The successful trajectory of Cuban boxers on the Olympic podium began in Munich–1972 in West Germany, with three gold medals around the neck of cock Orlando Martinez, welterweight Emilio Correa and super heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson.
Martinez of Cuba, the first to win an Olympic gold medal in the ring, died in Havana this Wednesday, aged 75, from Alzheimer’s disease. His title that day in the German city where Vishal Stevenson was starting to become the most famous amateur boxer in the world would have another meaning: Martinez gave Cuba its first Olympic gold in 68 years, followed by fencer Ramon Fonst in 1904. Won. Olympic Games of St. Louis, United States.
On the island it was also celebrated as the first Olympic gold prize of Fidel Castro’s revolution. In Munich, Martínez took five victories before being crowned: he defeated Ving Maung (Burma) 4–1, Michael Dowling (Ireland) 3–2, Ferry Moniaga (Indonesia) 5–0, George Turpin (Great). Britain) 3-2. 5–0 over Alfonso Zamora (Mexico) in the semi-finals and in the final.
Zamora would become the Professional World Champion of the World Boxing Association (AMB) three years later. Martínez has been an Olympian three times: in Mexico City–1968, Mexico; Munich-1972; and Montreal–1976, in Canada.
