Félix Betancourt Estévez

Glory of Cuban boxing in the 1960s, known as the Eastern Pantherita.

One of the most explosive and feared punchers of an era in which the first generation of boxers from non-professional sport in Cuba emerged. And Betancourt made history with a record of 120 fights, 104 victories and 90 KOs, of which 51 were in the first round of his bouts.

A native of Santiago de Cuba, Betancourt lived years ago in the Santos Suárez neighborhood, Havana.

In his days of maximum splendor, Betancourt was national champion in the 63.5 and 67 kilogram divisions. In the light welterweight division he was champion of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Kingston in 1962, and bronze medalist in the Central American edition of San Juan 1966.

In the final phase of his virtuoso career, he was part of the national squad for the Tokyo 1964 Olympics and the Winnipeg 1967 Pan American Games. He retired as welterweight champion after winning the Central American and Caribbean Championship in 1969.

By then his divisions were besieged by three powerful fighters who would bring medals and power to Cuban boxing: Andrés Molina, Enrique Regüeiferos and Emilio Correa.

After retiring from active sport, he worked as a trainer at the boxing academy of the now-defunct Havana province, the Sports Industry and the Municipal Sports Department of 10 de Octubre.

He is among the 26 boxers selected as sports glories of Cuba.

He passed away on July 22, 2014 at the age of 68, victim of a prolonged illness.