Editing Ossie Ocasio

{{Short description|Puerto Rican boxer (born 1955)}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name=Ossie Ocasio
|image=Ossie Ocasio.jpg
|caption=
|realname=Osvaldo Ocasio
|nickname=Jaws 
|weight={{plainlist|
*[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
*[[Heavyweight]]}}
|height=5 ft 11+1/2 in
|reach=74 in
|nationality=Puerto Rican
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1955|8|12|mf=y}}
|birth_place= [[Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico]]<ref name="Boxing Tribune">{{Cite web|url=http://theboxingtribune.com/2015/08/10/this-week-in-boxing-history-august-10th-august-16th/|title=This Week in Boxing History: August 10th – August 16th|work=The Boxing Tribune |date=August 10, 2015}}</ref>
|style=[[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total=37
|wins=23
|KO=12
|losses=13
|draws=1
|no contests=0
}}

'''Osvaldo "Ossie" Ocasio''' (born August 12, 1955) is a [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]] former [[boxing|boxer]] who held the World [[cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]] Championship from 1982 to 1984. He was also a Top Contender and Heavyweight Challenger in 1979. He scored notable wins against Former Cruiserweight Champion  [[Dwight Muhammad Qawi]] as well as beating Top Heavyweight Contender [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]  and Heavyweight Contender  [[Pierre Coetzer]], as well as drawing with Future Heavyweight Champion  [[Michael Dokes]]. Nicknamed "Jaws", his peculiar nickname was the result of him accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session.

==Heavyweight contender==
Ocasio campaigned in the heavyweight division, turning pro in 1976 and putting together 10 wins before signing with [[Don King (boxing promoter)|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 (boxer)|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 in the Heavyweight division.

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 was knock out in the seventh round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4-9_0AB41A|url-status=dead|title=Larry Holmes KOs Ossie Ocasio This Day March 23, 1979 and Keeps Crown|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=April 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408091047/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4-9_0AB41A&gl=US&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/history-heavyweight-championship-1979-152938298.html|title=The History of the Heavyweight Championship - 1979|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=7 March 2019 }}</ref>

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 (boxer)|John L. Gardner]], before collapsing without getting hit in the 6th round.

==Cruiserweight World Champion==
{{main|Evander Holyfield vs. Ossie Ocasio}}
{{ external media
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| audio1 = You may watch '''Ossie Ocasio''' vs '''Dwight Muhammad Qawi''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egu8jHg-tH0&p=92A50E3A48D1B4A5&playnext=1&index=14  '''here''']
| audio2 =
}}
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 split decision. He shared honors as world champion of that division with countryman [[Carlos De León]], the WBC world champion.

Ocasio made three successful defenses, winning 15-round decisions over Young Joe Louis and Randy Stephens, appearing on [[Jet Magazine]] the week before the Stephens bout,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7EEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=the+crown+affair+may+20&pg=PA50|title=Jet|date=1983-05-09|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref> and knocking out John Odhiambo in the 15th round in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. After the bout Ocasio turned down a fight with [[Great Britain]] fighter [[David Pearce (boxer)|David Pearce]], after Morgans Palle had provided contracts to make the fight in the USA, due to the BBBoC not sanctioning the cruiserweight division in the UK. Ossie eventually decided to return 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. Most fans had Qawi winning all 10 rounds, and this is considered one of the worst decisions in boxing history.  He attempted to regain his world championship against [[Evander Holyfield]] in Marseille, France, but lost by a knockout in 11 rounds.

==Return to Heavyweight==
He returned to the heavyweight division in 1988, defeating [[Pierre Coetzer]] 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 and being the first opponent to take [[Lennox Lewis]] to the distance and scoring an upset when stopping Jess Harding in 8 rounds. Ocasio then travelled to Australia, where he was outpointed by the erratic [[Mike Hunter (boxer)|Mike Hunter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxing.com/almost_getting_to_the_sunshine.html|title=Almost Getting to the Sunshine - Boxing.com|website=www.boxing.com}}</ref>

One last comeback in 1992 resulted in a dreary points loss to ex-contender [[Carl Williams (boxer)|Carl 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.

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|nc=
|ko-wins=12
|ko-losses=5
|dec-wins=11
|dec-losses=8
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|37
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|23–13–1}}
|align=left|[[Alex García (boxer)|Alex Garcia]]
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|1:59}}
|Nov 23, 1992
|align=left|{{small|[[The Forum (Inglewood)|Great Western Forum]], [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], [[California]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|36
|{{no2}}Loss
|23–12–1
|align=left|[[Carl Williams (boxer)|Carl Williams]]
|UD
|10
|Aug 20, 1992
|align=left|{{small|[[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|35
|{{no2}}Loss
|23–11–1
|align=left|[[Mike Hunter (boxer)|Mike Hunter]]
|UD
|10
|Dec 14, 1990
|align=left|{{small|[[Hordern Pavilion]], [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]}}
|align=left|
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–10–1
|align=left|Jess Harding
|RTD
|8 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|Oct 3, 1990
|align=left|{{small|Festival Hall, [[Basildon]], [[Essex]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]}}
|
|-
|33
|{{no2}}Loss
|22–10–1
|align=left|[[Lennox Lewis]]
|PTS
|8
|Jun 27, 1990
|align=left|{{small|[[Royal Albert Hall]], [[Kensington]], [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]}}
|align=left|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|22–9–1
|align=left|[[Bruce Seldon]]
|UD
|8
|May 18, 1990
|align=left|{{small|[[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[California]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|31
|{{no2}}Loss
|22–8–1
|align=left|[[Tyrell Biggs]]
|UD
|10
|Jan 11, 1990
|align=left|{{small|[[Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino|Trump Plaza Hotel]], [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|30
|{{no2}}Loss
|22–7–1
|align=left|[[Ray Mercer]]
|SD
|8
|Dec 7, 1989
|align=left|{{small|[[The Mirage|Mirage Hotel & Casino]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|29
|{{no2}}Loss
|22–6–1
|align=left|[[Pierre Coetzer]]
|UD
|10
|Nov 26, 1988
|align=left|{{small|[[Standard Bank Arena|Standard Bank Indoor Arena]], [[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]]}}
|align=left|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–5–1
|align=left|[[Pierre Coetzer]]
|UD
|10
|Mar 6, 1988
|align=left|{{small|[[Good Hope Centre]], [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]}}
|align=left|
|-
|27
|{{no2}}Loss
|21–5–1
|align=left|[[Evander Holyfield]]
|TKO
|11 (15), {{small|1:24}}
|[[Evander Holyfield vs. Ossie Ocasio|Aug 15, 1987]]
|align=left|{{small|[[Saint-Tropez]], [[Var (department)|Var]], [[France]]}}
|align=left|{{small|For WBA and [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] cruiserweight titles}}
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–4–1
|align=left|[[Dwight Muhammad Qawi]]
|MD
|10
|[[Evander Holyfield vs. Rickey Parkey|May 15, 1987]]
|align=left|{{small|[[Caesars Palace]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–4–1
|align=left|Narcisco Maldonado
|UD
|10
|Mar 23, 1986
|align=left|{{small|[[Lawlor Events Center]], [[Nevada]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|24
|{{no2}}Loss
|19–4–1
|align=left|[[Piet Crous]]
|UD
|15
|Dec 1, 1984
|align=left|{{small|Superbowl, [[Sun City, North West|Sun City]], South Africa}}
|align=left|{{small|Lost WBA cruiserweight title}}
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–3–1
|align=left|John Odhiambho
|TKO
|15 (15), {{small|2:24}}
|May 5, 1984
|align=left|{{small|[[Mets Pavilion]], [[Guaynabo, Puerto Rico]]}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA cruiserweight title}}
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–3–1
|align=left|Randy Stephens
|UD
|15
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Tim Witherspoon|May 20, 1983]]
|align=left|{{small|[[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes Outdoor Arena]], [[Nevada]], US}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA cruiserweight title}}
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–3–1
|align=left|Eddie Taylor
|UD
|15
|Dec 15, 1982
|align=left|{{small|[[Aragon Ballroom (Chicago)|Aragon Ballroom]], [[Illinois]], US}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA cruiserweight title}}
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–3–1
|align=left|Robbie Williams
|SD
|15
|Feb 13, 1982
|align=left|{{small|[[Rand Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]], South Africa}}
|align=left|{{small|Won inaugural [[List of WBA world champions#Cruiserweight|WBA cruiserweight title]]}}
|-
|19
|{{no2}}Loss
|15–3–1
|align=left|[[John L. Gardner (boxer)|John L. Gardner]]
|KO
|6 (10), {{small|0:19}}
|Mar 17, 1981
|align=left|{{small|[[Wembley Arena]], [[London]], England, [[United Kingdom|UK]]}}
|align=left|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–2–1
|align=left|Barry Funches
|UD
|10
|Oct 23, 1980
|align=left|{{small|[[The Theater at Madison Square Garden|Felt Forum]], New York City, New York, US}}
|align=left|
|-
|17
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–2–1
|align=left|[[Michael Dokes]]
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|2:33}}
|Jun 28, 1980
|align=left|{{small|San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|16
|{{draw}}Draw
|14–1–1
|align=left|[[Michael Dokes]]
|SD
|10
|Apr 19, 1980
|align=left|{{small|Gimnasio Municipal, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–1
|align=left|Jack Sterling
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|1:10}}
|Nov 20, 1979
|align=left|{{small|Convention Hall, [[Florida]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|14
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–1
|align=left|[[Larry Holmes]]
|TKO
|7 (15), {{small|2:38}}
|Mar 23, 1979
|align=left|{{small|[[Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino]], [[Nevada]], US}}
|align=left|{{small|For WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|align=left|[[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]
|UD
|10
|Jan 27, 1979
|align=left|{{small|[[Coliseo Roberto Clemente]], San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|align=left|[[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]
|SD
|10
|[[Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes|Jun 9, 1978]]
|align=left|{{small|Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, [[Nevada]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|align=left|Kevin Isaac
|UD
|10
|Apr 8, 1978
|align=left|{{small|[[Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel]], [[Bayamon]], Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|align=left|Tom Nickson
|KO
|4 (6)
|Jul 12, 1977
|align=left|{{small|[[Orlando Sports Stadium]], [[Florida]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|align=left|Frank Schram
|TKO
|4 (?)
|Jun 25, 1977
|align=left|{{small|[[Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel]], [[Bayamon]], Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|align=left|Clarence Morris
|KO
|2 (6), {{small|1:37}}
|Jun 14, 1977
|align=left|{{small|[[Orlando Sports Stadium]], [[Florida]], US}}
|align=left|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|align=left|Gene Idelette
|KO
|1 (?)
|[[George Foreman vs. Jimmy Young|Mar 17, 1977]]
|align=left|{{small|[[Coliseo Roberto Clemente]], San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|align=left|Ed Turner
|KO
|2 (?)
|Feb 12, 1977
|align=left|{{small|[[Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel]], [[Bayamon]], Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|align=left|Aaron Solomon
|KO
|1 (?)
|Aug 16, 1976
|align=left|{{small|San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|align=left|Ed Turner
|PTS
|8
|Jul 17, 1976
|align=left|{{small|San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|align=left|Luis Reins
|KO
|1 (?)
|Apr 27, 1976
|align=left|{{small|[[Coliseo Roberto Clemente]], San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|align=left|Rafael Guerrero
|KO
|2 (?)
|Apr 5, 1976
|align=left|{{small|[[Coliseo Roberto Clemente]], San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|align=left|Lorenzo Simons
|KO
|3 (?)
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman|Feb 20, 1976]]
|align=left|{{small|[[Coliseo Roberto Clemente]], San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Biography}}
*[[List of cruiserweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{boxrec|id=864}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-non|reason=Inaugural Champion}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of WBA world champions#Cruiserweight|WBA cruiserweight champion]]
|years=February 13, 1982 – December 1, 1984}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Piet Crous]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocasio, Ossie}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cruiserweight boxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:World cruiserweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:World Boxing Association champions]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Carolina, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican male boxers]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]