Juan Evangelista Venegas
Encyclopedia
Juan Evangelista Venegas (June 2, 1929 - 1980s) was the first Puerto Rican
to win an Olympic
medal.
, Puerto Rico where fighting was a common way of life. Many of the youth at that time saw the sport of boxing
as a way to a better life. Among them was Venegas, who admired Puerto Rico's first international
boxing champion, Sixto Escobar
. Venegas took up boxing and his boxing abilities soon called the attention of the islands young Olympic Committee. In 1948 the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee included him in the delegation which would represent the island.
celebrated in London
, was a historical one for Puerto Rico because it was the first time that the island would participate as a nation in an international sporting event. The island's delegation consisted of twelve members. In their opening ceremonies, the Puerto Rican delegation carried the flag of the United States
into the Olympic stadium. The United States protested, claiming that two nations could not use the same flag at the same time. The decree of Commonwealth on July 25, 1952 would give the Puerto Rican delegation a flag of their own.
In the 1948 Summer Olympics, known as the XIV Olympics, Juan Evangelista Venegas made Puerto Rican sports history by winning Puerto Rico's first Olympic medal ever when he beat Belgium
's representative, Callenboat, on points for a unanimous decision. He won the bronze medal in boxing in the Bantamweight
division, falling short of the silver medal to Giovanni Zuddas
.
, fought in the flyweight
division for a total of 8 fights, 6 of which he won and 2 that he lost. None of his wins were by way of K.O.'s (Knockouts).
In honor of his memory, The Puerto Rican Boxing Commission sponsors the Juan Evangelista Venegas boxing tournament, which serves as a tune-up to future Olympic boxing propects.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to win an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medal.
Early years
Venegas was born in an underprivileged section of San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico where fighting was a common way of life. Many of the youth at that time saw the sport of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
as a way to a better life. Among them was Venegas, who admired Puerto Rico's first international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
boxing champion, Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Competing in the bantamweight division, he became Puerto Rico's first world champion....
. Venegas took up boxing and his boxing abilities soon called the attention of the islands young Olympic Committee. In 1948 the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee included him in the delegation which would represent the island.
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
celebrated in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, was a historical one for Puerto Rico because it was the first time that the island would participate as a nation in an international sporting event. The island's delegation consisted of twelve members. In their opening ceremonies, the Puerto Rican delegation carried the flag of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
into the Olympic stadium. The United States protested, claiming that two nations could not use the same flag at the same time. The decree of Commonwealth on July 25, 1952 would give the Puerto Rican delegation a flag of their own.
In the 1948 Summer Olympics, known as the XIV Olympics, Juan Evangelista Venegas made Puerto Rican sports history by winning Puerto Rico's first Olympic medal ever when he beat Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's representative, Callenboat, on points for a unanimous decision. He won the bronze medal in boxing in the Bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
division, falling short of the silver medal to Giovanni Zuddas
Giovanni Zuddas
Giovanni Battista Zuddas was a bantamweight professional boxer from Italy, who won the silver medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics, losing to Tibor Csik in the championship match.-Pro career:...
.
Later years
After returning to a hero's welcome to Puerto Rico, Venegas turned professional. In 1949, Venegas made his professional boxing debut, but his boxing career was a brief and short one. Venegas, a southpawLeft-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, fought in the flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
division for a total of 8 fights, 6 of which he won and 2 that he lost. None of his wins were by way of K.O.'s (Knockouts).
In honor of his memory, The Puerto Rican Boxing Commission sponsors the Juan Evangelista Venegas boxing tournament, which serves as a tune-up to future Olympic boxing propects.
See also
- Black history in Puerto Rico
- List of famous Puerto Ricans