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Alfredo Escalera (born March 21, 1952) is a Puerto
Rican who was a world champion Boxing|boxer. A
native of Carolina, Puerto Rico|Carolina, Escalera
was almost as well known for his eccentric
clothing practices at social events as he was for
his career as a boxer. Several occasions he would
be seen, for example, wearing a tux and expensive
shoes but no socks at gala events. His nickname
was Salsero because he was a fan of Salsa music,
and he usually entered the boxing ring with a
snake around his neck.
In addition, he garnered the respect of many
writers from several boxing publications,
including Ring Magazine and The Ring En Espanol,
for his ability to absorb punishment and fight
back.

Escalera began to box professionally on September
4, 1970, against Bob Payzant, in Portland,
Oregon|Portland. That night, he won by a knockout
in round four.

He would suffer his first defeat in his third
fight, when faced against Doug McClendon, who beat
him by a decision in six on January 26, 1971 in
New York. He won five bouts in a row, and then
lost by decision in eight to future Roberto Duran
world title challenger Edwin Viruet.

He began 1972 by losing to another future world
title challenger, Diego Alcala, by knockout in
round eight, but he won his three other fights
that year. 

In 1973, he began, once again, by losing to
another future world title challenger, Miguel
Montilla, by a decision in ten. Before the year
was over, however, he was able to avenge that
defeat, defeating Montilla by a knockout in round
eight, and he won seven of his eight other fights
that year.

By 1974, he began climbing up the Jr. Lightweight
rankings, going 8-2 that year. He beat his own
future world title challenger Sigfredo Rodriguez
by a knockout in round one, and former world
champion Ricardo Arredondo by a disqualification
in round eight.

In what could be considered ironic, Escalera
received his first world championship try after
drawing in ten rounds with Francisco Villegas: On
July 4, 1975, he fought the World Boxing
Council|WBC world Jr. Lightweight champion Kuniaki
Shibata in Mito, Japan|Mito, knocking Shibata out
in round two to become a world Jr. Lightweight
champion.

He defended  his title 10 times, including wins
over Ray Lunny, Sigfredo Rodriguez and Tyrone
Everrett, before losing it on January 28 of 1978
to Alexis Argüello of Nicaragua by a knockout in
round 13 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico|Bayamón. In
this fight, Escalera suffered a broken nose and
tooth, a cut on his tongue and above his left eye,
and a closed right eye before submitting to
Argüello. 

Escalera and Argüello had a rematch, on February
4, 1979, in Rimini, and Escalera held a small lead
on the judges' cards after 12 rounds, but he was
knocked out, once again, in round 13 by Argüello.
Shortly after drawing with Antonio Cruz in ten
rounds in October of that year, he announced his
retirement.

In 1980, Escalera dedicated himself to the sport
of professional wrestling, competing on the Puerto
Rican professional wrestling circuit, but in 1981,
he launched a boxing comeback. He lost to future
world Jr. Welterweight champion Gene Hatcher in
San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio, but he beat former
world title challenger Maurice Watkins|Maurice
Termite Watkins at The Battle of The Champions|The
Battle of the Champions undercard in Miami,
Florida|Miami, to complete his 1982 boxing
campaign. 

In 1983, he avenged his loss to Hatcher, dropping
him in round six and scoring a 10 round unanimous
decision win at the Duran-Davey Moore world title
fight's undercard in the Madison Square Garden,
but on September 15 of that year, he lost to
future world title challenger Charlie White
Lighting Brown at the Ray Mancini-Orlando Romero
world title bout's undercard.

After that fight, Escalera announced his
retirement from boxing once again, and the second
time around, he was able to stay retired. Shortly
after, it was discovered that he had eyesight
problems and had been fighting almost blinded for
his last few fights. 

Escalera and Samuel Serrano became the first two
Puerto Ricans to be world champions at the same
division during the same time. They would be
emulated years later by Ossie Ocasio and Carlos De
Leon in the Cruiserweight division. There was
frequent talks about facing Escalera and Serrano
in a unification world title bout. The bout,
however, never materialized. 

Escalera became a house-hold name in Puerto Rico
during his tenure as world champion. He appeared
on television|tv commercials and was a popular
public figure.

The avid autograph signer left a boxing record of
49 wins, 14 losses and 2 draws, with 29 wins by
knockout. His two fights with Argüello are
considered by many to be boxing classics,
Argüello-Escalera I making The Ring magazine's
list of 100 greatest fights of all time at number
31, and Argüello-Escalera II making it at number
68. 

Escalera now enjoys the fruits of his career in
his farm in Puerto Rico. His son, Alfredo Escalera
Jr., is currently an amateur boxer who is based in
Florida.

==See also==

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

==External link==
*http://boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=0095
19 Escalera record from boxrec.com