Editing Sixto Escobar

{{Short description|Puerto Rican boxer (1913-1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name        = Sixto Escobar
|image       = Sixto Escobar and Whitey Brimstein c1930cr.jpg
|image_size  = 230px
|caption     = Escobar in the 1930s
|realname    = Sixto Escobar Vargas
|nickname    = ''El Gallito''
|height      = 5 ft 4 in
|weight      = [[Bantamweight]]
|reach       =
|nationality = [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]]
|birth_date  = March 23, 1913
|birth_place = [[Barceloneta, Puerto Rico]]
|death_date  = November 17, 1979 (aged 66)
|death_place = Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
|home        =
|style       = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total       = 66
|wins        = 39
|KO          = 17
|losses      = 23
|draws       = 4
|no contests = 0
}}
'''Sixto Escobar''' (March 23, 1913 – November 17, 1979) was a Puerto Rican professional [[boxing|boxer]]. Competing in the [[bantamweight]] division, he was [[Puerto Rico]]'s first world champion and a two-time [[list of undisputed world boxing champions#Bantamweight|Undisputed Bantamweight World Champion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/bantam.htm|title=The Lineal Bantamweight Champions|publisher=Cyber Boxing Zone}}</ref>

Escobar was born in [[Barceloneta, Puerto Rico|Barceloneta]] and raised in San Juan. There he received his primary education and took interest in boxing. After gathering a record of 21–1–1 as an amateur, Escobar debuted as a professional in 1931 defeating Luis "Kid Dominican" Pérez by [[knockout]]. Early in his career, he moved to Venezuela due to the lack of opponents in his division. There he received an opportunity for the Venezuelan Bantamweight championship, but lost by [[Unanimous decision|points]] to [[Enrique Chaffardet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maltaboxing.net/news/boxers-of-yesteryear/boxers-of-yesteryear-sixto-escobar.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813172108/http://maltaboxing.net/news/boxers-of-yesteryear/boxers-of-yesteryear-sixto-escobar.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 13, 2016|title=Boxers of Yesteryears Sixto Escobar|website=Maltaboxing}}</ref> Subsequently, he moved to New York and began boxing in other states, eventually capturing the Montreal Athletic Commission World Bantamweight Title. In 1936, he defeated [[Tony Marino (boxer)|Tony Marino]] to unify this championship with the one recognized by the [[International Boxing Union (1913–1946)|International Boxing Union]], in the process becoming the third Latin American undisputed world boxing champion. After retiring, he worked as a spokesperson for beer companies in New York, before returning to Puerto Rico in the 1960s, where he resided until his death. He received several posthumous recognitions and his name was used in several sports venues and buildings. In 2002, Escobar was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]].

==Early life and amateur career==
Escobar was born in La Boca in Barrio Palmas Altas, a sector of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, to Jacinto Escobar and Adela Vargas.<ref name="p.21">Fonseca et al., p.21</ref> Early in his life, he moved to Tras Talleres in Santurce, a subsection of San Juan, Puerto Rico. There he received his elementary and secondary education, up until the seventh grade, when he decided to dedicate himself full-time to his sports career.<ref name="p.21"/> In Tras Talleres, he began developing an interest in boxing and received instruction in said discipline. Although at this time, boxing was illegal in Puerto Rico; remote places such as a house's backyard or rooftops were used to organize clandestine fights without attracting attention from the local police.<ref name="p.21"/> In 1928, a Puerto Rican boxer named Ángel "Sotito" Soto moved from New York to a house near the Escobar family's residence and established a gym in his backyard. There he gave boxing classes to Escobar and several other young athletes.<ref name="p.21"/> After several months of instruction, Soto prepared a boxing card with included three-round fights, in which each round lasted two minutes. In this event, Escobar earned his first victory, defeating a pugilist identified as "Gombar" by knockout in the first round.<ref name="p.21"/> After this match, Escobar continued fighting in clandestine gyms. He met and was received by Ignacio Peñagaricano, the owner of Victoria Gym.<ref name="p.21"/> Escobar received his boxing license through Peñagaricano. On February 16, 1927, governor [[Horace Mann Towner]] legalized boxing and allowed the establishment of organized boxing matches. Professionals would fight Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays which, were considered the best days of the week, while amateurs could compete the remaining days of the week without limitations.<ref name="p.22"/> As an amateur, he fought in 23 combats, gathering a record of 21 wins, one loss and a draw.<ref name="p.22"/> His draw was against Ramón Rodríguez of [[San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico|San Lorenzo]] and his only loss was in the hands of [[Pedro Montañez]] from [[Cayey, Puerto Rico|Cayey]], in a fight that took place in March 1930.<ref name="p.22"/>

==Professional career==
Escobar turned professional on September 1, 1930, in a [[fight card]] organized at the Victory Garden gym in San Juan. In this event, he defeated Luis "Kid Dominican" Pérez, who entered the fight as the Dominican Republic's champion, by knockout in the third round.<ref name="p.22">Fonseca et al., p.22</ref> In Puerto Rico, Escobar fought in 15 contests, before moving to Venezuela after the popularity of professional boxing declined in his home country.<ref name="p.22"/> This move was motivated by Roberto Andrade, who provided transportation to the country. In Venezuela, he fought in Caracas, competing against José Lugo, Sindulfo Díaz, Rafael "Moralito" Morales, Pica Pica and Simón Chávez among others.<ref name="p.22"/> On November 11, 1931, Escobar competed against [[Enrique Chaffardet]] for the Venezuelan Bantamweight Title, but lost by decision. After 17 fights, he returned to Puerto Rico and competed in five cards. But professional boxing suffered another decline in interest, which forced Escobar to work as an accommodator in baseball games three days of the week, generally on weekends.<ref name="p.22"/> In the meanwhile, Tony Rojas, a friend of his managers Gustavo Jiménez and Arturo Gigante, convinced them to release Escobar of the contract which bound them.<ref name="p.22"/> Since Escobar turned professional while he was still legally a minor, his father had to sign the unbinding agreement. After succeeding in this task, Rojas presented Escobar with a steam boat ticket to New York, which covered his food, clothes and hotel expenses.<ref name="p.22"/> Escobar reached New York in early 1934, intending to "obtain fame and honor" for "[his] motherland", there he was received by Rojas and professional trainer [[Whitey Bimstein]]. His first fight in the United States took place at the [[Valley Arena]] in [[Holyoke, Massachusetts]] on May 7, 1934.<ref name="p.23">Fonseca et al., p.23</ref> In this contest he was paired against Canadian bantamweight titleholder Bobby Leitham, defeating him by technical knockout in the seventh round.

Escobar's manager, Lou Brix and his trainer recognized that Escobar could be close to a championship fight once the incumbent, Panamian [[Panama Al Brown|Alfonso Teófilo Brown]], refused to defend the championship against the first contender, which led to it being stripped by the [[World Boxing Association|National Boxing Association]] (NBA).<ref name="p.23"/> A rematch was then organized against Leitham. This was an eliminatory card organized by the Montreal Athletic Commission, which was to determine a contender for their vacant Bantamweight World Championship, against first contender [[Baby Casanova]], who attended the card. After scoring three knockdowns in the fourth round, Escobar connected another punch that injured Leitham, after which Leitham's manager surrendered the fight. This marked Leitham's last fight. Following this result, the NBA immediately called for a fight between Escobar and Casanova.<ref name="p.23"/> By this time he had gained a reputation as a quick and technical boxer, capable of gathering quick knockouts with body punches if confronted by an unprepared opponent.<ref name="p.23"/> The fight took place on June 26, 1934, and it was organized in [[Montreal, Quebec]], Canada. Escobar scored a knockdown in the third round; the fight concluded in the ninth round when Casanova lost by knockout. With this win, Escobar won the Montreal Athletic Commission World Bantamweight Title, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican to win a world boxing championship title.<ref name="p.23"/> This had a significant impact on Puerto Rico, where it was constantly discussed by the general public. Songs, decimas and poetry were written about this accomplishment.<ref name="p.23"/> However, the [[New York State Athletic Commission]] (NYSAC) and [[International Boxing Union (1913–1946)|International Boxing Union]] (IBU) of France didn't recognize the outcome of this fight, conserving Tony Marino and Brown as their recognized champions.<ref name="p.26"/>

===Undisputed world bantamweight title===
On August 8, 1934, he defeated Eugene Hart by points in a non-title match organized in Canada. This was the first time in his career that Escobar completed a 15-round contest. After this event, he stayed in Montreal expecting to fight against the winner of a matchup between [[Louis Salica]] and Bobby Quintana, which was scheduled to take place on December of that year. However, Escobar was forced to cancel his plans after suffering a heel injury when he was hit by a car.<ref name="p.24">Fonseca et al., p.24</ref> He spent a month in inactivity while recovering, and in the winter he returned to Puerto Rico.<ref name="p.24"/> The governor ordered to have all government buildings closed so that public employees could attend a welcoming ceremony.<ref name="p.24"/> The event, which took place in [[Old San Juan, Puerto Rico|Old San Juan]]'s dock, was followed by a parade.<ref name="p.24"/> Upon arriving in Barceloneta, Escobar was recognized as a "predilect son" of that municipality by the city's mayor, which was followed by a week of festivities in his name.<ref name="p.24"/> Escobar pursued a fight with Brown, but his offers were refused while the Panamanian pugilist promoted a campaign protesting the removal of his recognition as champion, demanding to be reinstated.<ref name="p.26"/>

On August 7, 1935, Escobar defeated [[Pete Sanstol]]—who once held, in 1931, the Canadian Boxing Federation and Montreal Athletic Commission (MAC) world bantamweight titles—by unanimous decision in 12 rounds.<ref name="p.26">Fonseca et al., p.26</ref> However, Escobar still wasn't considered the division's [[Undisputed Champion]] because [[Balthazar Sangchili]] had defeated Panama Al Brown and was recognized by the IBU. Due to this, Sanstol sent a letter to the NYSAC noting that the fight was of eliminatory nature, even though it was recognized as a titular contest by the NBA and MAC.<ref name="p.27">Fonseca et al., p.27</ref> Wanting to be recognized as such, Escobar pursued a title unification fight against Tony Marino, who had defeated Sangchili by knockout in his previous fight.<ref name="p.27"/> He won the fight by knockout in the thirteenth round, receiving the "undisputed world champion" 
distinction.<ref name="p.27"/> On November 13, 1935, Escobar became the first Puerto Rican to win a title fight in the first round, defeating "Indian" Quintana by knockout.<ref name="p.27"/>

This outcome made it possible to organize a fight against Louis Salica, it was the first time that Escobar fought a title fight in Puerto Rico.<ref name="p.27"/> The card was promoted by Arturo Gigante and Gustavo Jiménez Sicardó. Escobar won the fight by unanimous decision, while [[Jack Dempsey]] served as referee.<ref name="p.27"/> He participated in Mike Jacobs's "Carnival of Champions" on September 23, 1937 and lost the title to [[Harry Jeffra]] by unanimous decision.<ref name="p.27"/> Shortly after, he recovered from this loss and he returned to the gym; he defeated Johnny Defoe in a preparatory contest.<ref name="p.27"/> On February 20, 1938, Escobar faced Jeffra in a rematch organized at the ''El Escambrón'' baseball park in [[Puerta de Tierra, Puerto Rico|Puerta de Tierra]]. He won the contest by unanimous decision, scoring three knockdowns.<ref name="p.28"/> This became an early example of fights that attracted the attention and criticism of boxing analysts, particularly those in New York.<ref name="p.28">Fonseca et al., p.28</ref>  On April 2, 1939, Escobar defeated Kayo Morgan before a sold-out crowd of 15,000 at the ''[[Estadio Sixto Escobar]]'', which had been inaugurated three years earlier.<ref name="p.28"/> After this fight, he received [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] Bantamweight Championship, which was presented by the magazine's editor, [[Nat Fleischer]].<ref name="p.29">Fonseca et al., p.29</ref> Later in 1939, Escobar received a draft notice from the [[United States Army]], ordering him to take a physical exam for possible military service. He and his manager presented the issue to the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission, managing to receive a postponement of two months before surrendering his title.<ref name="p.29"/> On April 6, 1940, Escobar fought Simón Chávez for ten rounds in what ended as a draw. Escobar then fought some short non-title fights, of which he lost four, all by points.<ref name="p.29"/> On December 2, 1940, Escobar participated in his last professional fight, losing to a ten-round decision to Harry Jeffra. Throughout his career Escobar avoided being knocked down or out in any fight, all of his losses being by decision. In April 1941, he was drafted to the [[United States Army]] and participated in [[World War II]].<ref name="p.29"/>

==Retirement, death and legacy==
[[File:Escobar Statue.jpg|thumb|Statue of Sixto Escobar, located in front of the Sixto Escobar Stadium in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
After his military service, Escobar confronted problems to meet the bantamweight's limit and retired.<ref name="p.">Fonseca et al., p.</ref> He became a spokesman for a liquor brand and relocated to New York temporally, with his family. Subsequently, he returned to Puerto Rico where he worked selling liquor in bars. In May 1947, Escobar and Jiménez Sicardó co-promoted a fight with the intention of bringing fans back to boxing.<ref name="p.30">Fonseca et al., p.30</ref> In the main event, Diego Sosa was matched against Francisco Colón García. Escobar was inducted into the [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]]'s Boxing Hall of Fame in 1950.<ref name="p.30"/> Escobar continued in his job as a liquor salesperson, during which it was common for liquor salesmen to drink a little bit of the product which they sold in front of potential customers.  This contributed to the development of Escobar's alcoholic tendencies.<ref name="p.30"/> His alcoholism would later combine with his diabetes and contribute to his death when he was 66 years old. Weeks before his death, Escobar participated in his last ceremony, where Diego Suárez, president of [[V. Suarez & Co.|V. Suárez & Company]]. gave him a recognition.<ref name="p.30"/>
[[File:Auditorio Sixto Escobar, PR-684, Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.jpg|thumb|Auditorio Sixto Escobar in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico]]
After his death, the town of Barceloneta honored his memory by a statue. His remains are interred at Cementerio Municipal Viejo in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, according to a memorial written to honor his life. Escobar became the first world boxing champion in history to have a statue in his honor.<ref name="p.30"/> On June 9, 2002, Escobar was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ibhof.com/escobar.htm| title=Sixto Escobar| publisher=[[International Boxing Hall of Fame]]| access-date=October 11, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080704111444/http://www.ibhof.com/escobar.htm |archive-date = July 4, 2008}}</ref> He became the fourth Puerto Rican to receive this distinction and the first to be included in the "Old Timers" section.<ref name="p.30"/> In March 2005, a second statue of Estobar was unveiled at the [[Estadio Sixto Escobar]] in San Juan.<ref name="p.30"/> Among the celebrities that attended the ceremony were former boxing world champions [[Julian Solís]] and [[Alfredo Escalera]]. This statue's location served as a remembrance tribute during the 94th anniversary of Escobar's birth, when a flower crown was placed at its feet.<ref name="Escobar vive!">{{cite news| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/accion_deportiva/viva_la_figura_de_escobar/41668| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224012/http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/accion_deportiva/viva_la_figura_de_escobar/41668| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 3, 2016| title=Viva la figura de Escobar| author=Carlos González| newspaper=Primera Hora| language=es| date=March 24, 2007| access-date=October 10, 2008}}</ref>  During this date, an activity was presented by Puerto Rico's House of Boxing in the library of the ''Pabellón de la Fama del Deporte Puertorriqueño''.<ref name="Escobar vive!"/> Among those who attended the ceremony  were Solís, Escalera and [[Iván Calderón (boxer)|Iván Calderón]].<ref name="Escobar vive!"/> On this date, People Inc. presented a documentary covering his life, which was donated to the venue.<ref name="Escobar vive!"/> Several buildings and streets were named after Escobar posthumously, including the ''Auditorio Sixto Escobar''. The house where he lived was later turned into a library and museum bearing his name.<ref name="p.29"/>

In 2019 Sixto Escobar was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.opv.pr.gov/salon-de-la-fama/salon-de-la-fama | title=Salón de la Fama }}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|ko-wins=17
|dec-wins=22
|dec-losses=23
|draws=4
|
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|66
|{{no2}}Loss
|39–23–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Harry Jeffra]]
|PTS
|10
|Dec 2, 1940
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.}}
|
|-
|65
|{{draw}}Draw
|39–22–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Simon Chavez
|PTS
|10
|Apr 6, 1940
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|64
|{{no2}}Loss
|39–22–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Frankie Covelli]]
|SD
|10
|Dec 11, 1939
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|63
|{{no2}}Loss
|39–21–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Tony Olivera
|PTS
|10
|Oct 4, 1939
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|62
|{{no2}}Loss
|39–20–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Jimmy Perrin
|UD
|10
|Aug 14, 1939
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.}}
|
|-
|61
|{{no2}}Loss
|39–19–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Frankie Bove
|PTS
|8
|Jul 25, 1939
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Belmont Park, Garfield, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|
|-
|60
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–18–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Johnny Buff
|PTS
|8
|Jul 7, 1939
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Morris County Arena, Mount Freedom, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|
|-
|59
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–18–3
|style="text-align:left;"| K.O. Morgan
|UD
|15
|Apr 2, 1939
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Escambron Baseball Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|58
|{{no2}}Loss
|37–18–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Mancini
|UD
|10
|Dec 19, 1938
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.}}
|
|-
|57
|{{no2}}Loss
|37–17–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Henry Hook
|PTS
|10
|Nov 1, 1938
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small| Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada }}
|
|-
|56
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–16–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Lou Transparenti
|UD
|10
|Sep 5, 1938
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.}}
|
|-
|55
|{{no2}}Loss
|36–16–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Nat Litfin
|SD
|10
|May 4, 1938
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|54
|{{no2}}Loss
|36–15–3
|style="text-align:left;"| K.O. Morgan
|UD
|10
|Apr 19, 1938
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.}}
|
|-
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–14–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Harry Jeffra]]
|UD
|15
|Feb 20, 1938
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Escambron Baseball Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|52
|{{draw}}Draw
|35–14–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny DeFoe
|PTS
|8
|Nov 13, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Ridgewood Grove Arena|Ridgewood Grove]], Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|51
|{{no2}}Loss
|35–14–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Harry Jeffra]]
|UD
|15
|Sep 23, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–13–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Eddie Reed
|KO
|8 (10)
|Sep 1, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|South Park Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.}}
|
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–13–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Georgie Holmes
|TKO
|3 (8)
|Jul 21, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dyckman Oval, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–13–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Pat Robertson
|TKO
|8 (10)
|Jun 21, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.}}
|
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–13–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Nicky Jerome
|TKO
|2 (10)
|May 12, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–13–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Louis Salica|Lou Salica]]
|UD
|15
|Feb 21, 1937
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Escambron Baseball Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|45
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–13–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Harry Jeffra]]
|MD
|10
|Dec 9, 1936
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Hippodrome, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–12–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Indian Quintana
|KO
|1 (15)
|Nov 13, 1936
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|43
|{{no2}}Loss
|29–12–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Harry Jeffra]]
|SD
|10
|Oct 5, 1936
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Carlin's Park, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.}}
|
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–11–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Tony Marino (boxer)|Tony Marino]]
|TKO
|13 (15)
|Aug 31, 1936
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dyckman Oval, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC and NBA bantamweight titles;<br>Won [[list of The Ring world champions#Bantamweight|''The Ring'' bantamweight title]]}}
|-
|41
|{{no2}}Loss
|28–11–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Indian Quintana
|UD
|10
|Jul 15, 1936
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Queensboro Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–10–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Gillette
|TKO
|5 (10)
|Feb 5, 1936
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Escambron Baseball Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–10–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Louis Salica|Lou Salica]]
|UD
|15
|Nov 15, 1935
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won NYSAC and NBA bantamweight titles}}
|-
|38
|{{no2}}Loss
|26–10–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Louis Salica|Lou Salica]]
|MD
|15
|Aug 26, 1935
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dyckman Oval, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost NBA bantamweight title<br>For vacant [[list of world bantamweight boxing champions|NYSAC bantamweight title]]}}
|-
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–9–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Pete Sanstol]]
|UD
|12
|Aug 7, 1935
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small| Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada }}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant [[list of WBA world champions#Bantamweight|NBA bantamweight title]]}}
|-
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–9–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Bang
|KO
|5 (10)
|Jun 21, 1935
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Luna Park Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–9–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Joey Archibald]]
|TKO
|6 (8)
|May 28, 1935
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|34
|{{no2}}Loss
|23–9–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Juan Zurita]]
|PTS
|10
|Mar 31, 1935
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico}}
|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Eugène Huat]]
|UD
|15
|Aug 8, 1934
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained Montreal Athletic Commission bantamweight title}}
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Rodolfo Casanova]]
|KO
|9 (15)
|Jun 26, 1934
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant Montreal Athletic Commission bantamweight title}}
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Bobby Leitham
|TKO
|5 (10)
|Jun 6, 1934
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada}}
|
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Joey Archibald]]
|UD
|10
|May 21, 1934
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.}}
|
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Bobby Leitham
|TKO
|7 (10)
|May 7, 1934
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.}}
|
|-
|28
|{{draw}}Draw
|18–8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Felipe Andrade
|PTS
|10 (?)
|Sep 15, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Vicente Abadia
|PTS
|8
|Aug 27, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Ray Lulolo
|PTS
|8
|Aug 13, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"| KO Tiger
|TKO
|2 (8)
|Jun 23, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|24
|{{no2}}Loss
|15–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Ely Arriaga
|PTS
|8
|May 27, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Pedro Ruiz
|PTS
|10
|May 12, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"| KO Tiger
|PTS
|8
|Apr 8, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|21
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Enrique Chaffardet]]
|PTS
|10
|Feb 11, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|20
|{{draw}}Draw
|13–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Enrique Chaffardet]]
|PTS
|10
|Jan 9, 1933
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|19
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–6
|style="text-align:left;"| Simon Chavez
|PTS
|10
|Jul 31, 1932
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Enrique Mendoza
|PTS
|8
|Jun 26, 1932
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Sindulfo Diaz
|PTS
|10
|Jun 4, 1932
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|16
|{{no2}}Loss
|11–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Jose Lago
|PTS
|8
|Apr 23, 1932
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|15
|{{no2}}Loss
|11–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Firpo Zuliano
|PTS
|12
|Mar 19, 1932
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|14
|{{no2}}Loss
|11–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Enrique Chaffardet]]
|PTS
|10
|Nov 15, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For Venezuelan featherweight title}}
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Phil Tobias
|PTS
|10
|Sep 13, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Abeol Alvarez
|KO
|5 (10)
|Aug 9, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Firpo Zuliano
|PTS
|10
|Jul 18, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Simon Chavez
|PTS
|10
|Jun 28, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Rafael Morales
|KO
|2 (8)
|May 17, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Isidoro Gonzalez
|KO
|5 (8)
|May 3, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Caracas, Venezuela}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Rafael Morales
|PTS
|10
|Feb 1, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Ramon Rodriquez
|PTS
|4
|Jan 16, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|5
|{{no2}}Loss
|3–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Rafael Morales
|PTS
|8
|Jan 1, 1931
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Ramon Rodriquez
|PTS
|6
|Oct 5, 1930
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|3
|{{no2}}Loss
|2–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Luis Emilio Perez
|PTS
|4
|Sep 12, 1930
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Luis Emilio Perez
|PTS
|4
|Aug 29, 1930
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"| Luis Emilio Perez
|TKO
|2 (4)
|Jul 17, 1930
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Victory Garden Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|}

==Titles in boxing==
===Major world titles===
* [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]] [[bantamweight]] champion (118&nbsp;lbs) (2×)
* [[list of WBA world champions#Bantamweight|NBA (WBA) bantamweight champion]] (118&nbsp;lbs) (3×)

===''The Ring'' magazine titles===
* [[list of The Ring world champions#Bantamweight|''The Ring'' bantamweight champion]] (118&nbsp;lbs) (2×)

===Regional/International titles===
* Montreal Athletic Commission bantamweight champion (118&nbsp;lbs)

===Undisputed titles===
* [[list of undisputed world boxing champions#Bantamweight|Undisputed bantamweight champion]] (2×)

==Boxing Hall of Fame==

{{Puerto Ricans in the International Boxing Hall of Fame}}

==See also==
*[[List of bantamweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions]]
* [[Sports in Puerto Rico]]
*[[Undisputed Champion]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book| title=Puerto Rico: Cuna de Campeones| author=Marvin Fonseca Barahona| edition=1st|location=Puerto Rico| language=es| year=2007| isbn=978-1-60643-254-9}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sixto Escobar}}
*{{Boxrec|id=41270}}
*[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/escobar.htm Sixto Escobar – CBZ Profile]

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{Succession box|
 before=[[Panama Al Brown]]<br/>Recognition withdrawn|
 title=[[Montreal Athletic Commission World Bantamweight Champion]]|
 after=[[Lou Salica]]|
 years=June 26, 1934 – August 26, 1935
}}
{{Succession box|
 before=[[Panama Al Brown]]<br/>Recognition withdrawn|
 title=[[NBA World Bantamweight Champion]]|
 after=[[Lou Salica]]|
 years=August 7, 1935 – August 26, 1935
}}
{{Succession box|
 before=[[Panama Al Brown]]<br/>Recognition withdrawn|
 title=[[NYSAC World Bantamweight Champion]]|
 after=[[Lou Salica]]|
 years=August 7, 1935 – August 26, 1935
}}
{{Succession box|
 before=[[Tony Marino (boxer)]]|
 title=World Bantamweight Champion|
 after=[[Harry Jeffra]]|
 years=November 15, 1935 – September 23, 1937
}}
{{Succession box|
 before=[[Harry Jeffra]]|
 title=World Bantamweight Champion|
 after=[[Lou Salica]]|
 years=February 20, 1938– October 1939<br/>Vacated
}}
{{S-end}}

* https://titlehistories.com/boxing/wba/wba-world-b.html
* https://titlehistories.com/boxing/na/usa/ny/nysac-b.html
* https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine%27s_Annual_Ratings:_Bantamweight--1930s

{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Escobar, Sixto}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Barceloneta, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Bantamweight boxers]]
[[Category:History of Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican male boxers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]