By Jose Corpas: When Puerto Rico’s Pedro Montanez first arrived in Spain back in 1934 the local press named him the “devil” or, in Spanish, the “Diablo;” and a menace to all the local lightweights. Six months, several knockouts and a bunch of battered sparring partners later, they no longer called him “Diablo.” They were forced, not out of affection but out of respect, to call him “Don Diablo” or “Mr. Diablo.”
This June, Pedro Montanez will be enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY. It is sure to be a memorable weekend as the class of 2007 is one of the best yet. Roberto Duran is the big name this year but Pernell Whitaker and Ricardo Lopez, who retired unbeaten, can stand equally tall on the podium. And Montanez is a worthy member as well.
He was born in 1914 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. After a few amateur bouts, including one against Sixto Escobar, Montanez turned pro in 1931. Boxing was a big attraction in Puerto Rico in those days attracting many boxers from South America and Cuba. The local attractions included Pete Martin, Angel Cliville, Attilio Sabattino, and Escobar.
Montanez quickly joined them as a major attraction. Like all things sporting from his hometown, his chosen moniker was “El Toro de Cayey,” or the, baby bull of Cayey, after the famous mountain peak. It was an appropriate nickname for several reasons. He did indeed fight like a bull, aggressive and powerful, always on the attack and with a punch so potent he scored more knockouts than any other boxer from Puerto Rico. A punch so debilitating the Italian Boxing Federation asked one of his victims, Carlo Orlandi, to retire, even offering him 40,000 lire to do so. But the name “El Toro de Cayey” was appropriate because above all else, Pedro wanted to be a bull fighter.
Early in his career he sailed for Venezuela with the intention of becoming a matador. He still fought, mind you, even picking up the lightweight championship of Venezuela. But, his passion was bull fighting. In 1933 he won the annual race with the bulls run in Caracas. The way you win the “race” is to finish the race closest to the bulls. If you’ve ever seen a raging, snarling, half-ton bull, with horns in tact, you no doubt know that being close to the bull is the last place you should be. But Pedro couldn’t get enough of it and soon sailed off to the bull fighting capital of the world- Spain.
But somewhere along the way, perhaps while crossing the Tropic of Cancer, he developed world class boxing skills. So impressive was he in Spain that soon after his arrival there, word spread throughout Europe about this dynamic boxer they called El Diablo. American manager Lew Burston, who kept quarters in Paris and was Madison Square Garden’s European connection, rushed out to Barcelona, contract in hand, and made Montanez an offer he couldn’t refuse. Bull fighting could wait.
Burston was a manager extraordinaire. Working out of the Forrest Hotel on West 49th Street in New York, along with partner Jimmy Bronson, he moved his fighters well. Featherweight champion Maurice Holtzer was in his stable. So too was the outstanding bantam, Pete Sanstol, a former title claimant. Pedro was in good hands and he kept busy, fighting as much as four times a month. After beating the best that England, Italy, France, and Spain had to offer, “Don Diablo” headed to New York.
He was in the midst of a tear that would see him go a total of 61 bouts without a defeat. The only blemish being a 10 round draw against welterweight Saverio Turiello in Italy. Montanez scored a knockdown that night and appeared to have done enough to deserve the verdict. He made sure not to rely on the judges the next time he fought in Milan. He floored Carlo Orlandi nine times en route to sending him to the hospital for a total of four months. Orlandi would not step inside of a ring again for 21 months.
Pedro kept up his brutal ways in New York. Billed as a “Puerto Rican Jew” for publicity purposes, he floored Johnny Morro seven times in four rounds. By 1936 he was the top lightweight, selling out all of the local clubs. Always cocky, he now had real confidence- the kind you can only get from actual experience- to go along with that chip on the shoulder that all up and comers have. He would rent out dance halls throughout Spanish Harlem and would charge admission to his victory parties before the bout even took place. He was beating good boxers, names now forgotten, but legitimate tests back then. Frankie Klick, Paris Apice, Al Roth, Rafael Hurtado, and Leonard Del Genio were all ranked in the Ring’s top ten.
In 1937, he and Enrico Venturi fought a thrilling 15 rounder that many felt was the fight of the year. Venturi had fought to a draw with reigning champion Lou Ambers one month earlier. Many felt Venturi and Montanez were the top boxers in the lightweight division at the time. Tony Canzoneri was on his last legs and champion Ambers was in the midst of a 4-2-1 streak. Montanez floored Venturi twice en route to winning a clear decision.
On April 5, 1937, just a few days shy of his 23rd birthday, Ambers and Montanez finally met in a 10 round non-title bout. Montanez came in at 138.5 pounds and many speculated that his lightweight days were over. Pedro came out fast and hurt Lou with the first punch. He dropped Ambers in round one and won the first six rounds. But them Ambers, “looking greater than ever before…” according to Nat Fleischer, summoned the courage and strength to take the last four rounds, including a furious, toe to toe tenth. His strong closing left many with the impression he had won, but the referee and one judge scored it 6 rounds to 4 while the other judge scored it 6-3-1, all for Montanez.
People had a new name for Pedro now- el campeon sin corona; the “uncrowned champion.” His popularity was sky high now. Long time fight man Eddie Mafuz said that only two boxers ever brought traffic to a grinding halt on Broadway; Muhammad Ali and Pedro Montanez. Endorsement deals and celebrity appearances were a part of life now. Through it all he continued his winning ways. He returned to Puerto Rico and despite a torrential downpour, he drew a sell out crowd to an uncovered arena. He blasted out the normally durable Wesley Ramey in one. He crushed future welterweight champion Freddie Cochrane in two. A much anticipated rematch with Ambers, title at stake, was scheduled for the Polo Grounds.
It was the main event of Mike Jacobs’ “Carnival of Champions” card on September 23, 1937. Barney Ross, Ceferino Garcia, Sixto Escobar, Marcel Thil, and Freddie Steele all appeared on the card in separate title matches. But the Ambers-Montanez bout was the featured attraction. Ambers fought one of his best fights that night and brilliantly out pointed Montanez. The referee scored it all even but he was over ruled by the two judges, who scored it for the defending champ.
The fans turned on Pedro. They smashed the windows of his eatery, Montanez Bar and Grill for weeks after the bout. They felt betrayed, many thinking that he took a dive. Burston maintained that Pedro was weakened from having to make the lightweight limit. He had struggled for months to get down to the limit but wasn’t about to turn down a title shot. Pedro said he took Ambers lightly, having beaten him fairly easy the first time. But the public didn’t buy any of it. If he didn’t take a dive, then he choked, they reasoned. But Pedro didn’t sit around and mope. It was back to the drawing board at welterweight. He returned to the ring on October 23 and then fought again on October 30; and again on November 8th and once more on November 23rd.
By the end of 1939 he was one of the leading contenders for Henry Armstrong’s welterweight title. Pedro challenged for that title on January 24, 1940 at Madison Square Garden. Those who do not consider Sugar Ray Robinson to be the greatest boxer who ever lived bestow that honor on Henry. He was at his best the night Pedro challenged him and for three rounds they fought on even terms. Neither fighter took a backwards step. They were still fighting toe to toe with little separating them in the fourth when Henry got through with a right. The punch backed Pedro up and trapped him in the corner. He punched back but one of his rights, like Larry Holmes against Mike Tyson, got tangled in the ropes. Henry, who was always on the attack, took full advantage and floored Montanez for the first time in his career. Pedro rose quickly but seconds later, Henry caught him again and this time he went down hard, falling through the ropes onto the ring apron.
It was all Armstrong after that, Pedro being out landed by three or four punches to one. Montanez took a battering but never quit. Armstrong finally won in the ninth round. Ring Magazine wrote that those who accused Montanez of being yellow should be put to shame. Now he’s in the Hall of Fame.
If you can make it out to the induction weekend this June, you’re in for a treat. For a boxing fan, it is always a weekend well spent. But this year, with Duran, Whitaker, Lopez, artist Leroy Neiman, George Godfrey, and Kid Norfolk, should be especially memorable. And don’t forget to stop by the plaque of the outstanding Puerto Rican lightweight of the 1930’s, he of the 92-7-4 record, compiled in just nine years. And remember that which ever nickname you call him by; just affix Mr. to the beginning of it for surely he earned it.
May 30, 2007
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