[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E987]]
 IN RECOGNITION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND LIFE OF JOSE ``CHEGUI'' TORRES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2008

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
remarkable life achievements of a beloved Puerto Rican sports icon and 
long-time distinguished New Yorker. Jose ``Chegui'' Torres is an 
example to us all, both for his accomplishments as an athlete and his 
dedication to his community and Nation.
  Chegui was born on May 3, 1936 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. By his late 
teens, he had shown such prowess in the ring, that he was invited to 
join the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. As an Olympian, he won a silver 
medal in the junior middleweight division at the 1956 Melbourne Summer 
Games.
  Subsequently--still as an amateur boxer--he won the 1958 Inter-City 
Golden Gloves Championship. Later that year, Chegui chose to join the 
ranks of boxing professionals. He debuted with a first round knockout 
of George Hamilton in New York, and followed that impressive 
professional victory with 12 wins--10 of them by knockout. On March 30, 
1965, the Brooklyn resident became world light-heavyweight boxing 
champion before thousands of adoring fans at Madison Square Garden. He 
is one of the first three Puerto Ricans to earn a world title, and the 
first Hispanic ever to win the world's light heavyweight championship.
  The notoriety that came from his 1965 triumph brought him 
considerable national attention. It even led to such highlights as an 
appearance--and singing performance--on the Ed Sullivan Show. Not one 
to rest on his laurels, however, Chegui successfully defended his 
championship belt three times. In fact he did not retire from the sport 
until 1969, doing so with an impressive 41-3-1 record.
  In more recent years, Chegui has distinguished himself as a leader of 
New York's Puerto Rican community. He is a familiar face to city 
residents, and a tireless advocate of the less fortunate among us. From 
1984 to 1988, he also served as New York State Athletic Commissioner. 
And, from 1990 to 1995, he was named President of the World Boxing 
Organization.
  Having traded his boxing gloves for the might of the written word, 
Chegui is now also an accomplished author. He has written several 
books, among them: Sting Like a Bee, about Muhammad Ali and Fire and 
Fear, about Mike Tyson. He is also a highly regarded sports columnist 
for ESPNdeportes.com and a commentator for ESPN Deportes and ESPN 
International.
  Jose ``Chegui'' Torres has lived a remarkable life. He has 
accomplished tremendous victories inside the ring, and--on behalf of 
Puerto Ricans everywhere--outside of it. He has shown himself to be a 
leader, a fierce representative of his Nation, and a tireless supporter 
of his community. After four decades of living in New York, ``Chegui'' 
returned with his wife of more than 46 years, Ramona Ortiz Rodriguez, 
to his beloved Puerto Rico. He takes with him a lifetime of memories, 
our best wishes, and the respect of a people who will forever see him 
as their champion.

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