Juan Evangelista Venegas

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Juan Evangelista Venegas bigraphy, stories - Boxer

Juan Evangelista Venegas : biography

June 2, 1929 –

Juan Evangelista Venegas (June 2, 1929 – 1980s) was a Puerto Rican boxer notable for winning Puerto Rico’s first Olympic medal.

Early years

Venegas was born in an underprivileged section of San Juan, Puerto Rico where fighting was a common way of life. Many of the youth at that time saw the sport of boxing as a way to a better life. Among them was Venegas, who admired Puerto Rico’s first international boxing champion, Sixto Escobar. Venegas took up boxing and his performance in the ring soon caught the attention of the island’s recently-established Olympic Committee. In 1948 the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee included him in the delegation which would represent the island.

Professional boxing career

After returning to a hero’s welcome to Puerto Rico, Venegas turned professional. In 1948, Venegas made his professional boxing debut against Puerto Rican Abelardo Alejandro. Venegas, a southpaw, fought in the bantamweight and featherweight division for a total of 32 fights, compiling a record of 20-10-2. His last fight was in 1958 against Al Tisi.

1948 Summer Olympics

The 1948 Summer Olympics celebrated in London, was a historical one for Puerto Rico because it was the first time that the island would participate as a nation in an international sporting event. The island’s delegation consisted of twelve members. In their opening ceremonies, the Puerto Rican delegation carried the flag of the United States into the Olympic stadium. The United States protested, claiming that two nations could not use the same flag at the same time. The decree of Commonwealth on July 25, 1952 would give the Puerto Rican delegation a flag of their own.

In the 1948 Summer Olympics, known as the XIV Olympics, Juan Evangelista Venegas made Puerto Rican sports history by winning Puerto Rico’s first Olympic medal ever when he beat Belgium’s representative, Louis Callenboat, on points for a unanimous decision. He won the bronze medal in boxing in the Bantamweight division, falling short of the silver medal to Giovanni Zuddas.

Death and legacy

Juan Evangelista Venegas died in the 1980s when he suffered a fall at his home which caused a skull fracture. A week before his death, he was honored by the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico. on Salon de la Fama del Deporte Riopedrense

In honor of his memory, the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission sponsors the Juan Evangelista Venegas boxing tournament, which serves as a tune-up to future Olympic boxing prospects. There is a Juan Evagelista Venegas Olympic Cup which is given in other sports with Olympic orientation. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1487. Page 4. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.