Ossie Ocasio
Encyclopedia
Osvaldo Ocasio, better known as Ossie Ocasio and nicknamed Jaws, is a Puerto Rican
who was a boxer
and world Cruiserweight champion. He got his peculiar nickname after accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session. Style wise, he was a good boxer with fast reflexes.
In 1978 on the undercard of the Larry Holmes/Ken Norton title fight Ocasio scored a major upset when he outpointed the highly regarded Jimmy Young
, who'd outpointed George Foreman only a while back. In a rematch, Ocasio underlined his superiority by again outpointing a this time in-shape Young, in Puerto Rico. It was Ocasio's career high.
This earned him his only world heavyweight title shot, against Larry Holmes
in 1979. Attempting to become the first Hispanic to win the world Heavyweight championship, Ocasio was badly outclassed and lost to Holmes by a knockout in seven rounds.
In 1980 he fought red hot undefeated prospect Michael Dokes
, and was unlucky to only get a draw. However a rematch saw Ocasio surprisingly knocked out in 1 round. The following year he travelled to the UK and made little effort against local prospect John L. Gardner
, before collapsing without getting hit in the 6th round.
, the WBC world champion.
Ocasio made three successful defenses, winning 15 round decisions over Young Joe Louis and Randy Stephens, and knocking out John Odhiambo in the 15th round in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He then returned to South Africa, where he lost his title to Piet Crous by a 15 round decision. One month before losing the title, his brother had been murdered.
Ocasio, during his championship run, was able to buy a house in Trujillo Alto, where he maintained a large farm. He also participated in a Puerto Rican movie, playing a slave in the production.
In 1986, he made a comeback, winning two fights including a 10 round decision over former world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi
in Atlantic City. The crowd jeered Ocasio for his negative style, but it was the intelligent strategy to use on a short bomber like Qawi. He attempted to regain his world championship against Evander Holyfield
in Marseille, France, but lost by a knockout in 11 rounds.
in South Africa, but losing the decision in a rematch. After this fight he was relegated to trialhorse status.
In 1989 he made Ray Mercer
look bad, losing an 8 round decision. In 1990 he dropped decisions to Tyrell Biggs
and Bruce Seldon
, then travelled to the UK for two fights losing an 8 round decision to Lennox Lewis
and scoring an upset when stopping Jess Harding in 8 rounds. Ocasio then travelled to Australia, where he was outpointed by the erratic Mike (The Bounty) Hunter.
One last comeback in 1992 resulted in a dreary points loss to ex-contender Carl (The Truth) Williams, but it was hard hitting Hispanic prospect Alex Garcia who convinced the usually durable Ocasio to retire- he decked Ocasio several times before knocking him out in the 8th.
He retired from boxing with a record of 23 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 12 knockout wins. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida.
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...
who was a boxer
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...
and world Cruiserweight champion. He got his peculiar nickname after accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session. Style wise, he was a good boxer with fast reflexes.
Heavyweight contender
Ocasio campaigned in the Heavyweight division, turning pro in 1976 and putting together 10 wins before signing with Don King and making a name for himself outpointing King fighter Kevin Isaac.In 1978 on the undercard of the Larry Holmes/Ken Norton title fight Ocasio scored a major upset when he outpointed the highly regarded Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young may refer to:*Jimmy Young *Jimmy Young , singer -See also:*Jim Young *James Young...
, who'd outpointed George Foreman only a while back. In a rematch, Ocasio underlined his superiority by again outpointing a this time in-shape Young, in Puerto Rico. It was Ocasio's career high.
This earned him his only world heavyweight title shot, against Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
in 1979. Attempting to become the first Hispanic to win the world Heavyweight championship, Ocasio was badly outclassed and lost to Holmes by a knockout in seven rounds.
In 1980 he fought red hot undefeated prospect Michael Dokes
Michael Dokes
Michael Marshall Dokes is a former American boxer in the heavyweight division, nicknamed "Dynamite."-Amateur career:...
, and was unlucky to only get a draw. However a rematch saw Ocasio surprisingly knocked out in 1 round. The following year he travelled to the UK and made little effort against local prospect John L. Gardner
John L. Gardner
John L. Gardner is a former British, Commonwealth, and European Heavyweight Champion. A stocky, game, pressure fighter, his speed and aggression made him a marginal top ten contender for the World Heavyweight Title. Gardner was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His best arena was really...
, before collapsing without getting hit in the 6th round.
Cruiserweight World Champion
He later went down in weight, to fight in the then newly created division of the Cruiserweights. In 1982 he was matched with Robbie Williams in South Africa for the vacant WBA title. Ocasio became a world champion by beating Williams by a 15 round unanimous decision. He shared honors as world champion of that division with countryman Carlos De LeónCarlos De Leon
Carlos De León, also known as "Sugar" De Leon, is a Puerto Rican former boxer who made history by becoming the first Cruiserweight to win the world title twice. Subsequently, he kept breaking his own record for the most times as Cruiserweight champion by regaining it twice more.- Career :De León,...
, the WBC world champion.
Ocasio made three successful defenses, winning 15 round decisions over Young Joe Louis and Randy Stephens, and knocking out John Odhiambo in the 15th round in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He then returned to South Africa, where he lost his title to Piet Crous by a 15 round decision. One month before losing the title, his brother had been murdered.
Ocasio, during his championship run, was able to buy a house in Trujillo Alto, where he maintained a large farm. He also participated in a Puerto Rican movie, playing a slave in the production.
In 1986, he made a comeback, winning two fights including a 10 round decision over former world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi is a former world boxing champion in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions...
in Atlantic City. The crowd jeered Ocasio for his negative style, but it was the intelligent strategy to use on a short bomber like Qawi. He attempted to regain his world championship against Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
in Marseille, France, but lost by a knockout in 11 rounds.
Return to Heavyweight
He returned to the heavyweight division in 1988, defeating Pierre CoetzerPierre Coetzer
Pierre Coetzer is a former Heavyweight boxer from Pretoria, South Africa. Coetzer’s most notable fights were probably those against Johnny DuPlooy, Riddick Bowe, Frank Bruno and George Foreman....
in South Africa, but losing the decision in a rematch. After this fight he was relegated to trialhorse status.
In 1989 he made Ray Mercer
Ray Mercer
"Merciless" Ray Mercer is an American professional boxer, former Olympic Gold Medalist and WBO heavyweight title holder who resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina...
look bad, losing an 8 round decision. In 1990 he dropped decisions to Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs , is an American heavyweight boxer. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA in boxing at the Superheavyweight division, after gaining bronze the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games....
and Bruce Seldon
Bruce Seldon
Bruce Samuel Seldon is a retired American boxer and former world champion, having won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title in 1995.-Amateur career:...
, then travelled to the UK for two fights losing an 8 round decision to Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
and scoring an upset when stopping Jess Harding in 8 rounds. Ocasio then travelled to Australia, where he was outpointed by the erratic Mike (The Bounty) Hunter.
One last comeback in 1992 resulted in a dreary points loss to ex-contender Carl (The Truth) Williams, but it was hard hitting Hispanic prospect Alex Garcia who convinced the usually durable Ocasio to retire- he decked Ocasio several times before knocking him out in the 8th.
He retired from boxing with a record of 23 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw, with 12 knockout wins. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida.