Ossie Ocasio


Osvaldo "Ossie" Ocasio is a Puerto Rican former boxer who held the inaugural WBA cruiserweight title from 1982 to 1984. He was also a top heavyweight contender prior to his cruiserweight run. He scored notable wins against former cruiserweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi and top heavyweight contenders Jimmy Young and 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 originally campaigned in the heavyweight division, turning pro in 1976 and putting together ten wins before signing with Don King and making a name for himself outpointing King fighter Kevin Isaac.
In 1978, on the undercard of the Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes title fight, Ocasio scored a major upset when he outpointed the highly regarded Jimmy Young, who had both outpointed George Foreman and fought Ken Norton to a split decision loss the year prior. In a rematch staged in Puerto Rico, Ocasio underlined his superiority by again outpointing a this time in-shape Young. 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 world heavyweight champion, Ocasio was badly outclassed and knocked out in the seventh round.
In 1980, he fought red-hot undefeated prospect Michael Dokes to a draw. However, a rematch saw Ocasio surprisingly knocked out in one round. The following year, he traveled to the UK and made little effort against local prospect John L. Gardner, before collapsing without getting hit in the sixth round.

Cruiserweight World Champion

He later went down in weight to fight in the then-newly created cruiserweight division. In 1982, he was matched with Robbie Williams in South Africa for the inaugural 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, and knocking out John Odhiambo in the 15th round in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. After the bout, Ocasio turned down a fight with British fighter 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. Ocasio 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.
He made a comeback in 1986 and won two fights, including a controversial ten-round majority decision over former world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Most observers had Qawi winning all ten rounds. 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 "trial horse" status.
In 1989, he gave Ray Mercer a tough fight, losing an eight-round split 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 eight rounds. Ocasio then traveled to Australia, where he was outpointed by the erratic Mike Hunter.
One last comeback in 1992 resulted in a dreary points loss to ex-contender Carl Williams, but it was hard-hitting Mexican–American prospect Alex García who convinced the usually durable Ocasio to retire—he decked Ocasio several times before knocking him out in the eighth.
He retired from boxing with a record of 23 wins, 13 losses, and one draw, with 12 knockout wins. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37LossAlex GarciaTKO8, 1:59Nov 23, 1992Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, US
36Loss23–12–1Carl WilliamsUD10Aug 20, 1992Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
35Loss23–11–1Mike HunterUD10Dec 14, 1990Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
34Win23–10–1Jess HardingRTD8, 3:00Oct 3, 1990Festival Hall, Basildon, Essex, England, UK
33Loss22–10–1Lennox LewisPTS8Jun 27, 1990Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK
32Loss22–9–1Bruce SeldonUD8May 18, 1990San Jose, California, US
31Loss22–8–1Tyrell BiggsUD10Jan 11, 1990Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
30Loss22–7–1Ray MercerSD8Dec 7, 1989Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
29Loss22–6–1Pierre CoetzerUD10Nov 26, 1988Standard Bank Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
28Win22–5–1Pierre CoetzerUD10Mar 6, 1988Good Hope Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
27Loss21–5–1Evander HolyfieldTKO11, 1:24Aug 15, 1987Saint-Tropez, Var, FranceFor WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles
26Win21–4–1Dwight Muhammad QawiMD10May 15, 1987Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
25Win20–4–1Narcisco MaldonadoUD10Mar 23, 1986Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, US
24Loss19–4–1Piet CrousUD15Dec 1, 1984Superbowl, Sun City, South AfricaLost WBA cruiserweight title
23Win19–3–1John OdhiambhoTKO15, 2:24May 5, 1984Mets Pavilion, Guaynabo, Puerto RicoRetained WBA cruiserweight title
22Win18–3–1Randy StephensUD15May 20, 1983Dunes Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USRetained WBA cruiserweight title
21Win17–3–1Eddie TaylorUD15Dec 15, 1982Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, USRetained WBA cruiserweight title
20Win16–3–1Robbie WilliamsSD15Feb 13, 1982Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaWon inaugural WBA cruiserweight title
19Loss15–3–1John L. GardnerKO6, 0:19Mar 17, 1981Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
18Win15–2–1Barry FunchesUD10Oct 23, 1980Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
17Loss14–2–1Michael DokesTKO1, 2:33Jun 28, 1980Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
16Draw14–1–1Michael DokesSD10Apr 19, 1980Coliseo Pedrin Zorrilla, San Juan, Puerto Rico
15Win14–1Jack SterlingTKO1, 1:10Nov 20, 1979Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, US
14Loss13–1Larry HolmesTKO7, 2:38Mar 23, 1979Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, USFor WBC heavyweight title
13Win13–0Jimmy YoungUD10Jan 27, 1979Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
12Win12–0Jimmy YoungSD10Jun 9, 1978Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
11Win11–0Kevin IsaacUD10Apr 8, 1978Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
10Win10–0Tom NicksonKO4 Jul 12, 1977Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, US
9Win9–0Frank SchramTKO4 Jun 25, 1977Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
8Win8–0Clarence MorrisKO2, 1:37Jun 14, 1977Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, US
7Win7–0Gene IdeletteKO1 Mar 17, 1977Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
6Win6–0Ed TurnerKO2 Feb 12, 1977Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
5Win5–0Aaron SolomonKO1 Aug 16, 1976San Juan, Puerto Rico
4Win4–0Ed TurnerPTS8Jul 17, 1976San Juan, Puerto Rico
3Win3–0Luis ReinsKO1 Apr 27, 1976Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2Win2–0Rafael GuerreroKO2 Apr 5, 1976Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1Win1–0Lorenzo SimonsKO3 Feb 20, 1976Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico