Carlos Gerena, Puerto Rico's 1992 Olympian and a two-time WBC super-featherweight title challenger, died at 55 after a road collision in Bayamón; police are investigating.
What we know
- The WBO paid tribute to Gerena on Oct. 27, offering condolences to his family, friends and Puerto Rico's boxing community.
- Gerena won bantamweight silver at the 1991 Pan American Games and lost his second bout at the 1992 Olympics to Hocine Soltani.
- Gerena's professional record was 38 wins, six defeats and 30 knockouts in 44 bouts, 1993 to 2003, with WBC super-featherweight title fights in 1998 and 1999.
Reported, not confirmed
- Gerena was struck on the PR-2 highway in Bayamón on Oct. 26, and a second vehicle then hit him; its driver reportedly failed to see him. EFE
- Bayamón's Homicide Division is investigating, and no criminal finding against either driver has been established. EFE
A boxer who once stood in the ring with a young Floyd Mayweather has died on a Puerto Rican highway. Carlos "El Topo" Gerena was 55. The WBO paid tribute on Oct. 27, a day after the collision that authorities say killed him.
According to EFE's report of the police account, Gerena was struck on the PR-2 highway in Bayamón on Monday, Oct. 26. A second vehicle then hit him, and its driver reportedly did not 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 the Puerto Rican boxing community. It called him "a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing whose passion and dedication left a lasting impact on the sport."
Gerena was born in Bayamón and built his name as an amateur first. He took a bronze medal at the 1989 World Junior Championships and bantamweight silver at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics he fought at featherweight, beat India's Narendar Bisth Singh by decision, then lost to Algeria's Hocine Soltani, who went on to win a bronze medal.
He turned professional in 1993 and retired in 2003 after 44 bouts: 38 wins, six defeats and 30 knockouts, according to the WBA's historical profile. That profile records two WBC super-featherweight title fights, against Hernandez on May 16, 1998, and against Mayweather on September 11, 1999. The WBA also ranked him No. 13 at super featherweight in early 2000 and No. 14 at lightweight in July 2002.
The police investigation is the open question. Further details on how the two impacts happened are expected to come from the Homicide Division.
According to EFE's report of the police account, Gerena was struck on the PR-2 highway in Bayamón on Monday, Oct. 26. A second vehicle then hit him, and its driver reportedly did not 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 the Puerto Rican boxing community. It called him "a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing whose passion and dedication left a lasting impact on the sport."
Gerena was born in Bayamón and built his name as an amateur first. He took a bronze medal at the 1989 World Junior Championships and bantamweight silver at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics he fought at featherweight, beat India's Narendar Bisth Singh by decision, then lost to Algeria's Hocine Soltani, who went on to win a bronze medal.
He turned professional in 1993 and retired in 2003 after 44 bouts: 38 wins, six defeats and 30 knockouts, according to the WBA's historical profile. That profile records two WBC super-featherweight title fights, against Hernandez on May 16, 1998, and against Mayweather on September 11, 1999. The WBA also ranked him No. 13 at super featherweight in early 2000 and No. 14 at lightweight in July 2002.
The police investigation is the open question. Further details on how the two impacts happened are expected to come from the Homicide Division.
- Summary
- Carlos Gerena, Puerto Rico's 1992 Olympian and a two-time WBC super-featherweight title challenger, died at 55 after a road collision in Bayamón; police are investigating.
- Key points (one per line)
- Carlos Gerena died at 55 after being struck on the PR-2 highway in Bayamón on Oct. 26.
The WBO paid tribute on Oct. 27, calling him a respected figure in Puerto Rican boxing.
Bayamón's Homicide Division is investigating; no criminal finding has been established against either driver.
- 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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