Puerto Rican Olympian and former world-title challenger Carlos Gerena has died at 55 after a road collision in Bayamón; the WBO paid tribute.
What we know
- Carlos 'El Topo' Gerena has died at 55.
- The WBO paid tribute on Oct. 27, calling him a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing.
- Gerena won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Junior Championships and silver at the 1991 Pan American Games, and fought at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Gerena's professional record was 44 bouts, 38 wins, six losses and 30 knockouts, from 1993 to 2003; he fought for the WBC super-featherweight title in 1998 and 1999.
Reported, not confirmed
- Gerena was struck on the PR-2 highway in Bayamón on Oct. 26 and then hit by a second vehicle, according to EFE's report of the police account; Bayamón's Homicide Division is investigating and no criminal finding has been established. EFE via MiddleEasy
Carlos "El Topo" Gerena, the Puerto Rican Olympian who became a professional world-title challenger, has died at 55. The WBO paid tribute to him on Oct. 27 after authorities identified him as the victim of a fatal road collision in Bayamón.
According to EFE's report of the police account, Gerena was struck on the PR-2 highway on Monday, Oct. 26, and a second vehicle then hit him, its driver reportedly failing to see him. Bayamón's Homicide Division is investigating. The report did not establish a criminal finding against either driver.
The WBO's statement offered condolences to his family, friends and Puerto Rico's boxing community, calling him "a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing whose passion and dedication left a lasting impact on the sport."
Gerena won bantamweight silver at the 1991 Pan American Games and represented Puerto Rico at the 1992 Olympics, where he won once and lost his second bout to Hocine Soltani. He turned professional in 1993 and retired in 2003 with 44 bouts: 38 wins, six defeats and 30 knockouts, according to the WBA's historical profile, which also records two WBC super-featherweight title fights, in 1998 and 1999.
According to EFE's report of the police account, Gerena was struck on the PR-2 highway on Monday, Oct. 26, and a second vehicle then hit him, its driver reportedly failing to see him. Bayamón's Homicide Division is investigating. The report did not establish a criminal finding against either driver.
The WBO's statement offered condolences to his family, friends and Puerto Rico's boxing community, calling him "a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing whose passion and dedication left a lasting impact on the sport."
Gerena won bantamweight silver at the 1991 Pan American Games and represented Puerto Rico at the 1992 Olympics, where he won once and lost his second bout to Hocine Soltani. He turned professional in 1993 and retired in 2003 with 44 bouts: 38 wins, six defeats and 30 knockouts, according to the WBA's historical profile, which also records two WBC super-featherweight title fights, in 1998 and 1999.
- Summary
- Puerto Rican Olympian and former world-title challenger Carlos Gerena has died at 55 after a road collision in Bayamón; the WBO paid tribute.
- Key points (one per line)
- Gerena died at 55 after being struck on the PR-2 highway in Bayamón on Oct. 26, according to EFE's report of the police account.
The WBO called him 'a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing' and offered condolences.
He competed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and went 38-6 as a professional, with two WBC super-featherweight title fights.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/boxing/carlos-gerena-dies-55-wbo-tribute-puerto-rico-olympian/
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