Jorge Hernández Padrón, glory of Cuban boxing, has died

December 12, 2019

At the age of 65, boxer in the light flyweight category Jorge Hernández, who is a glory of Cuban boxing, died in the early morning hours of Thursday, December 11, 2019. Jorgito had suffered a respiratory arrest a few weeks earlier and had been admitted to CIMEQ Hospital (Center for Medical and Surgical Research).

The Cuban sports movement was shaken this Thursday by the death of boxing star Jorge Hernández Padrón, who shone as both an athlete and coach.

"Sorrow in Cuban sports for the death of Olympic and world champion Jorge Hernández Padrón," wrote the president of Inder, Osvaldo Vento Montiller.

"Our boxing is in mourning, losing one of its indispensable figures. May family and friends receive the message of solidarity from those of us who applauded his triumphs," he added.

Jorgito, as he was known, was born on November 17, 1954 in the Cuban capital and was crowned in the 48 kilogram category at the Olympic Games in Montreal '76, two years after reigning in the first world championship, at the Havana Sports City.

He was runner-up at that level in Belgrade '78 and won golds at the Pan American Games (Mexico '75) and Central American and Caribbean Games (Santo Domingo '74).

Several national titles and other laurels from abroad filled his record, which he later added to as a member of the technical staff of the Island's elite national team.

"The Playa Girón national tournament that begins tomorrow in Camagüey will be an ideal venue to pay him tribute," said the president of the Cuban Boxing Federation, Alberto Puig de la Barca.

"We deeply regret his passing and join in the condolences it generates," he added.

Hernández was one of three champions of the First World Championship in Havana in 1974, and would win the Gold Medal two years later at the 1976 Olympic tournament in Montreal. The other two were Teófilo Stevenson and American Howard Davis. Of the three, Hernández was the only survivor.