Puerto Rico's Sammy "Mangani" Fuentes was a standout amateur who compiled a 50-17 record before turning professional on Nov. 20 1982. In his pro debut he scored a 3rd round knockout over Victor Aponte of the Dominican Republic.
He ran off 3 more wins before meeting up with fellow Puerto Rican favorite Juan Nazario (8-1). Both fighters were renowned as amateurs, and it was expected to be an interesting matchup of young hot-shot prospects, but those in attendance probably had no idea of the high caliber of talent these two men possesed. Nazario would go on to win the WBA Lightweight world title, and Fuentes would win the WBO Jr. Welter championship. On this night it was Nazario who would hand Fuentes his first defeat via 5th round knockout in what was a wild fight in front of a raucous crowd!
Fuentes bounced back with a pair of fights held in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. He went 1-1 in those two fights, with the loss coming on a disqualification in round 7.
He returned to his beloved Puerto Rico where he scored an 8th round KO over Roberto Ortiz to improve his record to 6-2, 5 KO. He was looking impressive each time out, and from here, his level of competition was stepped up and he faced a much higher quality of opponents.
He traveled to Atlantic City for his United States debut, and was impressive with a 6 round unanimous decision win over Philly's Jocko King (14-2-2). After the win over King, he ran off another impressive string of 6 victories over some very good names, with a hard-earned majority decision over unbeaten Othal "Choo Choo" Dixon (14-0), and stopping once-beaten, former world champion Harry Arroyo (26-1) by ko in round 7.
Sammy was 13-2 as he traveled to Chorpus Christi, Texas to face off with undefeated local hero Frankie Warren (18-0). After ten rounds in a bout that was a war, it ended in a Split decision win for the local guy. Fuentes' camp were sure that they were robbed by what they saw as a home-town decision.
Things didn't get any easier for Sammy as he faced world champions in his next two bouts. Losing to Frankie "The Surgeon" Randall, and Roger "The Black Mamba" Mayweather back-to-back in Atlantic City, NJ.
"Mangani" Fuentes stood with a record of 13-5 and had been tested by some world class boxers.
He began another charge at a title. He went 4-1 scoring 4 knockouts, and the loss came to another world champion - "Fearless" Freddie Pendleton who caught Fuentes early and stopped him in the first round.
In October of 1988, Fuentes took a fight at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California and scored a big win over Vincent Releford (14-1-1) with a 2nd round technical knockout in what was considered a mild upset. The promoters and matchmakers at the Forum were impressed and invited Fuentes to take part in their "Forum Light Welterweight Tournament". Fuentes accepted the invitation, and wasted no time in dispatching two world-ranked opponents in Santos Cardona (16-0), and John Montes (39-4) winning both by powerful knockouts!
Sammy Fuentes now found his self in the finals of the Forum tournament and faced off with Panama's Rodolfo Aguilar (22-1-1) for that coveted title. Fuentes was considered the underdog in this showdown, but he started fast, putting Aguilar down to the canvas in rounds 1 and 7. Aguilar was tough and battled back. The bout went the 12-round distance, and when the smoke cleared. Judge Dick Young had it 115-111 for Fuentes, but he was over-ruled by judges Burt Gillium, and Rudy Jordan who both scored the bout 113-113 making it a majority decision draw.
The Forum had no Light Welterweight champ, and the fight was so good that they had to do it again, and just 3 months later, the re-match was on. It was August 14, 1989 and the WBC added their Continental-Americas Jr. Welterweight belt to the mix. Two minor titles were on the line, and that just sweetened the pot. It was another war that went the 12-round distance, but this time Sammy Fuentes was dominant as he took a unanimous decision to win the title belts.
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| Fuentes battles legendary Julio Cesar Chavez |
The win boosted Fuentes into the top-ten of the world rankings, and 3 months later he was named as the challenger to the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez (66-0) for his WBC Jr. Welterweight world championship. Fuentes showed well and hung tough, but the fight was stopped after round 10 as Chavez proved just too much for the big hearted Fuentes.
Fuentes was considered a high caliber contender, and was put in with two more tough fighters who handed him two more losses. Rodney Moore (26-6-2) and David Kamau (14-0) both defeated Fuentes in his next two fights after the Chavez title challenge.
The Puerto Rican power puncher didn't give up, and battled on. He won two big fights in a row over undefeated Liasu Braimoh (14-0), and Marco Antonio Lizarraga (36-4-1) knocking both of them out. His record now stood at 23-9-1, 19 KO.
His reputation as a "streak-fighter" continued as he now went on a 3-fight losing streak, again, facing world-class opponents. He dropped a tough but unanimous 10-round decision to Charles "The Natural" Murray (24-1), and then made the trip to Australia where he was overwhelmed in a first round blitz by future hall-of-fame legend Kostya Tszyu (5-0). He then dropped a wild and disputed split decision in a Puerto Rico showdown bout against Angel "Pelayito" Hernandez (38-1-2). The scores were 96-95 for Fuentes, and 97-95 x 2 in favor of Hernandez. Controversial or not, that made it 3 losses in a row for Fuentes who now stood with a record of 23-12-1, and even with a dozen losses, those losses came against world ranked and highly respected fighters, so Fuentes remained in the world rankings.
His career was in need of a boost, and somehow his management got him a pair of fights in the island nation of New Caldonea. They were not pushover fights either as he defeated Charlie Baou (12-3), and Philadelphia's tough veteran Charlie "Choo Choo" Brown (26-15-2), both by knockout. He then traveled to Russia where he lost a 10-round decision to undefeated Viachaslau Ianouski (23-0-1).
Sammy returned to the scene of his first career resurrection - The Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, where he began another winning streak. This time he began by knocking out Gilbert Flores (25-14) in 1 round, and then traveled to the UK where he used his knockout power to win the vacant Penta-Continental Jr. Welterweight title belt with a 4th round stoppage of local favorite Andres "Greek Warrior" Panayi (20-4-4). He then stopped David Ojeda (16-2), and then stopped Daniel Hernandez on the Riddick Bowe/Larry Donald undercard at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sometimes all you need is a break, and Fuentes got one when Hector Lopez was injured in training for his WBO Jr. Welterweight world title challenge for the vacant title against Fidel "El Negro" Avendano. Sammy Fuentes was world ranked, highly regarded, and got the call to challenge for the vacant title, replacing the injured Lopez.
It was Feb. 20 1995 and Fuentes brought his 29-13-1 record into the ring against Avendano's record of 42-4, 25 KO. It was an interesting fight between two men that had been tested against good opponents and proven themselves worthy of this opportunity. Fidel Avendano came in as the favorite. He had the better record, and owned a win over Roger Mayweather. But on this night, it was Sammy Fuentes who shined as he out-blasted his Mexican opponent, stopping him in two rounds. It was an impressive and exciting win for Fuentes who had won the WBO world championship. What a night!
Sammy's good fortune and world title opportunity had come because of a bad break for world ranked Hector Lopez, so it only made sense that Fuentes would have to make his first title defense against the man that was originally scheduled to fight Avendano for the title. Lopez was present at ringside when Fuentes blasted out Avendano for the title, and the talk was building between the two. Both were respectful of each other, but they both also felt that they could win this showdown.
June 10 1995 was the date, and the venue was Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The match was broadcast by KCAL in Southern California, and it turned out to be an instant classic. It was a war, an absolute WAR as the two battled back and forth in a bloody battle which left referee Mitch Halpern's shirt covered in blood. Lopez was knocked down in the opening round, but got up off of the deck to go toe-to-toe with the champion Fuentes. Sammy Fuentes was deducted 1-point by the referee in round 4 for using his shoulder when they were clinched several times. He then lost a point in round 7 when he didn't stop punching as commanded several times by referee Halpern. The bout went 12 unbelievable rounds. At the sound of the final bell, the fans were on their feet screaming at the battle they had just witnessed. The scores were tight. It was a split decision. Judge Carol Castellano had the fight 114-112 for Fuentes. Raul Caiz Sr. saw it 113-112 for Lopez. Judge Dave Moretti had it 113-112 for the winner.... and STILL world champion... Sammy Fuentes. It was a great night for the new champion, and certainly the high point of his exciting career.
Fuentes took about 4 months off to recover from the brutal action of his first title defense. He then fought 2 non-title bouts where he scored knockout wins in both over tough opponents. He stopped Juan Soberanes (40-12-1), and then ko'd Marco Antonio Lizarraga (41-6-1) in their rematch.
It was time for another title defense, and this time Fuentes would travel to Italy and put his belt on the line against Italian favorite Giovanni "Flash" Parisi (31-2). Fuentes was ahead on all 3 scorecards when he was caught, hurt, and stopped in round 8 by the challenger. Fuentes had lost his world title belt. His short reign as WBO champion was over.
Fuentes returned to Puerto Rico to score his final victory. A 10-round win over unbeaten local prospect Rene Valdez (8-0).
Sammy "Mangani" Fuentes finished out his career with 5 fights against 5 world ranked contenders. His final fight came on May 9, 1998 where he was stopped in 2 rounds by Jose Luis "Maestrito" Lopez (41-3-2).
It was a campaign that lasted over a decade and a half. Filled with highs and lows, winning minor titles, and even winning and defending the WBO World title. Fuentes was an action packed, hard hitting warrior that will always be respected and remembered fondly by boxing fans around the world.
Check out his entire pro ledger on boxrec: SAMMY "Mangani" FUENTES
If you would like to see this hard punching warrior in action, I have these bouts available for trade on DVD:
1. FRANKIE RANDALL [tko-by-2]
2. ROGER MAYWEATHER [tko-by-9] {WBC Cont-Am Light Title}
3. FREDDIE PENDLETON [tko-by-1]
4. JOHN MONTES [ko-7]
5. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ [tko-by-10] {WBC Jr. Welter Title}
6. RODNEY MOORE [tko-by-2]
7. DAVID KAMAU [L-10]
8. MARCO ANTONIO LIZARRAGA #1 [ko-7]
9. CHARLES "The Natural" MURRAY [L-10]
10. KOSTYA TSZYU [tko-by-1]
11. ANGEL HERNANDEZ [L-10]
12. DAVID OJEDA [ko-5]
13. FIDEL AVENDANO [tko-2] {Vacant WBO Jr. Welter Title}
14. HECTOR LOPEZ [w-12] {WBO Jr. Welter Title}
15. JUAN SOBERANES [tko-5]
16. RENE VALDEZ [w-10]
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