Boxing and Rap: A Combination that Defines Puerto Rico

Boricuas have warrior blood running through their veins and they not only fight in the boxing ring like Miguel Ángel Cotto, who ended his nearly two-decade-long professional career this weekend. From a young age, they learn to fight against adversity, as it is the only way to progress.

This is what Residente said, who despite being a singer-songwriter considers himself almost a boxer.

Lover of the sport of fists by inheritance, René Pérez Joglar knows well that boxing has given Puerto Rico many satisfactions, as it has more than 50 world champions despite having a population that is less than half that of Mexico City.

The 39-year-old rapper was in Mexico City over the weekend to be a judge in the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos International Final, the lyrical competition where improvisers face off in a stage that resembles the boxing ring.

In an interview with La Afición, René, better known as Residente, who is currently promoting his project separate from Calle 13, expressed regret for not being able to be present in New York for Miguel Cotto's retirement fight at Madison Square Garden, as he traveled to the Mexican capital to be a judge in the Battle of the Roosters final, where flow, rhymes, the microphone, and a sharp mind defined the future of the best rappers from Spain and Latin America, when local artist Aczino received standing ovations in the Arena Mexico.

"It's a shame that I couldn't be with him, after so many times that I accompanied him, but I had this commitment. Miguel Cotto is a guy who battled against a lot of things. Not only fights in the ring, but also the criticisms that arose because he came after Tito Trinidad, who was a demolisher and there was always a comparison. Tito was a guy who brought joy."

Everyone admired him, unlike Cotto who has joy, but focuses on his boxing, he is a much more private person. Miguel battled against that and was a warrior," says the singer-songwriter, who says he identifies with Junito Cotto, as he never let himself be defeated, despite facing unfavorable circumstances, which caused him to learn to fight against the challenges that life on the island offers.

René, who accompanied the Puerto Rican to the ring on many occasions, stated that although Cotto ended his career with a controversial loss to Sadam Ali, his compatriot was a shrewd businessman and moved well in the sport, even though the scorecards did not always favor him.

"I think there were fights that if they had a rematch, he wouldn't lose. He had defeats against great boxers and missed out by small things. His victories were also against great opponents... an example for future generations," said the artist with the most nominations at the 2017 Latin Grammy Awards.

For Residente, the retirement of the greatest exponent of Puerto Rican boxing at the moment is not a reason for concern, as he knows that if they support the new generations, it will be a matter of time before the next great idol of Puerto Ricans emerges.

That is precisely why he agreed to be involved in Red Bull Batalla de Gallos, because from his corner - the arts - he wants to support the kids who are pushing for an opportunity, just as he had to make a space for himself.

"I'm sure that soon some kid will claim the place that Cotto has, because there's always a successor, and I know that I have to collaborate so that new rap figures come forward. There are many kids with a lot of talent and who are willing to create good art.

When talking about the Battle of the Roosters final, Calle 13's frontman explained that he had "never been in a battle like this" before, although he is familiar with the work of some of the finalists. "I came to support, more than to be a judge," he explained.

In the final duel, Mexican Azcino defeated Argentine WOS, and third place went to Spaniard Arkano, who in turn defeated Dominican Yenky One in an environment that mixed rap with the tradition of professional wrestling.

When asked about how he defines his style, Residente is firm: "what I do is music and art with a concept. I represent, document what I live. The tool I use is rap to tell stories, but I don't know if being a rapper completely defines me. I think I am several things and that is my proposal. Something visual, with a stage presence and what I say on stage. There is a social movement that accompanies me and turns what I do into something more, and I don't know if that has a name," he concluded.