Johnny De La Rosa
Johnny De La Rosa, born Juan De La Rosa in 1962 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is a Dominican-American former professional boxer. He fought mainly at featherweight and junior lightweight and had 46 pro bouts: 39 wins (24 by knockout) and 7 losses. He was a two-time world title challenger.
He began his pro career in 1980 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, beating Jesus Rosado by decision. His first home-country bout came in Santo Domingo on October 20, 1980, against Ruben Dario Herasme, which he won, and he then beat Herasme again in a rematch by knockout in the third round. After a few more wins in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States and settled in Miami.
De La Rosa’s first fight in the United States was November 11, 1981 in Tampa, where he stopped Eddie Richardson in the second round. He then built a long winning streak, with 21 straight victories, 16 by knockout.
On June 25, 1983, he challenged WBC featherweight champion Juan Laporte in San Juan. It was a very close fight, decided by a split decision in Laporte’s favor, with De La Rosa losing by a narrow margin after a late point deduction.
He continued winning, including a 1984 decision over Benjie Marquez. In 1985 he lost to Antonio Esparragoza by a third-round knockout in Aruba. He rebounded with a ten-fight winning streak and captured the WBC Continental Americas junior lightweight title by defeating Adriano Arreola at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum in 1986, and he defended it later that year against Jackie Beard.
On October 25, 1987 he fought Rocky Lockridge for the IBF junior lightweight world title in Tucson. He knocked Lockridge down but was stopped by KO in the 10th round. He beat Herasme again in 1988 in Santo Domingo.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s his career had ups and downs. In 1992 he faced Jorge Paez in Mexico City and lost by ten-round decision. He retired after a loss to Roberto Sierra on April 26, 1996 in Westbury, New York. He ended with 39 wins, 7 losses and 24 knockouts.
His brother Inocencio "Mao" De La Rosa also boxed, and Johnny lives in Miami, Florida.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:31 (CET).