Escalera Honored!

November 25, 2004

By David Greene

Ponce Espina (left) presents a plaque to Alfredo Escalera. (Photo: David Greene)

Escalera proudly holds plaque in his honor that will hang in the gym. (Photo: David Greene)

Escalera signs an autograph for a fan. (Photo: David Greene)

Members of the United Boxers and Trainers Association of New York gathered at the Juan LaPorte Gym in the South Bronx this past weekend to honor former World Boxing Council Jr. Lightweight and Jr. Welterweight Champion Alfredo "El Salsero" Escalera.

During the gathering at the gym at 700 Elton Avenue, Escalera was presented with a plaque bearing his photograph and listing some of his accomplishments in the ring. A second, identical plaque was presented, and will hang on the gym's "Wall of Fame."

Escalera's plaque joins other champions like Carlos Ortiz, Saoul Mamby, Luis Rivera, Emile Griffith, Ivan Calderon, Wilfredo Gomez, Juan LaPorte, Miguel Cotto, Jose Torres, Sixto Escobar, John-John Molina, Iran Barkley and NY Daily News columnist Bill Gallo.

In his acceptance speech, Escalera told supporters, "We are all here like an accident. It's been a long road for me to be here today. It has been a long road. But I prayed to God, and because the power of God is so great, we are here today."

Escalera continued, "About this decision, not now but 30-years ago, when I was a man... Who do we come to celebrate tonight?" Several members of the crowd, shouted, "A man," But Escalera responded, "Not a man but an old fart."

Escalera, who lived in the Bronx briefly during his career in the 1970's, and since his last fight at Madison Square Garden and his subsequent retirement in 1983, Escalera has been working with youngsters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and hopes to one day open a gym like the Juan LaPorte Gym.

Escalara would tell FightNews in broken English, "I'm not doing it for the money, but just for fun."

HALL OF FAME BOUND?

Ponce Espina, who co-owns the gym with Juan LaPorte, is pushing for a greater honor for the former champ. Espina says, "Besides this, we're pushing for Escalera to be in the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY. We're going to make some noise. I think that he should have been in the Hall of Fame already."

Espina says he has called, written and faxed information on Escalera, and adds, "They didn't even respond, so I think that is disrespect to him and the Puerto Rican community. Not only Escalera, but a man like Edwin Rosario, he should have been inducted after his death, after all, he was a four-time world champion, so what are they waiting for?"

Known for wearing flashy suits without socks, or for wearing a snake around his neck when he entered the ring, Escalera captured the WBC Jr. Lightweight Title on July 4, 1975, after he knocked out Kuniaki Shibata.

Escalera retired with a record of (53-14-3, 31) and his first bout with Alexis Arguello is listed at # 31, as one of Ring Magazine's all-time greatest fights.

Jeff Brophy, the public relations director at the International Boxing Hall of Fame told FightNews, "We have a panel of sports writer's and boxing historians who vote every year," and added any fans of any fighter can nominate a fighter, but the panel votes on who is inducted. Brophy also noted that a fighter's credentials are examined by a screening committee before a nomination is finalized.

The 16th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend takes place June 9-12, 2005.

See more from David Greene at Fisticscene.com