Sixto Escobar (March 23, 1913 - November 17, 1979) was Puerto Rico's first world boxing champion.

He started boxing at the age of 17 and campaigned both in Puerto Rico and Venezuela, where he got his first championship try, a 12 round decision loss to Jose T. Rosales for the Venezuelan Bantamweight title.

in 1936, in Montreal he made history by knocking out Mexican Baby Casanova in Montreal to become Puerto Rico's first world champion ever. There would be no other Puerto Rican world champion until almost 30 years later when Carlos Ortiz won the Jr Welterweight title, and Escobar immediately became a national hero in Puerto Rico. The next year he unified the title beating the other world champion, Tony Marino, who would sadly die as a consequence of blows received on another bout in 1939. After winning the championship for the first time, Escobar was received by many at San Juan's dock; Jack Dempsey and Ring Magazine editor Nat Fleischer were among those that received him.

Escobar reigned 3 times in the Bantamweights, losing his title to and recovering it against both Harry Jeffra and Lou Salica. Along the way, he beat tough challengers like Mexico's Indian Quintana in what was the first time ever a Puerto Rican champion won a world title bout by knockout in the first round.

Once his fighting days were over, Escobar, who participated in an era where boxers gained small purses in comparison to today's era. Deciding to move his family to New York City, Escobar became a spokesperson for liquor and beer companies. After retiring Escobar went back to his native land of Puerto Rico for the battle of his life with diabetes, one that would ultimately take him to the grave at the age of 66.
Source : Wikipedia