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In 1966, two heavyweights of Puerto Rican heritage turned professional. Each would have an impact on the talent rich heavyweight division of the late sixties and early seventies. Their careers would mirror each other’s and they even took the time to cross gloves on a couple of occasions. Pedro Agosto and Jose “King’ Roman met some of the best heavyweights of the era with a varying degree of success. Agosto’s career started with a bang as he reeled off twelve straight kayos. He won his first sixteen overall including a twelfth round stoppage of Roman. Jose started with much less fanfare. In 1967, he dropped a decision to rugged Hal Carroll. He also suffered kayo losses to Herman Harris and Al Singletary. In 1968, Jose beat Charlie Polite and Singletary in a rematch. He was halted by Charlie “Emperor’ Harris and Agosto.
Pedro had a difficult year in 1969 being shocked in one round by former amateur star Forest Ward. He also lost to Chuck Wepner. Roman used 1969 to start his march toward the big time. He beat Singletary one more time as well as Jack O’Halloran and Wepner. He lost a ten rounder to England’s Jack Bodell. In 1970, Jose again defeated O’Halloran and former title challenger Manuel Ramos. In 1971, Jose lost to Big Roby Harris and Agosto was outscored by White Hope Jim Elder.
The year 1972 would see Roman advance to the forefront of the division while Agosto would fail in the chance of a lifetime. On April third, Roman took on Spanish contender Jose Urtain. The Spaniard was being seriously considered for new heavyweight champion George Foreman’s first title defense In front of a wild crowd in San Juan; Jose easily out boxed the lumbering Urtain and put himself in the thick of the title picture. Agosto would meet the come-backing former champion Floyd Patterson. Pedro was game but outclassed losing in the sixth round. It would be Floyd’s last career victory. Roman closed the year with a win over Terry Daniels.
As Roman awaited a possible title shot, Pedro took on the clever Randy Neumann and was halted in the ninth round. Finally, on September first, Jose entered a boxing ring in Tokyo, Japan to face the hulking George Foreman for the heavyweight championship of the world. George had dismantled the feared Joe Frazier in two rounds in January. Very few if any gave Roman a serious chance of winning. George did not disappoint as he gave Jose an unmerciful pounding with the fight ending in the first. Pedro and Jose would regroup and meet each other before the year’s end with Agosto again coming out on top.
Jose would travel to Madrid to be held to a draw by Urtain. He would then move on to Tampa and kayoed former light heavyweight title claimant Vincente Rondon in two rounds. He tested the 175-pound division in 1975 losing to Mike Quarry and beating Walter White. He returned to fighting the big boys losing to Dino Dennis and South African Mike Schuttle. Pedro would drop decisions to Bunny Johnson and Rod Bobick. On January 2.1977, four years after relieving Frazier of the crown, the now ex-champion Foreman took Agosto. Again, Pedro was game to the core but he was overwhelmed by the powerful Foreman in four rounds. Then on May 17th, Pedro was stopped by future champion Leon Spinks in one round.
Although Pedro got the best of Jose in their meetings, Roman always seemed to get more press and recognition. It is too bad that Pedro and Jose were not around for the inception of the bastard cruiserweight division. It is very possible that each could have won that crown before fellow Puerto Rican’s Carlos DeLeon and Ocasio made their mark.
Jim Amato can be reached at jimsboxing@zoominternet.net
