Pedro Montanez, (April 24, 1914-June 26, 1996), was a boxer from Cayey, Puerto Rico. Also known as El Torito De Cayey (Cayey's Bull), he was one of the best boxers in history never to win a world title.
Pedro Montanez with a trainee at Montanez's house in 1985
Montanez was recognized by Ring Magazine as one of history's most prolific knockout winners with 56 knockout wins, and one of the Latinos with the most knockout wins. He also ranks as number 14 in boxing history, also recognized by Ring Magazine, among boxers with most wins in a row, totalling 88 wins in a row.
Montanez went for the world title three times, losing to Henry Armstrong and Lou Ambers on points and then to Armstrong in a rematch by a knockout in round 9. Observers say he deserved the decision againt Ambers.
Montanez reached great popularity in Puerto Rico, New York and Latin America, and his collection of photos with celebrities is considered one of the largest in Puerto Rico. He had well over 250 pictures with celebrities like Celia Cruz, Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, Cantinflas and some former Puerto Rican Governors and other famous people displayed on his house's walls.
Montanez has a stadium named after him , the Pedro Montanez Municipal Stadium in Cayey.
The Montanez Adobe, the O'Neill Museum, the Ramos House Cafe, the Lobo House, the Rodman House, and the Lupe Combs House are businesses and are open to the public during business hours.
The Montanez, the Rios, and the Silvas adobes are all that remain on Los Rios Street of the about 40 adobes that were here at that time.
Pedro Labat moved his family to California in the late 1800s from the Pyrenees Mountains in Southern France.