Angel Herrera Vera

Cuban boxer. Two-time Olympic champion in Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980, two-time world champion in Belgrade 1978 and Munich 1982, the strength of his fists allowed him to be a 6-time national champion.

He was born in Guantánamo on August 2, 1957, and from an early age he was interested in sports, beginning boxing practice at the Jose María Chibás Lestapier gymnasium in his hometown in 1973 at the age of 16 years, weighing slightly more than 60 kilograms.

He made his debut at 57 kgs. in the National Youth Championship in 1975, where he won a bronze medal.

Few boxers within the national selection had the dizzying rise of this Guantánamo native, who was practically unknown when he competed in the Playa Girón National Tournament, held in the province of Camagüey in 1976.

He won the gold medal at the Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980 Olympic Games.

A persistent injury to his eyebrows prevented him from continuing in active sport, but the Guantánamo native, holder of six national titles and as many in the Cardín tournaments, retired being one of the best boxers on the Island.

Results in Olympic Games

Montreal 1976
Won by KO 1 against A. Rai (IND)
Won decision 5-0 against Angel Pacheco (VEN)
Won decision 3-2 against Davey Armstrong (USA)
Won decision 5-0 against Juan Paredes (MEX)
Won by KO 2 against Richard Nowakowski (GDR)

Moscow 1980
Won decision 5-0 against Carlo Russolino (ITA)
Won decision 5-0 against Geza Thumbas (YUG)
Won decision 5-0 against Gelsandor Batbilec (MGL)
Won by no show against Adach Kazimierz (POL)
Won by RSC 3 against Viktor Damianenko (URS)

World Championship Results
In 1978 he achieved the world title at 57 kgs. by winning the final in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, against local fighter Borislav Ristic. Between 1977 and 1980 he participated in four bilateral bouts against American boxers:

Houston, 1977. Won by decision 3-0 against Rocky Lockbridge.
Havana, 1978. Defeated 3-0 Johnny Bumphus.
Charlotte, 1980. Won by abandonment in the first round against Davey Armstrong.
In Munich 1982 he reaffirmed the world champion title, but this time in the 60 kgs. division.