Status: WBA Featherweight champion.
Ht: 5-5 Wt: 126
DOB: Dec. 23, 1981 In: Guantanamo, Cuba
First Boxing Memory: “The first steps, when I launched my career in the amateur ranks. When I first started when I was eight-years-old, I said I wanted to be a great champion some day. Not only in the amateurs but in the pros. I had 245 amateur fights with 15 losses.”
Boxing Inspiration: “My desire to become a world champion and make history.”
Nicknames: “El Ciclon de Guantanamo (The Cyclone of Guantanamo). The commentators in Cuba called me that. I am like a cyclone in the ring throwing punches.”
Favorite Boxer Of All-Time: “Candelario Duvje – an amateur fighter in Cuba. Very difficult fighter to touch in the ring. They used to call him ‘The Astro.’ That’s one thing that always stuck in my head and made a big impression on me. That’s what I loved about his game.”
Favorite Movie: “Troy.”
Last Book Read: “The Bible.”
Musical Tastes: “All kinds, everything.”
Pre-Fight Meal: “Pasta.”
Typical Breakfast: “Eggs, milk, some fruit.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla ice cream.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Becoming a world champion (TKO 10 Jose Rojas in April ’09)”
Most Painful Moment: “In the amateur ranks, as a junior amateur I lost a fight in ’98, a championship fight.”
Whigh Fight Did You Feel At Your Very Best: “In the Olympic finals 2004 at 112 (W3 Jerone Thomas of France). When I won the gold medal.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “[Smiles] Can’t remember one right now.”
If You Weren’t A Boxer What Would You Be: “Something in entertainment. Maybe a singer, maybe a dancer, because I like music. So maybe something like that.”
Toughest Part Of Being A Successful Boxer: “I’d say the training and the part of making weight for my fight would have to be the most difficult part.”
Training Routine: “I go for my morning run then afternoon I go the gym, Top Level Gym in Miami.”
Favorite Fight: “Duvje vs. Luna. Two luminaries in the amateur boxing in Cuba. It was a war between two great champions in Cuba. And both were at the top of their game (’98). Duvje won.”
Last Vacation: “I haven’t had a vacation yet, it’s been all work.”
Favorite Sport Outside Boxing: “Baseball, the Yankees.”
Current Car: “Bentley (dark gray).”
Interesting Fact: “I sold my Olympic gold medal for $1,500 to pay for my daughter’s first birthday party.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “One that is always helping towards his other neighbors or anyone that’s around him.”
Family: Wife, Dunia; daughter, Brenda.
Topics: Amateur Fights, Amateur Ranks, Candelario, Championship Fight, Commentators, Cyclone, El Ciclon, Featherweight Champion, First Steps, Greatest Sports, Guantanamo Cuba, Jose Rojas, Musical Tastes, Nicknames, Painful Moment, Sports Moment, Typical Breakfast, Vanilla Ice, Vanilla Ice Cream, World Champion
Biofile Yuriorkis Gamboa | 