Alexis Arguello-Alferdo Escalera
Caguas, Puerto Rico- Bairos Gym or El Gimnasio Bairoa as it is known on the island, has over many years made champions and at the same time kept “high risk” kids off the street. It was not only a place where I met people that had a positive influence in my life, it is where I found both love and passion for the sport of boxing. At the time I was working under the tutelage of Cuban national Julian Delgado.
TRAINER MADE AN EXCEPTION FOR ME
Delgado worked with me, something I considered an honor seeing he only worked with professionals. And to have him acknowledge my amateur status was big to me. Another person that made a lasting impression was the legendary trainer of amateurs and pros alike, the late Jose ”Cheo” Aponte of Caguas. Being my first teacher, Aponte helped so many amateur fighters from our country that they named a boxing tournament and a gym after him. Current champion and boxing hotshot Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0, 27 KOs), “Juan Ma” as he is known currently trains there.
HISTORIC CHAMP WAS PART OF THE MIX
An ex champion that would come by Bairoa’s to workout was Alfredo ”Salsero” Escalera (53-14-3, 31KOs). Delgado had helped ready him get ready for his KO of Kuniaki Chibata in Japan for the WBC 126 lb. belt. At the time, I only knew of Escalera’s two epic battles with the late Alexis “The Explosive Thin Man“ Arguello (82-8, 65 KOs).
LOSING THE TITLE CAUSED NATIONAL GRIEF
When Escalera lost the featherweight title to Alexis, the country went into mourning. Another loss that hurt us at the gym was when Rafael Solis (30-13-2, 20 KOs) went after Hector “Macho” Camacho’s WBC 130 lb. title and got stopped inside of five rounds.
THIS WAS BACK WHEN HECTOR WAS “TRULY MACHO”
This was when “Macho” was on top of his game and his style was aggressive, this before Edwin Rosario stripped away Camacho’s perceived cloak of invincibility with a left hook in Madison Square Garden. Rafael’s brother Julian Solis (41-13-1, 22 KOs) would also utilize the facilities. The Solis brothers were really from Caimito Gym, but Bairoa’s was their second home. Julian became WBA bantamweight before dropping it to the great Jeff Chandler (33-2, 18 KOs) making “Joltin’ Jeff” the first American in a 30 years to win the 118 lb. title.
FELLOW GYM MEMBERS COUKD FIGHT!
There were many fighters that honed their craft at the gym, under the guidance of Delgado and Cheo. This next group of gym rats I personally met, and were considered locals heroes.
MERCADO WOULD WIN PAN AM GOLD
Alberto Mercado (31-14-1, 27 KOs) was a well-decorated amateur that represented us in the Moscow Olympics of 1980, this after striking gold at the 1979 Pan American Games. He would have 20 pro bouts under Delgado’s supervision, but due in part to boxing politics, Mercado would never got a shot at any title.
DANDY DOMINICAN WAS HONORARY RICAN
Dominican born, but considered a native, Julio Gervacio (32-7-1, 24 KOs) was the super bantamweight (122) champion from 1987 to 1988. As for Juan Carazo (25-9, 19 KOs) we had high hopes for him, but he would lose twice fighting for a 115 lb. belt. These three fighters I watched start off at amateurs, and make the transition to the professional ranks. The beatings that were learning experiences of sorts that I got from this trio, I’ll remember forever.
CAGUAS’ COTTO ON TOP AT 154 LBS.
Julian Delgado passed the training baton to Evangelista Cotto, the uncle of current WBA super welterweight (154) champion Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) and his brother Jose (31-3-1, 23 KOs) Cotto. For his part, Miguel became the first local in a long time to be considered a superstar.
GYM STILL SERVING THE COMMUNITY
The Bairoa gym is still making dreams come true and still continues to keep kids of the street. I’m one of the many aspiring pugilists that had learned to fight in this training facility. Not only did this help me develop into a man, it also gave me a chance to meet important people in boxing. At the end of the day, I’m one of the lucky guys that can say that I was taught by the team of Jose ’Cheo”Aponte and Julian Delgado at Bairoa’s gym.
Manny Caballero
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