Arequipa, Peru – Sarbelio Fuentes Rodríguez, recognized exboxer, coach and founder of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) of Cuba, died this Saturday at age 85.
“His successes as a coach reached a higher dimension for the modesty that always accompanied him. Many and solid reasons make Sarbelio Fuentes Rodríguez a symbol of boxing and Cuban sport,” he shared In the social network X (formerly Twitter) the current director of the INDER, Osvaldo Vento Montiller.
“Impacted by his death, we accompany family and friends in his pain,” added the manager.
Fuentes Rodríguez was born on October 21, 1939 in Santiago de Cuba and grew up in counter. At an early age he showed skills for sport, starting in athletics before devoting himself to boxing.
As a young professional boxer, in 1957, he reached a milestone by winning the diamond belt in Washington, with a record of 19 victories (12 per KO) and nine losses.
“Moved by pain, we fulfill the duty to inform that the glory of Cuban sport Sarbelio Fuentes Rodríguez has died. Founder and Pilar of the Cuban Boxing School, enhanced its many successes as a coach with proven love of Cuba and Fidel,” said the Inder in a official statement.
After the triunfo of the Castro Revolution in 1959, Avenue in dictatorshipFuentes Rodríguez left professionalism to join the Amateur Sports Movement promoted by the incipient Cuban regime.
Then, the late athlete began working on a Sports Voluntary Council in Contramastre, and by 1962 he was already part of the technical team that prepared Cuban boxers for the Central American and Caribbean Games of Kingston.
His career as a coach led him to direct the National Boxing Team of Cuba. Under his command, Cuba reached several wins, highlighting the five golds, two silver and a bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Beyond its recognized trajectory in the ring and pedagogy, the Official Press The Cuban regime recognizes Sarbelio Fuentes Rodríguez as “a man who gave his life to revolutionary sport,” highlighting his commitment to Castro speech.
