MADRID, Spain.- “Throughout his life he was filled with details that made him popular in one camp and very unpopular in another. This is how the life of this man passed, who unfortunately lived his last days in rather precarious conditions in Miami and silenced in Cuba, the country where he was born. However, in the history of boxing he is recognized as one of the true greats,” explains Michel Contreras about Kid Hawkthe protagonist of his most recent book: Kid Gavilán: The life of a champion.
This book, co-authored by Contreras and the communicator Damarys Rodríguez, published under the seal of Editorial Unos & Otros of Miami, delves into the life of Gerardo González, known worldwide as Kid Gavilán, who was “one of the flags in the era when boxing really lived its splendor, back in the 40s and 50s.”
Michel Contreras, journalist specialized in sports and contributor of CubaNetpoints out that while other Cuban boxers such as Kid Chocolate enjoy greater recognition in Cuba, Gavilán, despite having reached the pinnacle of world boxing, remains relatively unknown in his native country. This was one of the reasons that motivated him to write his biography.
Kid Gavilán: The life of a champion, Available on Amazon, It addresses Gerardo González’s childhood in Palo Seco, where from a very young age he had to face a life of hard work, delivering cantina and cutting sugar cane, still far from becoming the legend who would face other greats such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Carmen Basilio and Billy Graham, and whose fights would reach attendance records in the United States.
“Gavilán reached eternity through a day-to-day improvement of his athletic qualities: the harmony of all his virtues—developed to the full—placed him on the path to glory,” describes a fragment of Kid Gavilán: The life of a champion. But the boxer’s greatness was not limited to his exploits in the ring. As the book details, he became a polarizing figure throughout his career. For some, he was an undisputed hero; for others, he proved to be a controversial character. Part of this controversy was due to his relationship with Fulgencio Batista and his desire to stand out not only in the sports arena, but also in the world of entertainment. He established fashions, such as the use of white sneakers. Inspired by his idol, Sugar Ray Robinsontried to emulate him by organizing tours with dancers…
The meticulous research that supports the book’s content includes information obtained more than two decades ago, when it was still possible to interview people who knew Gavilán closely: “Much of the information that appears in the book was compiled 20 years ago. Now it would have been almost impossible because many of the living sources that I used are people who have unfortunately passed away: Elio Menéndez, boxing trainers, boxing referees, people linked to the press who knew Gavilán, rivals who faced him… I interviewed all of those people and obtained information,” explains Michel Contreras.
In addition, the work included hours of dedication in the National Library of Cuba, reviewing historical archives and publications such as Navy Diary, Posters and Bohemia, key sources that allowed Contreras and Rodríguez to construct a well-documented account of the champion’s life. The more than one hundred and fifty photographs, press releases and interviews included in the book are testimony to this dedication.
Michel Contreras, reflecting on the publication, points out that he came to the research knowing that Gavilán was a great champion, but at the end of the project, he considers that he was the best.
As the back cover note indicatesKid Gavilán: The life of a champion andIt is a book where boxing lovers will find “a story that transcends sport and offers lessons on the pursuit of greatness.”
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