[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E624-E625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PAYING TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY MANZANET

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 16, 2008

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to take this 
time to remember

[[Page E625]]

the life of Puerto Rican boxing champ and a long-time community 
activist Johnny Manzanet.
  Manzanet was a man whose life embodied the reverie of the American 
Dream, a man of distinction whose accomplishments were a testament to 
his great Puerto Rican heritage.
  Born in the small fishing town of Salinas, Puerto Rico, Manzanet rose 
up to become a world class middleweight boxing champion and dedicated 
public servant. In 1968, he was called upon to lead the Olympic Team of 
the United States in Mexico's Summer Games of the XIX Olympiad. He was 
then called to serve once more, when Governor Nelson Rockefeller 
appointed him as the New York State Boxing Commissioner in 1970.
  In the ensuing decades, Johnny continued to remain involved with the 
boxing world, training and developing young talent in every era. All-
in-all, the list of those who learned from him include some of the 
sport's best, from Mike Tyson to the first Hispanic cruiserweight 
champion, Jose ``Chegui'' Torres, to even Cassius Clay, the young 
upstart who would go on to become the great Muhammad Ali.
  Yet no matter where he was or what he was doing, Johnny always 
managed to devote his time to the betterment of the Puerto Rican 
community. He contributed his time and talents to countless civic and 
charitable endeavors and has always given of himself unstintingly. 
Places like the Community Corporation of Loisaida and the Puerto Rican 
Community Development Project were the recipients of Manzanet's fierce 
advocacy and protection. He continued to serve in his final years, as a 
community representative under Bronx Borough Presidents Fernando Ferrer 
and Adolfo Carrion, Jr.
  Sadly, Manzanet passed away on January 22, 2008, a benevolent 
amalgamation of intellect, steadfastness, and vigor. Though he will be 
greatly missed, his family, his friends, and his community will never 
forget his lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others. They and we 
should never forget that in and out of the ring, Johnny Manzanet had 
the heart of a champion.

                          ____________________