Maikro Romero Esquirol

Boxer from the capital city who in the 1990s obtained all the titles awarded by the International Federation of Amateur Boxing. Amateur World Champion 1995, Champion of the 1995 Pan American Games; Champion of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the 51 kg division, and Olympic bronze medalist in Sydney 2000 in the 54 kilogram division.

Born in La Habana. Since childhood he frequented the Gimnasio Capitalino Rafael Trejo, a place where he learned the ABC of the rough sport of boxing.

He entered the High Performance structure through the National School Games and from there was promoted to the Sports Initiation School (EIDE) Mártires de Barbados. He weighed 45 kilograms.

His first significant result was becoming national champion in the light flyweight division at the Playa Girón Boxing Tournament in 1992, an opportunity in which he defeated Héctor Vicente in the final.

His debut in a major international competition took place at the XVII Central American and Caribbean Games, Ponce, Puerto Rico 1993 and there, after decisively winning his first fight against Mexican Román Rojas, he won a bronze medal after losing in the semifinal to Dominican Joan Guzmán.

After staying away from the ring for almost a year, he reappeared at the national championship Playa Girón (1996), although this time in the 51 kilogram division.

His achievement allowed him to position himself alongside 23 other aspirants willing to win the 12 tickets up for discussion for the Atlanta Olympic Games, participating in an elimination card winning by a 10-0 verdict against Leonel Austin from Holguín and 12-5 against Héctor Barrientos from Santiago; demonstrating himself to be a precise stylist.

In 1996 he participated in the Atlanta Olympic Games, in the 51 kg division, where he won the gold medal. Regardless of any type of commentary, the records register the native as one of the greats of amateur boxing of all time, because he knew how to take advantage of the well-earned opportunity and make the saying of an old proverb come true: "What you give is what you get"

In 1997 he wins the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Medellín, Colombia.

In 2000 he obtains the bronze medal from the Sydney Olympic Games.

At the 1998 world championship in Budapest, Hungary, due to the strategy of the Cuban boxing commission he returns to the 48 kilogram division, and obtains the gold medal, defeating Filipino Roel Velasco in the final.

Retirement from active sport

In 2002 he decided to retire and become a coach for the national youth team.

He was selected among the 100 best athletes of Cuba in the 20th century and is considered one of the best on the Island of all time in the 48 and 51 kilogram divisions.