Ossie Ocasio
Ossie Ocasio | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Osvaldo Ocasio August 12, 1955 |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Other names | Jaws |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 37 |
| Wins | 23 |
| Wins by KO | 12 |
| Losses | 13 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Osvaldo "Ossie" Ocasio (born August 12, 1955) is a Puerto Rican former boxer who held the world cruiserweight championship. Nicknamed "Jaws", his peculiar nickname was the result of him accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session.
Heavyweight contender
Ocasio campaigned in the Heavyweight division, turning pro in 1976 and putting together 10 wins before signing with Don King and making a name for himself outpointing King fighter Kevin Isaac.
In 1978 on the undercard of the Larry Holmes/Ken Norton title fight Ocasio scored a major upset when he outpointed the highly regarded Jimmy Young, who'd outpointed George Foreman only a while back. In a rematch, Ocasio underlined his superiority by again outpointing a this time in-shape Young, in Puerto Rico. It was Ocasio's career high in the Heavyweight division.
This earned him his only world heavyweight title shot, against Larry Holmes in 1979. Attempting to become the first Hispanic to win the world Heavyweight championship, Ocasio was badly outclassed and lost to Holmes by a knockout in seven rounds.[2][3]
In 1980 he fought red hot undefeated prospect Michael Dokes, and was unlucky to only get a draw. However a rematch saw Ocasio surprisingly knocked out in 1 round. The following year he travelled to the UK and made little effort against local prospect John L. Gardner, before collapsing without getting hit in the 6th round.
Cruiserweight World Champion
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 You may watch Ossie Ocasio vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi here |
He later went down in weight, to fight in the then newly created division of the Cruiserweights. In 1982 he was matched with Robbie Williams in South Africa for the vacant WBA title. Ocasio became a world champion by beating Williams by a 15-round unanimous decision. He shared honors as world champion of that division with countryman Carlos De León, the WBC world champion.
Ocasio made three successful defenses, winning 15-round decisions over Young Joe Louis and Randy Stephens, and knocking out John Odhiambo in the 15th round in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He then returned to South Africa, where he lost his title to Piet Crous by a 15-round decision. One month before losing the title, his brother had been murdered.
Ocasio, during his championship run, was able to buy a house in Trujillo Alto, where he maintained a large farm. He also participated in a Puerto Rican movie, playing a slave in the production.
In 1986, he made a comeback, winning two fights including a 10-round decision over former world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi in Atlantic City. Most fans had Qawi winning all 10 rounds, and this is considered one of the worst decisions in boxing history. He attempted to regain his world championship against Evander Holyfield in Marseille, France, but lost by a knockout in 11 rounds.
Return to Heavyweight
He returned to the heavyweight division in 1988, defeating Pierre Coetzer in South Africa, but losing the decision in a rematch. After this fight he was relegated to trialhorse status.
In 1989 he made Ray Mercer look bad, losing an 8-round decision. In 1990 he dropped decisions to Tyrell Biggs and Bruce Seldon, then travelled to the UK for two fights losing an 8-round decision to Lennox Lewis and scoring an upset when stopping Jess Harding in 8 rounds. Ocasio then travelled to Australia, where he was outpointed by the erratic Mike Hunter.[4]
One last comeback in 1992 resulted in a dreary points loss to ex-contender Carl Williams, but it was hard hitting Hispanic prospect Alex Garcia who convinced the usually durable Ocasio to retire- he decked Ocasio several times before knocking him out in the 8th.
He retired from boxing with a record of 23 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 12 knockout wins. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida.
Professional boxing record
| 37 fights | 23 wins | 13 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 12 | 5 |
| By decision | 11 | 8 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Loss | 23–13–1 |  Alex Garcia
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TKO | 8 (10) | 23/11/1992 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
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| 36 | Loss | 23–12–1 | Carl Williams
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UD | 10 | 20/08/1992 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
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| 35 | Loss | 23–11–1 | Mike Hunter
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UD | 10 | 14/12/1990 |  Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| 34 | Win | 23–10–1 |  Jess Harding
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RTD | 8 (10) | 03/10/1990 | Festival Hall, Basildon, Essex, England, United Kingdom
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| 33 | Loss | 22–10–1 | Lennox Lewis
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PTS | 8 | 27/06/1990 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
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| 32 | Loss | 22–9–1 | Bruce Seldon
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UD | 8 | 18/05/1990 | San Jose, California, United States
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| 31 | Loss | 22–8–1 | Tyrell Biggs
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UD | 10 | 11/01/1990 | Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
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| 30 | Loss | 22–7–1 | Ray Mercer
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SD | 8 | 07/12/1989 | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
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| 29 | Loss | 22–6–1 |  Pierre Coetzer
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UD | 10 | 26/11/1988 | Standard Bank Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
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| 28 | Win | 22–5–1 | Pierre Coetzer
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UD | 10 | 06/03/1988 | Good Hope Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
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| 27 | Loss | 21–5–1 | Evander Holyfield
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TKO | 11 (15) | 15/08/1987 |  Saint-Tropez, Var, France
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For WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles |
| 26 | Win | 21–4–1 | Dwight Muhammad Qawi
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MD | 10 | 15/05/1987 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
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| 25 | Win | 20–4–1 |  Narcisco Maldonado
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PTS | 10 | 23/03/1986 | Lawlor Events Center, Nevada, United States
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| 24 | Loss | 19–4–1 |  Piet Crous
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UD | 15 | 01/12/1984 | Superbowl, Sun City, South Adrica
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Lost WBA cruiserweight title |
| 23 | Win | 19–3–1 |  John Odhiambho
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TKO | 15 | 05/05/1984 | Mets Pavillion, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
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Retained WBA cruiserweight title |
| 22 | Win | 18–3–1 | Randy Stephens
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UD | 15 | 20/05/1983 | Dunes Outdoor Arena, Nevada, United States
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Retained WBA cruiserweight title |
| 21 | Win | 17–3–1 | Eddie Taylor
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UD | 15 | 15/12/1982 | Aragon Ballroom, Illinois, United States
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Retained WBA cruiserweight title |
| 20 | Win | 16–3–1 | Robbie Williams
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SD | 15 | 13/02/1982 | Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Won inaugural WBA cruiserweight title |
| 19 | Loss | 15–3–1 | John L Gardner
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KO | 10 | 17/03/1981 | Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom
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| 18 | Win | 15–2–1 | Barry Funches
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UD | 10 | 23/10/1980 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, United States
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| 17 | Loss | 14–2–1 | Michael Dokes
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TKO | 1 | 28/06/1980 | San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 16 | Draw | 14–1–1 | Michael Dokes
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SD | 10 | 19/04/1980 | San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Jack Sterling
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TKO | 1 | 20/11/1979 | Convention Hall, Florida, United States
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| 14 | Loss | 13–1 | Larry Holmes
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TKO | 7 | 23/03/1979 | Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Nevada, United States
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For WBC heavyweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Jimmy Young
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UD | 10 | 27/01/1979 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Jimmy Young
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SD | 10 | 09/06/1978 | Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Nevada, United States
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| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Kevin Isaac
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UD | 10 | 08/04/1978 | Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
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| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Tom Nickson
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KO | 4 | 12/07/1977 | Orlando Sports Stadium, Florida, United States
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| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Frank Schram
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TKO | 4 | 25/06/1977 | Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
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| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Clarence Morris
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KO | 2 | 14/06/1977 | Orlando Sports Stadium, Florida, United States
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| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Gene Idelette
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KO | 1 | 17/03/1977 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ed Turner
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KO | 2 | 12/02/1977 | Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
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| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Aaron Solomon
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KO | 1 | 16/08/1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ed Turner
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PTS | 8 | 17-07-1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Luis Reins
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KO | 1 | 27-04-1976 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 2 | Win | 2–0 |  Rafael Guerrero
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KO | 2 | 05-04-1976 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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| 1 | Win | 1–0 |  Lorenzo Simons
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KO | 3 | 20-02-1976 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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See also
References
- ^ "This Week in Boxing History: August 10th – August 16th". August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Larry Holmes KOs Ossie Ocasio This Day March 23, 1979 and Keeps Crown" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "The History of the Heavyweight Championship - 1979". sports.yahoo.com.
- ^ "Almost Getting to the Sunshine - Boxing.com". www.boxing.com.
External links
- Boxing record for Ossie Ocasio from BoxRec (registration required)