Cuban boxing awoke in mourning on Wednesday following the death of one of its greatest representatives: the legendary Pedro Orlando Reyes Ponce, father of prominent baseball player Rudy Reyes.
Reyes confirmed in a personal call to the digital outlet Por la Goma the passing of his father, who throughout his career won the hearts of fans with his courage and skill in the ring.
The Cuban Institute of Sports (INDER) expressed its sorrow on X over the death of someone they regarded as a "glory of #CubanSports."
He expressed that he was a "star of our #boxing, a world champion and runner-up, as well as a Pan American champion. He shone in other high-level events" and clarified that he is currently "working as a coach in Mexico."
Pedro Orlando, who was a true warrior both inside and outside the ring, battled for several years against the blood pressure issues that troubled him in recent times, the report details.
His colleagues state that the passing of Pedro Orlando Reyes represents the loss of one of the most emblematic figures in Cuban boxing during the 1970s and 1980s.
Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Pedro Orlando Reyes Ponce stood out as one of the most brilliant boxers of the 1970s and 1980s, excelling in the flyweight category (up to 51 kg).
Throughout his career, he amassed an impressive number of titles that established him as an icon of sports in Cuba and worldwide.
Among his/her most notable achievements are:
- Six-time national champion and five-time winner of the Córdova Cardín Tournament, one of the most prestigious tournaments in Cuban amateur boxing.
- World Cup Champion (Italy, 1983) and World Champion (Reno, 1986), establishing his name in the elite of boxing.
- Pan American champion and five-time Central American champion, reaffirming his dominance in the region.
- Gold medal at the Friendship Tournament in 1984, the Challenger Match in 1989, and at the Spartakiad of the Allied Armies (1985 and 1989).
Under the guidance of the legendary coach Alcides Sagarra, Reyes Ponce was part of the elite of Cuban boxing, a team that carried the name of the island to the highest levels of international sport.
Although he did not have the opportunity to compete in the professional arena due to Cuba's strict sports policies, his legacy endures as one of the greatest in the history of amateur boxing.
Pedro Orlando Reyes was not only a champion in the ring, but also a man of principles, known for his humility and dedication to the sport.
His colleagues remember him as a model of discipline and courage, values that transcended his sports career and made him a role model for both the new generations of boxers and all who knew him.
With the passing of Pedro Orlando Reyes, Cuban boxing loses one of its great legends, they expressed.
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