Rosario was the lightweight champion of the world.

Jose Luiz Ramirez was beaten on points in a battle for the vacant WBC lightweight title in 1983. Rosario made two defences of his title, including a split decision victory over the former Olympic champion Howard Davis Jr., before Ramirez got his revenge with a 4th round stoppage in 1984. It was his first defeat in twenty-five fights.

Rosario rebounded with three wins before that wafer-thin decision loss to Hector Camacho in 1986. Make no mistake, Rosario could have had his raised that night. The big moments in the fight were his. More than arguably, Camacho was never the same fighter again. Many thought Rosario had been robbed against Camacho, but just three months later, Rosario didn’t leave it in the hands of the judges.

Livingstone Bramble defended his WBA lightweight title against Rosario in a supposed tune-up for a big unification showdown with Camacho. It didn’t end well. Bramble was stopped inside two rounds by an inspired and relentless Rosario.

Rosario didn’t enjoy a long reign in his second run as a world champion ended after 14 months. The following year, the legendary Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez was too good for him in 1987 and stopped him in the 11th round of their punishing fight in Las Vegas.

Rosario continued his career and a win over the Kronk prospect, Anthony Jones made Rosario a three-time world lightweight champion. He lost his title to Juan Nazario and then moved up in weight and won the WBA super-lightweight title courtesy of a 3rd round victory over Loreto Garza. Rosario lost his title in his first defence, and a stoppage defeat to Frankie Randall in 1993 was seemingly the end.

The big-punching Puerto Rican was struggling with his demons. He had seen his younger brother Papote lose his career to his cocaine addiction. Rosario was more than slipping into the same addictions. His personal life was unravelling, his wife left him, and she took their daughters with her. Rosario had a short stint in prison but apparently got clean and launched a comeback in 1997. Five wins got Rosario ranked, and he talked optimistically of another run at a world title.

But just a few months after a 2nd round stoppage win over Harold Bennett, Rosario was dead. He was just 34 when he prematurely passed away from pulmonary edema, an excessive buildup of fluid in the lungs, which was attributed to his drug addiction.

Rosario was, at one time, one of the hottest tickets in the sport. But sadly, he didn’t quite reach his potential. Even more sadly, it is an all too familiar story.

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