Nero Chen

Nero Chen
Born	1890 Puerto Rico
Died	1924 New York
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Occupation	Boxer

Nero Chen (c.1890–1924), a.k.a. "El Negro", was Puerto Rico's first professional boxer to gain international recognition.

Boxing career

Little is known about Chen's early years except that "Nero Chen" was his nickname and that he was born in Puerto Rico. Chen moved to New York City and lived in Harlem.^[1]

There he became interested in the sport of boxing and became the first Puerto Rican professional boxer in 1917 when he fought against "Panama Joe Gans" at the Palace Casino which was located at 136 St. and Lenox Ave. in Manhattan. Chen who at the time went by the name of "El Negro" was a Puerto Rican of African descent. He lost his first fight against Gans, but beat him in the rematch.^[1]

His manager had him change his professional boxing name from "El Negro" to Nero Chen. Chen then went to Havana, Cuba at a 170 lbs. and fought a Heavy Weight Cuban by the name of Espagaguerra and lost.^[1]

Later years

In 1918, Chen served as a boxing instructor at "Camp Las Casas" in Puerto Rico. Chen returned to New York and in 1924 he died of tuberculosis.^[1]

See also

Puerto Rico portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Pioneros Puertorriqueños en Nueva York"; by Joaquin Colon Lopez; pages: 229, 230; Publisher: Arte Publico Press (November 2001); ISBN 1558853359; ISBN 978-1558853355